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In fine wire EDM using thin wire electrode, uniform distribution of spark location is necessary to achieve stable machining performance. However, it is difficult to precisely evaluate the distribution of spark location by the conventional branched electric current method when the workpiece is thin. A new evaluation method by using a high-speed video camera is proposed. The locations of spark are measured by analyzing the recorded images. Then the effects of machining parameters, such as servo voltage, pulse interval time, wire running speed and others on the distribution of spark location are investigated. The possibility of evaluating the wire vibration is also discussed.

Electrical discharge machining (EDM) is widely used for fabricating precise metal molds. Recently, EDM finishing technology has markedly progressed, and a very fine surface roughness like that of a mirror surface can be readily obtained. Therefore, the EDMed surface is highly expected to be applied to fabricating a metal mold as it requires no hand polishing. In this case, the lifetime of the metal mold depends on the surface characteristics of the EDMed surface. In this study, the releasability of molded resin from the EDMed surface is experimentally investigated by measuring force needed to separate them using a tensile tester. Experimental results clarified that the releasability of molded resin from the EDMed surface is influenced by the average inclination of the EDMed surface profile.

The supported Rh/MgO/Ce 0.5 Zr 0.5 O 2 catalysts were developed for autothermal reforming of methane. The effects of ceria–zirconia addition on the Rh catalyst were characterized with BET, XRD, SAED, HREM and TPR. The catalytic performance was evaluated on a flow through reactor. Results showed that the addition of ceria–zirconia enhanced the catalyst stability due to the interactions between ceria–zirconia, MgO promoter and the active component Rh. Meanwhile, the selectivity towards hydrogen in reformate was also boosted because of the increased water gas shift activity by the mixed oxides. The results also showed that the structural properties, the textural properties and the redox properties of ceria–zirconia had great influences on the catalyst performance, especially on the catalyst stability. Formations of single phase solid solution, larger pore size as well as Ce/Zr ratio at 1/1 were more desirable for ceria–zirconia dopant. As a result, one of the optimized honeycomb catalysts with the composition of 0.3% Rh/2.5% MgO/43.2% Ce 0.5 Zr 0.5 O 2 /54.0% cordierite (wt.%) has been continually operated at 800 °C up to 2000 h without deactivation.

Method: Eighteen boys with combined type ADHD, 10 boys with PDD with hyperactivity, and 18 control boys wore actigraphs for 1 week while attending elementary school. In addition to the average activity level, the standard deviation in the activity levels were compared for two continuous situations: (i) in-seat classes, in which the participants were expected to sit in their own seats and learn quietly; and (ii) free recess periods following the in-seat classes. Results: All the groups were affected by the situational shift, the average activity level of each the groups was higher and the standard deviation was smaller than those during the in-seat classes. The boys with ADHD exhibited a still smaller standard deviation than the controls and the boys with PDD and hyperactivity during the free recess period; no difference between the controls and the boys with PDD was seen. The boys with PDD exhibited a significantly lower average activity level than the other groups. No differences among the groups in the average activity levels and standard deviation were seen during the in-seat classes. Conclusions: The observed objective activity levels in each group reflect the degree to which the boys are able to tolerate changes in situations. Objective measurement of activity levels may be useful to differentiate hyperactivity in children with ADHD from that in children without ADHD.

The automotive industry has developed substantially through advances in mechanical technologies, and technologies such as electronics and advanced materials have also contributed to further advances in automobiles. The contribution of ceramic materials to automobile technologies ranges over driving performance, exhaust gas purification, and fuel efficiency improvements. Several ceramic components, such as knock sensors, oxygen sensors, exhaust gas catalysts, and silicon nitride parts for automotive engines, have been successfully applied to automobiles. This paper focuses on the contribution of ceramics to automotive technologies. It also mentions potential contributions in the future, including adiabatic turbo-compound diesels, ceramic gas turbines, fuel cells, and electric vehicles because ceramic technologies have been intensively involved in the challenge to achieve advanced power sources.

This paper deals with EDM characteristics of newly develops electrically conductive ceramics. Titanium boride (TiB2) is widely used as die and mold materials because of its high hardness, high-temperature resistance and so on. The EDM characteristics of the titanium boride, such as electrode wear rate, removal rate and surface roughness were investigated. Experimental results show that EDM with low electrode wear rate is possible when copper electrode is used with positive polarity. The removal rate becomes much higher when graphite electrode is used with negative polarity.

A new surface finishing method by large-area electron beam irradiation (EB-polishing) for stainless steels for orthopedic surgical tool was proposed in our previous paper, and it was shown that high-efficient surface finishing was possible by the EB-polishing. In this report, the surface structure of EB-polished stainless steel is analyzed by TEM and EDX. Also, surface modification effects such as resistance to corrosion and blood repellency are evaluated. Then, the applicability of the EB-polishing as a new surface modification method of stainless steel for orthopedic surgical tool is discussed.

Objective: To study the cause(s) of chronic dyspepsia among patients with no findings on general practice screening tests. Materials and Methods: A total of 272 consecutive patients at a general practice in Japan (125 males and 147 females, aged 14–89 years) who underwent abdominal ultrasound (US) and who had serum pancreatic enzyme (lipase or p-amylase) levels measured, were included in a 1-year study. Serum pancreatic enzyme levels were compared according to the duration of the symptoms and causes of dyspepsia, and then compared between two groups: a ‘known-cause group’ of 38 patients in whom the cause of the chronic (over 1 month) dyspepsia was determined by US or other diagnostic procedures; and an ‘unknown-cause group’ of 112 patients in whom no cause was found. Results: The mean lipase level in the unknown-cause group was significantly higher than that in the known-cause group (40.6 vs. 35.3 U/l, p = 0.008 after adjustment for age, sex, and serum creatinine). No difference between these groups was found for p-amylase. The proportion of patients with high lipase levels (above reference range) was higher in the unknown-cause group compared to the known-cause group, although this was not significant (21.4 vs. 10.5%). Conclusion: Our data showed that serum lipase levels were higher in patients with chronic dyspepsia of unknown than in those with a known cause. We therefore speculate that mild functional pancreatic disorder may underlie some cases with unexplainable chronic dyspepsia.

In wire EDM, better exclusion of debris from the machined kerf is very important to obtain a stable machining performance. The purpose of this study is to investigate the fluid flow in the kerf and better jet flushing conditions of working fluid from the nozzles. The flow field and the debris motion in the kerf were analyzed by computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulation, comparing with the observation by high-speed video camera. The influence of flow rate of working fluid from nozzles and the nozzle stand-off distance on flow field in the kerf and debris particle motion were discussed.

The purpose of this study is to develop a new type of coated wire electrode for fine wire EDM. Piano wire with a very high tensile strength is coated with an electrically conductive brass layer to achieve high-speed and high-precision wire EDM. In our previous papers, using a thin wire of 50μm diameter, the thickness and quality of the brass coating layer were optimized and the effect of the tensile strength of the piano wire used as the core wire was discussed. In this report, the effect of unevenness of the brass wire electrode surface was experimentally investigated. As a result, it was found that by using wire with relatively large surface unevenness, the machining rate increased because of the high discharge frequency. Also, a more uniform distribution of the discharge location was confirmed by high-speed observation of the working gap during the process. In addition, the electrostatic field in the gap between the wire electrode and workpiece surface was analyzed and the reason for the high machining rate for the wire with relatively large surface unevenness was discussed from the viewpoint of the distribution of electric intensity distribution on the wire surface.

We investigate a rapid energy transfer (ET) process and its temperature dependence in a star-shaped stilbenoid phthalocyanine (SSS1Pc) dendrimer having π -conjugated light-harvesting (LH) antennas. In SSS1Pc, intense core-photoluminescence is observed under selective excitation on the LH-antenna as a result of the highly efficient ET from the LH-antenna. Pump-probe experiments show that ET occurs rapidly with a rising time constant (∼ 250 fs). To understand such rapid ET, we employ a simplified ET model through a π -conjugated network between the Lhantenna and the core that takes into account the steric hindrance between the LH-antenna subunits. Our model reveals that the highly efficient ET at room temperature in SSS1Pc takes place through the π -conjugated network mediated by a thermally activated torsional vibration of the aromatic ring subgroup in the LH-antenna. (© 2009 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)

A total of 297 resected Japanese non-small cell lung cancers (74 squamous cell carcinomas and 223 adenocarcinomas) were analyzed to evaluate the validity of the p53 mutation spectrum as a fingerprint for mutagenic substances as etiological factors. Frequencies of GT transversions in smokers were significantly higher than in non-smokers (P = 0.003) and the average incidence of GT at hot spot codons of adduct formation was higher than that in other codons in smokers and in the hot spots in non-smokers. Further, the mutation showed a marked strand bias. GA transitions at CpG sites (CpGCpA) were equally distributed in smokers and non-smokers, and on both strands. AG transitions did not show any variation with smoking status in terms of frequency, but exhibited a marked strand bias. Taken together, the GT may be a fingerprint of direct mutagenic action of tobacco-related compounds, the AG being a new marker for other environmental chemicals, while the CpGCpA may be attributable to endogenous spontaneous mutation, for active in lung carcinogenesis. (Cancer Sci 2008; 99: 287–295)

This paper reviews the status of structural ceramics in Japan. Until around 1980, successful applications of these materials were limited to wear-resistant parts and structural components working under very low stresses. Considerable work has been done over the years on applying ceramics to mechanical parts used under higher stresses. This led to some successful applications of silicon nitride to automotive components, including turbocharger rotors and glow plugs. However, the recent market for silicon nitride automotive components has not been as large as was expected. Cordierite honeycombs for catalysts and diesel particulate filters made of silicon carbide are becoming more important applications in Japan. It is noteworthy that the Japanese market for structural ceramics has been steadily increasing since 1985, with the leading applications being apparatus for purifying the exhaust gas of automotive engines and parts for semiconductor manufacturing equipment. Alumina, for example, is widely used for vacuum process chambers. High-purity alumina is also used for the components of liquid crystal device manufacturing equipment and various mechanical parts. The recent applications of structural ceramics in Japan summarized in this review include vacuum process chambers for manufacturing semiconductor and liquid crystal devices, wear-resistant ceramics used for steel-making, optical lens forming and cutting tools, refractory tubes for casting aluminum alloys, and automotive applications.

We investigate rapid energy transfer (ET) and its temperature dependence in a star-shaped stilbenoid phthalocyanine (SSS1Pc) dendrimer having π-conjugated light-harvesting (LH) antennas, and develop an appropriate model. In SSS1Pc, an intense core photoluminescence (PL) band appears under the selective excitation of the absorption bands of the LH antenna due to highly efficient ET at room temperature (RT). The transient response of core-absorption bleaching and the temporal behaviours of the PL intensities of the core and antenna reveal that ET from the LH antenna occurs rapidly prior to achieving quasi-equilibrium in the photoexcited state of the LH antenna. In addition, it is also clarified that the ET quantum efficiency in SSS1Pc degrades at temperatures lower than ~100 K. To understand these results, we develop an ET model based on a π-conjugating network between the LH antenna and the core that accounts for steric hindrance between the LH antenna and the torsional vibration of the LH-antenna subunit. This model reveals that highly efficient ET occurs at RT through the π-conjugated network mediated by the thermally activated torsional vibration of the LH-antenna subunit.

In deep-hole electrical discharge machining, the exclusion of debris is difficult, which leads to debris stagnation in the side gap. Thus, the wall of the machined hole becomes concave owing to secondary discharges in the side gap, even with the use of a linear-motor-driven EDM system with high-speed electrode jump. In this paper, the EDM of a deep hole using a flange-type electrode is proposed in order to prevent secondary discharges in the side gap and to improve shape accuracy. The EDM characteristics such as shape accuracy, removal rate and surface roughness are compared between the use of a flange-type electrode and that of a conventional straight electrode. The fluid flow and debris movement around the flange part of the electrode during the electrode jump are also discussed in view of the results of high-speed camera observation and CFD analysis. In addition, the effects of electrode shape on hole shape are investigated. Experimental results show that the concavity of machined holes can be easily improved using a flange-type electrode, even when using a conventional EDM with a ball screw drive. EDM performance becomes stable with the use of a flange-type electrode, and consequently removal rate improves.

Surgical tools and jigs are initially machined by multi-axis milling. Then surface finishing is carried out mainly by hand lapping. As these tools undergo repeated use, the removal of burrs, scratches and rust from the surfaces is also performed manually after each operation. These finishing processes are time-consuming and costly. In this study, a new finishing method by large-area electron beam irradiation is proposed. Electron beam (EB) with high energy density can be obtained without focusing the beam, and large-area EB can be used for instantly melting or evaporating the metal surface. Stainless steel for surgical tools and jigs was treated by the large-area EB irradiation method. The experimental results show that highly efficient surface smoothing of stainless steels by large-area EB irradiation may be achieved. In addition, the resistance to corrosion and blood repellency can be improved simultaneously with surface smoothing.

Micro-welding characteristics of silicon and glass by pulsed lasers are described. In this study, four types of laser beam, which are nanosecond pulsed laser and picosecond pulsed laser of 532 and 1064 nm in wavelength, were used for joining monocrystalline silicon and glass. Influence of wavelength and pulse duration on micro-welding of monocrystalline silicon and glass was experimentally investigated under the same spot diameter, and the molten area of monocrystalline silicon and glass was characterized. Finally, the breaking strength was evaluated for the overlap weld joint with different pulse duration and wavelength. A splash area of molten silicon around the weld bead line was obvious in the nanosecond pulsed laser. On the other hand, there was no remarkable molten splash around the weld bead line in the picosecond pulsed laser. Breaking strength of specimens with 1064 nm wavelength was higher than with 532 nm wavelength in nanosecond laser, whereas breaking strength of laser-irradiated specimen by picosecond pulse duration was higher than that by nanosecond pulse duration. It is concluded that the combination of picosecond pulse duration and infrared wavelength leads to the stable molten area appearance of the weld bead and higher breaking strength in micro-welding of glass and monocrystalline silicon.

We experimentally investigated the influence of the use of a high-resolution 4K tablet on participants’ physiological and psychological state while engaged in searching tasks, to evaluate their associated mental and physical workloads. The results showed NIRS, an index of nervous system activity, to be significantly higher during searching tasks with 4K content than with 2K content, whereas LF/HF (level of sympathetic nerve activity) during searching tasks was significantly lower for 4K content than for 2K content, although no significant differences were observed in subjective assessments between 4K and 2K displays.

Pure Titanium (Ti) and its alloys are the most used biomaterials. However, they have insufficient bioactivity. Therefore, it is required to add new function to Ti and Ti alloys. One method to add new function is the creation of periodic nanostructures on the biomaterial surfaces, which can control cell spreading. Ultrashort pulsed laser is one of the useful tools to create periodic nanostructures. Previous study revealed that the nanostructures with the period of 590 nm could be formed on the Ti surface by using the ultrashort pulsed laser with the wavelength of 775 nm. Cells tests indicated that cell spreading occurred along the grooves of the nanostructures. However, all cells could not be controlled on the nanostructures with the periods of 590 nm, and it was considered that surface profiles of the nanostructures with the period of 590 nm were insufficient to control cell spreading. Therefore, controlling surface profiles of the nanostructures is required to promote controlling cell spreading, and surface profiles on the nanostructures were experimentally investigated by changing laser parameters, such as pulse duration, laser fluence, shot number and laser wavelength.In the first experiments, periods are varied with laser wavelength and influence of periods on cell spreading is investigated. In the second experiments, control of surface profiles is tried by changing the pulse durations. Periodic nanostructures were created on Ti plate for three laser wavelengths of 775, 388 and 258 nm. The periods increased with laser wavelengths. Cell tests showed periods of approximately 300 and 600 nm were useful for controlling cell spreading. On the other hand, aspect ratio of the nanostructures increased with pulse duration. These results suggest that surface profile of the nanostructures are controlled with pulse duration.Pure Titanium (Ti) and its alloys are the most used biomaterials. However, they have insufficient bioactivity. Therefore, it is required to add new function to Ti and Ti alloys. One method to add new function is the creation of periodic nanostructures on the biomaterial surfaces, which can control cell spreading. Ultrashort pulsed laser is one of the useful tools to create periodic nanostructures. Previous study revealed that the nanostructures with the period of 590 nm could be formed on the Ti surface by using the ultrashort pulsed laser with the wavelength of 775 nm. Cells tests indicated that cell spreading occurred along the grooves of the nanostructures. However, all cells could not be controlled on the nanostructures with the periods of 590 nm, and it was considered that surface profiles of the nanostructures with the period of 590 nm were insufficient to control cell spreading. Therefore, controlling surface profiles of the nanostructures is required to promote controlling cell spreading, and surf...

A multi-layered artificial skin is mainly consisted of three layers of silicone, printed paper, and resin plate. Sealing of facial defects with the multi-layered artificial skin causes sweating phenomenon from the surface of missing parts, which results in insanitary conditions to the skin surface. Therefore, it is expected that laser micro-drilled holes improve the breathability of the multi-layered artificial skin as human’s sweat glands. High-efficiency processing is expected by using a high pulse repetition-rate laser. However, although ultra-short pulsed laser was used, a continuous long time laser irradiation deteriorated the aesthetic quality of multi-layered artificial skin because of heat accumulation corresponding to the high pulse-repetition-rate. Therefore, laser irradiation method with the high-efficiency and good-aesthetic-quality was experimentally investigated by using picosecond pulsed laser of 1064nm wavelength. The laser irradiation method, which can reduce the heat affected zone at the adhesion part between the print paper and the silicone elastomer, was effective in order to improve the esthetic quality of drilled hole for the multi-layered artificial skin. The discoloration area around drilled hole on multi-layered artificial skin could be reduced by dividing method of laser shot number at the same irradiation point to provide non-irradiation time. A long non-irradiation time resulted in the reduction of discoloration area around drilled hole on multi-layered artificial skin under the similar heat input condition.A multi-layered artificial skin is mainly consisted of three layers of silicone, printed paper, and resin plate. Sealing of facial defects with the multi-layered artificial skin causes sweating phenomenon from the surface of missing parts, which results in insanitary conditions to the skin surface. Therefore, it is expected that laser micro-drilled holes improve the breathability of the multi-layered artificial skin as human’s sweat glands. High-efficiency processing is expected by using a high pulse repetition-rate laser. However, although ultra-short pulsed laser was used, a continuous long time laser irradiation deteriorated the aesthetic quality of multi-layered artificial skin because of heat accumulation corresponding to the high pulse-repetition-rate. Therefore, laser irradiation method with the high-efficiency and good-aesthetic-quality was experimentally investigated by using picosecond pulsed laser of 1064nm wavelength. The laser irradiation method, which can reduce the heat affected zone at the...

Due to the expansion of cities and the increasing number of large-scale and complex public spaces, there is an increase in public signage. Moreover, the information described on these signs tends to be diverse and complicated. Complex signs that contain multiple destinations or other information must be considered to determine not only the proper size, color, etc. but also the most effective arrangement of design elements. In the previous research, the cognitive utility of complex public signs was estimated using computer simulation software. In the current research, we focused on the objective estimation of the effectiveness of the results obtained in the previous research utilizing an eye mark recording system. Two cognitive engineering experiments clarified five points for improvement in the usability of complex signs, as follows: 1) Parallel construction of characters and pictograms is more efficient. 2) Grouping elements result in rapid recognition of information chunks. 3) Visual characters and pictograms are effective, along with proper density of information. 4) Specific arrangement of sign arrows is effective. 5) Figures on signs influence the sequence of information searches.

「学校に行く」の英訳はgo to school, leave for school, set off to school, get to school など何通りもある。脈絡によって,これらの中の最も適当なものが選択される。換言すれば,特定の脈絡を英語という言語でいかに切り取るのかをわきまえておかねば,正しい英語表現とはならない。上記のフレーズのうちどれを選ぶかはしばしば副詞との共起の中で決定される。その考慮をしない日本人の書く英語が不自然になる一大原因は正にここにある。例えば I go to school on week days. とは言えても,I go to school at 9 o'clock. はかなり曖昧な表現で,きちんとした正確な英語とは言い切れない。日常のカジュアルな表現としては,使用される状況より判断して「学校に向けて家を出るのが9時だ」と解釈できないことはない。しかし,英米のジャーナリスト・作家などは,大抵 I [left for / got to] school at 9 o'clock. のように,出発時を言うのか到着時を言うのかを指定している。この小論では,「学校に行く」という表現がいかなる副詞とどのような結び付きで用いられるのか,またそのとき,どのようなニュアンスで用いられているのかコーパスを用いて探り当て,具体例を挙げて用法を検証する。

A feasibility study was carried out to determine whether water-soluble salmon meat could be manufactured by conjugating a glycosyl unit using the Maillard reaction. Spawned out salmon meat was washed, mixed with alginate oligosaccharide (AO) and sorbitol, lyophilized, and then heated at 60°C and 5–95% relative humidity (RH) to introduce AO (the mean degree of polymerization was six) into the myofibrillar proteins through the Maillard reaction. The reaction progressed with an increase in the reaction humidity and the amount of AO bound to the protein reached >150 μg/mg at RH 65 and 90%. However, the protein glycosylation under high humidity impaired protein solubility and the meat protein became effectively water-soluble with the conjugation with AO at reaction conditions of 60°C and RH 35%. The improved characteristics of the meat protein were highly stable at room temperature. Further, the water-soluble protein can be prepared from the frozen salmon meat stored at −25°C for 60–90 days. These results indicate that protein glycosylation has strong potential for use with spawned out chum salmon. The suppression of protein denaturation during processing is important to obtain the high water-soluble meat protein.

Hafnium-organic moiety hybrid copolymers were prepared by reacting hafnium n-butoxide with organic diols. ESR spectral examinations of copolymers and ab-initio calculations of copolymer models suggest that an electron transfer from organic group to hafnium atom takes place.

In a series of papers, Aumann and Roth discussed a game in which players can cooperate in pairs and two of them prefer to form a coalition with each other. Roth argued that the only rational outcome is that the players who prefer each other form a coalition; Aumann argued that all three coalitions are possible because the players have a problem of expectation coordination. A non-cooperative analysis provides additional support for Aumann's arguments and shows that the difference between Aumann's and Roth's views can be traced back to a difference (risky versus/riskless) in the bargaining procedure.

A new polishing method by large-area electron beam (EB) irradiation is proposed in this study. In the large-area EB irradiation equipment used here, an EB with high energy density is irradiated without focusing the beam. An EB irradiation in a few microseconds with a maximum diameter of 60 mm can be used for melting metal surface instantly. The experimental results made it clear that the surface roughness decreases from 6 μmRz to less than 1 μmRz in a just few minutes under a proper machining condition. The corrosion resistance of metal mold surface also could be greatly improved by large-area EB irradiation. Furthermore it is clarified that even the surface roughness of tilting surface close to 90° could be well improved. Therefore, large-area EB irradiation method has a high possibility to become a high-efficiency polishing method of metal mold.

Wide-area electron beam (WAEB) irradiation was proposed as a new surface-finishing process for orthopaedic titanium alloy products. The surface roughness could be reduced from Rz = 10 μm to Rz = 0.7 μm all over the wide circular surface within a diameter of 60 mm in just a few minutes under optimum electron beam conditions. In this paper, the surface structure and the surface characteristics of WAEB-irradiated surface are discussed. The crystal grain size becomes small and the microstructure in the surface vicinity changes under WAEB irradiation. The corrosion resistance and the repellency can be improved simultaneously with the surface smoothing. Therefore, the WAEB irradiation method enables highly efficient surface smoothing and surface modification of orthopaedic titanium alloy.

Thermoelectric power generation is a promising method for harnessing waste thermal energy, especially in the temperature range between 500 and 800 K. It is necessary to improve the performance of thermoelectric materials for the realization of the power generation. Dispersion of nanoparticles such as fullerenes is expected to induce phonon scattering that decreases thermal conductivity of materials, and application to thermoelectric materials may lead to improved properties. In the present study, then-type Co0.92Ni0.08Sb2.96Te0.04thermoelectric compound was synthesized, and the thermoelectric properties were evaluated. Furthermore, the fullerene particles were sufficiently mixed with the thermoelectric compound powder by the mechanical grinding method, and influences of the fullerene additions to the compound were investigated. The dispersion of fullerene particles in then-type Co0.92Ni0.08Sb2.96Te0.04compound was conducted through the planetary ball milling method to disentangle agglomerates of the fullerene and to disperse the particles in the thermoelectric compound matrix. The thermal conductivity decreased with an increase in fullerene content, and the maximum in dimensionless figure of meritZTwas 0.62 at 800 K for 1 mass% fullerene addition. This was 28% higher than that of fullerene-free sample.

The conventional CuW electrode used widely for high precision electrical discharge machining (EDM) is generally made by the melting method. However, its mixture ratio of copper to tungsten is structurally limited within a narrow range. On the other hand, the mixture ratio can readily be changed in the case of CuW made by the newly developed powder sintering method. In this study, in order to obtain a higher metal removal rate with a lower electrode wear rate, EDM characteristics for metal mold steel with the CuW electrode made by the new method were investigated with various mixture ratios. Experimental results clarified that the EDM characteristics are greatly changed by the Cu mixture ratio, and the electrode wear rate can be greatly decreased at the Cu mixture ratios of 10 - 20% under rough EDM conditions. It was also confirmed that much workpiece material and heat-resolved carbon adhere to the electrode surface at Cu mixture ratios of 10 - 20%, which plays an important role in reducing electrode wear.

Nephrotoxicity is the major dose-limiting toxicity of cisplatin (CDDP). The aim of this study was to develop a pharmacokinetic (PK)/toxicodynamic (TD) model of CDDP-induced acute renal injury in rats and to simulate nephrotoxicity at various dosing rates. CDDP was administered to rats by a 30-s bolus or a 2-h infusion (1.0, 2.5, 5.0, and 7.5 mg/kg). Unbound CDDP concentrations in plasma and urine were determined up to 2 h after administration in the PK study, and plasma creatinine (Cr) levels were monitored for up to 7 days as an index of nephrotoxicity in the TD study. The PK was linear and was fitted with a traditional 2-compartment model. The TD was nonlinear and differed between dosing rates. The creatinine concentration profiles were fitted with a signal transduction-indirect response model. Population analysis using a nonlinear mixed-effect model was adapted to the developed PK/TD model and was well-validated. Dosing simulations from the developed population PK/TD model indicated that CDDP-induced nephrotoxicity was due to not only Cmax but also the time above the toxic concentration of CDDP. Prolongation of infusion time will not necessarily attenuate acute nephrotoxicity. This study demonstrated the potential utility of PK/TD modeling for preventing nephrotoxicity.

In this study, we carried out experiments to investigate the influence of display resolution on psychophysiological state while viewing various types of video content at 4K and 2K on a 65-inch 4K TV as a comparison between age groups. The participants viewed four kinds of TV video content (two types of scenic material and two kinds of material with movement and action). The results showed the psychological evaluation scores for participants in their 20s to be higher than those in their 50s when viewing 4K scenic content. However in both age groups, NIRS, an index of nervous system activity, during viewing tests of 4K scenic content, was significantly higher for 4K scenic content viewing than for 2K scenic content. On the other hand, there was a significant difference observed between NIRS for 4K and for 2K in the 50s participants, although there was no significant difference observed for NIRS between resolutions in the 20s participants. Our results suggest that content viewing at 4K can cause psychological elation and a surge in brain activity, although the effects varied somewhat according to content.

Long-term parenteral nutrition (PN) can induce intestinal atrophy, leading to a loss of epithelial integrity in the small intestines. This change may alter the intestinal permeability of vancomycin (VCM), a non-absorbable antibiotic. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of PN on the pharmacokinetics of VCM in rats. VCM was intravenously (5 mg/kg) or intraduodenally (20 mg/kg) administered to control and PN rats, which were prepared by administration of PN for 9 days. After intravenous administration, there were no significant differences in any of the VCM pharmacokinetic parameters between the control and PN rats. However, after intraduodenal administration, the maximum concentration and area under the plasma concentration–time curve of VCM in PN rats was approximately 2.4- and 2.6-fold higher, respectively, than in the control rats; the calculated bioavailability was approximately 0.5 and 1.3 % in control and PN rats, respectively. These results indicated that PN administration did not affect VCM disposition, but enhanced VCM absorption; however, the enhanced oral VCM bioavailability was statistically, not clinically, significant. Therefore, while long-term PN administration may play a role in the enhancement of VCM bioavailability, this effect may be negligible without any complications. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s40064-015-1228-8) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

makeとof, makeとout of の組合せについては,しばしばイギリス・アメリカの辞書でも相互に置き換えられる場合が少なくないとされる。しかしコーパスを詳しく分析することにより,それは間違いであって,脈絡によりどちらかが文体的に勝れており,ハッキリと好まれるということが判明した。むろんcasualなinformalな場面でどちらもぼぼ同じように用いられることもある。しかし, of,out of の目的語やその目的語の修飾語句を文脈の中で詳しく解析した結果,両者ともまったく同じ感覚で用いられるようなケースこそきわめて珍しいと判った。ここでは具体的な用例をもちいて,両者の使分けを考察する。

Temperature dependence of the energy-transfer dynamics in a light-harvesting small dendrimer (star-shaped stilbenoid phthalocyanine: SSS1Pc) having oligo (p-phenylenevinylene) peripheries is investigated. We measured stationary and time-resolved photoluminescence (PL) spectra of SSS1Pc under the selective excitation of the periphery in SSS1Pc. At higher temperatures than the freezing point of the solvent, highly efficient energy transfer from the peripheries to the core in SSS1Pc gives rise to an intense core-PL band of SSS1Pc. However, with cooling down below the freezing point temperature, the core-PL is obviously quenched in spite of less temperature dependence of the decay time constant of the core-PL. This temperature dependence clearly indicates that dynamical processes mediated by molecular vibrations play an important role in the energy transfer from the periphery to the core in SSS1Pc.

Recently, the EDM finishing technique has progressed and very small surface roughness can be obtained by controlling machining conditions and/or using a metal-powder-mixed fluid. Also, hard layers such as TiC and WC can be formed on the surface. Therefore, instead of conventional surface finishing by hand in the die fabrication process, an application of EDM to the finishing process of the metal mold is expected in the near future. In this case, the lifetime of the metal mold depends on the surface characteristics of the EDMed surface. Therefore, the corrosion resistance of the EDMed surface is quantitatively evaluated by measuring the anodic polarization current in order to clarify the relationship with the EDM conditions. Also, the corrosion mechanism of the EDMed surface is discussed on the basis of experimental results. As a result, the corrosion resistance of the EDMed surface is higher than that of the ground one, because a white layer with fine structure and high resistance to corrosion covers the EDMed surface. The corrosion resistance of the EDMed surface does not depend on its surface roughness. When a silicon-power-mixed fluid is used as a dielectric in EDM, the corrosion resistance increases with the thickness of the white layer, since an EDMed surface without microcracks can be generated.

A new finishing process for metal molds by large-area electron beam (EB) irradiation is proposed in this study. In the large-area EB irradiation equipment used here, an EB with high-energy density is irradiated without focusing the beam, and so the EB with a maximum diameter of 60 mm can be used for melting or evaporating metal surface instantly. Experimental results show that the surface roughness decreases from 6 μmRz to less than 1 μmRz in just a few minutes under proper machining conditions. The corrosion resistance of metal mold surface also could be greatly improved by large-area EB irradiation. Furthermore, the surface roughness of tilting surface close to 90° could be well improved. Therefore, large-area EB irradiation method has a possibility to become a high-efficiency finishing process for metal molds.

Background/Purpose: As minimal invasive surgery, laparoscopically assisted anorectal pull-through has been reported with new devices. However, it is not easy to create an accurate pull-through canal (PTC) because of the narrow space between the urethra and puborectal sling. The authors describe a new method using perineal ultrasonography. Methods: The rectourethral prostatic fistula was dissected laparoscopically. Externally, electrostimulation identified the center of the muscle contraction, over which a 1.2-cm skin incision was made, and the lower part of PTC was created by hemostat forceps guided by electrostimulation. An ultrasonographic probe applied to the perineum demonstrated the urethra, and the forceps was advanced behind the urethra into the pelvic cavity using the ultrasonographic guide. Anorectal pull-through was performed after dilatation of the PTC with dilators. Results: The authors applied this procedure in 5 cases of male high and intermediate anomalies. Surgical damages to the urethra and the levator and vertical muscles were not encountered. Postoperative fluoroscopic study demonstrated good anterior angulation and intact contraction and relaxation of those muscles. Conclusion: The combination of laparoscopic dissection, pinpointing the center of anal sphincter by electrostimulation, and identification of the urethra by ultrasonographic images from the perineum facilitated creation of appropriate PTC in the muscle complex.

Analysis of the role of cavitation during uniaxial creep deformation in vitreous bonded ceramics reveals that the cavity volume contributes only to the strain in the direction parallel to the tensile stress regardless of the shape and orientation of cavities. Creep asymmetry results from the fact that cavitation preferentially contributes to axial tensile strain while the strain observed under the same conditions in compression is produced only by volume-conserving mechanisms. The contribution of cavitational strain in the axial tensile strain is equal to the volume fraction of cavities and proportional to the difference between tensile and compressive strains in the axial direction. The density change method and a newly proposed method based on the difference in the axial strains were used for separating the cavitational from the true tensile strain in self-reinforced silicon nitride. Both methods consistently revealed more than 90% contribution of cavitation to the total tensile strain. Cavitation is concluded to be the dominant mechanism of tensile creep deformation in vitreous bonded ceramics because the reported volume fractions of cavities during their deformation are usually in the range of 70--90% of tensile strain.