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To overcome the delayed or failed engraftment after unrelated cord blood transplantation (CBT), we conducted a multicenter phase II study of intrabone single-unit CBT without antithymocyte globulin (ATG) for adult patients with hematological malignancies (UMIN-CTR, UMIN000020997). Sixty-four patients received an intrabone injection of unwashed (n = 61) or washed (n = 3) cord blood after local anesthesia. All injection-related adverse events were mild and resolved spontaneously. Sixty-two patients were evaluable for the efficacy of intrabone CBT of serological HLA-A, -B, and -DR ≥ 4/6 matched cord blood with a median number of 2.57 × 10^7/kg cryopreserved total nucleated cells. The probability of survival with neutrophil engraftment on day 28 was 77.4% (95% confidence interval, 67.0–85.8%), which exceeded the threshold value. The cumulative incidences of neutrophils ≥ 0.5 × 10^9/L on day 60 was 80.6% (68.2–88.6%), with a median time to recovery of 21 days after transplantation. The cumulative incidences of platelets ≥ 20 × 10^9/L and platelets ≥ 50 × 10^9/L on day 100 were 75.8% (62.6–84.9%) and 72.6% (59.4–82.1%), respectively, with median time to platelets ≥ 20 × 10^9/L and platelets ≥ 50 × 10^9/L of 38 and 45 days after transplantation, respectively. The cumulative incidences of grade II–IV and III–IV acute graft-versus-host disease were 29.0% and 6.5%, respectively. All responded to steroid therapy, and secondary treatments were not required. The present study suggests the efficacy of intrabone single-unit CBT without ATG in terms of early engraftment and controllable acute graft-versus-host disease.

A comparison circulating a standard infrared thermometer, a handy infrared thermometer, and a thermal imager was conducted among eleven participants from the industrial user, academic user, and cal...

A prospectively registered observational study was conducted to assess the significance of allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation from highly HLA-matched unrelated donors (UD) and cord blood (CB) on outcomes in adult acute leukemia (AL) and myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS). Between 2007 and 2015, 231 transplant-eligible patients were registered for a phase 2 study of alternative donor transplantation. After registration, a sufficient time period was given to find appropriate UD. Patients received CB transplantation (CBT) if an appropriate UD was unavailable. In total, 119 patients received CBT (106 AL and 13 MDS) and 91 patients received UD transplantation (UDT) (86 AL and 5 MDS). The median age was 39 years in both groups. The primary objective was overall survival (OS); secondary objectives included cumulative incidences of non-relapse mortality (NRM) and relapse, and disease-free survival. Diagnosis, disease status at transplantation, refined disease risk index, and hematopoietic cell transplant-specific comorbidity index did not differ between UDT and CBT. In multivariate analyses, graft source was not a significant risk factor for all objectives. In adjusted analyses, UDT and CBT showed similar OS, NRM, and relapse in this prospective study. CB can be a comparable alternative stem cell source to UD by achieving a timely transplant.

Almost comparable transplantation outcomes have been reported with HLA-matched unrelated donor transplantation (UDT) and cord blood transplantation (CBT). We conducted a prospective phase 2 study to assess the efficacy and safety of single-unit myeloablative CBT in adult leukemia and myelodysplastic syndrome. Because the day 180 survival of UDT was approximately 80%, we determined the alternative hypothesis of expected day 180 survival with a successful engraftment rate of 80% and set the null hypothesis of threshold rate at 65%. Sixty-two patients (median age, 37 years) were registered, including 28 with acute myelogenous leukemia, 25 with acute lymphoblastic leukemia, and 9 with myelodysplastic syndrome. Of 61 eligible patients, 52 were successfully engrafted and survived at day 180 (85%; 95% confidence interval, 74% to 93%). Single-unit CBT was judged to be effective because the null hypothesis was rejected (P.001). Furthermore, neutrophil engraftment was observed in 57 patients (92%); the incidences of grade II-IV acute and chronic graft-versus-host disease were 30% and 32%, respectively; and the cumulative incidences of nonrelapse mortality and relapse at 2 years were 18% and 13%, respectively. The present study showed favorable survival outcomes with single-unit CBT. Therefore, this method may be considered if a well-HLA-matched UDT cannot be obtained.

In this study, we focus on a soft anisotropic gel actuator hybridized with nanosheet liquid crystal. This gel actuator is highly hydrophilic and can be operated underwater. Gel actuators can contract when heated and expand back to their original size when cooled down. It is anisotropic in the contraction direction, aligned with the orientation of the nanosheet liquid crystal. However, details of this step response property against the actuator undergoing thermal change have not been clarified. In this paper, we introduce a method to measure the step response using a square test sheet with a side length of 2–10 mm and thickness of 0.1–1.0 mm. This measurement was used to measure the heating and cooling step response. The obtained result was approximated using a first-order lag system to determine a steady-state value and time constant. In addition, the characteristics of steady-state value and time constant were clarified from the viewpoint of shapes such as specific surface area and thickness.

This paper proposes to improve the form accuracy of a machined surface produced by an ordinary milling machine by diamond fly cutting using controlled cutting with reference surface (CCRS), an in-process measurement and control method. CCRS improves machined surface accuracy by controlling the relative displacement between the tool and workpiece. Diamond fly cutting using CCRS was demonstrated to reduce the table motion error on an ordinary milling machine.

A soft actuator is expected to be applied in the next generation of robotics. This study focuses on soft gel actuators hybridized with nanosheet liquid crystals. The resulting soft actuator has a highly hydrophilic property, and is suitable for underwater use. When the gel in water is heated to more than the transition temperature, the gel contracts; conversely, it swells when it is cooled. This gel actuator remarkably has an anisotropic contraction characteristic because the orientation of the nanosheets is uniformly arranged. However, little is known about its dynamic characteristics of the thermal contraction. As a basic analysis, this paper investigates the heating step response through experiments, and reveals the variation of the time constant against the dimensions.

This study experimentally investigated the electrostatic characteristic of L-isoleucine powder, which is an amino acid powder. L-isoleucine is a crystal powder that has been used in industrial production sites. The volume resistivity, charge-to-mass ratio, and minimum ignition energy (MIE) or L-isoleucine powder were tested in this experiment. The results show that L-isoleucine powder had a volume resistivity as high as 1.2 × 1013 Ωm, classified as highly electrifying, with a high risk of electrostatic charge. The actual charge-to-mass ratio was also as high as 6.4 nC/g on average. Added to this, with a MIE of 4 mJ, it is a material very sensitive to electrostatic discharge.

In this study, Minimum Ignition Energy (MIE) and Minimum Explosible Concentration (MEC) of L-isoleucine and glycine powder with two different particle size distributions were experimentally investigated. The experimental results showed that the values of MIE and MEC of L-isoleucine powder were lower than those of glycine powder. The pyrolysis and the combustible products of glycine and L-isoleucine powders were measured. The results showed that a number of flammable and combustible materials are formed during the pyrolysis of L-isoleucine, although few flammable compounds are generated during the pyrolysis of glycine due to polymerization. This result indicated that the L-isoleucine powder has a high risk of dust explosion as compared to the glycine powder. Consequentially, an appropriate risk assessment for the L-isoleucine powder with fine particles is necessary in the powder handle processes.

This paper introduces Thai musical instrument sound synthesis with an intelligent technique which is a combination of deep neural networks and conventional signal processing techniques. The instrument focused on in this paper is the Khlui, which is a unique Thai reedless wind instrument. Khlui sound can be synthesized by performing a combination of additive and subtractive syntheses. The synthesis system takes the pitch and loudness of any monophonic input signal. Then, multilayer perceptron and recurrent neural networks are used together in order to generate 3 parameters which are harmonic distribution, filter magnitude response, and the signal envelope. Finally, the harmonic characteristic of the Khlui along with the blowing noises are highly synthesized. The results are natural-sounding and realistic when compared with the recorded Khlui audio. This research will contribute to the more convenient natural synthesis of the Khlui sounds.

Planktonic foraminiferal population dynamics and stable isotope data are presented to interpret environmental changes across the Cenomanian-Turonian boundary interval at Integrated Ocean Discovery Program (IODP) Expedition 369 Site U1516 in the Mentelle Basin (Indian Ocean, SW Australia). Site U1516 was located at 60°-62°S paleolatitude and it is the first high latitude locality in the Southern Hemisphere where planktonic foraminifera are consistently recorded across the Oceanic Anoxic Event 2 (OAE 2) interval and its associated positive δ13C excursion. Planktonic foraminifera and calcareous nannofossil biostratigraphy and stable isotopic results indicate the presence of a hiatus in the upper Cenomanian that spans the base of the δ13C excursion, thus the record of the onset of OAE 2 is not preserved. Nevertheless, correlation between the δ13C and δ18O profiles at Site U1516 and the European reference section at Eastbourne (England) allow identification of the Carbon Isotopic Excursion and, tentatively, of correlative local cooling consistent with the expression of the Plenus Cold Event at low latitudes.Absolute abundances of planktonic and benthic foraminifera, and radiolaria combined with δ13C and δ18O measurements of both bulk carbonate and planktonic and benthic foraminifera provide clues concerning the paleoceanographic changes across OAE 2. In the lower part of OAE 2 and coinciding with the trough in the δ13C profile, the planktonic foraminiferal assemblages are dominated by small-sized (125-38 μm) opportunistic species and radiolaria indicating a dominantly eutrophic regime. An increase in benthic foraminiferal abundance may indicate a local increase of oxygenation during the interval of the Plenus Cold Event associated with high δ18O values, as observed at low latitudes. At Site U1516, the middle part of OAE 2 corresponding to the plateau phase of the δ13C profile is masked by absence of carbonate, highest TOC values, and high biogenic silica indicating this interval corresponded to a time of highly stressed eutrophic conditions with possible shoaling of the Carbonate Compensation Depth. Above this interval, bulk isotopic results are characterized by a decrease in δ13C values, CaCO3 increases associated with the abundance of opportunist planktonic species and apparently cyclic fluctuations in the absolute abundance of benthic foraminifera. These observations point to dominantly eutrophic conditions likely affected by upwelling of nutrient-rich and δ13C-depleted intermediate water masses.Toward the top of OAE 2 across the C-T boundary interval, the planktonic foraminiferal assemblages show changes in composition with an overall increase in species diversity and continued cyclic fluctuations in absolute abundances. These features coupled with the foraminiferal species-specific δ13C and δ18O patterns reveal that Site U1516 occupied a paleoceanographic setting still affected by eutrophy likely related to enhanced input of nutrients. However, the occurrence of species that occupied relatively deep ecological niches indicates there were also episodes of stability with ecological/thermal stratification in the surface waters. This interval also records the highest sea surface water paleotemperatures values estimated as 20°-23°C based on δ18O values of foraminiferal shell and assuming seawater δ18O values of -1‰V-SMOW. Following the OAE 2 event and associated δ13C excursion, stable conditions in the water column were established.

Ceramics are non-conductive materials, consequently, they cannot be machined directly by any electrical means. If these ceramics contain some small fractions of conductive components, e.g., as pollutant or as glue materials, they perform a certain, really low level, local and accidental flash of some conductivity. The reported research was performed on this border of science, with ceramics that are below the practical and also below the state-of-the-art conductivity level for electrical machining. Even so, micro-Electric Discharge Machining (micro-EDM) for cermaics was developed with varying and many times uncertain success. The paper describes the required, extended measuring system of a micro discharge milling machine equipped with a linear encoder, voltage, and current sensors. With the help of the installed measuring system, the ceramic discharge milling of the Al2O3–TiC mixture was tested, in particular, the process stability, the geometric transient zones and the edges of the machined grooves.

To improve the accuracy of the machined surface produced by an ordinary milling machine, a system called workpiece-referred form accuracy control (WORFAC) was developed and confirmed in diamond turning. However, non-rotational symmetric surface structures, such as V-grooves, pyramid structures, F-theta lenses, and other free form surface cannot be machined by diamond turning. We proposed to improve the form accuracy of a machined surface produced by an ordinary milling machine by diamond fly cutting using controlled cutting with reference surface (CCRS), an in-process measurement and control method. Fly cutting is usually used to manufacture ultra-precision microstructures with nanometric surface roughness and submicrometric form accuracy, without the need for subsequent polishing. Nevertheless, a high level of accuracy has only recently been achieved on ultra-precision milling machines. In this study, we verified the effectiveness of fly cutting with CCRS on an ordinary milling machine. CCRS improves machined surface accuracy by controlling the relative displacement between the tool and workpiece. Diamond fly cutting using CCRS was demonstrated to reduce the table motion error on an ordinary milling machine. The experiments of curved surface machining by uncontrolled machining and control machining were conducted, and the effectiveness of improving the circular are machining accuracy of the general-purpose milling machine was confirmed.

The purpose of this paper is to study the acoustical model of the Thai traditional duct flute, khlui. The relation between physical characteristics of the flute, such as acoustic length, playing hole, temperature effect, etc., and the frequency of each musical note of khluis is investigated. First, the fundamental frequencies of each finger hole of 10 khluis are measured. Then, data between the ideal musical notes and measured notes of khlui are analysed. The results indicate that the production process of khlui still has limits in accuracy. Finally, in order to develop a production standard of the Thai duct flute, a model of khlui is designed. The musical notes of the designed flute are measured. The accuracy of the designed flute is investigated to support the understanding of its acoustical model.

The effects of temperature and current density on the electrodeposition of Si films in molten KF–KCl–K2SiF6 were investigated at 923–1073 K. The peak current density of Si deposition in cyclic voltammetry increased as the temperature rose. The diffusion coefficient of Si (IV) ions measured by chronoamperometry increased through a rise in temperature. The activation energy for the diffusion of Si (IV) ions, 28.0 kJ mol−1, agreed with that for the viscosity of KF and KCl. The crystallinity of the Si films prepared by galvanostatic electrolysis on Ag substrates was measured based on electron backscatter diffraction. The largest crystallite size in the deposited Si increased with the deposition temperature, from a submicron size at 923 K, to several tens of microns at 1073 K. Moreover, even at the same temperature of 1073 K, larger crystallite sizes were observed for the Si deposit at 100 mA cm−2 as compared with that at 300 mA cm−2, which was explained based on the crystallization rate of Si.

Mycobacterium colombiense (M. colombiense) is a member of the Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC). To our knowledge, this is the third case report of an M. colombiense infection. An 80-year-old man, immunocompromised by myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS), developed a skin rash with exfoliation and eruption on his face and scalp. Mycobacteria were detected in pus samples. Broad-range polymerase chain reaction (PCR) revealed the mycobacteria to be M. colombiense. The lesions resolved after daily administration of rifampicin, ethambutol, and clarithromycin. In conclusion, broad-range PCR identified this rare mycobacterium, allowing for the administration of appropriate combination antibiotic therapy.

Planktonic foraminiferal population dynamics and benthic foraminiferal and radiolaria distributions combined with δ13C and δ18O measurements of both bulk carbonate and foraminifera provide clues concerning the paleoceanographic changes across the Cenomanian-Turonian boundary interval and the Oceanic Anoxic Event 2 (OAE 2) at southern high latitudes. Samples analyzed are from Integrated Ocean Discovery Program (IODP) Expedition 369 Site U1516 in the Mentelle Basin (eastern flank of the Naturaliste Plateau, Indian Ocean, SW Australia). Site U1516 was located at 60°–62°S paleolatitude during the mid-Cretaceous, and it is the first high latitude locality in the Southern Hemisphere where planktonic foraminifera are consistently recorded across the OAE 2 interval and its associated positive δ13C excursion. The sedimentary record at Site U1516 consists of a sequence of alternating black, dark greenish gray, and light greenish gray claystone in the Cenomanian that grade to white and light gray calcareous chalk interbedded with chert in the Turonian. The correlation between the δ13C and δ18O profiles at Site U1516 and the European reference section at Eastbourne (England) coupled with the integrated calcareous plankton biostratigraphy and stable isotopic data at Site U1516, indicate that a complete record of OAE 2 at Site U1516 was recovered. Below and in the lower part of OAE 2, the planktonic foraminiferal assemblages are dominated by small-sized (125–38 μm) opportunistic species of Microhedbergella and radiolaria indicating a dominantly eutrophic regime. Above the onset of OAE 2, a trough in the δ13C profile (Plenus Carbon Isotope Event: P-CIE) coinciding with a δ18O increase may correspond to the Plenus Cold Event as observed at low latitudes, although no evidence of cooling is registered in the microfossil assemblages. At Site U1516, the middle part of OAE 2 at the initiation of the plateau phase of the δ13C profile is masked by absence of carbonate, by the highest TOC values, and high biogenic silica (dominance of radiolaria) indicating this interval corresponded to a time of highly stressed eutrophic conditions with possible shoaling of the Carbonate Compensation Depth (CCD). Above this interval, bulk isotopic results yield lower δ13C values, and the CaCO3 increases are associated with the presence of even smaller-sized Microhedbergella showing cyclic fluctuations in absolute abundances with benthic foraminifera indicating dominantly eutrophic conditions likely affected by upwelling of nutrient-rich and δ13C-depleted intermediate water masses. Toward the top of OAE 2 and across the Cenomanian-Turonian boundary interval, the planktonic foraminiferal assemblages show changes in composition (e.g., Microhedbergella is replaced by Muricohedbergella), species occupying relatively deep ecological niches appear and an overall increase in diversity is observed. These features coupled with the foraminiferal species-specific δ13C and δ18O patterns reveal that Site U1516 occupied a paleoceanographic setting still affected by eutrophy likely related to enhanced input of nutrients but with episodes of stability with ecological/thermal separation in the surface waters. This interval also records the highest sea surface water paleotemperatures values estimated as 20°–23°C based on δ18O values of foraminiferal test and assuming seawater δ18O values of −1‰V-SMOW. Mesotrophic to oligotrophic conditions persisted after the OAE 2 and throughout the Turonian as evidenced by a diverse planktonic foraminiferal assemblage with different species occupying separate ecological niches in the mixed layer and thermocline.

The electrodeposition of crystalline Si films on graphite substrates was investigated in KF–KCl molten salts at 1073 K. The optimum K₂SiF₆ concentration and current density to obtain adherent, compact, and smooth films were investigated using surface and cross-sectional scanning electron microscopy. The crystallinity of the deposited Si films was measured by X-ray diffraction and electron backscatter diffraction techniques. By photoelectrochemical measurements in CH₃CN–TBAPF₆–Fc at room temperature, the Si film electrodeposited on the graphite substrate at 100 mA cm−₂ for ₃0 min in molten KF–KCl–K₂SiF₆ (3.5 mol%) was found to be an n-type semiconductor. When SiCl₄ was used as the Si source, the melt with a higher molar ratio of KF deposited smoother Si films on the graphite substrates. The Si films electrodeposited in molten KF–KCl after the introduction of SiCl₄ gas (2.37 mol%) were confirmed to be p-type by photoelectrochemical measurements in CH₃CN–TBAClO₄–EVBr₂. The characteristics of the electrodeposited Si film (p-type or n-type) is determined by the contaminating impurities (B, P, and Al).

This paper introduces a method for in-process tool wear estimation of an air turbine spindle, which is equipped with a rotation control system for ultra-precision milling. Previous investigations revealed that the pressure of the compressed air for supply that is used to control the rotational speed and tool wear at the time when steady wear occurs, maintains a linear relationship when processing SKD61 steel. In addition, the extent to which the supply pressure changed was reduced after chipping occurred. Therefore, the possibility exists that the tool wear can be estimated by obtaining the supply pressure during processing. The purpose of this paper is to propose the evaluation of an in-process tool wear estimation method, and to evaluate its validity. An estimation method is necessary as this would allow the amount of tool wear to be estimated and abnormal wear of occurrence to be detected. Because of the linear relationship between the air pressure and the amount of tool wear, the latter can be estimated by plotting the approximately linear relationship of the tool wear as a function of the air pressure. The proposed estimation method for processing the results obtained for SKD61, is capable of estimating the relative error of the measured value within 0.2 against the estimated value at the time. Furthermore, the occurrence of abnormal wear is determined from the amount of change in the supply pressure. Thus, SKD11 steel was processed for the proposed estimation method to verify whether it is valid for cutting high hardness steel. As a result, for SKD11 the estimation method produced estimation results similar to those obtained for SKD61. Therefore, the suggested estimation method is likely to be effective for high-hardness steel cutting.

The fundamental heat characteristics of a gel actuator that uses nanosheet liquid crystals are studied. Owing to the structural anisotropy of nanosheets, the gel actuator exhibits anisotropic thermo-induced deformation, which makes it possible for the gel actuator to be applied to new materials for molecular robotics. As a fundamental study for the development, a relationship between the contraction length of the gel actuator and water temperature is investigated, and the mapping between them is obtained. Furthermore, using the mapping, fundamental controller methods are proposed to control the contraction length of the gel actuator. Controller performances are assessed through experimental results.

金沢大学理工研究域電子情報学系, Embedded systems have been widely used. In addition, embedded systems have been gradually complicated. It is important to ensure the safety for embedded software by software model checking. We have developed a verification system for verifying embedded assembly programs. It generates exact Kripke structure by exhaustively and dynamically simulating assembly programs, and simultaneously verify it by model checking. In addition, we have introduced undefined values to reduce the number of states in order to avoid the state space explosion. Copyright © 2017 The Institute of Electronics, Information and Communication Engineers., 発行後6か月より出版社版

This research aims to propose the concept of a breathing assist system for saxophone players with breathing problems. First, the quantity of pressure and air flow rate required to play an alto saxophone is determined by certain investigations and experiments. Second, the above-mentioned concept, which works like a pneumatic master-slave amplifier, is proposed and the details of each component are explained.

Further development of solar power depends largely on the availability of inexpensive solar grade silicon. Electrodeposition is a candidate method to produce high purity silicon at a reasonable cost. We have previously studied electrodeposition of silicon from molten calcium chloride based electrolytes and molten fluoride electrolytes. Recent experiments were carried out by using a liquid gallium cathode. The approach is based on studies by Stephen Maldonado and coworkers [1] of electrodeposition of silicon by using a liquid gallium cathode in an organic based electrolyte. Silicon has a low tendency to alloy with gallium. Electrochemical studies and electrolysis to deposit silicon from molten eutectic KCl – KF with 2 mol% K2SiF6 were carried out at 650 oC. Silver wire and glassy carbon rod were used as working electrodes, while glassy carbon rod or silver wire were counter electrodes. A silicon flag reference electrode was used. Liquid gallium in a small alumina tube with tungsten lead was the cathode during electrolysis while glassy carbon or silicon was the anode. Silicon deposition is diffusion controlled on silver cathode, while silicon deposition is charge transfer controlled on liquid gallium cathode. Silicon was found to deposit using a liquid gallium cathode, both during galvanostatic and potentiostatic electrolysis. The current efficiency was found to be quite high, and consistently above 80 %. Some silicon particles were found on top of gallium after cooling down. A much larger amount of gallium was used in recent experiments. This helped to form silicon particles inside the liquid gallium cathode. Silicon was recovered after experiments by physical separation from liquid gallium followed by dissolution of gallium in concentrated HNO3. High purity silicon was obtained. Gallium can form alloys with many impurity elements which may cause a refining effect of silicon. The use of a liquid gallium cathode is promising for the prospect of developing a new process for producing high purity silicon by electrolysis in molten salts. References 1. L. Ma, S. Lee, J. DeMuth, and S. Maldonado, Direct electrochemical deposition of crystalline silicon nanowires at T ≥ 60 o C, RSC Adv., 6, 78818 (2016).

Although blood flows are mostly laminar, transition to turbulence and flow separations are observed at curved vessels, bifurcations, or constrictions. It is known that wall-shear stress plays an important role in the development of atherosclerosis as well as in arteriovenous grafts. In order to help understand the behavior of flow separation and transition to turbulence in post-stenotic blood flows, an experimental study of transitional pulsatile flow with stenosis was carried out using time-resolved particle image velocimetry and a microelectromechanical systems wall-shear stress sensor at the mean Reynolds number of 1750 with the Womersley number of 6.15. At the start of the pulsatile cycle, a strong shear layer develops from the tip of the stenosis, increasing the flow separation region. The flow at the throat of the stenosis is always laminar due to acceleration, which quickly becomes turbulent through a shear-layer instability under a strong adverse pressure gradient. At the same time, a recirculation region appears over the wall opposite to the stenosis, moving downstream in sync with the movement of the reattachment point. These flow behaviors observed in a two-dimensional channel flow are very similar to the results obtained previously in a pipe flow. We also found that the behavior in a pulsating channel flow during the acceleration phase of both 25% and 50% stenosis cases is similar to that of the steady flow, including the location and size of post-stenotic flow separation regions. This is because the peak Reynolds number of the pulsatile flow is similar to that of the steady flow that is investigated. The transition to turbulence is more dominant for the 50% stenosis as compared to the 25% stenosis, as the wavelet spectra show a greater broadening of turbulence energy. With an increase in stenosis to 75%, the accelerating flow is directed toward the opposite wall, creating a wall jet. The shear layer from the stenosis bifurcates as a result of this, one moving with the flow separation region toward the upper wall and the other with the wall jet toward the bottom wall. Low wall-shear stress fluctuations are found at two post-stenotic locations in the channel flow – one immediately downstream of the stenosis over the top wall (stenosis side) inside the flow separation region, and the other in the recirculation region on the bottom wall (opposite side of the stenosis).

This study aims at the development of a control method for reducing motor loads in ultraprecision hybrid electric-pneumatic vertical-positioning devices (HVPDs), such as aspherical lens generators, that work by generating a vertical force via pressure adjustments within the balancing cylinder (BC). We also report on a proposed method for estimating the required vertical direction machining force during material processing that uses a disturbance observer. Furthermore, since our observations of the relationships among BC pressure, linear motor driving current, and vertical force have resulted in the development of a novel control method, we herein present experimental results comparing our proposed and conventional pressure control methods. These results confirm that our proposed method reduces motor loads during material processing and that the use of a disturbance observer allows the external force acting on the stage to be estimated continuously while maintaining high positioning performance.