An object-oriented database system Jasmine: implementation,application, and extension

We have devised an object oriented DBMS called Jasmine for advanced applications. The paper describes the implementation, application and extension of Jasmine in detail. We focus on the impact of the design of its object oriented model and language on database implementation technology. We describe what part of traditional relational database technology we extend to handle object oriented features such as object identifiers, complex objects, class hierarchies, and methods. We introduce nested relations to efficiently store and access clustered complex objects. We use hash based methods to efficiently access nonclustered complex objects. We provide user defined functions directly evaluated on page buffers to efficiently process method invocation. We devise object oriented optimization of queries including class hierarchies, complex objects, and method invocation. We incorporate dedicated object buffering to allow efficient access to objects through object identifiers. We also describe nontrivial applications of Jasmine and discuss the validity of object oriented databases. We focus on a constraint management facility, which can be implemented by taking advantage of the extensibility of Jasmine. The facility includes constraint rules, called design goals, for automatic database population required by engineering applications. Finally, we describe a view facility for schema integration also needed by engineering applications in distributed environments. We focus on how we extend Jasmine to implement the facility     

Development of a simple method to evaluate medical staff radiation dose and its application to a software system supporting PET facility operation

In recent years, positron-emitting labelled radiopharmaceuticals have come to be used in conjunction with positron emission tomography (PET) in various clinical diagnoses. Radiation exposure of the medical staff is a key issue in the design of PET facilities intended to handle large numbers of persons for PET diagnosis. As a first step, the radiation dose to individuals who received radiopharmaceuticals was calculated using a mathematical phantom model and the EGS4 electromagnetic cascade Monte Carlo code and MCNP Monte Carlo code. Dose rate behind a lead shield was also calculated for various lead thicknesses. The radiation dose distribution around a syringe containing a positron emitter was calculated. The calculated dose distributions were fitted to polynomial equations. These calculations were evaluated against measurements. The second step was to evaluate medical staff dose at a specified time by superimposing dose distribution from each person who received radioisotopes taking into account radioactive decay. In this way, we developed software to support PET facility operation, namely, planning, prediction, control of medical staff dose and facility operation. This system was also designed to schedule daily radiopharmaceuticals production and to manage radioactive wastes by taking decay time into account.     

Surface modifications of aligned carbon nanotube thin films by Argon‐ion sputtering

To use carbon nanotubes (CNTs) as anode material for the solid‐state thin‐film Li‐ion rechargeable battery, the tubes are preferred to be aligned perpendicular to a substrate and the CNT thin film to have a smooth surface. Using an Ar‐ion sputtering technique, we carried out the surface modifications of the CNT thin film prepared by the SiC surface decomposition method. In order to evaluate the surface modification, the surface and cross section of the modified CNT film were investigated by field‐emission scanning electron microscopy and atomic force microscopy. © 2012 Institute of Electrical Engineers of Japan. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Three-dimensional display of X-ray CT image

Multi-slice images obtained by X-ray CT essentially have a three-dimensional data structure. They are useful for diagnosis and treatment through three-dimensional display. Surface display of organs is an effective three-dimensional display. However, although completely automatic processing of contour extraction is desirable it is also very difficult. For surface display, it is very important to extract contours of organs. Accordingly, using an interactive method, we have developed an algorithm for accurate three-dimensional display after extracting images of the cerebral ventricle. Satisfactory results have been obtained.     

Morphological and functional factors predicting bladder deterioration after spinal cord injury

PURPOSE: We investigated factors predictive of morphological and functional deterioration of the bladder in patients with spinal cord injury. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Urological evaluation, including excretory urography and urodynamic studies, was performed once a year in 66 patients. Bladder compliance was used as an index of bladder function. RESULTS: Mean age of the patients with worsening bladder form and function was significantly greater than that of those with no change. In patients with worsening bladder function intermittent catheterization was performed less frequently and mean catheterization volume was greater compared to those with improvement and no change. Catheterization was less frequent and at long intervals in patients with a high urethral closure pressure. CONCLUSIONS: High storage pressure due to a high urethral closure pressure is believed to cause deterioration of bladder form and function.     

Effect of addition of Tween 80 and potassium dihydrogenphosphate to basal medium on the isolation of marine eukaryotes, thraustochytrids

Tween 80, KH(2)PO(4) and tomato juice were added to basal medium for the isolation of thraustochytrids. By the addition of Tween 80 and KH(2)PO(4), the number of thraustochytrids isolated from seawater increased. KH(2)PO(4) and Tween 80 were considered to be useful for isolating thraustochytrids.     

Estimation of depth and volume for defects by eddy current testing

The full‐length inspection of tubes in steam generator to detect defects using the signal measured by ECT (eddy current testing) is performed in a PWR (pressurized water reactor) plant. According to the technological advances of NDE (non‐destructive examination), an estimation of defect shape is required. In this study, by characterization of ECT signals using imitative defects, we express the relation with defect shape in approximate functions, and estimate the defect shape using this function. In our estimation of the depth and volume of defects, the depth estimation error was reduced to 19.7% or less and the volume estimation error to 27.2% or less. © 1999 Scripta Technica, Electr Eng Jpn, 127(4): 29–38, 1999     

Economic analysis of operating reserve using forecasted variable renewable generation

The installed capacity of variable renewable generation (VRG) has been rapidly increasing in Japan. Consequently, there is concerned shortage of operating reserve, which compensates demand and supply imbalance. In this study, we analyze the economy of operating reserve by supply‐demand simulation in Tohoku area. First, we use historical weather data to calculate forecast and actual output of VRG, and analyze characteristics of prediction errors. Second, we calculate operating cost (fuel cost and start‐up cost and sodium‐sulfur battery cost and lithium‐ion battery cost) by using of unit commitment and economic load dispatch. Finally, operating reserve cost is derived by operating cost, and analyze economic characteristics. As a result, it became clear that operating reserve cost is (1) having different cost for each month, (2) depends on fleet of thermal generation on grid, and (3) amount of VRG prediction error and characteristic of overprediction/underprediction.     

Effect of Tween 80 on the growth, lipid accumulation and fatty acid composition of Thraustochytrium aureum ATCC 34304

Thraustochytrium aureum ATCC 34304 was grown in the presence and absence of polyoxyethylene sorbitan monooleate (Tween 80). The aim of this work was to obtain basic knowledge about the effect of Tween 80 on growth, lipid accumulation and fatty acid composition in T. aureum. The addition of Tween 80 to a culture medium significantly enhanced the growth of T. aureum, and the biomass increased with an increase of Tween 80 content. Total lipid content and total fatty acid content were significantly higher in 1.0% Tween 80 in comparison with the control (absence of Tween 80). The fatty acid profile showed that the content of C18:1n-9 (oleic acid) significantly increased as a result of the addition of Tween 80. These results indicated that part of the Tween 80 added to the medium was utilized as a carbon source or that the oleate included in Tween 80 was directly incorporated into T. aureum cells as a fatty acid. Neither the DHA content nor the percentage of DHA did not change in spite of the addition of Tween 80. However, the DHA yield significantly increased because the biomass increased due to the addition of Tween 80.