A holonic control system based on a universal learning network

A new control method is presented using the holonic concept on a universal learning network (ULN). The holonic concept was proposed by Arthur Koestler in 1905. Its aim is to harmonize entire systems with partial systems that have hierarchal structures. On the other hand, a ULN that models and controls large-scale complicated systems such as industrial plants and, economic, social, and life phenomena is proposed. In this paper, a holonic control system based on the holonic concept and ULN is presented. From simulation results from a nonlinear crane system, it has been proved that holonic control can harmonize the system rather than optimize it, which used to be the conventional method in control engineering.     

New concept bioceramics composed of octacalcium phosphate (OCP) and dicarboxylic acid-intercalated OCP via hydrothermal hot-pressing

Octacalcium phosphate (OCP) and adipic acid-intercalated complexed OCP (Adi-OCP) were synthesized. Moreover, we made ceramic bodies out of them through a hydrothermal hot-pressing (HHP) method. Characteristic features of both the powder and ceramics were investigated by the X-ray diffraction method (XRD). Surface morphology of the ceramics was observed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Density, compressive strength and pore size distribution of the ceramics were measured. Crystalline structure of the newly developed OCP ceramics had no phase transformation from the starting materials. Moreover, the newly developed OCP ceramics had good mechanical properties only through the HHP treatment with a temperature as low as 110 °C. In order to evaluate bioactivity, the ceramics were immersed in simulating body fluid (SBF). It was predicted that OCP and Adi-OCP had better bioactivity than that of conventional HAp ceramics.     

Comparative studies of circulating KL-6, type III procollagen N-terminal peptide and type IV collagen 7S in patients with interstitial pneumonitis and alveolar pneumonia

KL-6, a MUC1 mucin preferentially expressed in regenerating type 2 pneumocytes, has been reported to be a sensitive serum marker for evaluating the disease activity of interstitial pneumonitis (IP). Type III procollagen N-terminal peptide (PIIIP) and type IV collagen 7S (7S collagen) have also been reported to be useful in the serological evaluation of the activity. Their levels were measured and their serodiagnostic values were compared simultaneously in patients with IP and alveolar pneumonia. The study population was 45 patients with IP and 12 patients with alveolar pneumonia. Serum KL-6 levels were measured by a specific enzyme immunoassay, and both serum PIIIP and 7S collagen concentrations by their correspondent radioimmunoassay kits. There were no significant difference of serum C-reactive protein level, which was evaluated as an indicator of inflammatory process, between IP and alveolar pneumonia patients. In IP, the abnormally elevated rate of KL-6 [80% (36/45)] was significantly higher than those of PIIIP [40% (18/45)] and 7S collagen [40% (18/45)]. In alveolar pneumonia, the rate of KL-6 [0% (0/12)] was significantly lower than those of PIIIP [33% (4/12)] and 7S collagen [25% (3/12)]. There were no significant correlations among serum levels of the markers. These observations indicate that the serodiagnostic value of KL-6 for IP is superior to that of PIIIP and 7S collagen, and that KL-6 has a characteristic to discriminate IP from alveolar pneumonia.     

Computational simulation of three-dimensional neck propagation in polymeric specimens under tension and hybrid identification of constitutive equation

The three-dimensional neck propagation behavior of a glassy polymer under tension, which obeys a constitutive equation based on the molecular chain network theory, was investigated numerically. An experimental observation of tension in polycarbonate (PC) specimens was performed. A hybrid identification procedure of the parameters in the constitutive equation was developed by employing the least mean squares method with an evaluation function which is defined by the square of the difference of the computational and experimental results for nominal stress at specific deformation stages. Application of the proposed procedure to PC led to a very smooth convergence process and accurate results. The validity of the results was also examined through a comparison of the calculated lateral contractions of the specimens at different points in different stages of the deformation with those obtained by experiments.     

A survey of usability capability maturity models: implications for practice and research

Improving the position and effectiveness of user-centred design (UCD) in software and product development is a challenge in many companies. One step towards improvements is to carry out a usability capability maturity (UCM) assessment to evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of a development organisation in UCD. While several diverse UCM models have been introduced, little research has been published in the public domain on these models. The paper aims to fill this gap by analysing the main features of the models. The results show that most models represent different approaches - although some of them have the same roots - meaning that understanding one model is not enough to understand the basics of another model. All models can be used for examining the status of UCD in individual development projects. In addition, models provide various means for assessment of the status of UCD in other organisational areas. The level of documentation of models varies a lot, and very few empirical research results exist. Based on the results, implications for practice and research are suggested.     

A class of distortionless codes designed by Bayes decision theory

The problem of distortionless encoding when the parameters of the probabilistic model of a source are unknown is considered from a statistical decision theory point of view. A class of predictive and nonpredictive codes is proposed that are optimal within this framework. Specifically, it is shown that the codeword length of the proposed predictive code coincides with that of the proposed nonpredictive code for any source sequence. A bound for the redundancy for universal coding is given in terms of the supremum of the Bayes risk. If this supremum exists, then there exists a minimax code whose mean code length approaches it in the proposed class of codes, and the minimax code is given by the Bayes solution relative to the prior distribution of the source parameters that maximizes the Bayes risk     

Experimental results with mobile antennas having cross-polarizationcomponents in urban and rural areas

The receiving performance of mobile antenna systems that have vertical and horizontal elements at the 920-MHz band has been investigated by measurements in both rural and urban areas in Japan. Three types of inverted-F antennas for a car and three types of antenna elements, a monopole, a bent-slot and an inverted-F antenna, for portable equipment were used in the experiments. The average received power and its probability density function are obtained as the parameter to evaluate the performance of antenna systems. The performances of the bent-slot antenna system for portable equipment and the inverted-F antenna system mounted on a car are compared with those of the monopole or dipole antenna systems used as reference antennas. A notable increase in the average received power has been observed in operation in an urban area where the field distributes randomly and consists of cross-polarized components     

Oxidative stress-dependent inhibition of yeast cell growth by farnesylamine and its possible relation to amine oxidase in the mitochondrial fraction

Among various analogs of the isoprenoid farnesol (FOH), farnesylamine (FNH2) inhibited the growth of the budding yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae by accelerating cellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation. Unlike the case with FOH, however, FNH2 did not cause mitochondrial transmembrane potential (mtDeltaPsi) hyperpolarization so that FNH2-treated cells were not protected against ROS production by inhibiting the proton pumping function of mitochondrial F(O)F1-ATPase. FNH2 promoted ROS generation even in cells of a respiration-deficient mutant, indicating a yeast metabolic pathway other than mitochondrial electron transport as the origin of ROS. FNH2 oxidase activity was detected in the yeast mitochondrial fraction, which produces hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) in the reaction with either FNH2 or geranylgeranylamine (GGNH2), in addition to polyamine oxidase activity specific for spermine. GGNH2 also exhibited the growth inhibitory effect with the accompanying induction of ROS generation, while such an activity was not detected with any of the polyamines tested or geranylamine. FNH2 oxidase, which was sensitive to a typical copper-chelating agent, diethyldithiocarbamic acid (DDC), could be solubilized with Triton X-100, and detected as a single band upon activity staining with FNH2 but not with spermine in polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. FNH2-treated cells were partly protected against ROS production by the additional supplementation of DDC in the medium. Our results suggest the involvement of H2O2 production due to direct oxidation of FNH2 by copper amine oxidase in oxidative stress-dependent inhibition of yeast cell growth.     

Morphological control of laser-synthesized silicon nanoparticles

Size and crystallinity controlled silicon nanoparticles were prepared by a laser ablation, in situ annealing and mobility size-selection with a differential mobility analyzer (DMA). The shape and crystal structure of generated particles were observed by a transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Both densification of agglomerates and crystal growth of the particles were observed. The size of silicon primary particle was increased by the annealing, and the uniformity of the particle classified at 10 nm was improved as a result.     

Evidence for an initiation site for hen lysozyme folding from the reduced form using its dissected peptide fragments

We prepared two dissected fragments of hen lysozyme and examinedwhether or not these two fragments associated to form a native-likestructure. One (Fragment I) is the peptide fragment Asn59–homoserine-105containing Cys64–Cys80 and Cys76–Cys94. The other(Fragment II) is the peptide fragment Lys1–homoserine-58connected by two disulfide bridges, Cys6–Cys127 and Cys30–Cys115,to the peptide fragment Asn106–Leu129. It was found thatthe Fragment I immobilized in the cuvette formed an equimolarcomplex with Fragment II (K_d = 3.3x10^–4 M at pH 8 and25°C) by means of surface plasmon resonance. Moreover, fromanalyses by circular dichroism spectroscopy and ion-exchangechromatography of the mixture of Fragments I and II at pH 8under non-reducing conditions, it was suggested that these fragmentsassociated to give the native-like structure. However, the mutantFragment I in which Cys64–Cys80 and Cys76–Cys94are lacking owing to the mutation of Cys to Ala, or the mutantfragment in which Trp62 is mutated to Gly, did not form thenative-like species with Fragment II, because the mutant FragmentI derived from mutant lysozymes had no local conformation dueto mutations. Considering our previous results where the preferentialoxidation of two inside disulfide bonds, Cys64–Cys80 andCys76–Cys94, occurred in the refolding of the fully reducedFragment I, we suggest that the peptide region correspondingto Fragment I is an initiation site for hen lysozyme folding.