Dynamic and static collapse tests of reinforced-concrete columns

The reinforced-concrete column damage pattern differences between static cyclic loading tests and dynamic shaking-table tests were observed. In this study, the spacings of shear reinforcement bars in columns were variable. Four types of shear reinforcement bar spacing are used. As a result of the tests, it was verified that the maximum horizontal strengths of columns, the deformation capacities and the damage patterns were changed with the shear reinforcement bar spacings, and also with testing method differences between statics and dynamics. Furthermore, P-δ effects were discussed.     

Throughput analysis of tandem-type go-back-N ARQ scheme forsatellite communications

The tandem-type go-back-N (GBN) scheme has been proposed for satellite communications to reduce the long roundtrip delay using the onboard processing of satellites. The author considers the exact analysis of the throughput performance of this scheme and its application to a broadcast communications system such as a point-to-multipoint file transfer system. First, the throughput expression for the point-to-point tandem-type GBN scheme is derived. Second, applying the results of this point-to-point tandem-type GBN scheme to a broadcast (point-to-multipoint) communications system, the relationship of the number of receiving stations to the link bit error rate and the roundtrip propagation delay is shown     

Expectations of hospital administrators about administrative functions of nurses

The objective of the present study was to investigate hospital administrator's expectations about the administrative role played by nurses, utilizing functions proposed by the Neoclassical Theory of Administration: planning, organization, direction, and control as theoretical references. An instrument established in TREVIZAN (1989) was applied to 11 hospital administrators. The results showed they expect the four functions to be done by nurses. Therefore, the interaction between nurses and hospital administrators is critical to improve the patient's assistance.     

Tuberous sclerosis associated with renal angiomyolipoma, pulmonary lymphangioleiomyomatosis and subungual fibroma: report of a case

We report a case of tuberous sclerosis associated with bilateral renal angiomyolipomas (AMLs), pulmonary lymphangioleiomyomatosis (LAM) and subungual fibroma of hands and feet. A 42-year-old woman who was diagnosed as tuberous sclerosis at the age of 18 complained of left flank pain and abdominal fullness. Bilateral renal AMLs were pointed out when complete examinations were performed for hypertension at the age of 32. She suffered from severe left flank pain and abdominal distension due to the left renal tumor. Left nephrectomy and excision of the renal hilar tumor were performed. The left renal tumor weighed 1120 g, the perirenal space was filled with the tumor. histopathological diagnosis of the left renal tumor and renal hilar tumor was AML. In our case, bilateral pneumothorax appeared, and chest CT scan revealed bilateral multiple pulmonary cysts. Histopathological diagnosis of pulmonary cysts was LAM. Other complications of our case are intracranial calcification and adenoma sebaceum.     

Direct imaging exposure equipment with high overlay accuracy for flexible substrate in roll‐to‐roll method

In order to fabricate thin‐film transistors on a flexible substrate, it is required to overlay patterns with high alignment accuracy. A polymer film can be deformed greatly and easily through thin‐film transistor fabrication processes because the glass transition point of a polymer film is below the maximum temperature of the processes. Furthermore, low stiffness of a polymer film can cause deformation when the polymer film is loaded on a working holder. These matters make it difficult to make patterns directly on a polymer film with high alignment accuracy. We proposed three concepts that solve three technical issues in order to directly make patterns with high overlay accuracy on a flexible film without a support substrate. We developed roll‐to‐roll exposure equipment with high overlay accuracy for a flexible substrate. Using this equipment, we succeeded to directly make patterns on a PET film, achieving a resolution of less than 6‐μm line and space pattern and an overlay accuracy of less than ±5 μm.     

Electrical properties of chemoreceptor elements in the carotid body

The electrical properties of chemoreceptor afferent nerve fibers and glomus cells and the behavior of cytosolic Ca(2+) in glomus cells are reviewed. While this has not been confirmed, spontaneously depolarizing potentials (SDPs) recorded in a chemoreceptor afferent terminal may be the postsynaptic expression of presynaptic events. Glomus cells, which are presynaptic elements, either depolarized or hyperpolarized in response to natural and chemical stimulation. After-hyperpolarization following an initial depolarization and after-depolarization following an initial hyperpolarization were often seen. When a glomus cell depolarizes, voltage noise increases despite a decrease in input resistance in both intact and denervated carotid bodies. The voltage noise may be "receptor noise" generated in the glomus cell itself. The electrical properties of glomus cells change in the denervated carotid body, which suggests that the chemoreceptor afferent nerve exerts some trophic effect(s) on glomus cells. Hypoxia either increases or decreases cytosolic Ca(2+), while ACh or NaCN induces either an increase or no change in cytosolic Ca(2+) in glomus cells. There are at least two possible explanations for voltage changes in glomus cells: a chemical stimulus first depolarizes the glomus cell and induces Ca(2+) influx to release chemical substances, or a chemical stimulus induces an increase in [Ca(2+)](i) and then hyperpolarizes the glomus cell via potassium influx.     

Rapid prediction of past climate condition from lake sediments by near-infrared (NIR) spectroscopy

This study explored the feasibility of rapid, nondestructive near-infrared (NIR) reflection spectroscopy for the prediction of conventional physical properties, carbon-nitrogen-sulfur (CNS) analysis, and concentration of inorganic components in sediment cores from a brackish lake. A long core sample, which consisted of well-preserved annually formed lamina from Lake Ogawara along the Pacific coast in Aomori Prefecture, northeastern Japan, was used to investigate the past environmental record. The core was previously analyzed for physical properties, CNS, and inorganic components. Calibration models were developed from NIR reflection spectra of 149 core samples. Partial least squares (PLS) analysis provided good regression models between measured and predicted values for water content, total nitrogen (TN), total organic carbon (TOC), total sulfur (TS), Al(2)O(3), S/Al(2)O(3), Fe(2)O(3)/Al(2)O(3), Sc/Al(2)O(3), Cu/Al(2)O(3), and Zn/Al(2)O(3) with coefficients of determination (r(2)) for cross-validation of 0.73, 0.89, 0.88, 0.73, 0.92, 0.81, 0.82, 0.75, 0.82, and 0.82, respectively. The variation of predicted component values as a function of depth showed the same trend as that of conventionally measured values. This study also showed the possibility of NIR spectroscopy as an on-site, rapid analytical tool for the identification of tephra (fragmental material produced by a volcanic eruption regardless of composition, fragment size, or emplacement mechanism), which is important for dating.     

Coronary artery revascularization in an adult with coronary aneurysms probably secondary to childhood Kawasaki disease

Kawasaki disease is an acute febrile illness affecting mainly infants and children. The fatal complication of Kawasaki disease is coronary involvement pertaining to coronary artery aneurysms. Surgical experience of adults that had childhood Kawasaki disease with coronary lesion has been rarely reported. We experienced coronary artery bypass grafting in a 44 year old man with no risk factors for atherosclerosis but with coronary lesions possibly secondary to Kawasaki disease. Coronary artery sequelae of Kawasaki disease may become part of a cause of coronary disease in young adults and we should recognize this condition in such patients with coronary disease but no coronary risk factors.     

Hard X-ray polarization measured with a Compton polarimeter at synchrotron radiation facility

A hard X-ray polarimeter with CdTe detectors has been developed for measurement of the degree of X-ray polarization at synchrotron radiation facilities. It utilizes 90° Compton scattering from the low Z targets. Measurements were performed at both facilities of the beamline BL38B1 in SPring-8 and the beamline BL14A in KEK-PF. The degrees of X-ray polarization for 20 keV X-rays are 99% and 82% at the BL38B1 in SPring-8 and BL14A in KEK-PF, respectively. The polarization degrees in the energy range of 15 and 40 keV correspond to 99.6±0.2% and 96.1±0.2% at the beamline BL38B1 in SPring-8. The analyzing power of the polarimeter was estimated by the Monte Carlo simulation with EGS4. The synchrotron radiation facilities provide highly polarized X-ray beams at energies above 15 keV.     

The direct effect of graft compliance mismatch per se on development of host arterial intimal hyperplasia at the anastomotic interface

To study the direct and sole effect of compliance mismatch on anastomotic intimal hyperplasia of the host arterial wall and to minimize possible confounding factors, dogs with a low thrombotic potential were selected as experimental subjects. Externally supported 6 cm x 5 mm Dacron grafts with a compliance value of approximately 1/300 of the host artery were implanted into the carotid arteries with end-to-end anastomoses on one side and end-to-side anastomoses on the other. The control graft was an autogenous carotid artery segment 4 cm in length transplanted into the femoral artery. Eight cases (24 grafts) were studied for 1 year and three (nine grafts) for 6 months. All were patent throughout the study period except for two noncompliant grafts with end-to-end anastomoses; thrombosis was the documented cause of occlusion. For the patent grafts, follow-up arteriograms showed no progressive narrowing of noncompliant anastomoses. Whether compliant or noncompliant, light microscopy studies showed slight intimal thickening within 1 to 2 mm of the anastomotic line, possibly the result of the normal healing response to stitch and surgical trauma. Quantitatively, 22 measurements representing longitudinal and circumferential thickness of the neointima were taken at each of the 40 patent noncompliant and 22 patent compliant control anastomoses. There was no statistically significant difference in anastomotic neointimal thickness in compliant and noncompliant grafts or for the different implantation periods. These data suggest that graft/host artery compliance mismatch does not cause arterial intimal hyperplasia at the anastomotic interface.