Swarm robotic network using Lévy flight in target detection problem

One approach in swarm robotics is homogeneous system which is embedded with sensing, computing, mobile and communication components. In this study, a target detection problem, which is one of navigation problems, was employed. Once a robot detects a target, robots immediately communicate with a base station via intermediate relay robots due to the multi-hop transmission of wireless communication. Therefore, this control task is completed with connectivity of the network. In a target detection problem, we must improve the performance of exploration as well as connectivity of the network. This study investigates the performances of the two types of random walk algorithm in navigation while loosely ensuring connectivity of the robotic network based on our previous study.     

Sintering mechanism of hydroxyapatite by addition of lithium phosphate

The sintering mechanism of hydroxyapatite (HAp) by addition of lithium phosphate (Li₃PO₄) has been investigated. Using the X-ray diffraction method, HAp was confirmed to decompose into -Ca₃(PO₄)₂ (-TCP) by addition of Li₃PO₄. The measurement of shrinkage rate by the isothermal firing made it clear that the densification process at the initial stage of sintering took place in the presence of liquid phase. Furthermore, the examination of the phase diagram on the binary system -TCP-Li₃PO₄ revealed that there was an eutectic point at 1010°C in the composition of 60 wt% Li₃PO₄. From these evidences, we concluded that -TCP produced by the decomposition of a part of HAp has formed the liquid phase by reacting with Li₃PO₄ above 1010°C, and that this liquid phase has largely promoted the densification by the rearrangement of HAp particles at the initial stage of sintering.     

Impact of Serum Chemerin Levels on Liver Functional Reserves and Platelet Counts in Patients with Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Obesity-related metabolic abnormalities, including adipokine imbalance and chronic inflammation, are involved in liver carcinogenesis. Chemerin, a novel adipokine, plays a critical role in adipogenesis, energy metabolism, and inflammation. We evaluated the impact of serum chemerin levels on liver functional reserves in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients and on the recurrence and prognosis of HCC. This study included 44 patients with any stage of HCC who underwent curative treatment at Gifu Municipal Hospital (Gifu, Japan) between 2006 and 2007. Recurrence-free survival and overall survival were estimated using the Kaplan-Meier method. Serum albumin levels (Pearson’s correlation coefficient; r = 0.3110, p = 0.0399), platelet counts (r = 0.4159, p = 0.0050), and prothrombin times (r = 0.3775, p = 0.0115) were significantly correlated with serum chemerin levels in patients with HCC, and they were inversely correlated with Child-Pugh scores (r = −0.3732, p = 0.0126), serum alanine aminotransferase levels (r = −0.3864, p = 0.0105), and total bilirubin levels (r = −0.4023, p = 0.0068). Among these variables, a multiple comparison test identified that platelet counts and total bilirubin levels were associated with serum chemerin levels (p < 0.0083). No significant correlation was found between serum chemerin levels and recurrence-free survival (p = 0.3691) or overall survival (p = 0.7916). In HCC patients, serum chemerin concentrations were correlated with liver functional reserves and platelet counts, but not with recurrence or prognosis.     

Investigation and consideration on landslide zoning of multiple slope failures and debris flows of 2014 disaster in Hiroshima,Japan

This study was intended to examine the mechanism of multiple slope failures and debris flows that occurred in the outskirts of Hiroshima on 20th August 2014. A field survey of the mountain stream where large-scale damage was incurred was carried out and the characteristics of debris flows which made serious damages were investigated. There were five findings of this study. (1) The initiation of debris flows was not limited to thin and planar shallow failures, but also showed V or U shapes, where the eroded sediments seemed to be pushed out by artesian water, and the eroded depth exceeded several meters at many locations. (2) There were areas with high permeability, such as faults, fracture zones, and joints in Mt. Abusan. It is inferred that the constantly present groundwater in these areas became artesian water because of a large amount of rainfall in upstream locations. This quickly destabilized the slopes on a large scale. (3) There were at least three estimated debris flows at the mountain stream above Midorigaoka prefectural apartments in Yagi 3-Chome, where the worst damage occurred. The mountain stream near Abu-no-Sato housing complex also had multiple debris flows. Here, the secondary debris flow changed its flow path because of the presence of sediments from an earlier debris flow. (4) The actual volumes of flowed mass were much larger than that predicted at 11 of the 18 mountain streams in Midori-i and Yagi districts. The volume of the mass of five of these mountain streams was more than twice the estimated volume. It is necessary to modify the method of calculating the volume of unstable sediments in the mountain stream. (5) It was found that the devastating damage of buildings and human lives took place in the areas well beyond the special restricted zones. The present method to designate the special restricted zone must be revised considering such problems as the underestimation of the volume of unstable sediments, the assumptions of a single debris flow and on the direction of debris flow, and the effect of the difference on rock and soil types.     

Cancer chemoprevention with green tea catechins by targeting receptor tyrosine kinases

Recent studies indicate that receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs), which play important roles in cell proliferation, are one of the possible targets of green tea catechins (GTCs) in cancer cell growth inhibition. (-)-Epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), the major catechin in green tea, inhibits cell proliferation and induces apoptosis in various types of cancer cells, including colorectal cancer and hepatocellular carcinoma cells, by blocking the activation of the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) family of RTKs. EGCG inhibits the activation of insulin-like growth factor-1 receptor (IGF-1R) and VEGFR2, the other members of the RTK family, and this effect is also associated with the anticancer and chemopreventive properties of this agent. EGCG suppresses the activation of EGFR in part by altering membrane lipid organization and causing the subsequent inhibition of the dimerization and activation of this receptor. Preliminary trials have shown that GTCs successfully prevent the development and progression of precancerous lesions, such as colorectal adenomas, without causing severe adverse effects. The present report reviews evidence indicating that GTCs exert anticancer and chemopreventive effects by inhibiting the activation of specific RTKs, especially EGFR, IGF-1R, and VEGFR2, and concludes that targeting RTKs and their related signaling pathways by using tea catechins could be a promising strategy for the prevention of human cancers.     

Sonochemical decomposition of perfluorooctane sulfonate and perfluorooctanoic acid

Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) are shown to be globally distributed, environmentally persistent, and bioaccumulative. Although the toxicities of these compounds were reported, the cleanup procedure from the environment is not developed because of their inertness. In this report the sonochemical degradations of PFOS and PFOA to the products through the fission of the perfluorocarbon chains were observed and the half-life times of the PFOS and PFOA degradations under an argon atmosphere determined to be 43 and 22 min, respectively. The shortening of perfluorocarbon chain of PFOS and PFOA leads to the lowering of the toxicity in view of the decrease of the persistence, and the technique would contribute to the remediation of the environmental pollution by these compounds.     

Measurement of liquid water content in cathode gas diffusion electrode of polymer electrolyte fuel cell

Water management in cathode gas diffusion electrode (GDE) of polymer electrolyte fuel cell (PEFC) is essential for high performance operation, because liquid water condensed in porous gas diffusion layer (GDL) and catalyst layer (CL) blocks oxygen transport to active reaction sites. In this study, the average liquid water content inside the cathode GDE of a low-temperature PEFC is experimentally and quantitatively estimated by the weight measurement, and the relationship between the water accumulation rate in the cathode GDE and the cell voltage is investigated. The liquid water behavior at the cathode is also visualized using an optical diagnostic, and the effects of operating conditions and GDL structures on the water transport in the cathode GDE are discussed. It is found that the liquid water content in the cathode GDE increases remarkably after starting the fuel cell operation due to the water production at the CL. At a high current density, the cell voltage drops suddenly after starting the operation in spite of a low water content in the cathode GDE. When the GDL thickness is increased, much water accumulates near the cathode CL and the fuel cell shuts down immediately after the operation. In the final section of this paper, the structure of cathode GDL that has several grooves for water removal is proposed to prevent water flooding and improve fuel cell performance. This groove structure is effective to promote the removal of the liquid water accumulated near the active catalyst sites.