Study of Black Holes with the ATLAS detector at the LHC

We evaluate the potential of the ATLAS detector for discovering black holes produced at the LHC, as predicted in models with large extra dimensions where quantum gravity is at the TeV scale. We assume that black holes decay by Hawking evaporation to all Standard Model particles democratically. We comment on the possibility to estimate the Planck scale.Comment: 27 page

Development of active icosahedron and its application to virtual clay modeling

We have developed an active link mechanism for physical man-machine interaction. We report an active icosahedron consisting of intelligent cylinders and its application to virtual clay modeling. Intelligent pneumatic cylinders are newly developed to realize active link mechanisms. This cylinder aims at a novel cylinder in which various sensors and control devices are built. Active link mechanisms are highly integrated and enhanced by intelligent cylinders. A control system is built for the active icosahedron. In the control system, a key element is a control program implementing drawing of a virtual model on display and controlling of active links. Virtual clays are deformed by the program based on the apex positions converted from cylinder lengths. The active icosahedron realized dynamic interaction with virtual objects in PC, showing the potential of the devices as a haptic interface.</p

Drell-Yan Production of Z' in the Three-Site Higgsless Model at the LHC

In the Higgsless models, there are extra gauge bosons which keep the perturbative unitarity of a longitudinally polarized gauge boson. The three-site Higgsless model is a minimal Higgsless model and contains three extra gauge bosons, $W^{\prime \pm}$ and Z'. In this paper, we report the discovery potential of the Z' gauge boson via Drell-Yan production with Z'(mass=380, 500, 600 GeV) $\rightarrow WW \rightarrow \ell\nu qq$ ($\ell=e$, $\mu$) at the LHC ($\sqrt{s}$=14 TeV).Comment: 7 pages, 5 figures included. References revise

Diverse metabolites of Dysidea sponges

琉球大学21世紀プログラム「サンゴ礁島嶼系の生物多様性の総合解析」平成18年度成果発表会（平成19年3月10日開催）　招待講演会会場：琉球大学50周年記念館1F，ポスター発表会場：琉球大学大学会館3F研究報告書http://purl.org/coar/resource_type/c_18w

Identification of two pigments as possible antiviral agents from the sponge Amphimedon sp.

As part of our project searching for antiviral molecules, a lipophilic extract of a sponge Amphimedon sp. collected at Iriomote Island was found to show antiviral activity against HCV. After bioassay-guided chromatographic separation, two pigments from the extract, mytiloxanthin (1) and chlorophyllone a (2), were identified as possible antiviral agents.http://purl.org/coar/resource_type/c_650

Basic Studies of the Skin Transplant for Tympanoplasty

1970-09Histological and in vivo examinations of skins were made in order to offer one of the grounds of tympanic skin grafting in the following 14 regions: the external auditory canal (cartilagineous portion), the retroauricular region, the upper arm (medial and lateral parts), the forearm (anterior and posterior parts), the thorax, the back, the abdomen (lateral and hypogastric parts), the inguinal region, the gluteal region, and the thigh (medial and lateral parts). Although considerably different in relation to individuals, both the data show some common characteristic trends of skin in different regious of the body surface irrespective of age. The present data were summarized as follows: L Thick skin pieces can be usually removed from the gluteal region and the abdomen. 2. The distribution of sebaceous glands is relatively scarce in the upper and lower extremities. Accordmgly, irrespective of the methods of transplantation, skin pieces removed from both the extremities are of more advantage in preventing them from infection and crust formation. 3. The distribution of sweat glands in skin pieces is almost uniform in the major regions ot the body surface. Skin pieces removed by the split thickness graft method are evenly available for tympanic grafting, and those from the back and gluteal regions are of more advantage in preventing them from infection because of the deepest presence of sweat glands there. 4. The distribution and thickness of hairs have a relation with the success of tympanic skin grafting. Perforation of skin pieces, to be induced by the thin split thickness graft method, is prevented by using the thick split thickness graft method, due to regeneration from the remaining part of the hair roots in the deeper layer of skin pieces. The possibility of development of cholesteatoma from hair roots is, however, prevented by using the same skins in the full thickness graft method. 5. The extension and distribution of elastic fibers, especially of deep horizontal thick elastic fibers, has a relation with the success of tympanic skin grafting- skin pieces removed from the retroauricular region, the back and the gluteal region are of advantage, because the distribution and extension of deep horizontal thick elastic fibers are found far deeper in those regions than anywhere else. 6. Considering from the abovementioned data, it is probable that skin transplants removed from the thigh, the back, the gluteal and retroauricular regions are theoretically more avaiable as tympanoplastic material, although it is difficult to determine their superiority or inferiority in detail as tympanoplastic material in the skins of the whole body surface examined.departmental bulletin pape

Perceptions of caregivers about health and nutritional problems and feeding practices of infants: a qualitative study on exclusive breast-feeding in Kwale, Kenya

BACKGROUND: Despite the significant positive effect of exclusive breast-feeding on child health, only 32% of children under 6 months old were exclusively breast-fed in Kenya in 2008. The aim of this study was to explore perceptions and feeding practices of caregivers of children under 6 months old with special attention to the caregivers’ indigenous knowledge, perceptions about the health and nutritional problems of their infants, and care-seeking behaviors that affect feeding practices. METHODS: The study was exploratory and used an inductive approach. In all, 32 key informants, including mothers, mothers-in-law, and traditional healers, were interviewed in-depth. The number of participants in free-listing of perceived health problems of babies, in ranking of the perceived severity of these health problems, and in free-listing of food and drink given to children under 6 months old were 29, 28, and 32, respectively. Additionally, 28 babies under 6 months old were observed at home with regard to feeding practices. Data obtained using these methods were triangulated to formulate an ethnomedical explanatory model for mothers who do not practice exclusive breast-feeding. RESULTS: The informants stated that various types of food, drink, and medicine were given to infants under 6 months old. Direct observation also confirmed that 2- to 3-month-old babies were given porridge, water, juice, herbal medicine, and over-the-counter medicine. Mothers’ perceptions of insufficient breast milk production and a lack of proper knowledge about the value of breast milk were identified in key informant interviews, free-listing, and ranking as important factors associating with the use of food and drink other than breast milk; in addition, perceived ill health of babies appears to be associated with suboptimal practice of exclusive breast-feeding. Caregivers used various folk and popular medicines from the drugstore, their own backyard or garden, and traditional healers so that the mother or child would not be exposed to perceived risks during the vulnerable period after birth. CONCLUSIONS: Mothers should be advised during their antenatal and postnatal care about exclusive breast-feeding. This should be done not as a single vertical message, but in relation to their concerns about the health and nutritional problems of their babies

New hennoxazoles from a sponge Polyfibrospongia sp.

A series of hennoxazoles (1, 4-6, 9-11) and miyakolide (8) were isolated from two specimens of the sponge Polyfibrospongia sp. Structures of hennoxazole E (5), hennoxazole A 4-acetate (6), hennoxazole E 4-acetate (10), and 3-dehydrohennoxazole D (11) will be discussed. In addition, the spectral data for hennoxazole F (6) and a diacetate of hennoxazole G (7) are reported in this note.http://purl.org/coar/resource_type/c_650

Translation Inhibiting Steroids from the Gorgonian Isis hippuris

琉球大学21世紀プログラム「サンゴ礁島嶼系の生物多様性の総合解析」平成17年度成果発表会（平成18年3月6日開催）　会場：琉球大学大学会館3階研究報告書http://purl.org/coar/resource_type/c_18w