PARADOX BROUGHT FROM VARIOUS MEANINGS OF “COMPACT VILLAGES” AND “COMPACT PLUS NETWORK” POLICY

国土計画における「コンパクト＋ネットワーク」政策の下，非都市部における生活の持続可能性を担保するために始まった小さな拠点形成に対し，選定の統一的基準は政府から未だ示されていない．本研究は客観的な小さな拠点選定を可能とするため，その選定手法を提案した上で，小さな拠点選定の試行を行った．その結果，選定基準に施設立地等「モノ」に加え住民活動等「コト」を採用する可能性を示した上で，選定基準の違いが小さな拠点選定結果を変化させ施設立地や機能の面で多義性を生じさせることを明らかにした．特に「交通ネットワーク」に着目するとその改善が全ての小さな拠点に福音をもたらすのではなくむしろ選別が進むという，「コンパクト＋ネットワーク」政策上のパラドクスの存在可能性を指摘した． “Compact Villages” have been set in rural areas under the “Compact plus Network” of national land policy. However, the government has not indicated how to choose Compact Villages. This study was undertaken to ascertain suitable locations for Compact Villages and to consider how to choose Compact Villages. From our analyses, we identified the possibility that not only a distribution of daily facilities, but also the social capital produced by residents can maintain standards. We presented various meanings of Compact Villages occurring from variation of the function and distribution of daily facilities produced by differences of chosen standards. Especially, the improvements of road network infrastructure will not bring benefits to all Compact Villages. Rather, it will promote the selection of fewer Compact Villages. This suggests that policy of “Compact plus Network” may have paradox

A new crystal plasticity constitutive equation based on crystallographic misorientation theory

Since plastic deformation of polycrystal sheet metal is greatly affected by its initial and plastic deformed textures, multi-scale finite element (FE) analysis based on homogenization with considering micro-polycrystal morphology is required [1]. We formulated a new crystal plasticity constitutive equation to introduce not only the effect of crystal orientation distribution, but also the size of crystal grain and/or the effect of crystal grain boundary for the micro-FE analysis. The hardening evolution equation based on strain gradient theory [2], [3] was modified to introduce curvature of crystal orientation based on crystallographic misorientation theory. We employed two-scale structure, such as a microscopic polycrystal structure and a macroscopic elastic/plastic continuum. Our analysis code predicts the plastic deformation of polycrystal metal in the macro-scale, and simultaneously the crystal texture and misorientation evolutions in the micro-scale. In this study, we try to reveal the relationship between the plastic deformation and the microscopic crystal misorientation evolution by using the homogenized FE procedure with the proposed crystal plasticity constitutive equation. The crystallographic misorientation evolution, which affects on the plastic deformation of FCC polycrystal metal, was investigated by using the multi-scale FE analysis. We confirmed the availability of our analysis code employing the new constitutive equation through the comparison of a uniaxial tensile problem with the numerical result and the experimental one

広域的視点から見る断片化された都市計画の実態：市町村マスタープラン連結図より

現在日本において人口減少社会に対応した「コンパクト＋ネットワーク」を実現するための都市計画が進んでいる．また地方分権の進展とともに市町村単位の都市計画が進められているが，その計画は広域的な視点から見たときの整合性(広域的整合性)を確保できているか疑問が残る．本研究は市町村における都市計画が広域的整合性を確保できているのか把握することを目的とする．具体的な方法として，市町村MPで記載されている将来都市構造図に着目し，県域レベルの市町村MP連結図を作成することで都市計画の広域的整合性を把握した．作成した連結図から，市町村の「コンパクト＋ネットワーク」を実現するための都市計画は広域的整合性を確保できておらず，各市町村MPが断片化していることを明らかにし，各市町村で都市計画を一致させる必要性を示唆した． Recently, a plan based on the concept of “Compact and networks” is progressing in societies experi-encing a population decline. However, planning has been promoted in municipalities because of the influ-ence of decentralization. Therefore, it remains doubtful whether city planning has consistency from a wide viewpoint. The purpose of this study is examination, from a wide viewpoint, whether a municipal master plan has consistency. To achieve that purpose, we create a consolidated map of a municipal master plan by particularly addressing the future urban structure in a municipal master plan. Because of the con-solidated map of the municipal master plan, results show that each regional plan is fragmented. Addition-ally, results suggest that it is necessary to match the plan in each municipalit

Empirical Calculation Method of Bypass Leakage in Scroll Compressors

This study presents an empirical method to calculate the bypass leakage mass flow rate along the tip seal in a scroll compressor. The leakage flows through small axial and radial clearances between the orbiting and fixed scrolls of scroll compressor were previously studied by Ishii et al. In these earlier studies, the pressure decay in the pressurized vessel due to leakage through the axial and radial clearances was measured using a maximum pressure of 3 MPa for CO2 and 0.6 MPa for R22. The Darcy-Weisbach equation for incompressible, viscous fluid flow through the thin rectangular cross-section was applied to calculate the leakage mass flow rate that matched the pressure decay characteristics. The empirical friction factors were determined and plotted on a Moody diagram. As a result, the empirical friction factors for both axial and radial clearance leakage flows have been determined and shown to take on essentially the same value for both CO2 and R22, despite the significantly different working pressures. In contrast, the flow patterns in bypass leakage along the tip seal are so complicated that not even the leakage characteristics are known definitively. No method exists for calculating the bypass leakage mass flow rate. In the present study, a bypass leakage model was constructed, compatible with a production-type scroll compressor with a large cooling capacity. A similar test of the pressure decay in the pressurized vessel due to bypass leakages were conducted with the refrigerant gas R410A. The measured pressure decay characteristics were then simulated by the Darcy-Weisbach equation with the empirical friction factors from our previous study for the leakage flow through the axial clearance. In the present simulations of the measured pressure decay, the complicated flow patterns through bypass clearances were classified into two representative rectangular thin cross-section leakage passes, one with an equivalent width and the other with an equivalent length. Empirical friction factor values for the equivalent pass width and length were determined to match the measured pressure decays. As a result, the calculation of the bypass leakage flow rate along the tip seal in scroll compressors can be accomplished using a simple scheme in terms of the equivalent pass width and equivalent pass length for two representative leakage passes forming a thin rectangular cross-section and applying empirically determined friction factors,

都市計画マスタープランにみる市町村間交通軸の整合性 : 交通インフラの整備状況に着目して

日本は人口減少・高齢化が進んでおり，地方都市では生活サービス水準の確保のための市町村間ネットワークの構築が望まれている．その構築のためには市町村間で計画が整合していることが重要である．そこで本研究は市町村都市計画マスタープランにおける交通軸がどのような市町村間で整合していないのか，市町村間の関係や交通インフラ等に着目して把握することを目的とする．栃木県を対象に分析した結果，1) 鉄道を市町村間の交通軸として位置付けていない市町村が3割存在すること，2) 市町村間で位置付けが整合していない交通軸は3分の2程度存在すること，3) 計画が整合していない拠点間ほど公共交通が存在しない傾向にあること，4) 2桁及び3桁県道，市道，計画中の道路等において計画が整合していない傾向にあること，がわかった

Molecular imaging analysis of microvesicular and macrovesicular lipid droplets in non‑alcoholic fatty liver disease by Raman microscopy

Predominant evidence of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the accumulation of excess lipids in the liver. A small group with NAFLD may have a more serious condition named non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). However, there is a lack of investigation of the accumulated lipids with spatial and molecular information. Raman microscopy has the potential to characterise molecular species and structures of lipids based on molecular vibration and can achieve high spatial resolution at the organelle level. In this study, we aim to demonstrate the feasibility of Raman microscopy for the investigation of NAFLD based on the molecular features of accumulated lipids. By applying the Raman microscopy to the liver of the NASH model mice, we succeeded in visualising the distribution of lipid droplets (LDs) in hepatocytes. The detailed analysis of Raman spectra revealed the difference of molecular structural features of the LDs, such as the degree of saturation of lipids in the LDs. We also found that the inhomogeneous distribution of cholesterol in the LDs depending on the histology of lipid accumulation. We visualised and characterised the lipids of NASH model mice by Raman microscopy at organelle level. Our findings demonstrated that the Raman imaging analysis was feasible to characterise the NAFLD in terms of the molecular species and structures of lipids

Assessment of Ultra-Early-Stage Liver Fibrosis in Human Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease by Second-Harmonic Generation Microscopy

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is associated with the chronic progression of fibrosis. In general, the progression of liver fibrosis is determined by a histopathological assessment with a collagen-stained section; however, the ultra-early stage of liver fibrosis is challenging to identify because of the low sensitivity in the collagen-selective staining method. In the present study, we demonstrate the feasibility of second-harmonic generation (SHG) microscopy in the histopathological diagnosis of the liver of NAFLD patients for the quantitative assessment of the ultra-early stage of fibrosis. We investigated four representative NAFLD patients with early stages of fibrosis. SHG microscopy visualised well-matured fibrotic structures and early fibrosis diffusely involving liver tissues, whereas early fibrosis is challenging to be identified by conventional histopathological methods. Furthermore, the SHG emission directionality analysis revealed the maturation of each collagen fibre of each patient. As a result, SHG microscopy is feasible for assessing liver fibrosis on NAFLD patients, including the ultra-early stage of liver fibrosis that is difficult to diagnose by the conventional histopathological method. The assessment method of the ultra-early fibrosis by using SHG microscopy may serve as a crucial means for pathological, clinical, and prognostic diagnosis of NAFLD patients

Cast: a novel protein of the cytomatrix at the active zone of synapses that forms a ternary complex with RIM1 and munc13-1

The cytomatrix at the active zone (CAZ) has been implicated in defining the site of Ca2+-dependent exocytosis of neurotransmitter. We have identified here a novel CAZ protein of ∼120 kD from rat brain and named it CAST (CAZ-associated structural protein). CAST had no transmembrane segment, but had four coiled-coil domains and a putative COOH-terminal consensus motif for binding to PDZ domains. CAST was localized at the CAZ of conventional synapses of mouse brain. CAST bound directly RIM1 and indirectly Munc13-1, presumably through RIM1, forming a ternary complex. RIM1 and Munc13-1 are CAZ proteins implicated in Ca2+-dependent exocytosis of neurotansmitters. Bassoon, another CAZ protein, was also associated with this ternary complex. These results suggest that a network of protein–protein interactions among the CAZ proteins exists at the CAZ. At the early stages of synapse formation, CAST was expressed and partly colocalized with bassoon in the axon shaft and the growth cone. The vesicles immunoisolated by antibassoon antibody–coupled beads contained not only bassoon but also CAST and RIM1. These results suggest that these CAZ proteins are at least partly transported on the same vesicles during synapse formation

Crystallization and preliminary X-ray analysis of salicylate hydroxylase from Pseudomonas putida S-1

金沢大学自然科学研究科　　金沢大学理工研究域自然システム学系Apo-salicylate hydroxylase from Pseudomonas putida S-1 has been crystallized by the dialysis method, using ammonium sulfate as the precipitant. The crystals belong to hexagonal space group P62 or P64 with unit cell dimensions of a = b = 142.8 Å and c = 63.8 Å, and diffract X-rays at higher than 3.5 Å resolution. A heavy-atom derivative has been prepared by soaking a crystal in an ammonium sulfate solution containing p-chloromercuriphenylsulfonate