Design and control of noise-induced synchronization patterns

We propose a method for controlling synchronization patterns of limit-cycle oscillators by common noisy inputs, i.e., by utilizing noise-induced synchronization. Various synchronization patterns, including fully synchronized and clustered states, can be realized by using linear filters that generate appropriate common noisy signals from given noise. The optimal linear filter can be determined from the linear phase response property of the oscillators and the power spectrum of the given noise. The validity of the proposed method is confirmed by numerical simulations.Comment: 6 pages, 4 figure

Endolymphatic Sac Tumor, A Patient Report

Endolymphatic sac tumors are rare low malignant neoplasms of the petrous temporal bone, with symptoms referable to auditory, vestibular or facial nerves, which should be strictly discriminated from benign tumors of the temporal bone. Differential diagnosis between both at the early stages of checkup controls the treatment and prognosis. Complete surgical resection is the treatment of choice, which commonly provides long-term control. We have experienced a 48-year-old man with progressive hearing loss, unsteadiness and constant tinnitus. Computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) demonstrated a tumor invading the posterior petrous bone, extending to the posterior fossa. In the course of image diagnosis of his disease, we observed diagnostic efficacy of 3-tesla MRI, which showed excellent lesion visualization even in a small-size endolymphatic sac tumor. The intraoperative pathologic diagnosis was not available

Primary leiomyoma of the bladder

The case presented is of a 47-year-old patient with an extravesical pedunculated bladder leiomyoma, which was difficult to distinguish from a retroperitoneal tumor. Preoperatively, it was suspected to be a retroperitoneal tumor and a laparotomy with tumor resection was performed. lntraoperatively, the bladder and tumor were connected by a cord-like tissue. A retrospective review of preoperative images revealed that cord-like tissue, identified intraoperatively, was also present. Bladder leiomyomas can grow as extravesical pedunculated tumors. Therefore, when the continuity between the bladder and tumor is only a cord-like object, the finding of continuity is useful to diagnose with bladder leiomyoma

FLOW PATTERN AND FRICTION COEFFICIENT OF WATER/NONADECANE- PARTICLE MIXTURE FLOW IN HORIZONTAL AND VERTICAL PIPES

ABSTRACT Cold heat storage utilizing night-time electricity is one of the relevant technologies for the electric load leveling. Latent heat storage system with a large number of small paraffin particles is one of the promising technologies for the cold heat storage system. Small paraffin particles are generated by nozzle injection of liquid paraffin into cold water. Direct heat transfer between the ascending particles and surrounding cold water enhances the storage of latent heat in a short time. Transportation of solid paraffin particles suspended in water should be the best way to transport cold heat, because the density of cold heat stored in water/paraffin-particle mixture is very high. The present paper aims at investigating flow patterns and pressure loss of water/nonadecane-particle mixture flowing in horizontal and vertical pipes. The inner diameter and the average diameter of the nonadecane particle were 20mm and 3.7mm, respectively. Reynolds number, Froude number and volumetric concentration of nonadecane particles were varied in the ranges of 5000≤ Re ≤80000, 1≤ Fr ≤ 260 and 0.02 ≤ Cv ≤ 0.25.We found the following main results: (1) Four flow patterns were observed in the horizontal flow, (a) flow with a stationary particle bed, (b) flow with a sliding particle layer (c) heterogeneous suspension flow an

ファイトレメディエーションニヨルスイシツジョウカ

水は限りある資源であるにもかかわらず、産業の発展、人口増加、都市化により深刻な水質汚染を引き起こすことで使用できる水の量が減少し、世界中の多くの人々が水不足に苦しんでいるのが現状である。限られた水を使い続けていくためには、汚染された水を浄化する技術を開発することが必要である。ファイトレメディエーションは、利便性、低コストおよび操作の容易さで高く評価をうけ、ビオトープ空間としても活用できる優れた水処理技術のひとつである。水質浄化に用いられている植物は、生活型から陸上植物、抽水植物、浮葉植物、沈水植物および浮遊植物にわけられる。また、植物を固定するろ床材は、根を固定するのみならず、微生物の住居となるフィルターの役割を果たす。つまり、懸濁物質や有機物をろ過蓄積し、そこに棲む微生物により分解し、植物に吸収されやすくする。植物の水質浄化機能から、ファイトエクストラクション、ファイトアキュミュレーション、ファイトディグラデーション、ファイトトランスフォーメーション、ファイトボラタリゼーション、ファイトスタビリゼーション、ライゾフィルトレーション、ライゾディグラデーションの8つに分類することができ、それぞれ浄化効率に対して大きく寄与している。植生浄化施法としては、湿地法、浮遊法、水路法および沈水・浮葉植物法があり、実用化されているものもある。1990年代より新たな環境汚染物質としてPPCPs(Pharmaceutical and Personal Care Products)が注目され、すでにいくつかの河川域からこれらの化合物が比較的高濃度で検出されている。著者らはPPCPsの一つであるアセトアミノフェンを、植物を用いて水中から除去することを試みている。今後、PPCPsをはじめ多種多様な汚染物質の水中からの除去法として、ファイトレメディエーションは有益な手段になると考えられる。Water is essential to life, however, millions of people are suffering from a shortage of drinking water. Industrialization, population expansion and unbanization have largely contributed to severe water pollution. because main sources of water pollution can be attributed to the discharge of untreated toxic industial and municipal waste, the dumping of industial effluent and runoff from agricultural fields. In order to reuse the limited available water, many water treatment systems have been developed. Among various available water treatment technologies, phytoremediation is an excellent water treatment system, because of its convenience, lower cost, ease of operation and use of biotope space. In this paper, the characteristics and application of phytoremediation, and the degradation mechanism of contaminants by phytoremediation are reviewed

Potential Genetic Contributions of the Central Nervous System to a Predisposition to Elite Athletic Traits: State-of-the-Art and Future Perspectives

Recent remarkable advances in genetic technologies have allowed for the identification of genetic factors potentially related to a predisposition to elite athletic performance. Most of these genetic variants seem to be implicated in musculoskeletal and cardiopulmonary functions. Conversely, it remains unclear whether functions of the central nervous system (CNS) genetically contribute to elite athletic traits, although the CNS plays critical roles in exercise performance. Accumulating evidence has highlighted the emerging implications of CNS-related genes in the modulation of brain activities, including mental performance and motor-related traits, thereby potentially contributing to high levels of exercise performance. In this review, recent advances are summarized, and future research directions are discussed in regard to CNS-related genes with potential roles in a predisposition to elite athletic traits

Efficacy and Safety of Transurethral Enucleation with Bipolar Energy for Treatment of Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia: Does Prostate Volume Matter?

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