Seismic Damage Assessment of RC Structures using Different Hysteretic Models

Estimation of seismic damage of a structure varies depending on the assumed hysteretic rules and input excitations due to indices being calculated from earthquake response time histories. In this study, effects of the different hysteretic models on damage indices were studied. First, the response of RC bridge piers during earthquakes was calculated using different hysteretic models and input motions. Then, seismic damage was evaluated by 1) a damage index based on a linear combination of the maximum deformation ratio and the energy dissipation during cyclic loadings, and 2) damage spectra of damage index, ductility and absorbed hysteretic energy for structures with various natural periods. Results showed that the non-degrading maximum value directed model was accurate enough for seismic damage analysis while the bilinear model underestimated damage because of its linear response to the low intensity cyclic loadings. The maximum value directed model was also needed to predict the damage index from the maximum velocity or the spectral intensity of the input motions

A Design Method for Pin Holding Type Jig

Multi-item flexible manufacturing systems have been spread to correspond the short life-cycle and the diversification of products. Part handling plays an important role to operate multi-functional robot efficiently in these systems, and many jigs are widely used to hold a part. They should be exchanged at once according to changing products. In this paper, we propose a pin jig which holds a part with two pins, and design method of the position, length and diameter of those pins for a cylindrical part. This jig has the following characteristics. As a surface of the jig is inclined to use gravity, the part can be fixed without any external forces. Therefore the structure of jig becomes simple, and loading and unloading of a part becomes easy for a robot hand

A Fast Simulation Method Using SPH and Wavelet for Turbulent Flow

20th International Conference on Artificial Reality and Telexiste+G25+H25:J25+H25:H25:S25This paper presents a fast simulation method for turbulent flow which uses a particle method and wavelet analysis. To simulate fluid flow, the method uses smoothed particle hydrodynamics (SPH), which discretizes the fluid into a collection of particles, and detects regions where turbulent flow will occur by using wavelet analysis without a spatial grid. By taking the curl of wavelet noise, the turbulent flow is then appended as a divergence-free turbulence velocity field. Additionally, by using a particle splitting, which characterize the vortex features of turbulence, a sub-particle-scale representation of turbulent flow is proposed. Implementing almost all processes on a graphics processing unit (GPU), simulations are performed in near real tim

ジカコツ オ モチイタ サイナス リフト ノ ジュツシキ ト ヨゴ ニツイテ

Treatment of the atrophic edentulous posterior maxilla with implant supported prosthesis is often difficult, because bone volume is insufficient and the bone quality is poor due to resorption of the alveolar ridge and due to increasing pneumatization of the maxillary sinus. Internal augmentation of the maxillary premolar and molar region (sinus floor elevation) was introduced to provide appropriate amounts of bone in a severely absorbed maxilla. Sinus floor elevation became widely accepted as a routine method to improve the amount of bone volume before implant placement. We applied this procedure for patients with atrophic edentulous posterior maxilla from 2000, and we treated the patients in order to restoration of mastication function in safety. In this paper, we give an explanation of operative procedure of sinus floor elevation with autogenous bone for details, and we also comment on the other graft materials, complication of the sinus floor elevation and resorption of autogneous bone grafted on sinus floor

Thioredoxin interacting protein protects mice from fasting induced liver steatosis by activating ER stress and its downstream signaling pathways

Under normal conditions, fasting results in decreased protein disulfide isomerase (PDI) activity and accumulation of unfolded proteins, leading to the subsequent activation of the unfolded protein response (UPR)/autophagy signaling pathway to eliminate damaged mitochondria. Fasting also induces upregulation of thioredoxin-interacting protein (TXNIP) expression and mice deficient of this protein (TXNIP-KO mice) was shown to develop severe hypoglycemia, hyperlipidemia and liver steatosis (LS). In the present study, we aimed to determine the role of TXNIP in fasting-induced LS by using male TXNIP-KO mice that developed LS without severe hypoglycemia. In TXNIP-KO mice, fasting induced severe microvesicular LS. Examinations by transmission electron microscopy revealed mitochondria with smaller size and deformities and the presence of few autophagosomes. The expression of beta-oxidation-associated genes remained at the same level and the level of LC3-II was low. PDI activity level stayed at the original level and the levels of p-IRE1 and X-box binding protein 1 spliced form (sXBP1) were lower. Interestingly, treatment of TXNIP-KO mice with bacitracin, a PDI inhibitor, restored the level of LC3-II after fasting. These results suggest that TXNIP regulates PDI activity and subsequent activation of the UPR/autophagy pathway and plays a protective role in fasting-induced LS

Fabrication and Physical Evaluation of Gelatin-Coated Carbonate Apatite Foam

Carbonate apatite (CO3Ap) foam has gained much attention in recent years because of its ability to rapidly replace bone. However, its mechanical strength is extremely low for clinical use. In this study, to understand the potential of gelatin-reinforced CO3Ap foam for bone replacement, CO3Ap foam was reinforced with gelatin and the resulting physical characteristics were evaluated. The mechanical strength increased significantly with the gelatin reinforcement. The compressive strength of gelatin-free CO3Ap foam was 74 kPa whereas that of the gelatin-reinforced CO3Ap foam, fabricated using 30 mass % gelatin solution, was approximately 3 MPa. Heat treatment for crosslinking gelatin had little effect on the mechanical strength of the foam. The gelatin-reinforced foam did not maintain its shape when immersed in a saline solution as this promoted swelling of the gelatin; however, in the same conditions, the heat-treated gelatin-reinforced foam proved to be stable. It is concluded, therefore, that heat treatment is the key to the fabrication of stable gelatin-reinforced CO3Ap foam

Effect of the Nature of Subsequent Environment on Oxytocin and Cortisol Secretion in Maltreated Children

Childhood maltreatment (CM), including abuse and neglect is a crucial factor that distorts child development. CM is associated with alterations in numerous brain regions, and may be associated with neuropeptide hormonal dysregulation. This study aimed to investigate differences in secretion patterns of cortisol (CT) and oxytocin (OT) among children who experienced CM, children living in residential care facilities and in unstable environments. Among 38 maltreated children, 23 (mean age = 12.2 years, SD = 3.0) were categorized as Settled and 15 (mean age = 13.1 years, SD = 2.2) as Unsettled. Twenty-six age- and gender-matched (mean age = 12.6 years, SD = 2.1), typically developing (TD) children were also included. Clinical and psychological assessments, including IQ and trauma evaluations were conducted for all participants. Age, gender and full-scale IQ were used as covariates in hormone analysis. Two saliva samples were collected, one on awakening, the other at bedtime. There were significant differences in the awakening CT levels of the Unsettled group, and in bedtime OT levels in the Settled group as compared with TD children, and between CM groups. Furthermore, there was a significant difference in trauma-symptomatic depression scores between the Settled and Unsettled CM group. These results suggest that CT diurnal secretions tend to be reactive to current stress rather previous experience. OT diurnal secretions are presumably hyper-regulated for coping with the environment to survive and thrive. By measuring salivary CT/OT diurnal patterns, hormonal dysregulation of CM children living in Settled environments and Unsettled environments was indicated

ANTITUMOUR EFFECT OF VALPROIC ACID AGAINST SALIVARY GLAND CANCER

Salivary gland cancer (SGC) has a comparatively poor prognosis and is prone to frequent recurrence and metastases. Therefore, the development of more effective chemotherapy against SGC is desirable. The aim of the present study was to investigate the antitumour effects of valproic acid (VPA) against SGC in vitro and in vivo. Two human SGC cell lines (HSY and HSG cells) were used in the present study. The effects of VPA on the proliferation of SGC cells in vitro were assessed by MTT assay. Cancer cells treated with VPA were subjected to cell cycle analysis by flow cytometry. In addition, the expression levels of p21 and p27 were examined by real-time RT-PCR to identify the mechanisms of the antitumour effect of VPA on SGC. The effects of VPA on cancer growth in vivo were evaluated in a xenograft model. VPA inhibited the proliferation of SGC cells in a dose-dependent manner in vitro. Degenerated cancer cells were observed at high concentrations of VPA. In the cell cycle analysis, VPA induced cell-growth inhibition and G1 arrest of cell cycle progression in both cancer cell lines in a time-and dose-dependent manner. VPA markedly upregulated the mRNA expression levels of both p21 and p27 in both SGC cell lines in a time-dependent manner. In the xenograft model experiment, VPA treatment markedly inhibited the growth of salivary gland tumours when compared with the growth of the untreated controls. VPA may be a valuable drug in the development of better therapeutic regimens for SGC

BORTEZOMIB-ENHANCED RADIOSENSITIZATION IN HUMAN ORAL CANCER CELLS

Oral cancer cells have a significantly augmented nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) activity and the inhibition of this activity suppresses tumor growth. Bortezomib is a proteasome inhibitor and a drug used for molecular-targeted therapy (targets NF-κB). In this study, we investigated whether bortezomib would be effective as an inhibitor of proliferation and a radiosensitizer for the treatment of oral cancer. We demonstrate that bortezomib inhibits NF-κB activity and cell proliferation. The combined treatment with bortezomib and radiation (RT) suppressed NF-κB activity and cell growth in vitro and in vivo compared with RT treatment alone. To investigate the mechanisms by which bortezomib suppresses tumor growth, the expression of signaling molecules downstream of NF-κB were examined by ELISA. The combined treatment significantly inhibited the radiation‑induced production of angiogenic factors and decreased the number of blood vessels in the tumor tissues. Although the expression of anti‑apoptotic proteins was upregulated by RT, bortezomib downregulated the RT-induced expression of these proteins. Moreover, the expression of cleaved poly(ADP‑ribose) polymerase in vitro and in vivo was enhanced by bortezomib, indicating that bortezomib inhibits tumor growth by inducing apoptosis. This study clearly demonstrates that bortezomib significantly inhibits tumor growth and that the combined treatment with bortezomib and RT results in a significant inhibition of tumor growth. The mechanisms underlying the inhibition of tumor growth by bortezomib include the suppression of angiogenesis and the induction of apoptosis. A novel molecular targeting therapy including bortezomib may be effective in the treatment of oral cancer by suppressing NF-κB activity