Approximate Dual Controller by Information Matrix Maximization for Self-Sensing Electromagnetic Suspension System

The 10th International Symposium on Linear Drives for Industry Applications (LDIA 2015), Aachen, Germany, on July 27-29 2015This paper presents a design methodology to apply the approximate dual controller using the information matrix maximization for self-sensing electromagnetic suspension systems, in which the gap estimate is given based on the speed electromotive force. The system is an unstable non-minimum phase system, and we employ the dual control system. Simulations are presented to show that the dual control system follows with the reference while the electromagnet is excited to establish its quality identification for self-sensing electromagnetic levitation system

Compensation of Magnetic Saturation of self-sensing Magnetic Levitation

This paper investigates the magnetic saturation problem of self-sensing electromagnetic levitation system and presents a novel self-sensing scheme. The proposed approach employs a demodulation technique. By superimposing a high frequency voltage, the resulting electromagnet coil currents have ripples that can be used for gap sensing. This paper shows the effect of magnetic saturation on the gap sensing and the gap length is not uniquely determined when using the relation between the ripple, control current and the gap in simulations. The results imply that the constraint conditions are to be determined to solve the problem. The proposed approach utilizes the dynamical motion model of the electromagnetic levitation system to uniquely identify the gap. By using the system behavior information, the gap can be uniquely estimated. To incorporate the dynamical model with the gap sensing algorithm, the unscented Kalman filter is employed. The proposed estimator is demonstrated in simulations. The results show that it is possible to deal with magnetic saturation by using the proposed gap sensing scheme. The estimator has a good accuracy in wide gap range compared to the conventional method.The 6th International Conference on Positioning Technology (Mechatronics and Measurement in Precision Technology) ICPT 2014, November 18-21, 2014, Kitakyushu International Conference Center, Fukuoka, Japa

Impact of ganglionated plexi ablation on high-frequency stimulation-induced changes in atrial fibrillation cycle length in the pulmonary vein

AbstractBackgroundWe assessed high-frequency stimulation (HFS)-induced changes in the atrial fibrillation (AF) cycle length (AFCL) in the pulmonary vein (PV) after ganglionated plexi (GP) ablation.MethodsTwenty-two patients undergoing catheter ablation for AF were retrospectively enrolled. Sites showing a vagal response (VR) to HFS were defined as GP-positive sites. AFCL was determined in the adjacent PV, distant PV, coronary sinus, and right atrium. Twenty cycles were counted before and after each HFS. After radiofrequency application to the GP site, HFS was repeated.ResultsAt GP-positive sites (n=57), significant shortening of the AFCL was detected in the adjacent PV (17% shortening, 165±38 to 137±27ms, p<0.001) and distant PV (4.8% shortening, p<0.001), but not in the coronary sinus (0.8% shortening, p=0.27) or right atrium (1.8% shortening, p=0.06). However, no significant shortening was observed at GP-negative sites (n=25). At 41 of the 57 sites where VR disappeared after a single radiofrequency application, no significant shortening was observed in the adjacent PV (2.1% shortening, p=0.25). At 16 of the 57 sites where VR was still present, significant shortening was observed in the adjacent PV (16% shortening, p<0.001).ConclusionsHFS of the GP has a strong influence on AFCL in the PV

One-Step Holographic Photoalignment for Twisted Nematic Liquid Crystal Gratings

Liquid crystal gratings, in which liquid crystal molecules are periodically aligned, are fabricated by highly efficient and practical one-step holographic photoalignment method using a photocrosslinkable polymer liquid crystal (PCLC). This method is an innovative fabrication technique for liquid crystal grating containing a twisted nematic alignment, which does not require a conventional complex fabrication process. In this chapter, three types of liquid crystal gratings with twisted nematic alignment are fabricated. Periodic director distributions of these liquid crystal gratings are analyzed based on the elastic continuum theory and observed experimentally using a polarized light optical microscope. Furthermore, the polarization diffraction properties were measured by illumination with a visible laser beam. The resultant liquid crystal gratings exhibit various polarization diffraction properties depending on the director distributions and the polarization states of the incident beams. These polarization diffraction properties are well explained by theoretical analysis based on Jones calculus. These resultant liquid crystal gratings exhibit great potential for application as a diffractive optical element that can simultaneously control the various parameters of the light wave, such as amplitude, polarization states, and propagation direction

Extension of measurement range in OCDR based on double-modulation scheme

We extend the measurement range of optical correlation-domain reflectometry (OCDR) by modulating the laser output frequency at two frequencies, while preserving spatial resolution. We demonstrate distributed reflectivity sensing with a ten-fold extended measurement range.Comment: 4 pages, 6 figure

ショウガオールはヒト歯肉線維芽細胞において酸化ストレス反応の調節を介してAGEs誘導性のIL-6およびICAM-1産生を抑制する

Advanced glycation end-products (AGEs) cause diabetes mellitus (DM) complications and accumulate more highly in periodontal tissues of patients with periodontitis and DM. AGEs aggravate periodontitis with DM by increasing the expression of inflammation-related factors in periodontal tissues. 6-Shogaol, a major compound in ginger, has anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidative activities. However, the influence of shogaol on DM-associated periodontitis is not well known. In this study, the effects of 6-shogaol on AGEs-induced oxidative and anti-oxidative responses, and IL-6 and ICAM-1 expression in human gingival fibroblasts (HGFs) were investigated. When HGFs were cultured with 6-shogaol and AGEs, the activities of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and antioxidant enzymes (heme oxygenase-1 [HO-1] and NAD(P)H quinone dehydrogenase 1 [NQO1]), and IL-6 and ICAM-1 expressions were investigated. RAGE expression and phosphorylation of MAPKs and NF-κB were examined by western blotting. 6-Shogaol significantly inhibited AGEs-induced ROS activity, and increased HO-1 and NQO1 levels compared with the AGEs-treated cells. The AGEs-stimulated expression levels of receptor of AGE (RAGE), IL-6 and ICAM-1 and the phosphorylation of p38, ERK and p65 were attenuated by 6-shogaol. These results suggested that 6-shogaol inhibits AGEs-induced inflammatory responses by regulating oxidative and anti-oxidative activities and may have protective effects on periodontitis with DM

Rho and Anillin-dependent Control of mDia2 Localization and Function in Cytokinesis

Diaphanous-related formin, mDia, is an actin nucleation/polymerization factor functioning downstream of the small GTPase Rho. We found that, in addition to the Rho GTPase-mediated activation, the interaction between mDia2 and anillin is required for the localization and function of mDia2 in cytokinesis

Temperature evolution of magnetic phases near the thickness-dependent metal-insulator transition in La1−x_{1-x}Srx_xMnO3_3 thin films observed by XMCD

Perovskite-type manganites, which are well-known for their intriguing physical properties such as colossal magnetoresistance (CMR) and half metalicity, have been considered as candidate materials for spintronics. However, their ferromagnetic (FM) properties are often suppressed in thin films when the thickness is reduced down to several monolayers (MLs). In order to investigate how the magnetic phases evolve near the paramagnetic (PM)-to-FM phase transition boundary, we have performed temperature-dependent x-ray magnetic circular dichroism (XMCD) experiments on a La$_{1-x}$Sr$_{x}$MnO$_3$ (LSMO, $x=0.4$) thin film, whose thickness (8 ML) is close to the boundary between the FM-metallic and the PM-insulating phases. By utilizing the element-selectiveness of XMCD, we have quantitatively estimated the fractions of the PM and superparamagnetic (SPM) phases as well as the FM one as a function of temperature. The results can be reasonably described based on a microscopic phase-separation model.Comment: 6 pages, 3 figure

AGEs increase IL-6 and ICAM-1 expression

Background and Objectives: Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a risk factor for periodontal diseases and may exacerbate the progression of the pathogenesis of periodontitis. Advanced glycation end-products (AGEs) cause DM complications relative to levels of glycemic control and larger amounts accumulate in the periodontal tissues of patients with periodontitis and DM. In the present study, we investigated the effects of AGEs on the expression of inflammation-related factors in human gingival fibroblasts (HGFs) in order to elucidate the impact of AGEs on DM-associated periodontitis. Materials and Methods: HGFs were cultured with or without AGEs. Cell viability was examined, and RNA and protein fractions were isolated from AGE-treated cells. The expression of IL-6, ICAM-1, and the receptor for AGE (RAGE) was investigated using RT-PCR, quantitative real-time PCR, and ELISA, and reactive oxygen species (ROS) activity was measured using a kit with 2’,7’-dichlorofluorescin diacetate. Human monocytic cells (THP-1) labelled with a fluorescent reagent were co-cultured with HGFs treated with AGEs and IL-6 siRNA, and the adhesive activity of THP-1 cells to HGFs was assessed. The expression of IL-6 and ICAM-1 was examined when HGFs were pretreated with recombinant human IL-6 (rhIL-6), the siRNAs of RAGE and IL-6, and inhibitors of MAPK and NF-κB, and then cultured with and without AGEs. The phosphorylation of MAPK and NF-κB was assessed using Western blotting. Results: AGEs increased the mRNA and protein expressions of RAGE, IL-6, ICAM-1 and ROS activity in HGFs, and promoted the adhesion of THP-1 cells to HGFs, but had no effect on cell viability until 72 h. rhIL-6 increased ICAM-1 expression in HGFs, while the siRNAs of RAGE and IL-6 inhibited AGE-induced IL6 and ICAM1 mRNA expression, and IL-6 siRNA depressed AGE-induced THP-1 cell adhesion. AGEs increased the phosphorylation of p38 and ERK MAPKs, p65 NF-κB, and IκBα, while inhibitors of p38, ERK MAPKs, and NF-κB significantly decreased AGE-induced IL-6 and ICAM-1 expression. Conclusions: AGEs increase IL-6 and ICAM-1 expression via the RAGE, MAPK and NF-κB pathways in HGFs and may exacerbate the progression of the pathogenesis of periodontal diseases