On duality and fractionality of multicommodity flows in directed networks

In this paper we address a topological approach to multiflow (multicommodity flow) problems in directed networks. Given a terminal weight $\mu$, we define a metrized polyhedral complex, called the directed tight span $T_{\mu}$, and prove that the dual of $\mu$-weighted maximum multiflow problem reduces to a facility location problem on $T_{\mu}$. Also, in case where the network is Eulerian, it further reduces to a facility location problem on the tropical polytope spanned by $\mu$. By utilizing this duality, we establish the classifications of terminal weights admitting combinatorial min-max relation (i) for every network and (ii) for every Eulerian network. Our result includes Lomonosov-Frank theorem for directed free multiflows and Ibaraki-Karzanov-Nagamochi's directed multiflow locking theorem as special cases.Comment: 27 pages. Fixed minor mistakes and typos. To appear in Discrete Optimizatio

The Electrical Anisotropies of Pyrolytic Graphite and Its Compounds

The electrical resistivities and the electrical anisotropy of the pyrolytic graphite compounds containing silicon (0.02-4wt% Si ; PG(Si) ) or bromine (0.1-12 wt% Br ; PG(Br) ) have been examined at room temperature. The anisotropy of PG(Si) was closely related to its preferred orientation which depends on the deposition temperature. The anisotropies of PG and PG(Si) are attributed to discontinuity in the stacking of the crystallites, as proposed by Guentert and Klein ; the discontinuity increases with preferred orientation. Low values of the anisotropy for PG(Si), containing large amounts of silicon and having the considerably high preferred orientation, result from the disappearance in the discontinuity because of the presence of SiC between the crystallites. The anisotropy of PG(Br) increases with the amount of bromine. Almost all the bromine atoms may be ionized in PG(Br) according to Blackman et al. The effect of ionization on the anisotropy is not clear

Status of resource enhancement and sustainable aquaculture practices in Japan

Contrary to the rapid increase in the world aquaculture production, fish production in Japan has been decreasing slightly due to the decreasing trend in seafood consumption of Japanese. Aquaculture production is approximately 20% in terms of yield, and 30% in terms of market value, of the country s total fisheries production. In Japan, about 80 species are targeted for release for sea ranching and resource enhancement purposes. The local governments (prefectures) are the main driving force in resource enhancement programs. Chum salmon, Oncorhynchus keta, and scallop Mizuhopecten yessoensisis are examples of successful resource enhancement in Japan. Japanese flounder, Paralichthys olivaceus, and red seabream, Pagrus major, represent intensely released fish species in Japan, and around 10% of the total catch of those species are estimated as released fish. The low price of products and increasing costs of production, such as costs of fuel and fish meal, are the major pressing issues in coastal fisheries and aquaculture in Japan. For aquaculture, the guarantee of food safety, minimization of environmental impact, and management of natural stock populations are highly necessary in order to achieve the sustainability of the industry. For resource enhancement, budget constraint is the major issue, and possible impact on natural stocks caused by released fish should also be considered. The Government of Japan (GOJ) is implementing some measures to rectify unstable business practices of aquaculture and to improve production techniques in aquaculture. For resource enhancement, the GOJ encourages cooperation among local governments (prefectures) for seed production and release of certain targeted species in order to reduce the cost and improve the efficiency of stock enhancement. In Japan, traditionally, the purpose for release was mainly sea ranching, namely harvesting all released animals. Nowadays, actual resource enhancement, i.e. the integrated release program including resource management and development of suitable nursery for released fish, is encouraged by the government. The evaluation and counter measures for the negative impact of stocked fish on genetic diversity of the wild population are also implemented. Recently, marked progress was achieved in seed production technologies of two important tropical fish species, namely coral trout, Plectropomus leopardus, and humphead wrasse, Cheilinus undulatus. These technologies are expected to contribute to the advancement of the aquaculture industry in the South East Asian region

Chemical Vapor-Deposited Amorphous Silicon Nitride

Chemical vapor-deposited amorphous Si_3N_4 (CVD-amorphous Si_3N_4) up to 4.2mm in thickness has been prepared from a gaseous mixture of NH_3 and H_2-carried SiCl_4 under various deposition conditions. The formation of the CVD-amorphous Si_3N_4 depended strongly on the deposition temperature, total gas pressure and gas flow rate. The CVD-amorphous Si_3N_4 prepared at 1100-1300℃ does not crystallize by heating at each deposition temperature. Their density and deposition rate are markedly dependent on deposition conditions and have maximum values of 3.00g/cm^3 (94% of the theoretical density of α-Si_3N_4) and 0.36mm/hr, respectively. The Vickers microhardness of the CVD-amorphous Si_3N_4 at room temperature varies between 2200 and 3200kg/mm^2 according to its deposition conditions. The hardness at 1300℃ is 1200～1300 kg/mm^2. The thermal conductivity was 0.010cal/cm/sec/℃ at 20℃ and 0.012cal/cm/sec/℃ at 1300℃. The thermal expansion coefficient at 20～1200℃ is 2.99±0.05/℃. The formation mechanism and the effect of gas flow patterns on the deposition rate of the CVD-amorphous Si_3N_4 are also discussed

Chemical Vapour-Deposited Silicon Nitride : Part 1. Preparation and Some Properties

Pyrolytic Si_3N_4 has been deposited on a graphite substrate, using a mixture of SiCl_4, NH_3 and H_2. The pyrolysis is performed with deposition temperatures of 1100 to 1500℃, total gas pressures of 5 to 300 Torr, and flow rates of H_2=700, NH_3=60 and SiCl_4 (1iq.)=0.8 cm^3 min^. Massive amorphous and crystalline pyrolytic forms of Si_3N_4 are prepared at a maximum thickness of 4.6 mm. The effects of deposition conditions on some properties of the deposited products and the dependence of formation of amorphous or crystalline deposits on deposition temperature and total pressure were investigated. The surface and cross-sectional structures show growth cones and oriented crystals which are strongly dependent on the deposition conditions. The thin deposits are translucent ; the thick deposits vary in colour from white to black. The silicon content is close to the theoretical composition and independent of the deposition conditions, while the oxygen content increases with decreasing deposition temperature and total pressure. No segregation of silicon and nitrogen at cone boundaries was found

Preparation and Thermal Expansion of Pyrolytic Graphite-Bromine Residual Compounds

Stable pyrolytic graphite-bromine residual compounds (PG(Br)) of various bromine concentrations (100.Br/C=0.3-12) were prepared using PG deposited at 1900, 2100 and 2300℃. Preparation conditions and the thermal expansion in the direction of the c-axis of these compounds are described. Up to 1000℃ the general characteristics of the thermal expansion of these PG(Br) are similar to that of PG(Br) made from PG heat-treated at 3000℃, but the thermal expansion coefficient of PG(Br) varies with bromine concentration and the properties of the original PG. The experimental results are interpreted by the following model : Bromine in the PG(Br) is bonded to the carbon network ionically at room temperature, but begins to vaporise to make gaseous bubbles between graphite layer planes at higher temperatures. These bromine gas bubbles expand against internal stress according to the ideal gas law. Therefore an increase in the average c-spacing of PG(Br) results upon heating

タンノウ テキシュツジュツ デ チュウイ スベキ タンカン ソウコウ イジョウ Cystohepatic duct ノ 1レイ

　A 74-year-old man presented with epigastralgia and was diagnosed as having cholelithiasis. Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) initially visualized the cystic duct with the Heister valve from the common bile duct, and then two intra-hepatic biliary ducts of segment 5 (B5) were visualized from the neck of the gallbladder. There was a contrast medium filling defect in B5, which was considered to be due to an incarcerated stone. Magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography (MRCP) and three-dimensional computed tomography (CT) cholangiography showed similar findings, suggesting that the patient had a biliary anomaly of the cystohepatic duct in which two intrahepatic bile ducts (B5) flowed into the neck of the gallbladder and a stone incarcerated in the neck of the gallbladder.　At surgery, during mobilization of the gallbladder, there was a thick string between the liver and the gallbladder, and this was considered to be the junction of B5 with the gallbladder. Therefore, the neck of the gallbladder was cut, and an incarcerated stone 10 mm in diameter was removed. Intraoperative cholangiography revealed that the cystohepatic ducts were preserved. The postoperative course was uneventful and there was no bile leakage or liver dysfunction.　Although cystohepatic duct is a rare biliary anomaly, the surgeon should be alert for its possible presence during cholecystectomy. When cholecystectomy is scheduled, more than one preoperative examination by three-dimensional CT cholangiography, MRCP or ERCP should be performed, and the surgeon should be careful not to overlook any biliary anomaly.　Keywords: cystohepatic duct, biliary duct anomaly, cholecystectomy, three-dimensional computed tomography, gallston

Low serum free light chain is associated with risk of COPD exacerbation

Background: Most exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are triggered by respiratory tract infections. Adaptive immunity via antibody production is important in preventing infections. Impaired antibody production is reported to be associated with an increased risk of exacerbations of COPD. In the present study, we elucidated whether reduced free light chains (FLCs), which are excessive amounts of light chains produced during antibody synthesis and can be used to estimate systemic antibody production, may be a promising biomarker to predict the risk of exacerbations of COPD. Methods: We enrolled stable male patients with COPD and prospectively observed them for 2 years. At baseline, serum combined FLC (cFLC; sum of kappa and lambda values) and pulmonary function were evaluated. Exacerbation was defined as a worsening of symptoms requiring treatments with antibiotics, corticosteroids or both. Results: 63 patients with stable COPD were enrolled (72.8±8.1 years, GOLD A/B/C/D=24/28/6/5), and 51 patients completed the 2-year follow-up. Serum cFLC was 31.1 mg·L−1 on average and ranged widely (1.4 to 89.9 mg·L−1). The patients with low cFLC (below the mean−sd, n=6) experienced a significantly shorter time to the first exacerbation of COPD (p<0.0001 by the log-rank test). A multivariate Cox proportional hazard model, including the COPD assessment test score, % predicted forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1 % pred), and number of previous exacerbations demonstrated that low cFLC and low FEV1 % pred were independently and significantly correlated with the risk for exacerbations of COPD. Conclusion: Low cFLC may be a B-cell-associated novel biomarker associated with risk of COPD exacerbation