RESPONSE CHARACTERISTICS OF A TRAILER TYPE MULTI-CONNECTED BARGE SYSTEM IN WAVES

ABSTRACT A trailer type multi-connected barge system is a new type of ocean transportation system composed of several barges connected to each other with a mechanical connecting device and a tug ship. To design the trailer type multi-connected barge system, it is necessary to grasp the exact response characteristics of the trailer type multi-connected barge system in waves. A model basin test was conducted for the trailer type multiconnected barge system in waves. In the model basin test, the tug ship and three barges were connected to each other by the mechanical connecting device, and the tug ship towed three barges in waves. As a result, the response characteristics of the trailer type multi-connected barge system in waves were obtained. A nonlinear phenomenon of a longitudinal connecting force caused by relative pitch motions of barges was observed. A way to avoid the non-linear phenomenon and reduce the longitudinal connecting force could be found, and the realization of the trailer type multi-connected barge system was experimentally confirmed

A case of acute acalculous cholecystitis complicated by primary Epstein-Barr virus infection

Acute acalculous cholecystitis (AAC) is a rare complication of infectious mononucleosis (IM). An immunocompetent 6-year-old Japanese girl complained of epigastralgia during the course of IM. Ultrasonography (US) revealed a markedly thickened and sonolucent gallbladder wall. No gallstones were apparent. Antibodies against Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) confirmed primary EBV infection. Cytomegalovirus immunoglobulin M showed a false-positive result in the acute phase, probably due to cross-reaction to EBV nuclear antigen. We diagnosed her as AAC related with primary EBV infection. She recovered completely by conservative treatment. US should be performed in consideration of the possibility of AAC when a patient with IM complains of epigastralgia

DEVELOPMENT OF MULTI-CONNECTED FLOATING BODY SYSTEM

ABSTRACT A multi-connected floating body system composed of many connected small-scale floating body units has a number of advantages with regard to construction and performance. To realize the multi-connected floating body system, a new type of mechanical connecting device was developed. It is composed of multi-degrees of freedom connecting mechanism and restricting mechanism to control a restricting condition between floating body units, and its effectiveness was confirmed by model basin test in waves. Next, friction and wear tests in the seawater environment led to the discovery of suitable materials for oscillatory sliding parts in multi-degrees of freedom connecting mechanism. Finally, a field test performed for two floating body units connected by use of the mechanical connecting device proved that the developed mechanical connecting device was of practical use

Observation of foraging behavior by Pseudoliparis belyaevi on a sea bed of japan trench using the "EDOKKO No.1" lander

日本の外洋には、広く海溝地形が海底にあり、超深海における様々な生物が生息していることが知られている。しかしながら、水深8,000mを超える海底へのアプローチの手段は少なく、大深度に対応した特殊なROVの利用や、マルチプルコアラー・籠・ベイトトラップなどの設置によるサンプリングが可能ではあるが、大規模な調査航海が必要となっていた。近年、海洋機器の発展が目覚ましく、簡便に超深海へアプローチを試みるチャレンジが行われるようになり、その中で中小企業連合を中心として作成された「江戸っ子1号」深海探査機がある。これは機能を単純化し、小型化させたランダー型のプラットホームであり、標準で映像確認ができるようになっているほか、将来的オプションで採泥を目指している。2013年11月21-24日にJAMSTECの（KY13-E05航海）において「江戸っ子1号」実海域実験が行われた。そこでは房総半島沖日本海溝の4,090mと7,800mの海底において、生物の採餌をおのおの数時間ほど観察できた。そこで本研究では「江戸っ子１号」によって撮影された生物と、その採餌行動の観察から、日本海溝における生物分布状況を推察することを目的とした。 　海底に設置されたHDカメラから、約1.2 x 2 mの範囲を観察していることが分かった。7,800mの海底で集まる生物は4,090mの海底よりも少なかったが、餌に初めに集まるのは、いずれもヨコエビ類であった。7,800mの海底では、複数種のヨコエビの出現の後、チヒロクサウオのみが出現した。出現時間は4,090mの海底よりも、7,800mの海底のほうが遅く、特に魚類において顕著だった。また、7,800mの海底では、出現数は一定時間で飽和に達した。このことは生息数や生息分布が深くなると疎になることを具体的に示すデータとなった。また左右からの出現数が異なることから、海流との関係が強く示唆された。また、チヒロクサウオは、設置した餌（サンマ、サバ）を採餌せず、集まるヨコエビを選択的に選んでいることが分かった。これらの観測網が海底に複数展開できると、超深海における生態系の理解が進む可能性が示された。 　本研究はJAMSTECの「実用化展開促進プログラム」の助成で実施された成果である。ポスターP-48要旨, 極限環境生物学会2014年度（第15回）年会（2014年11月1日～3日, 沖縄県今帰仁村）http://www.godac.jamstec.go.jp/darwin/cruise/kaiyo/ky13-e05/

Body fat mass is correlated with serum transthyretin levels in maintenance hemodialysis patients

Serum transthyretin (TTR), also known as prealbumin, is a reliable nutritional indicator and an independent prognostic factor for maintenance hemodialysis patients. However, we recently reported that serum TTR levels did not affect protein−energy wasting (PEW). In this study, we investigated factors affecting serum TTR levels in 60 maintenance hemodialysis patients. The patients were divided into High-TTR and Low-TTR groups according to the median serum TTR level. Albumin levels were significantly higher and C-reactive protein (CRP) levels were significantly lower in the High-TTR group than in the Low-TTR group. Although body fat mass was significantly higher in the High-TTR group than in the Low-TTR group, no significant difference in body fat ratio were observed. These findings suggest that body fat mass is related to serum TTR levels, apart from factors such as albumin and CRP levels, which showed correlations with serum TTR levels. Because body fat mass is related to better survival in maintenance hemodialysis patients, it may contribute to the prognostic value of serum TTR levels. In addition, in such patients, it may be important to evaluate body fatmass rather than body fat ratio and to maintain the minimum necessary body fat mass

資源探査AUVのデザインコンセプトと開発状況

第29回日本ロボット学会学術講演会（2011年9月7日～9日, 芝浦工業大学豊洲キャンパス