Contact Analysis and Simulation of Rolled Plastic Film Used for Roof Ventilation in Japanese Greenhouses

Greenhouses are capable of producing a variety of high-value crops year-round. A novel Japanese greenhouse design is gaining popularity because of its automated roll-up ventilation system that is integrated into the roof. However, due to the frequent movement of the roll-up system, the plastic film deteriorates rapidly and typically lasts for only three or four months. In order to better understand the film deterioration, we studied the mechanics involved at the point of contact between the film and the metal greenhouse frame. We found that film deformation and failure were closely related to stretching and creasing, and these processes were observed at the microscopic level. An experimental device was developed to further study the damage to greenhouse film due to the roll-up movement. We concluded that the reduction in film thickness due to static loading or rolling contact was the best predictor of future film damage

FIREX project and effects of self-generated electric and magnetic fields on electron-driven fast ignition.

Fast ignition is a new scheme in laser fusion, in which higher energy gain with a smaller laser pulse energy is expected. A cone target has been introduced for realizing higher coupling efficiency. At ILE, Osaka University, a laser with four beams and a total output of 10 kJ ps−1, laser for fast ignition experiment (LFEX), has been constructed and we have carried out an integrated experiment with one beam of the LFEX. Through experiments it was found that the coupling efficiency is degraded when the laser pre-pulse is not sufficiently small. Namely, the main pulse is absorbed in the long-scale pre-plasma produced by the pre-pulse and the hot electron energy is higher than that for a clean pulse. Furthermore, the distance between the hot electron source and the core plasma is large. Hence, we are exploring how to overcome the pre-pulse effects on the cone target. In this paper it is proposed that a thin foil covers the laser entrance of the cone to mitigate the pre-plasma and a double cone reduces the loss of high-energy electrons from the side wall of the cone. The simulations indicate that a higher coupling efficiency is expected for the double cone target with a thin foil at the laser entrance. Namely, the pre-pulse will be absorbed by the foil and the electromagnetic fields generated on the surface of the inner cone will confine high-energy electrons

Rolling contact fatigue simulation used for full-open type greenhouse

The green house is often used to add the quality and value of agricultural products. Newly developed full open type green house has a lot of attracted attention whose roof opens and closes automatically in order to control the temperature. However, since the roof opens and closes very often, the cover sheet can be used only for 3-4 months. This is because the plastic film is damaged between the support pipe and rolling pipe during opening-closing affected by fatigue and wear. In this study, the damage mechanism is investigated for the several plastic films used for the full open type green house. In the first place, FEM analysis is performed to evaluate the damage of plastic film between pipes under different film materials. Here, the maximum contact pressure and thickness reduction are analysed under static contact analysis and rolling contact analysis as the most important factors. Finally, rolling fatigue experiment is performed to investigate the damage with changing plastic films. Then, the results are compared with the FEM analysis.3rd International Conference on Fracture Fatigue and Wear, FFW2014, Kitakyushu, Japan, 1-3 September 201

A Study on Fundamental Conditions of Endogenous Development in Saijo Festival through the Analysis of the Management Form

愛媛県西条市にある伊曾乃神社の祭礼である西条祭りに関して,その運営形態を屋台奉納,屋台運営の手法,運営基盤としてのコミュニティ,の3つの観点から論じた。祭りに奉納される屋台数は1979年以降急増し,ほぼ倍になっている。その時期は西条市が自治会を組織し,その境界区分を確定させた時期と重なる。それを期に,それまで組織化された部落を持っていなかった地区や一度,奉納を止めていた地区や,一度奉納を止めていた地区が奉納を開始した。取り外し可能な台車の屋台への導入も屋台数が急増する時期と同じである。屋台を持ちやすい環境が整っていくことで,屋台が地域コミュニティの核となり,それが祭りの原動力になった

Successful treatment of COVID‐19‐related acute respiratory distress syndrome with a rare blood type: A case report

Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation is indispensable for critically severe COVID-19 patients. However, it would be inapplicable to patients with a rare blood type or blood transfusion refusal. In that case, severely conservative fluid management with the sacrifice of renal functions and hydrocortisone therapy should be considered for better oxygenation