ビザンティン聖堂壁画における預言者像：形、場、意味

ギリシア北部、マケドニア地方のヴェリアにある救世主キリスト復活聖堂（以下、キリスト聖堂と略す）は、14世紀初頭に建てられた単廊式のバシリカ小聖堂で、内部に画家カリエルギスによる創建当初からのフレスコを有する。身廊の壁面は三段の帯状に分割され、上段に新約の諸場面、中断に預言者や四福音書記者、諸聖人の胸像を含むメダイヨン、下段に修道士や軍人聖人などの全身像が描かれる。また、東壁のアブシスのコンクに立像の聖母子と二天使、コンク下部に四人の教父が配される。東壁最上段の破風状区画には「インマヌエルのキリスト」のメダイヨンを支える二天使と、旧約の王ダヴィデとソロモンが表され、正対する西壁の破風状区画にはどっしりとした体躯のヨアキムとアンナが描かれる。筆者は現在、このような装飾プログラムを有するキリスト聖堂の壁画について、特に中断のメダイヨンにおいて巻物を広げて左右を仰ぎ見る旧約の預言者像に注目して考察を進めているが、その描かれ方や構図上の特徴を明らかにするには、その前に、広くビザンティン聖堂一般において旧約の預言者がどのように表されているのかを把握しておかなければならない

Axial force measurement of the bolt/nut assemblies based on the bending mode shape frequency of the protruding thread part using ultrasonic modal analysis

Bolt/nut assemblies are commonly used in machines and structures to enable easy assembly and disassembly. However, the axial force (i.e. the fastening force) of such assemblies decreases due to recursive external loading on the bolt/nut assemblies or chronic progressive wearing of the assemblies. Consequently, axial force monitoring is essential in preventing serious failure due to loss of functions in the assembly or fatigue. This study proves that the axial force on bolt/nut assemblies can be measured by investigating changes in the bending mode natural frequency of the bolt's threaded portion that protrudes from the nut (hereinafter referred to as the “protruding thread part“). This method is postulated on the observation that a reduction in the axial force decreases the joint stiffness of the bolt/nut assembly at the protruding thread part, leading to a shift in the characteristic peak frequency of the bending mode. A bolt/nut assembly is formed and its bending mode shapes and bending mode frequencies are obtained by impact tests. A series of tests are performed to define a quantitative measure of the correlation between the shift in the bending mode frequency and the axial force on the bolt/nut assembly. This method enables to perform measurement of the axial force on the bolt/nut assembly of −40 to −50% in the frequency range between 25 and 35 kHz. Dependency of the accuracy of this method on bolt aspect ratio (protruding length/nominal diameter) shows that lower aspect ratios are better suited for measuring axial force via bending mode frequency variation

Autonomous oil flow generated by self-oscillating polymer gels

The previously reported gel and polymer actuators require external inputs, such as batteries, circuits, electronic circuits, etc., compared with autonomous motions produced by the living organisms. To realize the spontaneous motions, here, we propose to integrate a power supply, actuators, and control into a single-component self-oscillating hydrogel. We demonstrate self-actuating gel pumps driven by the oscillatory Belousov-Zhabotinsky (BZ) reaction without electronic components. We have developed the volume oscillation of gels synchronized with the BZ reaction (BZ gel). Since the self-actuating gel pumps are driven by chemo-mechanical energy from BZ gels, the self-actuating gel pumps don't require complex wiring designs, energy supply, and assembling. The mechanical work generated by BZ gels is extremely small. We formulated the thermodynamic cycle of BZ gels and maximized mechanical work. We found that pre-stretched BZ gel shows larger mechanical works. We physically separated the BZ gels and working fluid to create practical pumps. By using optimizing mechanical generated by BZ gels, we demonstrated the self-actuating gel pumps that transfer mechanical work through a stretchable elastomer membrane

Examination of Disaster Risk at Baseball Grounds : Focused on the Kyushu and Okinawa Region

Baseball is the most popular sport in Japan. Baseball is also attracting attention as a tourism resource. According to a survey of 12 professional baseball grounds, more than two-thirds of are at risk of natural disasters. Local baseball grounds, other than professional baseball grounds, are also considered to be at risk of disaster. We used hazard maps to analyze the disaster risk of baseball grounds. The Kyushu and Okinawa area produce the largest number of professional baseball players outside of densely populated areas. Due to the high average temperature, baseball stadiums can be used during most of the year. In fact, many professional baseball teams use Kyushu and Okinawa for their spring training. Therefore, we focused on the Kyushu and Okinawa region, where baseball is popular and major. As a result, it was found that not only professional baseball grounds but also local baseball grounds are at risk of sediment-related disasters, floods, tsunamis and storm surges

Comparative analysis of peri-nidal cerebral blood flow and metabolism using a novel quantitative 15O-PET method in patients with arteriovenous malformations

To effectively treat cerebral arteriovenous malformations (AVMs), peri-nidal flow regulation and metabolic status must be understood. In this study, we used 15O-oxygen positron emission tomography (PET) post-processing analysis to investigate vascular radioactivity in the nidal region of AVMs. Single-dynamic PET imaging was performed on seven unruptured AVM patients during the sequential inhalation of 15O2 and C15O2. A previously validated dual-tracer basis function method (DBFM) was employed to calculate parametric images. The results of our study were as follows. First, in remote and contralateral AVM regions, DBFM and a previous approach of dual-tracer autoradiography (DARG) showed strong positive correlations in cerebral blood flow (CBF), cerebral oxygen metabolism rate (CMRO2), and oxygen extraction fraction. Second, peri-nidal CBF and CMRO2 correlation was lower, and overestimation occurred with DARG compared to with DBFM. Third, on comparing DBFM to quantitative 123I-iodoamphetamine single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT), CBF correlated significantly. In contrast, the correlation between DARG and quantitative 123I-iodoamphetamine-SPECT was weaker in the peri-nidal regions. Fourth, analysis of tissue time-activity curves demonstrated good reproducibility using the novel formulation in the control, peri-nidus, and core nidal regions, indicating the adequacy of this approach. Overall, the DBFM approach holds promise for assessing haemodynamic alterations in patients with AVMs.</p

Autosomal dominant pseudohypoaldosteronism type 1 with a novel splice site mutation in MR gene

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Autosomal dominant pseudohypoaldosteronism type 1 (PHA1) is a rare inherited condition that is characterized by renal resistance to aldosterone as well as salt wasting, hyperkalemia, and metabolic acidosis. Renal PHA1 is caused by mutations of the human mineralcorticoid receptor gene (<it>MR</it>), but it is a matter of debate whether <it>MR </it>mutations cause mineralcorticoid resistance via haploinsufficiency or dominant negative mechanism. It was previously reported that in a case with nonsense mutation the mutant mRNA was absent in lymphocytes because of nonsense mediated mRNA decay (NMD) and therefore postulated that haploinsufficiency alone can give rise to the PHA1 phenotype in patients with truncated mutations.</p> <p>Methods and Results</p> <p>We conducted genomic DNA analysis and mRNA analysis for familial PHA1 patients extracted from lymphocytes and urinary sediments and could detect one novel splice site mutation which leads to exon skipping and frame shift result in premature termination at the transcript level. The mRNA analysis showed evidence of wild type and exon-skipped RT-PCR products.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>mRNA analysis have been rarely conducted for PHA1 because kidney tissues are unavailable for this disease. However, we conducted RT-PCR analysis using mRNA extracted from urinary sediments. We could demonstrate that NMD does not fully function in kidney cells and that haploinsufficiency due to NMD with premature termination is not sufficient to give rise to the PHA1 phenotype at least in this mutation of our patient. Additional studies including mRNA analysis will be needed to identify the exact mechanism of the phenotype of PHA.</p