Stability of Runway Grooving under Repeated Large Aircraft Loads

On runway pavements in Japan, grooves for transverse directions should be set on most of runway area. The aim of runway grooving is to drain rain water on surface, which prevents from hydroplaning. According to the specification of Japan, two months as a 'occuring period' without a groove is necessary for sufficient durability of grooves after finishing a surface paving. This curing period is adopted regardless of amounts of loading and kinds of material. In particular, since the curing period is derived from the durability of HMA with straight asphalt binder, it might be possible to shorten the period by means of modified binder. And considering the trend of introduction of larger aircrafts, it is not always reasonable to set the curing period. In order to gain knowledge for setting curing period flexibly, the authors researched grooving stability in terms of the kinds of material in wheel tracking tests. The tests were conducted on three materials under the same tire pressure as that of the real aircraft (A-380). The three materials are two kinds of modified asphalt and straight asphalt. Then, full scale loading tests were conducted for the purpose of confirmation of results obtained from wheel tracking tests. As a result of the tests, the extent of grooving damage was improved by using modified asphalts compared to straight asphalt. In conclusion, to use advanced materials such as modified asphalts could achieve enough grooving stability even if larger aircrafts are served, and could shorten the curing period

Characteristics of Re-gripping Techniques Preceding Scored Throws in International-level Judo Competition

Significant changes in kumite tactics were verified after the 2013 International Judo Federation rule revision, which mandated that competitors initiate sparring immediately at match outset. The research contained in this paper focused on the re-gripping techniques which were affected by this rule revision, relating to the gripping targets, the use of cross gripping techniques, body rotation when executing throws, and the attacking patterns. In total, 372 men’s contests from the Judo Grand Slam Paris 2016 were analyzed using All Japan Judo Federation Science and Research Department SMART Edge system. Throws resulting in scores were identified and the preceding kumite tactics were analyzed. Re-gripping techniques resulted in significantly higher score rates than the no re-gripping techniques when competitors grabbed the place of the competition number, and the place(s) other than the collar and sleeve with at least one hand except the place of the competition number. Re-gripping the opponent and targeting the place of the competition number might facilitate scoring. Using the re-gripping techniques could make a variety of gripping targets effective to score. We emphasize the importance of classifying kumite techniques into two major patterns: re-gripping and no re-gripping techniques when coaching competitors for kumite tactics

Recent Trends in Sensor-based Activity Recognition

This seminar introduces recent trends in sensor-based activity recognition technology. Technology to recognize human activities using sensors has been a hot topic in the field of mobile and ubiquitous computing for many years. Recent developments in deep learning and sensor technology have expanded the application of activity recognition to various domains such as industrial and natural science fields. However, because activity recognition in the new domains suffers from various real problems such as the lack of sufficient training data and complexity of target activities, new solutions have been proposed for the practical problems in applying activity recognition to real-world applications in the new domains. In this seminar, we introduce recent topics in activity recognition from the viewpoints of (1) recent trends in state-of-the-art machine learning methods for practical activity recognition, (2) recently focused domains for human activity recognition such as industrial and medical domains and their public datasets, and (3) applications of activity recognition to the natural science field, especially in animal behavior understanding.Maekawa T., Xia Q., Otsuka R., et al. Recent Trends in Sensor-based Activity Recognition. Proceedings - IEEE International Conference on Mobile Data Management 2023-July, 36 (2023); https://doi.org/10.1109/MDM58254.2023.00018

Analysis of the Complete Open Reading Frame of Genotype 2b Hepatitis C Virus in Association with the Response to Peginterferon and Ribavirin Therapy

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Patients infected with genotype 2b hepatitis C virus (HCV) generally can achieve favorable responses to pegylated-interferon plus ribavirin therapy (PEG-IFN/RBV). However, a proportion of patients show poorer responses and the correlation between viral sequence variation and treatment outcome remains unclear. METHODS: The pretreatment complete open reading frame (ORF) sequences of genotype 2b HCV determined by direct sequencing were investigated for correlation with the final outcome in a total of 60 patients. RESULTS: In this study group, 87.5% (14/16) of non-sustained virological response (non-SVR) patients (n = 16) were relapsers. Compared to sustained virological response (SVR) patients (n = 44), non-SVR patients were older and could not achieve prompt viral clearance after the therapy induction. Comparing each viral protein between the two groups, viral sequences were more diverse in SVR patients and that diversity was found primarily in the E1, p7, and NS5A proteins. In searching for specific viral regions associated with the final outcome, several regions in E2, p7, NS2, NS5A, and NS5B were extracted. Among these regions, part of the interferon sensitivity determining region (ISDR) was included. In these regions, amino acid substitutions were associated with the final outcome in an incremental manner, depending upon the number of substitutions. CONCLUSIONS: Viral sequences are more diverse in SVR patients than non-SVR patients receiving PEG-IFN/RBV therapy for genotype-2b HCV infection. Through systematic comparison of viral sequences, several specific regions, including part of the ISDR, were extracted as having significant correlation with the final outcome

Tick saliva‑induced programmed death‑1 and PD‑ligand 1 and its related host immunosuppression

The tick Rhipicephalus microplus is a harmful parasite of cattle that causes considerable economic losses to the cattle breeding industry. Although R. microplus saliva (Rm-saliva) contains several immunosuppressants, any association between Rm-saliva and the expression of immunoinhibitory molecules, such as programmed death (PD)-1 and PD-ligand 1 (PD-L1), has not been described. In this study, flow cytometric analyses revealed that Rm-saliva upregulated PD-1 expression in T cells and PD-L1 expression in CD14+ and CD11c+ cells in cattle. Additionally, Rm-saliva decreased CD69 expression in T cells and Th1 cytokine production from peripheral blood mononuclear cells. Furthermore, PD-L1 blockade increased IFN-γ production in the presence of Rm-saliva, suggesting that Rm-saliva suppresses Th1 responses via the PD-1/PD-L1 pathway. To reveal the upregulation mechanism of PD-1/PD-L1 by Rm-saliva, we analyzed the function of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), which is known as an inducer of PD-L1 expression, in Rm-saliva. We found that Rm-saliva contained a high concentration of PGE2, and PGE2 treatment induced PD-L1 expression in CD14+ cells in vitro. Immunohistochemical analyses revealed that PGE2 and PD-L1 expression was upregulated in tick-attached skin in cattle. These data suggest that PGE2 in Rm-saliva has the potential to induce the expression of immunoinhibitory molecules in host immune cells

Inhibition of Hepatitis C Virus Replication and Viral Helicase by Ethyl Acetate Extract of the Marine Feather Star Alloeocomatella polycladia

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a causative agent of acute and chronic hepatitis, leading to the development of hepatic cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. We prepared extracts from 61 marine organisms and screened them by an in vitro fluorescence assay targeting the viral helicase (NS3), which plays an important role in HCV replication, to identify effective candidates for anti-HCV agents. An ethyl acetate-soluble fraction of the feather star Alloeocomatella polycladia exhibited the strongest inhibition of NS3 helicase activity, with an IC50 of 11.7 µg/mL. The extract of A. polycladia inhibited interaction between NS3 and RNA but not ATPase of NS3. Furthermore, the replication of the replicons derived from three HCV strains of genotype 1b in cultured cells was suppressed by the extract with an EC50 value of 23 to 44 µg/mL, which is similar to the IC50 value of the NS3 helicase assay. The extract did not induce interferon or inhibit cell growth. These results suggest that the unknown compound(s) included in A. polycladia can inhibit HCV replication by suppressing the helicase activity of HCV NS3. This study may present a new approach toward the development of a novel therapy for chronic hepatitis C

A REPORT ON THE PHYSICAL FITNESS AT NAGAOKA NATIONAL COLLEGE OF TECHNOLOGY IN 2006

本報告は、平成18年度に実施した長岡高専生のスポーツ・テストの調査結果をまとめたものである。18年度のスポーツテストの結果をみると、ほぼすべての学年で統計的に有意差が認められ、劣位な体力要素は、17年度と同様に、1)男子上体起こし、2)男子反復横とび、3)男女50m走、4)男子ハンドボール投げ、5)男子20mシャトルランの5項目と、6)男子長座体前屈が追加され、6項目であった。本校学生は、男女ともに全国平均値を上回る項目が少ない状況にあり、統計的にも明らかに劣っているといえる。また、すべての学年で有意差があった50m走の体力レベルをみると、男子は全国の13、14歳(中学2、3年生)、女子は9、10歳(小学4、5年生)レベルと同等の傾向を示す

Highly Sensitive In Vitro Methods for Detection of Residual Undifferentiated Cells in Retinal Pigment Epithelial Cells Derived from Human iPS Cells

Human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) possess the capabilities of self-renewal and differentiation into multiple cell types, and they are free of the ethical problems associated with human embryonic stem cells (hESCs). These characteristics make hiPSCs a promising choice for future regenerative medicine research. There are significant obstacles, however, preventing the clinical use of hiPSCs. One of the most obvious safety issues is the presence of residual undifferentiated cells that have tumorigenic potential. To locate residual undifferentiated cells, in vivo teratoma formation assays have been performed with immunodeficient animals, which is both costly and time-consuming. Here, we examined three in vitro assay methods to detect undifferentiated cells (designated an in vitro tumorigenicity assay): soft agar colony formation assay, flow cytometry assay and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction assay (qRT-PCR). Although the soft agar colony formation assay was unable to detect hiPSCs even in the presence of a ROCK inhibitor that permits survival of dissociated hiPSCs/hESCs, the flow cytometry assay using anti-TRA-1-60 antibody detected 0.1% undifferentiated hiPSCs that were spiked in primary retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells. Moreover, qRT-PCR with a specific probe and primers was found to detect a trace amount of Lin28 mRNA, which is equivalent to that present in a mixture of a single hiPSC and 5.0×104 RPE cells. Our findings provide highly sensitive and quantitative in vitro assays essential for facilitating safety profiling of hiPSC-derived products for future regenerative medicine research

Potential of ferritin 2 as an antigen for the development of a universal vaccine for avian mites, poultry red mites, tropical fowl mites, and northern fowl mites

IntroductionPoultry red mites (PRMs, Dermanyssus gallinae), blood-sucking ectoparasites, are a threat to the poultry industry because of reduced production caused by infestation. In addition, tropical fowl mites (TFMs, Ornithonyssus bursa) and northern fowl mites (NFMs, Ornithonyssus sylviarum) are hematophagous, distributed in various regions, genetically and morphologically close to PRMs, and cause similar problems to the poultry industry. Vaccine approaches have been studied for PRM control, and several molecules have been identified in PRMs as candidates for effective vaccine antigens. The development of an anti-PRM vaccine as a universal vaccine with broad efficacy against avian mites could improve the productivity of poultry farms worldwide. Molecules that are highly conserved among avian mites and have critical functions in the physiology and growth of mites could be ideal antigen candidates for the development of universal vaccines. Ferritin 2 (FER2), an iron-binding protein, is critical for the reproduction and survival of PRMs and has been reported as a useful vaccine antigen for the control of PRMs and a candidate for the universal vaccine antigen in some tick species.Method and resultsHerein, we identified and characterized FER2 in TFMs and NFM. Compared with the sequence of PRM, the ferroxidase centers of the heavy chain subunits were conserved in FER2 of TFMs and NFMs. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that FER2 belongs to clusters of secretory ferritins of mites and other arthropods. Recombinant FER2 (rFER2) proteins from PRMs, TFMs, and NFMs exhibited iron-binding abilities. Immunization with each rFER2 induced strong antibody responses in chickens, and each immune plasma cross-reacted with rFER2 from different mites. Moreover, mortality rates of PRMs fed with immune plasma against rFER2 from TFMs or NFMs, in addition to PRMs, were higher than those of control plasma.DiscussionrFER2 from each avian mite exhibited anti-PRM effects. This data suggests that it has the potential to be used as an antigen candidate for a universal vaccine against avian mites. Further studies are needed to access the usefulness of FER2 as a universal vaccine for the control of avian mites