Building Blocks Problem Related to Harmonic Series

In this discussion I give an explanation of the divergence and convergence of infinite series through the building blocks problem and at the same time I touch on the fact that mathematics is not just about manipulating complicated numerical formulas but also a field in which logical ways of thought are learnt. I emphasize that in order to overcome the aversion of university students to mathematics, teachers must pour their energies into developing study materials taken from topics relevant to the students

Desingularization of matrix equations employing hypersingular integrals in boundary element methods using double nodes

In boundary element methods, the method of using double nodes at corners is a useful approach to uniquely define the normal direction of boundary elements. However, matrix equations constructed by conventional boundary integral equations (CBIE) become singular under certain combinations of double node boundary conditions. In this paper, we analyze the singular conditions of the CBIE formulation for cases where the boundary conditions at the double node are imposed by combinations of Dirichlet, Neumann, Robin, and interface conditions. To address this singularity we propose the use of hypersingular integral equations (HBIE) for wave propagation problems that obey Helmholtz equation. To demonstrate the applicability of HBIE, we compare three types of simultaneous equations: (i) CBIE, (ii) partial-HBIE in which HBIE is only applied to the double nodes at corners while CBIE is applied to the other nodes, and (iii) full-HBIE in which HBIE is applied to all nodes. Based on our numerical results, we observe the following results. The singularity of the matrix equations for problems with any combination of boundary conditions can be resolved by both full-HBIE and partial-HBIE, and partial-HBIE exhibits better accuracy than full-HBIE. Furthermore, the computational cost of partial-HBIE is smaller than that of full-HBIE.Comment: 14 pages, 10 figures, accepted manuscript submitted to Engineering Analysis with Boundary Elemen

Interaction between the immune system and acute myeloid leukemia: A model incorporating promotion of regulatory T cell expansion by leukemic cells

金沢大学国際基幹教育院高等教育開発・支援系Population dynamics of regulatory T cells (Treg) are crucial for the underlying interplay between leukemic and immune cells in progression of acute myeloid leukemia (AML). The goal of this work is to elucidate the dynamics of a model that includes Treg, which can be qualitatively assessed by accumulating clinical findings on the impact of activated immune cell infusion after selective Treg depletion. We constructed an ordinary differential equation model to describe the dynamics of three components in AML: leukemic blast cells, mature regulatory T cells (Treg), and mature effective T cells (Teff), including cytotoxic T lymphocytes. The model includes promotion of Treg expansion by leukemic blast cells, leukemic stem cell and progenitor cell targeting by Teff, and Treg-mediated Teff suppression, and exhibits two coexisting, stable steady states, corresponding to high leukemic cell load at diagnosis or relapse, and to long-term complete remission. Our model is capable of explaining the clinical findings that the survival of patients with AML after allogeneic stem cell transplantation is influenced by the duration of complete remission, and that cut-off minimal residual disease thresholds associated with a 100% relapse rate are identified in AML. © 2018 Elsevier B.V.Embargo Period 12 month

Enhancement of magnetic surface anisotropy of Pd/Co/Pd trilayers by the addition of Sm

科研費報告書収録論文(課題番号:13555087・基盤研究(B)(2) ・H13～H15/研究代表者:北上, 修/ナノ磁性ドット規則配列格子の磁気的挙動の解明と超高密度メモリーへの応用

Metal-Free Benzannulation to Synthesis of 2,3-Disubstituted Naphthalenes: Reaction of 2-(Phenylethynyl)benzaldehyde and Alkynes by Brønsted Acid

Metal-free benzannulation reaction of 2-(phenylethynyl)-benzaldehyde and alkynes proceeded in the presence of Brønsted acid under microwave irradiation to give the 2,3-disubstituted naphthalenes.This research was financially supported in part by the Kansai University Subsidy for Supporting Young Scholars, 2015.2015年度関西大学若手研究者育成経

Effects of lifestyle and single nucleotide polymorphisms on breast cancer risk: a case-control study in Japanese women

Background: Lifestyle factors, including food and nutrition, physical activity, body composition and reproductive factors, and single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) are associated with breast cancer risk, but few studies of these factors have been performed in the Japanese population. Thus, the goals of this study were to validate the association between reported SNPs and breast cancer risk in the Japanese population and to evaluate the effects of SNP genotypes and lifestyle factors on breast cancer risk. Methods: A case-control study in 472 patients and 464 controls was conducted from December 2010 to November 2011. Lifestyle was examined using a self-administered questionnaire. We analyzed 16 breast cancer-associated SNPs based on previous GWAS or candidate-gene association studies. Age or multivariate-adjusted odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) were estimated from logistic regression analyses. Results: High BMI and current or former smoking were significantly associated with an increased breast cancer risk, while intake of meat, mushrooms, yellow and green vegetables, coffee, and green tea, current leisure-time exercise, and education were significantly associated with a decreased risk. Three SNPs were significantly associated with a breast cancer risk in multivariate analysis: rs2046210 (per allele OR = 1.37 [95% CI: 1.11-1.70]), rs3757318 (OR = 1.33[1.05-1.69]), and rs3803662 (OR = 1.28 [1.07-1.55]). In 2046210 risk allele carriers, leisure-time exercise was associated with a significantly decreased risk for breast cancer, whereas current smoking and high BMI were associated with a significantly decreased risk in non-risk allele carriers. Conclusion: In Japanese women, rs2046210 and 3757318 located near the ESR1 gene are associated with a risk of breast cancer, as in other Asian women. However, our findings suggest that exercise can decrease this risk in allele carriers