The Role of Corn Seed Hemicellulose for Cereal Fresh Preservation

The storage of corn seeds in the fresh state is very difficult. This reason is presumably ascribable to the unstability of hemicellulose constructing the cell membrane. The hemicellulose was composed of xylose, arabinose mainly, and smaller amounts of galacturonic acid, glucose and galactose. The mean molecular weight was about 730,000 by a gelfiltration method. The yield of the hemicellulose from corn seeds amounts to about 1.5%. It is hydrolyzed by an exo-enzyme of one strain of bacteria isolated from corn seed. The mode of the hydrolysis is that of an endo type. This bacterium is a native one, namely, utilizes preferably the hemicellulose as only carbon source for the growth. At 15℃ it can grow with difficulty in stab and plate culture, but at 5℃ it can not grow at all. This bacterium is quite resistant to heat treatment, since even after heating at 120℃ for 20 min., a significant number of bacteria appeared in the sterilized medium. The bacterium can grow within pH 6-10 range. Thus, we are expecting that corn seeds will be stored safely by controlling temperature and spraying of the acidic solution

Dynamic Rupture Simulations Based on the Characterized Source Model of the 2011 Tohoku Earthquake

The 2011 Off the Pacific Coast of Tohoku earthquake (Tohoku earthquake, M_w 9.0) occurred on the Japan Trench and caused a devastating tsunami. Studies of this earthquake have revealed complex features of its rupture process. In particular, the shallow parts of the fault (near the trench) hosted large slip and long period seismic wave radiation, whereas the deep parts of the rupture (near the coast) hosted smaller slip and strong radiation of short period seismic waves. Understanding such depth-dependent feature of the rupture process of the Tohoku earthquake is necessary as it may occur during future mega-thrust earthquakes in this and other regions. In this study, we investigate the “characterized source model” of the Tohoku earthquake through dynamic rupture simulations. This source model divides the fault plane into several parts characterized by different size and frictional strength (main asperity, background area, etc.) and is widely used in Japan for the prediction of strong ground motion and tsunami through kinematic rupture simulations. Our characterized source model of the Tohoku earthquake comprises a large shallow asperity with moderate frictional strength, small deep asperities with high frictional strength, a background area with low frictional strength, and an area with dynamic weakening close to the trench (low dynamic friction coefficient as arising from, e.g., thermal pressurization). The results of our dynamic rupture simulation reproduce the main depth-dependent feature of the rupture process of the Tohoku earthquake. We also find that the width of the area close to the trench (equal to the distance from the trench to the shallow asperity, interpreted as the size of the accretionary prism) and the presence of dynamic weakening in this area have a significant influence on the final slip distribution. These results are useful to construct characterized source models for other subduction zones with different scale of the accretionary prism, such as the Chile subduction zone and the Nankai Trough. Dynamic rupture simulations based on the characterized source model might provide useful insights for hazard assessment associated with future mega-thrust earthquakes

Differences in Trocar Positioning within the Vertebral Body Using Two Different Positioning Methods: Effect on Trainee Performance

Purpose. To evaluate the educational effect of the Japanese Society of Interventional Radiology 7th Academic Summer Seminar from a technical perspective. Materials and Methods. Nineteen trainees participated in the seminar. The seminar consisted of vertebroplasty trainings using swine with the single-plane landmark method and with the ISOcenter Puncture (ISOP) method. All trainees were advised by an instructor as they operated the instruments and punctured the vertebra. For each trainee, the accuracy in the final position of the needle tip of the initial puncture in each swine training was evaluated. Results. Error in the final position of the needle tip of ≥5 mm from the target puncture site occurred in the lateral direction in 42% (8/19) of trainees with the landmark method and 5% (1/19) with the ISOP method. No error ≥5 mm occurred in the vertical or anteroposterior directions. In terms of puncture accuracy, error in the lateral direction was significantly lower with the ISOP method than with the landmark method (2.2 ± 1.5 mm versus 5.6 ± 3.2 mm). Conclusion. This seminar was effective training for trocar placement for beginners. The puncture was more accurate with the ISOP method than with the landmark method

A simplified procedure for assessing failure probabilities of reinforced concrete frame buildings under earthquake loading.

The thesis argues the need for a more rational structural code, and as a major step in its attainment describes the development of a simplified technique for assessing the probability of failure of structures due to earthquake effects. Previous approaches to the development of a rational code are discussed critically and their limitations are described. A major problem is shown to be the difficulty of assessing failure probabilities for complete structures, even using the simplified First-Order Second-Moment approach. The difficulty is illustrated by applying the First-Order Second-Mount method to a simple portal frame structure. A consistent approach to the analysis of seismic failure probabilities of complete structures is then developed. Cumulative plastic strain energy is used as an overall damage measure, with an interstorey drift limit as a failure criterion. The relationship of the two is established using three separate analyses for estimating: 1. the total cumulative plastic strain energy absorbed by an entire structure; 2. the proportion of total energy absorbed by each storey; and 3. the maximum interstorey drift induced by the energy in each storey. Finally, a First-Order Second-Moment approach is used for obtaining probabilities of failure. The technique is developed in detail only for reinforced concrete frame structures, though the approach is more universally applicable. The analysis is relatively complex, but it nevertheless involves a number of simplifying assumptions. These are discussed, and are also the subject of sensitivity analyses. The analysis is applied to various trial structures. It is tentatively concluded that the seismic reliability implied by New Zealand codes is a little low, compared with results obtained elsewhere