Numerical predictions for equilibrium profile on intertidal flat

Morphology of intertidal flat is dictated by the input of sediments from rivers and the subsequent redistribution by waves, currents, and gravity-driven flows. An analytical models is develop for dynamic equilibrium profile from Falcini et al (2012) and Yamada et al (2004) equations and numerical simulations are used to predict the long-term cross-shore morphology changes on intertidal flat adjacent of river mouth. By using these models, we explore the gravity flows and sea bottom slope in determining the critical conditions for bypass of gravity-driven sediment transport. The field site of this research is located on the center of the eastern coast of Ariake Bay at river mouth of Shirakawa River, Japan. Monthly bed level measurement from February 2001 to January 2013 with the distance between 100 to 1050 m and the interval of 10 m from seawall was analyzed. Oceanographic data such as tide level, significant wave height, wave period, and wind velocity measured at an observation tower of Kumamoto Port. Water debit of Shirakawa River is obtained from Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport of Japan. Based on model predictions, we found that the dynamic equilibrium profile is spatially and temporally consistent with field observations and it predicted to be deeper and boarder associated with sediment

Consideration of apllicability of stochastic tropical cyclone model for probability assessment of storm surge

Storm surge risk is basic and important information for design of coastal structure, but its probability assessment is difficult because the frequency of devastating TC is not so high. Furthermore, storm surge damage is very sensitive to not only its intensity but also its track and translation speed. Therefore, the estimation of occurrence probability of devastating disaster from our limited observation data has uncertainty. Recently, we have developed Global Stochastic Tropical cyclone Model (GSTM). The comparison of observation data and simulation results of GSTM showed the reasonable reproducibility of macroscopic statistics of TC parameters such as central pressure, translation direction and speed. However, the verification area of previous study was too large to consider the applicability to risk assessment of local bay scale. Therefore, the microscopic and detailed verification of GSTM is necessary. In this study, we tried to evaluation of reproducibility of TC parameters which was calculated by GSTM at small region as a local bay scale. Furthermore, we improved GSTM by implementation of the cluster analysis of observation data to the process of estimation of the joint Probability Density Function (joint PDF) of temporal correlation of TC parameters. At last of this study, a case study approach by storm surge simulation was performed in order to explain the practical meaning of GSTM. Synthetic TC data based on historical TC track was generated and they were used for input to numerical model for estimating the water height of storm surge at regional scale. Then, the TC track of the worst-case scenario for Yatsushiro bay located in center of west Kyushu Island was decided. Finally, the occurrence probability of the worst-case scenario was calculated from GSTM results

Flood Risk Management: An Illustrative Approach

Widespread flooding with significant damage in many countries, such as the Philippines in 2013, highlights the ongoing need for effective flood risk management (FRM). This hinges on comprehensive access to and dissemination of information about the elements and the people at risk. Simulations, real-time graphs, and maps illustrate the spatial distribution of flood risks, spatial allocation and dissemination of flood effects, if flood risk reduction measures are not implemented, as well as the benefits to be derived from the effective implementation and maintenance of flood risk management measures not realized. Using precipitation, river water, and tide levels, a real-time monitoring site was set up for the Shirakawa River, Kumamoto, Japan. The data gathered from the July 2012 flood event is used as a demonstrator, illustrating a flood event as well as how to utilize the information provided on this site to determine the future time and possibility of flooding. Additionally, an electronically generated flood hazard map making process is being developed for distribution across Japan. These illustrative approaches can be utilized in cities and communities around the globe

Ion Channel Clustering at the Axon Initial Segment and Node of Ranvier Evolved Sequentially in Early Chordates

In many mammalian neurons, dense clusters of ion channels at the axonal initial segment and nodes of Ranvier underlie action potential generation and rapid conduction. Axonal clustering of mammalian voltage-gated sodium and KCNQ (Kv7) potassium channels is based on linkage to the actin–spectrin cytoskeleton, which is mediated by the adaptor protein ankyrin-G. We identified key steps in the evolution of this axonal channel clustering. The anchor motif for sodium channel clustering evolved early in the chordate lineage before the divergence of the wormlike cephalochordate, amphioxus. Axons of the lamprey, a very primitive vertebrate, exhibited some invertebrate features (lack of myelin, use of giant diameter to hasten conduction), but possessed narrow initial segments bearing sodium channel clusters like in more recently evolved vertebrates. The KCNQ potassium channel anchor motif evolved after the divergence of lampreys from other vertebrates, in a common ancestor of shark and humans. Thus, clustering of voltage-gated sodium channels was a pivotal early innovation of the chordates. Sodium channel clusters at the axon initial segment serving the generation of action potentials evolved long before the node of Ranvier. KCNQ channels acquired anchors allowing their integration into pre-existing sodium channel complexes at about the same time that ancient vertebrates acquired myelin, saltatory conduction, and hinged jaws. The early chordate refinements in action potential mechanisms we have elucidated appear essential to the complex neural signaling, active behavior, and evolutionary success of vertebrates

Characterization of 3D Interconnected Microstructural Network in Mixed Ionic and Electronic Conducting Ceramic Composites

The microstructure and connectivity of the ionic and electronic conductive phases in composite ceramic membranes are directly related to device performance. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) including chemical mapping combined with X-ray nanotomography (XNT) have been used to characterize the composition and 3-D microstructure of a MIEC composite model system consisting of a Ce0.8Gd0.2O2 (GDC) oxygen ion conductive phase and a CoFe2O4 (CFO) electronic conductive phase. The microstructural data is discussed, including the composition and distribution of an emergent phase which takes the form of isolated and distinct regions. Performance implications are considered with regards to the design of new material systems which evolve under non-equilibrium operating conditions

The effect of dexamethasone on defective nephrin transport caused by ER stress: A potential mechanism for the therapeutic action of glucocorticoids in the acquired glomerular diseases

The mechanism by which glucocorticoids govern antiproteinuric effect in nephrotic syndrome remains unknown. Present study examined the protective role of dexamethasone (DEX) in the intracellular trafficking of nephrin under endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress. Human embryonic kidney-293 cell line expressing a full-length human nephrin was cultured in mediums containing 5.5 or 25 mM glucose with or without DEX. The result revealed that glucose starvation evoked a rapid ER stress leading to formation of underglycosylated nephrin that was remained in the ER as a complex with calreticulin/calnexin. DEX rescued this interfered trafficking through binding to its receptor and stimulating the mitochondrial transcripts and adenosine 5′ triphosphate (ATP) production, leading to synthesis of fully glycosylated nephrin. These results suggest that ER-stress in podocytes may cause alteration of nephrin N-glycosylation, which may be an underlying factor in the pathomechanism of the proteinuria in nephrotic syndrome. DEX may restore this imbalance by stimulating expression of mitochondrial genes, resulted in the production of ATP that is essential factor for proper folding machinery aided by the ER chaperones

A hybrid iterative method for common solutions of variational inequality problems and fixed point problems for single-valued and multi-valued mappings with applications

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