Dynamics of coupled vortices in a pair of ferromagnetic disks

We here experimentally demonstrate that coupled gyration modes can be resonantly excited primarily by the ac current in a pair of ferromagnetic disks with varied separating distance. The sole gyrotropic mode clearly splits into a higher and a lower frequency modes for different configurations of polarities via dipolar interaction. These experimental results indicate that the magnetostatically coupled pair of vortices behaves similar to a diatomic molecule with bonding and anti-bonding states. These findings lead to the possible extension of designing the magnonic band structure in a chain or an array of vortices.Comment: 4 pages, 4 figures, accepte

Simulating Adaptive Human Bipedal Locomotion Based on Phase Resetting Using Foot-Contact Information

Humans generate bipedal walking by cooperatively manipulating their complicated and redundant musculoskeletal systems to produce adaptive behaviors in diverse environments. To elucidate the mechanisms that generate adaptive human bipedal locomotion, we conduct numerical simulations based on a musculoskeletal model and a locomotor controller constructed from anatomical and physiological findings. In particular, we focus on the adaptive mechanism using phase resetting based on the foot-contact information that modulates the walking behavior. For that purpose, we first reconstruct walking behavior from the measured kinematic data. Next, we examine the roles of phase resetting on the generation of stable locomotion by disturbing the walking model. Our results indicate that phase resetting increases the robustness of the walking behavior against perturbations, suggesting that this mechanism contributes to the generation of adaptive human bipedal locomotion

Field emission from a single carbon nanocoil

科研費報告書収録論文(課題番号:13305010・基盤研究(A)(2) ・H13～H15/研究代表者:江刺, 正喜/ナノメートルの精度で動く分布型マイクロ・ナノマシン

Computer-assisted Minimally Invasive Posterior Lumbar Interbody Fusion without C-arm Fluoroscopy

Computer-assisted spinal surgery is becoming more common; however, this is the first technical report to describe the technique of minimally invasive spinal posterior lumbar interbody fusion (MIS-PLIF) without using C-arm fluoroscopy. The authors report 2 years of follow-up of a 49-year-old female patient with L4 degenerative spondylolisthesis. The patient suffered from low back pain and intermittent claudication for more than 6 years. The authors performed computer-assisted MIS-PLIF without C-arm fluoroscopy. Instead, O-arm® navigation, the use of which reduces radiation exposure to patients as well as others in the operating room, was employed. Surgery was successful, and correct lumbar alignment was maintained. She had neither neurological deficits nor low back pain at her 12-month final follow-up. In conclusion, computer-assisted MIS-PLIF without C-arm fluoroscopy is a useful technique that reduces radiation exposure to the surgeon and operating room staff

A Rare Course of Scoliosis Associated with Chiari Malformation and Syringomyelia

Spinal deformity is an important clinical manifestation of Chiari I malformation (CM-I) and syringomyelia. Here we report the result of an 8-year follow-up of a 13-year-old girl with severe scoliosis associated with Chiari malformation and a large syringomyelia. The patient presented at our hospital at the age of 13 with a 68° scoliosis. Magnetic resonance imaging showed Chiari malformation and a large syringomyelia. Neurosurgical treatment involved foramen magnum decompression and partial C1 laminectomy, but the scoliosis still progressed. We present the first case report of a rare course of scoliosis in a patient with CM-I and a large syringomyelia

Chiari Type I Malformation Caused by Craniometaphyseal Dysplasia

Craniometaphyseal dysplasia is a rare genetic condition characterized by progressive thickening of bones in the skull and metaphyseal abnormalities in the long bones. This disorder often causes progressively symptomatic cranial nerve compression, but in rare cases foramen magnum stenosis may lead to quadriplegia. Chiari I malformation with craniometaphyseal dysplasia is extremely rare. The authors report on a 25-year-old woman with myelopathy due to Chiari I malformation along with craniometaphyseal dysplasia. There are only four previous case reports of this condition. The authors present here the fifth case report of this rare condition and summarize its characteristics

The Effectiveness of Training Programs on the Fidelity of Neuropsychological Tests

Background: There will probably be an exponential increase in the number of seniors suffering from dementia, as aging is the greatest risk factor for this disease. Therefore, neuropsychological tests to assessing dementia are likely to play an increasingly important role for medical services in Japan. This study developed and evaluated the usefulness of a training program on neuropsychological tests aimed at promoting the understanding of testers with regard to the cognitive functions and communication required in the neuropsychological testing process. Methods: The subjects of this study comprised 20 individuals engaged in administrating neuropsychological tests at the Japan-Multidomain Intervention Trial for Prevention of Dementia in Older Adults with Diabetes. A four-hour training session was held. The first part of the training program focused on “cognitive functions and communication;” the second addressed “neuropsychological tests.” As the main evaluation criteria, a fidelity checklist was created with 14 items designed to measure success or failure with regard to important and easily mistakable aspects of implementing each neuropsychological test. They were conducted three times: before, immediately after, and six months after the training. Results: The main effect of time was significant for the “fidelity” score. The effect size was large at η2 = 0.69. A simple main effect test using the Bonferroni method revealed significant differences between the pre-training and post-training values and between the pre-training and six-month point values. However, no significant differences were found in self-efficacy scores before, immediately after, and six months after the training. Conclusion: This outcome indicates that the fidelity of the subjects to neuropsychological tests increased as a result of the training program, and that this improvement was maintained through the six-month period following the program. Moreover, the large effect size suggests that the training program may be effective in facilitating the mastery of neuropsychological tests in testers

気管支喘息の臨床分類とその細胞性および液性因子の特徴

Characteristics of each asthma type classified by clinical symptoms and　findings were studied in 72 patients with bronchial asthma. 1. Ventilatory function tests showed that the values of % MMF, % V(50) and % V(25) were significantly lower in patients with bronchiolar obstruction (type II) compared to the values of those with simple bronchoconstriction type (type Ia) and those with bronchoconstriction + hypersecretion (type Ib). 2. The proportion of neutrophils in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid was significantly higher in type II than in type Ia and type Ib. Several　patients with type Ib showed higher proportion of BAL eosinophils. 3. The release of LTC(4) from leucocytes was significantly lower in type II compared with type Ia and type Ib. There was no significant difference in the release of histamine and LTB(4) among the three asthma types.気管支喘息72例を対象に,その臨床病態の特徴を,気道炎症性の細胞および化学伝達物質の観察により検討した｡1.気道反応の特徴を換気機能の面から検討すると,II細気管支閉塞型において,MMF,V(50)やV(25)などの小ないし細気管支領域の換気障害を示すパラメーターの値は,Ia型,Ib型に比べ 有意の低下を示した｡2.気道細胞反応では,II型において,他の臨床病型に比べ,BAL液中好中球の出現頻度の有意の増加が観察された(Ia, p<0.001 ; Ib, p<0.01)｡好酸球の出現頻度は,Ib過分泌型において著しい増加傾向を示す症例が見られたが,その平均出現頻度には3病型間に有意の差は見られなかった｡3.好中球からのメジェー夕ー遊離では,ヒスタミン遊離は,Ia単純性気管支撃縮型において最も高い値が示されたが,推計学的には3病型間に有意の差は見られなかった｡ロイコトリエンC(4)では,Ia型においてII型に比べ有意に高い遊離が観察された(p<0.05)｡ロイコトリエンB(4)遊離には,3病型間に差は見られなかった