Structure and Motion from Image Sequences Based on Multi-Scale Bayesian Network

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Stereoscopic Calculation Model Based on Fixational Eye Movements

Fixational eye movement is an essential function for watching things using the retina, which has the property of responding only to changes in incident light. However, since the rotation of the eyeball causes the translational movement of the crystalline lens, it is possible in principle to recover the depth of the object from the moving image obtained in this way. We have proposed two types of depth restoration methods based on fixation tremor; differential-type method and integral-type method. The first is based on the change in image brightness between frames, and the latter is based on image blurring due to movement. In this chapter, we introduce them and explain the simulations and experiments performed to verify their operation

Compensation of Frequency-Dependent Attenuation for Tissue Harmonic Pulse Compression Imaging

Tissue harmonic imaging (THI) is highly effective for correct diagnosis. On the other hand, pulse compression is often used in a radar system and an ultrasound imaging system to perform high SNR measurement. Therefore, the performance of pulse compression of tissue harmonic imaging is required to be improved. The frequency-dependent attenuation (FDA) is a crucial problem in medical tissue imaging. In the pulse compression imaging, the deterioration of echoes by the FDA lowers the performance of a matched filtering using an ideal transmitted pulse as a template signal. Since, especially in the harmonic imaging, higher-frequency components are used for imaging than the fundamental imaging, the compensation of the FDA is strongly important for high-definition imaging. In this study, we examine a method to reduce the influence of the FDA on harmonics

カルボン酸の低摩擦特性に及ぼす分子配向の影響

Molecular alignment is a key to achieve an ultra-low friction coefficient. We found that friction coefficient decreased 49% when oleic acid (OAc) was added in poly-α-olefin (PAO), while only decreased 19% when added in polypropyleneglycol (PPG). FT-IR analysis indicates that the dimers of OAc became more easily aligned parallel to the sliding direction in PAO than in PPG. The associated carboxylic acids (OAc-PBAc), which feature two rings in the structure, an eight-membered cyclic carboxylic acid and a benzene ring, also decreased friction coefficient dramatically. FT-IR analysis indicates that the eight-membered cyclic carboxylic acid and the benzene ring were oriented parallel to the shearing plane. The oriented molecules led to low friction coefficient. Our results provide key insights into achieving ultralow friction coefficient through the design of the large, flat structures in lubricant molecules.本研究は、2017年度関西大学若手研究者育成経費（個人研究）において、研究課題「潤滑剤分子の配向によるスマート潤滑システムの創成」として研究費を受け、その成果を公表するものである。第22回関西大学先端科学技術シンポジウム関西大学千里山キャンパス100周年記念会館2018年1月18日（木）・19日（金

Effect of Temperature on Friction Properties of Associated Carboxylic Acids under Boundary Lubrication

本研究は平成29年度関西大学若手研究者育成経費の助成を受けたものである。会議名：トライボロジー会議 2017 春東京 開催地：国立オリンピック記念青少年総合センター会期：2017年5月15日（月）～17日（水）主催者：一般社団法人日本トライボロジー学

Development and application of an ultra-miniaturized blood collecting/testing system by MEMS

This report outlines research, supported by a Kansai University special fund (2004). Collecting blood and sending it to a given destination is inevitable in micro-TAS application for the purpose of this research. Development of a micro-needle made of biodegradable polymer and a method for collecting blood with this micro-needle, evaluation of bloodstream characteristics in a micro-channel, and development of supporting technology for collecting and analyzing blood are discussed in this paper. In each case, successful new technologies were developed

DEVELOPMENT OF PHOTOELECTRON-ASSISTED CHEMICAL VAPOR DEPOSITION

We developed a photoelectron-assisted chemical vapor deposition (PACVD) that can deposit an ultra-thin perfluoropolyether (PFPE) film on a diamond-like carbon (DLC) surface. The DLC surface with a 1 nm-thick PFPE film deposited by the P ACVD showed a low surface energy. The surface also showed a low adhesion force that was caused by the low surface energy. We confirmed that the PFPE/DLC surface deposited by the PACVD has the potential to improve the areal density of hard disk drives.This work was supported in part by Kansai University, Outlay Support for Establishing Research Centers in 2014, a Kansai University Grant in Aid for the Promotion and Upgrading of Education and Research, and MEXT KAKENHI grant number 15H02216

Differences among epitopes recognized by neutralizing antibodies induced by SARS-CoV-2 infection or COVID-19 vaccination

SARS-CoV-2 has gradually acquired amino acid substitutions in its S protein that reduce the potency of neutralizing antibodies, leading to decreased vaccine efficacy. Here, we attempted to obtain mutant viruses by passaging SARS-CoV-2 in the presence of plasma samples from convalescent patients or vaccinees to determine which amino acid substitutions affect the antigenicity of SARS-CoV-2. Several amino acid substitutions in the S2 region, as well as the N-terminal domain (NTD) and receptor-binding domain (RBD), affected the neutralization potency of plasma samples collected from vaccinees, indicating that amino acid substitutions in the S2 region as well as those in the NTD and RBD affect neutralization by vaccine-induced antibodies. Furthermore, the neutralizing potency of vaccinee plasma samples against mutant viruses we obtained or circulating viruses differed among individuals. These findings suggest that genetic backgrounds of vaccinees influence the recognition of neutralizing epitopes

One-Step Detection of the 2009 Pandemic Influenza A(H1N1) Virus by the RT-SmartAmp Assay and Its Clinical Validation

<div><h3>Background</h3><p>In 2009, a pandemic (pdm) influenza A(H1N1) virus infection quickly circulated globally resulting in about 18,000 deaths around the world. In Japan, infected patients accounted for 16% of the total population. The possibility of human-to-human transmission of highly pathogenic novel influenza viruses is becoming a fear for human health and society.</p> <h3>Methodology</h3><p>To address the clinical need for rapid diagnosis, we have developed a new method, the “RT-SmartAmp assay”, to rapidly detect the 2009 pandemic influenza A(H1N1) virus from patient swab samples. The RT-SmartAmp assay comprises both reverse transcriptase (RT) and isothermal DNA amplification reactions in one step, where RNA extraction and PCR reaction are not required. We used an exciton-controlled hybridization-sensitive fluorescent primer to specifically detect the HA segment of the 2009 pdm influenza A(H1N1) virus within 40 minutes without cross-reacting with the seasonal A(H1N1), A(H3N2), or B-type (Victoria) viruses.</p> <h3>Results and Conclusions</h3><p>We evaluated the RT-SmartAmp method in clinical research carried out in Japan during a pandemic period of October 2009 to January 2010. A total of 255 swab samples were collected from outpatients with influenza-like illness at three hospitals and eleven clinics located in the Tokyo and Chiba areas in Japan. The 2009 pdm influenza A(H1N1) virus was detected by the RT-SmartAmp assay, and the detection results were subsequently compared with data of current influenza diagnostic tests (lateral flow immuno-chromatographic tests) and viral genome sequence analysis. In conclusion, by the RT-SmartAmp assay we could detect the 2009 pdm influenza A(H1N1) virus in patients' swab samples even in early stages after the initial onset of influenza symptoms. Thus, the RT-SmartAmp assay is considered to provide a simple and practical tool to rapidly detect the 2009 pdm influenza A(H1N1) virus.</p> </div