High-count Multi-Core Fibers for Space-Division Multiplexing with Propagation-Direction Interleaving

By introducing a square lattice structure for bidirectional core assignments in multi-core fibers, the e ectiveness of propagation-direction interleaving for crosstalk reduction can be increased, realizing a 24-core fiber with-30.6 dB crosstalk over 100 km

Improving student involvement in discussions

“Active learning” and communication skills in a context of globalization have been emphasized by MEXT (MEXT, 2012) and activities such as presentation, debate and discussion has become main activities in university speaking classes and have gradually replaced daily conversation activities. However, discussion activities often seem to be not working well in English classes. In this research, some materials, preparations and structure of discussion from our university English classes will be introduced, along with how each activity worked or did not work, what changes would be required, and the students’ reactions toward the activities will be introduced

Generalization of the Second Law for a Nonequilibrium Initial State

We generalize the second law of thermodynamics in its maximum work formulation for a nonequilibrium initial distribution. It is found that in an isothermal process, the Boltzmann relative entropy (H-function) is not just a Lyapunov function but also tells us the maximum work that may be gained from a nonequilibrium initial state. The generalized second law also gives a fundamental relation between work and information. It is valid even for a small Hamiltonian system not in contact with a heat reservoir but with an effective temperature determined by the isentropic condition. Our relation can be tested in the Szilard engine, which will be realized in the laboratory

Modeling of extreme freshwater outflow from the north-eastern Japanese river basins to western Pacific Ocean

This study demonstrates the importance of accurate extreme discharge input in hydrological and oceanographic combined modeling by introducing two extreme typhoon events. We investigated the effects of extreme freshwater outflow events from river mouths on sea surface salinity distribution (SSS) in the coastal zone of the north-eastern Japan. Previous studies have used observed discharge at the river mouth, as well as seasonally averaged inter-annual, annual, monthly or daily simulated data. Here, we reproduced the hourly peak discharge during two typhoon events for a targeted set of nine rivers and compared their impact on SSS in the coastal zone based on observed, climatological and simulated freshwater outflows in conjunction with verification of the results using satellite remote-sensing data. We created a set of hourly simulated freshwater outflow data from nine first-class Japanese river basins flowing to the western Pacific Ocean for the two targeted typhoon events (Chataan and Roke) and used it with the integrated hydrological (CDRMV3.1.1) and oceanographic (JCOPE-T) model, to compare the case using climatological mean monthly discharges as freshwater input from rivers with the case using our hydrological model simulated discharges. By using the CDRMV model optimized with the SCE-UA method, we successfully reproduced hindcasts for peak discharges of extreme typhoon events at the river mouths and could consider multiple river basin locations. Modeled SSS results were verified by comparison with Chlorophyll-a distribution, observed by satellite remote sensing. The projection of SSS in the coastal zone became more realistic than without including extreme freshwater outflow. These results suggest that our hydrological models with optimized model parameters calibrated to the Typhoon Roke and Chataan cases can be successfully used to predict runoff values from other extreme precipitation events with similar physical characteristics. Proper simulation of extreme typhoon events provides more realistic coastal SSS and may allow a different scenario analysis with various precipitation inputs for developing a nowcasting analysis in the future

12-core x 3-mode Dense Space Division Multiplexed Transmission over 40 km Employing Multi-carrier Signals with Parallel MIMO Equalization

We demonstrate dense SDM transmission of 20-WDM multi-carrier PDM-32QAM signals over a 40-km 12-core x 3-mode fiber with 247.9-b/s/Hz spectral efficiency. Parallel MIMO equalization enables 21-ns DMD compensation with 61 TDE taps per subcarrier

A new portable monitor for measuring odorous compounds in oral, exhaled and nasal air

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The B/B Checker^®, a new portable device for detecting odorous compounds in oral, exhaled, and nasal air, is now available. As a single unit, this device is capable of detecting several kinds of gases mixed with volatile sulfur compounds (VSC) in addition to other odorous gasses. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the effectiveness of the B/B Checker^®for detecting the malodor level of oral, exhaled, and nasal air.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>A total of 30 healthy, non-smoking volunteers (16 males and 14 females) participated in this study. The malodor levels in oral, exhaled, and nasal air were measured using the B/B Checker^®and by organoleptic test (OT) scores. The VSCs in each air were also measured by gas chromatography (GC). Associations among B/B Checker^®measurements, OT scores and VSC levels were analyzed using Spearman correlation coefficients. In order to determine the appropriate B/B Checker^®level for screening subjects with malodor, sensitivity and specificity were calculated using OT scores as an identifier for diagnosing oral malodor.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>In oral and nasal air, the total VSC levels measured by GC significantly correlated to that measured by the B/B Checker^®. Significant correlation was observed between the results of OT scores and the B/B Checker^®measurements in oral (r = 0.892, p < 0.001), exhaled (r = 0.748, p < 0.001) and nasal air (r = 0.534, p < 0.001). The correlation between the OT scores and VSC levels was significant only for oral air (r = 0.790, p < 0.001) and nasal air (r = 0.431, p = 0.002); not for exhaled air (r = 0.310, p = 0.096). When the screening level of the B/B Checker^®was set to 50.0 for oral air, the sensitivity and specificity were 1.00 and 0.90, respectively. On the other hand, the screening level of the B/B Checker^®was set to 60.0 for exhaled air, the sensitivity and specificity were 0.82 and 1.00, respectively.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The B/B Checker^®is useful for objective evaluation of malodor in oral, exhaled and nasal air and for screening subjects with halitosis.</p> <p>Trial registration</p> <p>ClinicalTrials.gov: <a href="http://www.clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT01139073">NCT01139073</a></p

Quantitative Proteomic and Interaction Network Analysis of Cisplatin Resistance in HeLa Cells

Cisplatin along with other platinum based drugs are some of the most widely used chemotherapeutic agents. However drug resistance is a major problem for the successful chemotherapeutic treatment of cancer. Current evidence suggests that drug resistance is a multifactorial problem due to changes in the expression levels and activity of a wide number of proteins. A majority of the studies to date have quantified mRNA levels between drug resistant and drug sensitive cell lines. Unfortunately mRNA levels do not always correlate with protein expression levels due to post-transcriptional changes in protein abundance. Therefore global quantitative proteomics screens are needed to identify the protein targets that are differentially expressed in drug resistant cell lines. Here we employ a quantitative proteomics technique using stable isotope labeling with amino acids in cell culture (SILAC) coupled with mass spectrometry to quantify changes in protein levels between cisplatin resistant (HeLa/CDDP) and sensitive HeLa cells in an unbiased fashion. A total of 856 proteins were identified and quantified, with 374 displaying significantly altered expression levels between the cell lines. Expression level data was then integrated with a network of protein-protein interactions, and biological pathways to obtain a systems level view of proteome changes which occur with cisplatin resistance. Several of these proteins have been previously implicated in resistance towards platinum-based and other drugs, while many represent new potential markers or therapeutic targets

Wind tunnel flutter testing on a highly flexible wing for aeroelastic validation in the transonic regime within the HMAE1 project

The aircraft manufacturer Embraer, the German Aerospace Center (DLR), the Netherlands Aerospace Centre (NLR) and German-Dutch Wind Tunnels (DNW) have tested an innovative highly flexible wing within an aeroelastic wind tunnel experiment in the transonic regime. The HMAE1 project was initiated by Embraer to test its numerical predictions for wing flutter under excessive wing deformations in the transonic regime. A highly elastic fiberglass wing-body pylon nacelle wind tunnel model (see Figure 1), which is able to deform extensively, was constructed for the experiment. The model was instrumented with a large number of pressure orifices, strain gauges, stereo pattern recognition (SPR) markers and accelerometers. The wing was tested from Ma = 0.4 to Ma = 0.9 for different angles of attack and stagnation pressures. The static and dynamic behavior of the wing model was monitored and a new method to analyze its eigenfrequencies and damping ratios was used. In the past, the large amounts of data acquired during such experiments could only be evaluated with a time lag. An efficient method developed by DLR now allows performing the data analysis in real time [1, 2]. As a result, it was possible during the test to identify exactly which safety margins remained before the onset of flutter and the resulting possible destruction of the model