バーナード・ウィリアムズの功利主義批判再考 (Bernard Williams’ Critique of Utilitarianism Reconsidered)

This research discusses Bernard Williams' critique of utilitarianism. I will address Williams' well-known “Integrity Objection” and clarify where his main issue with utilitarianism lies. Through this, I will demonstrate that the separation of the two viewpoints – the “inside viewpoint” and the “impartial viewpoint” - is the issue, as the utilitarian impartial viewpoint does not capture the value of ethical deliberations based on our inside viewpoint in which we presuppose our personal projects. Furthermore, I will argue that this interpretation enables us to place the objection in the context of the critique of impartiality which is one of the central themes of Williams’ ethics

A Preliminary Test of Measurement of Joint Angles and Stride Length with Wireless Inertial Sensors for Wearable Gait Evaluation System

The purpose of this study is to develop wearable sensor system for gait evaluation using gyroscopes and accelerometers for application to rehabilitation, healthcare and so on. In this paper, simultaneous measurement of joint angles of lower limbs and stride length was tested with a prototype of wearable sensor system. The system measured the joint angles using the Kalman filter. Signals from the sensor attached on the foot were used in the stride length estimation detecting foot movement automatically. Joint angles of the lower limbs were measured with stable and reasonable accuracy compared to those values measured with optical motion measurement system with healthy subjects. It was expected that the stride length measurement with the wearable sensor system would be practical by realizing more stable measurement accuracy. Sensor attachment position was suggested not to affect significantly measurement of slow and normal speed movements in a test with the rigid body model. Joint angle patterns measured in 10 m walking with a healthy subject were similar to common patterns. High correlation between joint angles at some characteristic points and stride velocity were also found adequately. These results suggested that the wireless wearable inertial sensor system could detect characteristics of gait

Compositional Probabilistic Model Checking with String Diagrams of MDPs

We present a compositional model checking algorithm for Markov decision processes, in which they are composed in the categorical graphical language of string diagrams. The algorithm computes optimal expected rewards. Our theoretical development of the algorithm is supported by category theory, while what we call decomposition equalities for expected rewards act as a key enabler. Experimental evaluation demonstrates its performance advantages.Comment: 32 pages, Extended version of a paper in CAV 202

Degradable and Nanosegregated Elastomers with Multiblock Sequences of Biobased Aromatic Mesogens and Biofunctional Aliphatic Oligocarbonates

We have developed multiblock aromatic/aliphatic condensation polymers, comprising side-chain biofunctionalized aliphatic oligocarbonates and biobased aromatic ester triad mesogens up to 17 wt %. Nanosegregation of the aromatic mesogen-rich domains with diameters of approximately 10 nm from the soft aliphatic polymer matrix is suggested by atomic force microscopy. The polymers exhibit rubberlike properties, unlike the corresponding aliphatic polycarbonate forming viscous liquid. These properties support the interchain interactions between the aromatic mesogens, which can serve as physical cross-linking. The aromatic ester triad mesogens in the multiblock polymers significantly bolster the tolerance to organocatalytic hydrolysis and methanolysis of the polymer chains but are eventually degraded. The multiblock polymers show degradation behavior slightly faster than poly(L-lactide), whereas poly(ethylene terephthalate) remains intact under the same condition. The present study demonstrates the efficacy of aromatic ester triad mesogens incorporated into the sequences of biodegradable aliphatic polycarbonates to enhance their physical properties while retaining degradability

Organocatalytic depolymerization of poly(trimethylene carbonate)

Aliphatic polycarbonates have attracted attention as degradable and sustainable materials contributing to the circular plastic economy. Their chemical recycling has not been sufficiently studied. In this study, the efficacy of organocatalysts for depolymerization of poly(trimethylene carbonate) (PTMC), a representative aliphatic polycarbonate, is investigated using several organic acids and bases. The hydrolysis of PTMC produces the water-soluble degradates propane-1,3-diol (PD) and CO2. A phosphazene base P2-t-Bu shows high activity for the hydrolysis, yielding up to 31% and 89% of PD in the homogeneous reaction at around 27°C and the inhomogeneous reaction under the reflux condition, respectively. By contrast, 1,5,7-triazabicyclo[4.4.0]dec-5-ene (TBD) exhibits exceptionally high catalytic activity for the methanolysis of PTMC, producing PD and dimethyl carbonate. This is because of dual hydrogen-bonding activation, which completes the inhomogeneous reaction in a few hours at around 27°C while yielding more than 90% of PD. The reaction rate of the TBD-catalyzed methanolysis depends on the concentration of the nucleophile and catalyst, and the ratio of the nucleophile to the substrate affects the PD yield. These results provide a highly promising standard for chemical recycling of functionalized aliphatic polycarbonates that could potentially be applied to sustainable materials in the future