Adaptive Localized Cayley Parametrization for Optimization over Stiefel Manifold

We present an adaptive parametrization strategy for optimization problems over the Stiefel manifold by using generalized Cayley transforms to utilize powerful Euclidean optimization algorithms efficiently. The generalized Cayley transform can translate an open dense subset of the Stiefel manifold into a vector space, and the open dense subset is determined according to a tunable parameter called a center point. With the generalized Cayley transform, we recently proposed the naive Cayley parametrization, which reformulates the optimization problem over the Stiefel manifold as that over the vector space. Although this reformulation enables us to transplant powerful Euclidean optimization algorithms, their convergences may become slow by a poor choice of center points. To avoid such a slow convergence, in this paper, we propose to estimate adaptively 'good' center points so that the reformulated problem can be solved faster. We also present a unified convergence analysis, regarding the gradient, in cases where fairly standard Euclidean optimization algorithms are employed in the proposed adaptive parametrization strategy. Numerical experiments demonstrate that (i) the proposed strategy succeeds in escaping from the slow convergence observed in the naive Cayley parametrization strategy; (ii) the proposed strategy outperforms the standard strategy which employs a retraction.Comment: 29 pages, 4 figures, 4 table

Design method of Cockpit module in consideration of switch type, location of switch and display information for older drivers

In this paper, the effects of switch type, location of switch, and display information on the primary driving task and the secondary switch operation were investigated. The switch type included an integrated and a non-integrated switch. These switches were located on the front left, on the left side, or around a steering wheel. We prepared three displays with different display information (2.0, 4.1, and 5.9 bit). The tracking error, the mean operation time, the percentage of correct answer, NASA-TLX mental workload, and the subjective evaluation of usability were measured in order to analyze how these measures were affected by experimental factors above. The results suggested that young adults are better than older adults at both abilities on processing displayed information and operating switches. The integrated switch was found to affect driving performance than the non-integrated switch, and had little influence on switch operation. In addition, it was clarified that the switch located around a steering wheel had little influence on driving performance. Low display information was also found not to affect the performance

A CONSIDERATION OF QUANTITATIVE EVALUATION OF DEXTERITY IN SPORTS EXERCISE

The aim of this study was to quantitatively evaluate dexterity on athletic motions. Subjects were three skilled and three non-skilled weight lifters. They performed power clean that is a strength-training motion. We measured trajectories of joints by using motion capture system, and calculated joint torque according to dynamical equations using only kinematic data. In order to evaluate the strength of stretch reflex and that of proprioceptive feedbacks, we employed curve fitting with the recursive least squares method in our proposed torque model that includes a term caused by stretch reflex and feedback terms with respect to the COP and COM position. The results show that the calculated coefficients reflect some dexterous behavior of skilled motions

Prevention of hypermelanosis by rearing Japanese flounder Paralichthys olivaceus in net-lined tanks

In artificially reared flatfish, especially the Japanese flounder Paralichthys olivaceus, pigmented skin (hypermelanosis) frequently appears on the fish’s blind side after normal metamorphosis. As no practical prevention method has yet been proposed, we examined the effectiveness of a loose net placed inside the rearing tank that covers the bottom and walls like a pouch. When juveniles (standard length [SL] 6 cm) were transferred to the net-lined tank (mesh size 4 mm) before the first appearance of hypermelanosis, the pigmented area after 2 months covered about 0.5% of the blind side; this is about 1/40th of the area covered by pigment in fish reared in an ordinary tank (20%). Although the initial appearance of pigmentation in the axilla area (the area covered by the pectoral fin) was not suppressed, utilization of a larger mesh size (12 mm) decreased the expansion of pigmentation in this area. Juveniles reared in the net-lined tank were about 5–15% smaller (SL) than those reared in the ordinary tank, but their body depth:SL ratio was closer to that of wild-caught juveniles. From the results of this study, we propose that net-lined rearing tanks with larger-sized mesh are a practical method of preventing hypermelanosis in Japanese flounder aquaculture systems

STUDY OF THE MECHANISM OF EXPLOSIVE FORCE PRODUCTION ON QUICK LIFT MOTION BY ANALYSIS OF EMG AND MOTION

The aim of this study is to investigate how explosive force exerts during power clean (PC) motion. The subjects are ten skilleds and ten unskilleds. The joint trajectory and EMG during PC are recorded. The joint torque and its rate of torque development (RTD) are calculated from the obtained data. The joint stiffness is estimated from joint stiffness index (JSI) calculated from EMG of agonist and antagonist muscle pair. Experimental results indicated that the skilleds showed the double knee bent that is typically seen in a stretch-shortening cycle (SSC). Skilleds exerted large values of RTD and JSI just after a period of exerting their small values during SSC. It indicates that a much amount of elastic energy stored in a low stiffness state is instantly transferred to the upper segments in the successive high stiffness state by “tenodesis action” of muscles. This is why large RTD generates in the skilled

IRE1-XBP1 Pathway of the Unfolded Protein Response Is Required during Early Differentiation of C2C12 Myoblasts

ArticleInternational Journal of Molecular Sciences. 21(1): 182. (2019)journal articl

Plaque Vulnerability in Internal Carotid Arteries with Positive Remodeling

Background: This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of assessing positive remodeling for predicting future stroke events in the internal carotid artery. We therefore assessed narrowing of the carotid artery lumen using multidetector-row computer tomography (MDCT) angiography and carotid plaque characteristics using black-blood (BB) magnetic resonance (MR). Methods: We retrospectively selected 17 symptomatic and 11 asymptomatic lesions with luminal narrowing >50%. We compared remodeling parameters of luminal stenosis (remodeling ratio, RR/remodeling index, RI) using MDCT and MR intensities of atherosclerotic plaque contents using the BB technique (relative signal intensity, rSI). We also confirmed the validity of the relationship between MR intensity and atherosclerotic plaque contents by histology. The levels of biological markers related to vessel atherosclerosis were measured. Results: Plaque lesions with positive remodeling in carotid arteries were associated with a significantly higher prevalence of stroke compared with plaques with negative remodeling (p Conclusions: The results of this study suggest that the combined analysis of RR, RI and rSI could potentially help to predict future stroke events