ENGINEERED 'GREEN' COMPOSITES USING KENAF AND BAMBOO FIBERS WITH MODIFIED SOY PROTEIN RESIN

In this thesis, fully ?green? composites using nonwoven kenaf mats and modified soy protein isolate (SPI) resin were fabricated. Moreover, fibrillated bamboo fiber (FBF) sheets were also incorporated into some kenaf mat composites to obtain engineered hybrid green composites. Potential mechanical properties of these cutting-edge materials have been proposed. Initially, an appropriate SPI resin composition for optimal composite properties was determined by varying pH values and the amounts of glycerol, used as plasticizer. The final composition contained 10% glycerol (by wt. of SPI) and 11 pH. The effects of a self cross-linking Phytagel? on the tensile properties of the modified SPI resins were evaluated. The tensile strength and Young?s modulus of SPI resins showed a significant improvement by adding Phytagel?. The kenaf fiber/modified SPI resin interface was characterized using the single fiber fragmentation technique. The mechanical properties of these green composites fabricated with SPI modified with various percentages (0, 10, 20 and 40%) of Phytagel? (by wt. of SPI) were characterized. The tensile properties of the green composites didn?t increase significantly with the Phytagel? content. The flexural strength and chord modulus of the composites containing 20% Phytagel? in SPI resin were, however, 1.6 and 1.4 times higher than the composites with 0% Phytagel?, respectively. The composites with 40% Phytagel? in SPI resin possessed the highest impact strength. The tensile strength and modulus of the hybrid composites using FBF sheets and SPI resin modified with 20% Phytagel? were 37.1 MPa and 2187 MPa, respectively, which represent a 10% and 20% improvement over the kenaf mat composites using the same resin. The impact strength of the kenaf mat composites improved 116% after incorporating FBF sheets

Strength Characteristics of Weathered Granite

Weathered granite, which widely distributed in Japan, was tested by a triaxial testing apparatus to investigate its mechanical properties in the consolidated-undrained condition. This rock, classified as a soft rock, causes much trouble in the construction of civil engineering structures. However, its mechanical behavior has not been studied enough to understand the strength characteristics. In this paper, it was found that the general behavior of the weathered granite was very similar to that of clay. The comparison between these materials has been discussed. The strength parameters were obtained from yield points which were defined by two different methods. The physical meanings of these yield points were also discussed

Creep Deformation Characteristics of Weathered Granite

Creep deformation characteristics of weathered granite were studied. While displacement of a structure on foundation rock is the main concern of foundation designers, the mechanical and especially the time dependent properties of weathered granite, which is being used recently as a foundation rock in Japan, have not been investigated so much. The test results show that the behavior of soft rock is very similar to that of soil. The time dependent deformation in soft rock can be predicted by a simple stress-strain-time function or rheological models. The time to failure under a sustained creep load was also discussed in relation to the strength of weathered granite

Additional records of fungus-feeding thrips (Thysanoptera: Phlaeothripidae) from Kyoto in Japan

We recorded four Thysanopteran species from Kyoto Prefecture, based on individuals collected on dead branches in 2020, and added other two fungus-feeding species to a list of thrips in Kyoto, based on literature by Okajima (2006

Reg3 alpha and Reg3 beta Expressions Followed by JAK2/STAT3 Activation Play a Pivotal Role in the Acceleration of Liver Hypertrophy in a Rat ALPPS Model

To explore the underlying mechanism of rapid liver hypertrophy by liver partition in associating liver partition and portal vein ligation for staged hepatectomy (ALPPS), liver partition at different sites was investigated. Increased inflammatory cytokines owing to the liver partition have been reportedly responsible. If this were true, rapid liver hypertrophy should be achieved regardless of where the liver was split. A male Sprague-Dawley rat model was created, in which a liver split was placed inside the portal vein ligated lobe (PiLL), in addition to the ALPPS and portal vein ligation (PVL) models. Liver regeneration rate, inflammatory cytokine levels, activation status of the Janus kinase 2/signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (JAK2/STAT3) pathway and expressions of regenerating islet-derived (Reg)3 alpha and Reg3 beta were investigated. The liver regeneration rate was significantly higher in the ALPPS group than in the PiLL group, whereas inflammatory cytokine levels were nearly equal. Additional volume increase in ALPPS group over PVL and PiLL groups was JAK2/STAT3-dependent. Reg3 alpha and Reg3 beta expressions were observed only in the ALPPS group. An increase in inflammatory cytokines was not enough to describe the mechanism of rapid liver hypertrophy in ALPPS. Expressions of Reg3 alpha and Reg3 beta could play an important role in conjunction with an activation of the JAK2/STAT3 pathway

18FDG-PET at 1-Month Intervals Is a Better Predictive Marker for GISTs That Are Difficult to Be Diagnosed Histopathologically: A Case Report

Imatinib mesylate is a tyrosine kinase inhibitor of c-KIT and PDGFRA. Imatinib mesylate is an effective drug that can be used as a first-choice agent for treatment of GISTs. Prior to treatment, molecular diagnosis of c-KIT or PDGFRA is necessary; however, in some types of GISTs, it is impossible to obtain a sufficient amount of specimen for diagnosis. An inoperable or marginally resectable GIST in a 79-year-old female was difficult to be diagnosed at a molecular pathological level, and hence, exploratory treatment was initiated using imatinib combined with 18FDG-PET evaluation at 1-month intervals. PET imaging indicated a positive response, and so we continued imatinib treatment in an NAC setting for 4 months. As a result, curative resection of the entire tumor was successfully performed with organ preservation and minimally invasive surgery. 18FDG-PET evaluation at 1-month intervals is beneficial for GISTs that are difficult to be diagnosed histopathologically

Hierarchical Cluster and Region of Interest Analyses Based on Mass Spectrometry Imaging of Human Brain Tumours

Imaging mass spectrometry (IMS) has been rarely used to examine specimens of human brain tumours. In the current study, high quality brain tumour samples were selected by tissue observation. Further, IMS analysis was combined with a new hierarchical cluster analysis (IMS-HCA) and region of interest analysis (IMS-ROI). IMS-HCA was successful in creating groups consisting of similar signal distribution images of glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) and related multiple proteins in primary brain tumours. This clustering data suggested the relation of GFAP and these identified proteins in the brain tumorigenesis. Also, high levels of histone proteins, haemoglobin subunit α, tubulins, and GFAP were identified in a metastatic brain tumour using IMS-ROI. Our results show that IMS-HCA and IMS-ROI are promising techniques for identifying biomarkers using brain tumour samples

Geolocation-centric Information Platform for Resilient Spatio-temporal Content Management

In IoT era, the growth of data variety is driven by cross-domain data fusion. In this paper, we advocate that “local production for local consumption (LPLC) paradigm” can be an innovative approach in cross-domain data fusion, and propose a new framework, geolocation-centric information platform (GCIP) that can produce and deliver diverse spatio-temporal content (STC). In the GCIP, (1) infrastructure-based geographic hierarchy edge network and (2) adhoc-based STC retention system are interplayed to provide both of geolocation-awareness and resiliency. Then, we discussed the concepts and the technical challenges of the GCIP. Finally, we implemented a proof-of-concepts of GCIP and demonstrated its efficacy through practical experiments on campus IPv6 network and simulation experiments

99mTc-GSA scintigraphy for assessing the functional volume ratio of the future liver remnant in the routine practice of liver resection

BackgroundThe significance of incorporating regional functional heterogeneity assessment by liver scintigraphy into the calculation of the future liver remnant has been reported. However, liver scintigraphy entails additional costs and radiation exposure. Nevertheless, studies describing when liver scintigraphy demonstrates an actual benefit over computed tomography liver volumetry are lacking. Thus, we evaluated the degree of agreement between future liver remnant % values calculated by technetium 99mTc diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid-galactosyl human serum albumin scintigraphy (galactosyl human serum albumin–based future liver remnant %) and those by computed tomography volumetry and investigated the practical impact of performing regional functional heterogeneity assessment.MethodsThe Bland–Altman method was used to retrospectively analyze the agreement between computed tomography– and galactosyl human serum albumin–based future liver remnant % measurements in 84 patients.ResultsIn ordinary patients with a computed tomography–based future liver remnant % greater than 50%, there was a good agreement between both measurements. However, in cases with a computed tomography–based future liver remnant % less than 40%, galactosyl human serum albumin–based measurements were significantly smaller than computed tomography–based values, with 88% of these patients exhibiting a galactosyl human serum albumin–based future liver remnant % less than 30%. After portal vein embolization, galactosyl human serum albumin–based measurements were primarily greater than or in agreement with computed tomography–based values, even in cases with a computed tomography–based future liver remnant % less than 40%.ConclusionAdding 99mTc diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid-galactosyl human serum albumin scintigraphy to computed tomography liver volumetry is advised when deciding on hepatectomy in patients with a computed tomography–based future liver remnant % less than 50%. If the computed tomography–based future liver remnant % is smaller than 40%, it is strongly recommended to check future liver remnant % by 99mTc diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid-galactosyl human serum albumin scintigraphy. In other cases, computed tomography–based future liver remnant % calculation alone can be regarded as the gold standard of safe hepatectomy