Japanese verbal conjugation and the theory of underspecification

In this joint research we discussed the well-known phenomenon called Onbin observed in the past and the gerund forms of Japanese consonant-final verbs. See the examples below: ..

Effect of Additive on Crystallization and Mechanical Properties of Polymer Blends of Poly(Lactic Acid) and Poly[(Butylene Succinate)-co-Adipate]

AbstractThe effect of additive on crystallization and mechanical properties of poly(lactic acid) (PLA) and poly(butylene succinate-co-adipate) (PBSA) blend was studied. PLA and PBSA were blended in a twin screw extruder, which incorporated poly(butylene adipate-co-terephthalate) (PBAT) as an additive in PLA/PBSA blend. The ratio of PLA/PBSA was 80/20. The contents of PBAT were varied from 0 to 50 wt%. The thermal properties and crystallization behavior of PLA/PBSA/PBAT blends were analyzed by differential scanning calorimetry. The effect of PBAT contents on non-isothermal crystallization kinetic of the composites was investigated by using Avrami equation. Tensile strength and impact performance of the PLA/PBSA/PBAT blends decreased when increasing PBAT contents. It can be noted that the addition of 20 wt% PBAT showed the maximum impact performance of the PLA/PBSA blends

Spontaneous intraperitoneal renal rupture with urinoma formation in the fetus

Spontaneous intraperitoneal renal rupture with urinoma formation in fetuses is an unusual condition that is caused by upper or lower urinary tract obstruction. We report the case of a neonatal male infant who presented with a spontaneous intraperitoneal right renal rupture accompanying ipsilateral ureterovesical junction obstruction (UVJO). Fetuses with UVJO accompanying contralateral multicystic dysplastic kidney should be observed carefully because of the risk of spontaneous renal rupture

Influence of Diabetes Mellitus on Surgical Outcomes in Patients with Cervical Myelopathy: A Prospective, Multicenter Study

[Study Design] Multicenter, prospective study. [Purpose] To investigate the effects of diabetes mellitus (DM) on surgical outcomes in patients with cervical myelopathy. [Overview of Literature] To date, few studies have investigated the influence of postoperative blood glucose or glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) levels on surgical outcomes. [Methods] The participants were patients who underwent surgery for the treatment of cervical spondylotic myelopathy and ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament. The 61 cases were evaluated preoperatively and 1 year postoperatively using the Japanese Orthopaedic Association (JOA) scores and the JOA Cervical Myelopathy Evaluation Questionnaire (JOACMEQ). The study variables included fasting blood glucose and HbA1c levels measured preoperatively and at 1 week, 4 weeks, and 1 year postoperatively; the F-wave conduction velocity, latency, rate of occurrence, and M-wave latency in the ulnar and tibial nerves were measured preoperatively and at 1 year postoperatively. The patients were divided into a group without diabetes (N group, 42 patients) and a group with diabetes (DM group, 19 patients). We then assessed the associations between the surgical outcomes and each of the study variables. [Results] JOA scores significantly improved in both groups; however, no significant between-group differences were found. There was no significant improvement in the JOACMEQ scores, which assessed cervical function, upper and lower limb function, and bladder function in both groups. We then subdivided the DM group into those with a good control of HbA1c after 1 year (DMG group, 12 patients) and those with HbA1c deterioration after 1 year (DMB group, seven patients), prior to comparing the surgical outcomes. The JOACMEQ scores for upper and lower limb function significantly improved in the DMG group (p<0.01). Compared with the DMB group, there were no significant increases in upper or lower limb function scores in the DMG group. [Conclusions] Poor glycemic control might prevent postoperative functional recovery of the spinal cord

Evaluation of ITER TF Coil Joint Performance

To evaluate the ITER TF joint performance, the joint test sample, which consists of two short TF conductors and has full size joint, shall be tested using NIFS test facility under the condition of current of 68 kA and external field of 2 T. For high accuracy, the issue of voltage difference between cable and jacket had been anticipated in the evaluation of joint resistance. If a voltage difference exist between them, it is difficult to measure real joint resistance using voltage taps on the jacket. Therefore, the author first calculated the position where voltage of cable and jacket become equipotential and then decided the voltage tap position where the influence of voltage drop could be avoided. Thus, a high accuracy measurement of joint resistance could be achieved and the joint resistance was accurately evaluated as around 1 n Ω , which is well below the ITER requirement of 3 n Ω

Results of All ITER TF Full-Size Joint Sample Tests in Japan

Nine toroidal field (TF) coils have been developed in Japan for the international thermonuclear experimental reactor (ITER). The joint resistance of TF coil should satisfy the requirement of smaller than 3 nano-ohm at 2 T of external magnetic field and 68 kA of transport current. Full-size joint sample (FSJS) tests were performed for joint development and for TF coil manufacture, as part of the process control. 11 FSJS tests are conducted in total. FSJS tests were conducted with assistance from a test faculty in the National Institute for Fusion Science as reported in a previous paper. All FSJS tests successfully satisfied the requirement of resistance less than 3 nΩ at 2 T. Additionally, the TF coil joints are subjected to cyclic electromagnetic force and warm-up/cool-down during the ITER operation. The authors investigated the joint performance for the abovementioned influence. The results showed no degradation in the joint resistance. Thus, the TF joint developed in Japan was qualified successfully

Northward shift of oceanic front systems in the Southern Ocean during the last glacial maximum

第2回極域科学シンポジウム/第31回極域地学シンポジウム 11月16日（水） 国立国語研究