国際貿易協定を通じた国際協力の役割に関する研究

内容の要約広島大学(Hiroshima University)博士(学術)Doctor of Philosophydoctora

Evaluation of Safety Performance of Fractured Joints in Steel Truss Bridge

This study aims to evaluate safety performance of fractured joints and failure mechanisms of high-strength friction-grip (HSFG) bolted connections in steel bridge. As a case study, the bolted connections on the Ayeyarwady Bridge (Yadanarbon) in Myanmar have been investigated. Initial inspection of the bridge found that a number of bolts were loosened, missing or had already fractured and most were heavily corroded. The original fractured bolts have been replaced with the new ones as remedial work. The safety performance of fractured joints were evaluated based on simulation results of existing bridge by Midas Civil in accordance with AASHTO standards. The failure mechanisms of the fractured bolts were investigated by analyzing through optical and scanned electron microscopy. The main factors contributed to the failure of the bolted connections at the Ayeyarwady Bridge (Yadanarbon) include delayed fracture, stress corrosion cracking, the fluctuating loads, and the corrosive environment it was subjected to. The failure mechanisms of the fractured bolts were mainly due to pitting corrosion and fretting fatigue.

The impact of Covid-19 pandemic on financial performance: the case of Singapore listed companies

The ongoing Covid-19 pandemic has led to a global health crisis and the global financial crisis. This study examines the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on the financial performance of Singapore-listed companies, based on a sample of 247 companies across 20 industries on the Singapore Stock Exchange for half-yearly periods from 2019 to 2021. I apply a regression model with multiple linear analysis, and paired t-test to analyze the financial performance impact of the Covid-19 pandemic across the sectors. According to the study's findings, the pandemic had impacted the financial performance of listed companies in Singapore and the impact varied from sector to sector. The most effected sectors were the services sectors. The findings of the study provide sufficient guidance to vital business performance issues. These results will help researchers and investors better understand how the unexpected health crisis affected the financial performance of Singapore listed companies

Development of Double Haploid Lines from F1 Cross of Yar-8 x Thee Htat Yin Genotypes through Anther Culture

Anther culture has become a powerful technique for the rapid production of double haploid lines in crop breeding program. The objectives of this experiment were to examine the callusing and green plant regeneration ability of parents (Yar -8 and Thee Htat Yin) and their F1, and to develop the double haploid lines from the cross of Yar-8 and Thee Htat Yin genotypes. Nitsch and Nitsch (N6) medium with 2 mg.L-12, 4-Dichlorophenoxyacetic acid and 0.5 mg.L-1 kinetin was used for callus induction and Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium with 1 mg.L-1 Naphthalene acetic acid, 1 mg.L-1 Indole 3-acetic acid, 1 mg.L-1 Indole 3-butric acid, and 2 mg.L-1 kinetin was used for green plant regeneration. Callus induction was successfully observed in both parents and their F1. Plant regeneration from regenerated callus was dependent on the genotypes. Only Yar-8 and F1 progenies produced green plants as well as albino plants. Out of total 14 plants, 10 plants were double haploid (DH) plants. These double haploid lines (DH) could be done further evaluation to develop improved rice lines in Myanmar

Self-Reported Halitosis among Medical, Dental and Health Science Undergraduate Students at the University Sains Malaysia

Svrha: U ovom se istraživanju željelo među dodiplomskim studentima Sveučilišta Sains Malaysia procijeniti broj oboljelih (prevalencija) od samoopažene halitoze i s njom povezanih čimbenika. Ispitanici i postupci: U ovom presječnom istraživanju rabio se upitnik kojim se procjenjivala samoopažena halitoza i s njom povezani čimbenici. Sudjelovalo je 300 studenata dodiplomske nastave, i to po 100 sa studija medicine, dentalne medicine i medicinskih znanosti. Rezultati: Srednja dob studenata bila je 21,7 godina (SD 1, 75), a među njima su bile i 202 (67,3 %) studentice. Kod 13 posto studenata samoopažena halitoza otkrivena je tehnikom ruka na usta te je njih 9,3 posto izjavilo da zadah utječe na njihove socijalne kontakte. Većina studenata (79,7 %) osjetila je neugodan vonj iz usta odmah nakon buđenja. Studenti dentalne medicine rjeđe su prijavljivali halitozu negoli oni medicine i medicinskih znanosti (OR=0,34 ; CI=0,12, 0,95), Studenti koji se redovito koriste vodicom za ispiranje usta i četkaju jezik također su rjeđe opažali halitozu. Prevalencija halitoze bila je veća među studentima s gingivnim krvarenjem i naslagama na jeziku. Zaključak: Halitoza je češća među nedentalnim studentima. Čimbenici povezani s tom tegobom jesu gingivno krvarenje i naslage na jeziku. Redovito korištenje vodica za ispiranje usta i četkanje jezika itekako su korisni u prevenciji halitoze. Studentima se preporučuju profesionalna njega i korištenje sredstava za oralnu higijenu.Objective: To determine the prevalence of self-reported halitosis and its associated factors among undergraduate students at the Universiti Sains Malaysia. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, a self-administered questionnaire, assessing self-reported halitosis and its associated factors, was administered to 300 undergraduate students, 100 per group in the dental, medical and health sciences courses. Results: The mean age of the students was 21.7 years (SD 1.75), and 202 (67.3%) were female. Self-reported halitosis by hand-on-mouth technique was reported by 13.0% of the students, with 9.3% of students reporting that bad breath interfered with their social life. Most students (79.7%) experienced their worst breath after waking up. Dental students were less likely to report halitosis than medical and health sciences students (non-dental students) (OR = 0.34, CI = 0.12, 0.95). Students who used mouthwash regularly and brushed their tongues were also less likely to report halitosis. However, the prevalence of halitosis was higher among students with gingival bleeding and tongue coating than among those without. Conclusion: Halitosis is more common among non-dental than among dental students. Factors associated with halitosis include gingival bleeding and tongue coating. Regular use of mouthwash and tongue brushing were beneficial in preventing halitosis. Professional care and motivation in the use of oral hygiene aids are recommended for students

A Flow-based Method to Measure Traffic Statistics in Software Defined Network

Since software defined network became a revolution of network, many new developments and deployments are put forward. Device operating in software defined network environment will need a controller to store control policy. As a result of flow is one of traffic presentation units in software defined network, hence, this paper proposed a prototype of flow-based method to measure traffic statistics which can be used in OpenFlow network. By analysis of flow table, active flows which managed by controller can be listed, and information of each flow can be presented with developed module on the controller. After gathered port statistics from OpenFlow switch and entries in flow table, information of each flow can be presented on a developed graphic interface. By using this method, Traffic statistics of each flow may be more adaptive and realizable for measurement for observation

Toward Inter-Connection on OpenFlow Research Networks

With the advance of Future Internet technologies, many research issues andideas are growing fast in recent years. In the field of network virtualization, softwaredefined network becomes a common topic on network research. In Taiwan, manyinstitutes and laboratories of universities already built their bench-scale testbed forresearch and educational use with OpenFlow protocol. As time goes by, stitchingexperimental networks is a growing trend to fulfill requirements for large scaleemulation. Hence, this paper revealed a progressing deployment which connectsdifferent experimental networks with centralized control policy. The objective is tobuild an integrated research network with a proposed solution which utilizesOpenFlow protocol to deal with the inter-connections. With a centralized controllerand implemented architecture, the deployment not only solves the limitation of VLANtag number in network but also improves the flexibility of configuration. This designcould be a solution for the realistic constraints of network environment in Taiwan, andit also supports the possibility of stitching regional experimental networks fornetworking research

Combination of Treadmill Aerobic Exercise with Bifidobacterium longum OLP-01 Supplementation for Treatment of High-Fat Diet-Induced Obese Murine Model

Introduction: Obesity, which can result from disease, genetics, nutrition, lifestyle, and insufficient physical activity, substantially increases an individual’s risk of complications and comorbidities. Exercise can be an effective strategy for achieving an energy balance and physiological fitness as part of obesity management. Additionally, probiotics, which are isolated from food and the environment, are being rapidly developed and have functional benefits for mitigating various metabolic dysfunctions associated with obesity. The potentially positive physiological and functional effects of exercise, probiotics, and exercise combined with probiotics should be elucidated in a model of diet-induced obesity. Methods: Bifidobacterium longum subsp. longum OLP-01 (OLP-01) was isolated from an elite Olympic-level athlete who exhibited physiological adaptations to peripheral fatigue caused by exercise training. In this current study, ICR strain mice were fed a high-fat diet (HFD) for 4 weeks to replicate an obesity model. The mice were divided into 5 groups according to the diet administered: control with normal diet, only HFD, HFD + exercise, HFD + OLP, and HFD + exercise + OLP groups. They were administered the probiotic and/or treadmill exercise training for 5 weeks, and their growth curve, physical activity, physiological adaptation, biochemical parameters, body composition, and glucose tolerance were assessed. Results: Compared with only exercise or only probiotics, a combination of probiotics and exercise significantly improved the weight, glucose tolerance, fat composition, and exercise-related oxidative stress of mice. Regular and programmed exercise with sufficient rest may be crucial to obesity improvement, and a combination of probiotics and exercise may synergistically assist obesity management and health promotion. Conclusion: OLP-01 probiotics combined with exercise training can be employed as a strategy for treating obesity. However, the exact regulatory mechanisms underlying this effect, possibly involving microbiota and associated metabolites, warrant further investigation

Rate of achievement of therapeutic outcomes and factors associated with control of non‑communicable diseases in rural east Malaysia : implications for policy and practice

Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) are an increasing problem worldwide, including in Malaysia. National surveys have been performed by the government but had poor coverage in east Malaysia, particularly in rural regions. This study aimed to describe the achievement of target therapeutic outcomes in the control of diabetes mellitus (DM), hypertension (HPT), and dyslipidemia (DLP) among diabetic patients in rural east Malaysia. A cross-sectional study was conducted among DM patients who visited the NCDs clinic in Lundu Hospital, Sarawak, Malaysia, from Jan to March 2016. In total, 214 patients (male, 37.9%; female, 62.1%) were recruited using a systemic sampling method. Multiple logistic regression models were applied to estimate the adjusted odds ratio (AOR) and confidence interval (CI) for the target therapeutic achievement in the control of DM, HPT, and DLP. Compared to the national average, therapeutic target achievement in Lundu was higher for DM (43.0% vs. 23.8%), equal for DLP (35.8% vs. 37.8%) but lower for HPT (30.9% vs. 47.9%). DM patients who had at least yearly HbA1c monitoring (AOR 2.30, 95% CI 1.04–5.06, P = 0.039), and those 58.7 years or older (AOR 2.50, 95% CI 1.32–4.74, P = 0.005) were more likely to achieve the therapeutic target for DM. Health promotion and public education regarding HPT needs to be emphasized in rural Malaysia. HbA1c monitoring at least once a year was one of the important factors associated with achieving DM control in rural east Malaysia. Accessibility to HbA1c tests and monitoring should be ensured for diabetic patients