Behavior of geodesics in foliated manifolds with bundle-like metrics

Thesis--University of Tsukuba, D.Sc. (B), no. 132, 1983. 3. 2

Thermoelectric generation based on spin Seebeck effects

The spin Seebeck effect (SSE) refers to the generation of a spin current as a result of a temperature gradient in magnetic materials including insulators. The SSE is applicable to thermoelectric generation because the thermally generated spin current can be converted into a charge current via spin-orbit interaction in conductive materials adjacent to the magnets. The insulator-based SSE device exhibits unconventional characteristics potentially useful for thermoelectric applications, such as simple structure, device-design flexibility, and convenient scaling capability. In this article, we review recent studies on the SSE from the viewpoint of thermoelectric applications. Firstly, we introduce the thermoelectric generation process and measurement configuration of the SSE, followed by showing fundamental characteristics of the SSE device. Secondly, a theory of the thermoelectric conversion efficiency of the SSE device is presented, which clarifies the difference between the SSE and conventional thermoelectric effects and the efficiency limit of the SSE device. Finally, we show preliminary demonstrations of the SSE in various device structures for future thermoelectric applications and discuss prospects of the SSE-based thermoelectric technologies.Comment: 30 pages, 15 figures, 1 table. Figure 2 was revised to correct the information about Ref. [86], Proceedings of the IEEE (2016

日本に於ける二酸化炭素泉療法の現況

Natural CO(2) springs have been scarcely utilized in Japan, whereas artificial CO(2) bathing has become popular by the introduction of CO(2) tablets and other apparatus for CO(2) water supply. Artificial CO(2) bathing is indicated for degenerative connective tissue disorders such as scleroderma, common stiff and painful shoulders, chronic joint pain, lumbago, and trophic changes due to insufficient peripheral circulation by virtue of the increase of tissue pO(2) and the improvement of tissue perfusion. Artificial CO(2) bathing promotes recovery from fatigue and is beneficial in women whose health has been adversely affected by cold.日本では，天然の二酸化炭素泉は殆ど利用されていない。一方，CO(2)錠剤，CO(2)給水装置が開発されて人工二酸化炭素泉がよく用いられるようになってきた。皮下組織の酸素分圧の上昇と組織循環の改善という好ましい生理作用により，結合織の退行性変化による慢性障害，すなわち強皮症，関節症，慢性関節痛，腰痛症，および末梢循環障害に伴う組織の栄養障害に適応がある。また，疲労回復を促進し，いわゆる冷え症に好ましく作用する

Olfactory modulation of flight in Drosophila is sensitive, selective and rapid

Freely flying Drosophila melanogaster respond to odors by increasing their flight speed and turning upwind. Both these flight behaviors can be recapitulated in a tethered fly, which permits the odor stimulus to be precisely controlled. In this study, we investigated the relationship between these behaviors and odor-evoked activity in primary sensory neurons. First, we verified that these behaviors are abolished by mutations that silence olfactory receptor neurons (ORNs). We also found that antennal mechanosensors in Johnston's organ are required to guide upwind turns. Flight responses to an odor depend on the identity of the ORNs that are active, meaning that these behaviors involve odor discrimination and not just odor detection. Flight modulation can begin rapidly (within about 85 ms) after the onset of olfactory transduction. Moreover, just a handful of spikes in a single ORN type is sufficient to trigger these behaviors. Finally, we found that the upwind turn is triggered independently from the increase in wingbeat frequency, implying that ORN signals diverge to activate two independent and parallel motor commands. Together, our results show that odor-evoked flight modulations are rapid and sensitive responses to specific patterns of sensory neuron activity. This makes these behaviors a useful paradigm for studying the relationship between sensory neuron activity and behavioral decision-making in a simple and genetically tractable organism