221 research outputs found

    RNN Based Auto-tuning of PID Control Gains in Hot StripLooper Controller

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    In this study, auto tuning of PID control gains in hot strip looper controller is made based on RNN model. Neuro emulator is employed to model the characteristics of looper dynamics. Combining neuro emulator and RNN model, auto tuning system of PID control gains is constructed. As the inputs to RNN, plural evaluation functions which reflect individual preference of human experts. Further, Self learning mechamism is embeded to RNN model which enables adaptation to the change in rolling chracteristics. Through numerical experiments, the effect of the proposed method is ascertained

    Atomic cluster expansion force field based thermal property material design with density functional theory level accuracy in non-equilibrium molecular dynamics calculations over sub-million atoms

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    Non-equilibrium molecular dynamics (NEMD) techniques are widely used for investigating lattice thermal conductivity. Recently, machine learning force fields (MLFFs) have emerged as a promising approach to enhance the precision in NEMD simulations. This study is aimed at demonstrating the potential of MLFFs in realizing NEMD calculations for large-scale systems containing over 100,000 atoms with density functional theory (DFT)-level accuracy. Specifically, the atomic cluster expansion (ACE) force field is employed, using Si as an example. The ACE potential incorporates 4-body interactions and features a training dataset consisting of 1000 order structures from first-principles molecular dynamics calculations, resulting in a highly accurate vibrational spectrum. Moreover, the ACE potential can reproduce thermal conductivity values comparable with those derived from DFT calculations via the Boltzmann equation. To demonstrate the application of MLFFs to systems containing over 100,000 atoms, NEMD simulations are conducted on thin films ranging from 100 nm to 500 nm, with the 100 nm films exhibiting defect rates of up to 1.5%. The results show that the thermal conductivity deviates by less than 5% from DFT or theoretical results in both scenarios, which highlights the ability of the ACE potential in calculating the thermal conductivity on a large scale with DFT-level accuracy. The proposed approach is expected to promote the application of MLFFs in various fields and serve as a feasible alternative to virtual experiments. Furthermore, this work demonstrates the potential of MLFFs in enhancing the accuracy of NEMD simulations for investigating lattice thermal conductivity for systems with over 100,000 atoms.Comment: 24 pages including with supporting infomatio

    Practical research on outdoor education by orienteering using natural observation in university liberal arts education

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     野外教育の重要性を認識し,1993年の大学移転を契機に,自然観察を中心とした徒歩オリエンテーリングを教養教育科目スポーツ実習に取り入れて実施した.現在,オリエンテーリングコースは,東広島キャンパス内に10コース,そして広島市平和公園および元安川河畔のコースを開設している.元安川河畔には沢山の原爆慰霊碑があり,平和学習のオリエンテーリングを実施している.自然観察の問題の採点を成績評価の対象にしたことから,ほとんどの学生が,多機能携帯電話等の検索機能を利用して問題を調べるようになった.Since the importance of outdoor education was recognized, the walking orienteering, with observing nature or learning peace, was added to the Health and Sports classes from 1993. There are 10 courses in the Higashi-Hiroshima campus and one course in Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park today. There are many cenotaph for A-bomb victims along to the Motoyasu riverside, which are used for these courses. After I started to use the points of the quiz during orienteering for evaluations, most of the students use google to find answers

    Peroxisome Proliferator–Activated Receptor-γ Mediates Bisphenol A Inhibition of FSH-Stimulated IGF-1, Aromatase, and Estradiol in Human Granulosa Cells

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    BackgroundBisphenol A (BPA), a chemical used as a plasticizer, is a potent endocrine disruptor that, even in low concentrations, disturbs normal development and functions of reproductive organs in different species.ObjectivesWe investigated whether BPA affects human ovarian granulosa cell function.MethodsWe treated KGN granulosa cells and granulosa cells from subjects undergoing in vitro fertilization (IVF) with follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), BPA, or BPA plus FSH in a dose- and time-dependent manner. We then evaluated expression of insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1), aromatase, and transcription factors known to mediate aromatase induction by FSH [including steroidogenic factor-1 (SF-1), GATA4, cAMP response element binding protein-1 (CREB-1), and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma (PPARgamma)], as well as 17beta-estradiol (E2) secretion. KGN cells were transfected with a PPARgamma-containing vector, followed by assessment of aromatase and IGF-I expression.ResultsBPA reduced FSH-induced IGF-1 and aromatase expression and E2 secretion in a dose-dependent fashion. Similar effects on aromatase were observed in IVF granulosa cells. SF-1 and GATA4, but not CREB-1, were reduced after BPA treatment, although PPARgamma, an inhibitor of aromatase, was significantly up-regulated by BPA in a dose-dependent manner, with simultaneous decrease of aromatase. Overexpression of PPARgamma in KGN cells reduced FSH-stimulated aromatase and IGF-1 mRNAs, with increasing concentrations of the transfected expression vector, mimicking BPA action. Also, BPA reduced granulosa cell DNA synthesis without changing DNA fragmentation, suggesting that BPA does not induce apoptosis.ConclusionsOverall, the data demonstrate that BPA induces PPARgamma, which mediates down-regulation of FSH-stimulated IGF-1, SF-1, GATA4, aromatase, and E2 in human granulosa cells. These observations support a potential role of altered steroidogenesis and proliferation within the ovarian follicular compartment due to this endocrine disruptor

    Magnetic and structural studies on two-dimensional antiferromagnets (MCl)LaNb₂O₇ (M = Mn, Co, Cr)

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    We report magnetic and structural studies on the two-dimensional antiferromagnets (MCl)LaNb₂O₇ (M = Mn, Cr, Co), prepared by topochemical reactions of a layered perovskite RbLaNb2O7. Electron diffraction of these oxyhalides revealed a superstructure with a √2a × √2a cell for M = Mn and Co, and a √2a × √2a cell for M = Cr, indicating that the MCl networks are distorted from an ideal square lattice. Neutron diffraction experiments showed that M = Mn and Co exhibit a(π 0 π) antiferromagnetic order as observed for the S = 1/2 counterparts. (CoCl)LaNb₂O₇ with a strong spin anisotropy shows an antiferro to weak-ferromagnetic transition at low field, followed by novel two-step metamagnetic transitions likely associated with a 1/2 plateau for 27-54 T. Possible spin structures under magnetic field are discussed in terms of an Ising-type model. By contrast, (CrCl)LaNb₂O₇ exhibits a (π π π) order, which is the first observation among related oxyhalides, and a spin-flop transition at 12 T due to a weak spin anisotropy. These results suggest that a slight difference in the MCl structure and spin anisotropy provides a crucial influence on the magnetic properties

    Accuracy assessment methods of tissue marker clip placement after 11-gauge vacuum-assisted stereotactic breast biopsy: comparison of measurements using direct and conventional methods

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    BACKGROUND:  The objective of the study was to compare direct measurement with a conventional method for evaluation of clip placement in stereotactic vacuum-assisted breast biopsy (ST-VAB) and to evaluate the accuracy of clip placement using the direct method.  METHODS:  Accuracy of clip placement was assessed by measuring the distance from a residual calcification of a targeted calcification clustered to a clip on a mammogram after ST-VAB. Distances in the craniocaudal (CC) and mediolateral oblique (MLO) views were measured in 28 subjects with mammograms recorded twice or more after ST-VAB. The difference in the distance between the first and second measurements was defined as the reproducibility and was compared with that from a conventional method using a mask system with overlap of transparent film on the mammogram. The 3D clip-to-calcification distance was measured using the direct method in 71 subjects.  RESULTS:  The reproducibility of the direct method was higher than that of the conventional method in CC and MLO views (P = 0.002, P < 0.001). The median 3D clip-to-calcification distance was 2.8 mm, with an interquartile range of 2.0-4.8 mm and a range of 1.1-36.3 mm.  CONCLUSION:  The direct method used in this study was more accurate than the conventional method, and gave a median 3D distance of 2.8 mm between the calcification and clip

    Unveiling the RNA virosphere associated with marine microorganisms

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    The study of extracellular DNA viral particles in the ocean is currently one of the most advanced fields of research in viral metagenomic analysis. However, even though the intracellular viruses of marine microorganisms might be the major source of extracellular virus particles in the ocean, the diversity of these intracellular viruses is not well understood. Here, our newly developed method, referred to herein as fragmented and primer ligated dsRNA sequencing (flds) version 2, identified considerable genetic diversity of marine RNA viruses in cell fractions obtained from surface seawater. The RNA virus community appears to cover genome sequences related to more than half of the established positive‐sense ssRNA and dsRNA virus families, in addition to a number of unidentified viral lineages, and such diversity had not been previously observed in floating viral particles. In this study, more dsRNA viral contigs were detected in host cells than in extracellular viral particles. This illustrates the magnitude of the previously unknown marine RNA virus population in cell fractions, which has only been partially assessed by cellular metatranscriptomics and not by contemporary viral metagenomic studies. These results reveal the importance of studying cell fractions to illuminate the full spectrum of viral diversity on Earth

    CSC with and without steroids

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    We investigated the rates of the use of steroids in Japanese central serous chorioretinopathy (CSC) cases and differences in the characteristics of CSC with and without steroids. A total of 538 eyes of 477 patients diagnosed with CSC, with 3 months or more of follow-up between April 2013 and June 2017 at 8 institutions. Patients with CSC with more than 3 months of follow-up were identified by OCT and fluorescein angiography at 8 institutions. Data collected included patient demographics, history of corticosteroid medication and smoking, spherical errors, findings of angiography, subfoveal choroidal thickness, and changes through the follow-up period. Differences in these findings were analyzed in cases with and without corticosteroid treatment. Among the 477 patients (344 men,133 women), 74 (15.5%) (39 men, 35 women) underwent current or prior steroid treatment. Cases with steroids were higher age (p = 0.0403) and showed no male prevalence, more bilateral involvement (p < 0.0001), and the affected eyes had multiple pigment epithelial detachment (p <0.0001), more fluorescein leakage sites (p < 0.0001), greater choroidal thickness (p = 0.0287) and a higher recurrence rate (p = 0.0412). Steroids can cause severer CSC through an effect on choroidal vessels and an impairment of retinal pigment epithelium
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