Application of Level-Set Type Topology Optimization Analysis for Cavity Shape Estimation Problem in Structures Based On Non-Destructive Hammering Test

In this study, we present application of the level-set type topology optimization analysis for the cavity shape estimation problem in structures based on the non-destructive hammering test. The cavity shape is identified so as to minimize a performance function. The performance function is defined as the square sum of the residual between computed and the observed displacements on structure surface. In this study, accuracy of identified cavity shape is investigated by changing numerical parameters in the topology optimization

Successful Treatment by Surgery and Lenvatinib of a Patient with Adrenal Metastasis of Papillary Thyroid Cancer

Papillary thyroid cancer (PTC) is considered an indolent cancer, but some PTC patients do present with distant metastases and treatment strategies for such patients are not well established. Recently, lenvatinib, an inhibitor of multiple tyrosine kinases, has been introduced to treat patients with advanced PTC but carries a risk of serious adverse events such as hemorrhage. Here, we report a PTC patient with a left adrenal metastasis and lenvatinib-induced hemorrhage who underwent successful surgical resection and was subsequently treated with a lower dose of lenvatinib. The patient has now been in a stable state with no adverse events for nearly two years. This case highlights the importance of surgical resection of metastatic PTC and subsequent lenvatinib therapy, even when the tumor is at an advanced stage

Cross-Field Education and Research Promotion by System Design Innovation Center

Recently, the field of research has become more complicated to solve the practical problems. We have to combine every branch of knowledge such as science, engineering, language, communication and even that of the law and economics to apply the innovated technology actually in our daily life. The notion of system design enables us to raise and unite these complex innovations from the seeds of ideas to the effective use in society. Cross-Field education program of faculty and department in National Institute of Technology, Nagaoka College aims to grow learners’ such cross-field skills and innovating minds which are essential to solve various practical problems correlating complicatedly, using multiple perspectives. In this paper, we show three main activities, which are Engineering Design Practice, JSCOOP, and Pre-Lab, organized by us System Design Innovation Center and present SDIC’s views for the future

Engineering Design Education for Regional Challenges

multiple fields in addition to the professional expertise and skill attached importance in conventional engineer education. National Institute of Technology, Nagaoka College has started a new subject called “Engineering Design Exercise (EDE)” for 1st grade advanced course students since 2013. Same design themes of the EDE in 2014 and 2015 were set to as development of teaching material using the LEGO Mindstorms for junior high school. The both results of the questionnaire is compared and considered in this report. From the result, it was cleared that: The difficulty level of the design theme improved for the students. The temperaments of participated students in 2014 and 2015 were not different. Over the 90% of the students received them satisfaction through participating the EDE