Extraction of a Pulse Wave Using a Piezoelectric Element Toward Energy Harvesting

Pulse waves are expected to be used as a power source for wearable devices. In this study, we examine whether a pulse wave can actually be extracted from a human body using commercially available piezoelectric elements. By improving the contact condition between the skin and the piezoelectric element, we confirmed that pulse waves could be extracted

アルミ薄膜表面の微細加工に関する研究

八戸工業大

Evaluation of a Convenient Method for Determining Membrane Potential

A convenient method for measuring the membrane potential without agar salt-bridge was discussed, con-sidering the accuracy and the merits of this method. It was, consequently, found that measurements by this method are capable of some precision as those by the usual method using agar salt-bridge, and the con-venient method is more suitable for measuring the potential change of a membrane with time

Psychological, social, and environmental factors to meeting physical activity recommendations among Japanese adults

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Although the benefits of the recommended level of physical activity on reducing chronic diseases are well-established, most of the Japanese population is not sufficiently active. Thus, examining correlates is an important prerequisite for designing relevant polices and effective programs. The present study investigated psychological, social, and environmental factors associated with meeting physical activity recommendations among Japanese adults.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Data were analyzed for 1,932 men and women (43.6 ± 13.0 years), who responded to an Internet-based cross-sectional survey. Self-reported measure of physical activity, psychological (self-efficacy, pros, and cons), social (social support, health professional advice), environmental (home fitness equipment, access to facilities, neighborhood safety, enjoyable scenery, frequently observing others exercising, residential area), and demographic (gender, age, marital status, educational level, household income level, employment status) variables were obtained. Based on the current national guidelines for exercise in Japan (23 METs·hour per week), respondents were divided into two categories–recommended and not recommended (insufficient and inactive)–according to their estimated weekly physical activity level. An adjusted logistic regression model was utilized.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>When adjusting for all other variables, self-efficacy (men: OR = 2.13; 95% CI: 1.55–2.94, women: OR = 2.72; 95% CI: 1.82–4.08) and possessing home fitness equipment (men: OR = 1.55; 95% CI: 1.14–2.10, women: OR = 1.41; 95% CI: 1.01–1.99) for both genders, social support (OR = 1.44; 95% CI: 1.06–1.97) for men, and enjoyable scenery (OR = 1.60; 95% CI: 1.09–2.36) for women were positively associated with attaining the recommended level of physical activity. In women, cons (OR = 0.47; 95% CI: 0.33–0.67) and living in rural areas (OR = 0.50; 95% CI: 0.25–0.97) were negatively associated with meeting the physical activity recommendations.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>In the psychological, social, and environmental domains, significant correlates of attaining the recommended level of physical activity were observed. Men and women had different patterns of psychological, social, and environmental correlates. These findings suggest that an intervention design that accounts for those correlates may more effectively promote physical activity among Japanese adults.</p

Fabrication of flower-shaped Bi(2)O(3) superstructure by a facile template-free process

A novel flower-shaped Bi(2)O(3) superstructure has been successfully synthesized by calcination of the precursor, which was prepared via a citric acid assisted hydrothermal process. The precursor and Bi(2)O(3) were characterized with respect to morphology, crystal structure and elemental chemical state by field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). It was shown that both the precursor and Bi(2)O(3) flower-shaped superstructure were constructed of numerous nanosheets while the nanosheets consisted of a great deal of nanoparticles. Furthermore, key factors for the formation of the superstructures have been proposed; a mechanism for the growth of the superstructure has been presented based on the FESEM investigation of different growth stages.ArticleAPPLIED SURFACE SCIENCE. 257(15):6577-6582 (2011)journal articl

Effect of different types of carbohydrate supplementation on glycogen supercompensation in rat skeletal muscle

論

Study on measuring device arrangement of array-type CdTe detector for BNCT-SPECT

AimTo design the measuring device arrangement of array-type CdTe detector for BNCT-SPECT.BackgroundIn a boron neutron capture therapy, a very serious unsolved problem exists, namely that the treatment effect for BNCT cannot be known during irradiation in real time. Therefore, we have been developing a so-called BNCT-SPECT with a CdTe detector, which can obtain a three-dimensional image for the BNCT treatment effect by measuring 478[[ce:hsp sp="0.25"/]]keV gamma-rays emitted from the excited state of 7Li nucleus created by the 10B(n,α) reaction. However, no practical uses were realized at present, because BNCT-SPECT requires very severe conditions for spatial resolution, measuring time, statistical accuracy and energy resolution.Materials and methodsThe design study was performed with numerical simulations carried out by a 3-dimenaional transport code, MCNP5 considering the detector assembly, irradiation room and even arrangement of arrayed CdTe crystals.ResultsThe estimated count rate of 478[[ce:hsp sp="0.25"/]]keV gamma-rays was sufficiently large being more than the target value of over 1000[[ce:hsp sp="0.25"/]]counts/h. However, the S/N ratio did not meet the target of S/N[[ce:hsp sp="0.25"/]]>[[ce:hsp sp="0.25"/]]1. We confirmed that deterioration of the S/N ratio was caused by the influence of Compton scattering especially due to capture gamma-rays of hydrogen. Theoretical calculations were thereafter carried out to find out whether anti-Compton measurement in an array-type CdTe detector could decrease the noise due to Compton scatterings.ConclusionsThe calculation result showed that the anti-coincidence would possibly increase the S/N ratio. In the next phase, an arrayed detector with two CdTe crystals will be produced to test removal possibility of the anti-coincident event

Holes in the valence band of superconducting boron-doped diamond film studied by soft X-ray absorption and emission spectroscopy

Carbon- and boron-2$p$ states of superconducting and non-superconducting boron-doped diamond samples are measured using soft X-ray emission and absorption spectroscopy. For the superconducting sample, a large density of hole states is observed in the valence band in addition to the states in the impurity band. The hole states in the valence band is located at about 1.3 eV below the valence band maximum regardless of the doping level, which cannot be interpreted within a simple rigid band model. Present experimental results, combined with the first principles calculations, suggest that superconductivity is to be attributed to the holes in the valence band.Comment: 4 pages, 4 figure

Irinotecan Hydrochloride (CPT-11) in Dialysis Patients with Gastrointestinal Cancer

We investigated changes in drug disposition and toxicities with CPT-11 in 15 dialysis patients with gastrointestinal cancers to clarify whether CPT-11 could be administered safely in such patients. For comparison, the same parameters were also investigated in 10 cancer patients not undergoing dialysis. Items investigated included (1) plasma concentrations of SN-38, SN-38G and CPT-11 at 0, 1, 12, 24, 36, 48 and 72h after administration, together with a comparison of mean AUC values for 3 dose levels of CPT-11 (50, 60 and 70mg/m2) in dialysis patients and controls;and (2) occurrence of adverse events. Several findings emerged from this study:(1) No significant difference was observed in the AUC for SN-38 or CPT-11 between the dialysis and control groups;(2) The AUC for SN-38G at each dose was significantly higher in dialysis patients;and (3) Grade 1-4 leucopenia was observed in 11 of the dialysis patients. One patient developed grade 4 leucopenia and died due to sepsis. Anorexia, diarrhea, nausea, alopecia and interstitial pneumonia occurred in 6 dialysis patients. We found changes in drug dispositions of CPT-11, SN-38 and SN-38G in dialysis patients, suggesting that hepatic excretion, especially that of SN-38G, was increased. No significant difference in occurrence of adverse events was observed between the 2 groups. This indicates that CPT-11 can be administered safely in patients on dialysis.</p