Visual Systems & Control on Polynomial Space and Its Application to Sloshing Problems

This paper proposes a novel approach for camera-based modeling and control for a large class of continuous systems and the validity is confirmed by liquid sloshing experiments. It is an unsolved problem to design a model-based control in nonplanar sloshing cases. This is because the whole shape of the liquid surface is a complex curve (a set of an infinite number of points) in coordinate spaces. This paper solves this problem. First, the whole shape of the liquid surface corresponding to the output measured by a camera is a single point in a polynomial space as well as the input and the state. Second, without any physical parameter identification, input-output modeling on polynomial space, unlike existing types of modeling, captures the whole dynamics even in nonplanar sloshing cases and is linked to design of implementable controllers. Finally, in the presence of occlusion, the nonplanar sloshing is controlled well by state estimation on polynomial space without adding any image processing technology.ArticleIEEE TRANSACTIONS ON CONTROL SYSTEMS TECHNOLOGY. 22(6):2176-2187 (2014)journal articl

Can Reinforcement Learning Be Applied to Surgery?

Background: Remarkable progress has recently been made in the field of artificial intelligence (AI).Objective: We sought to investigate whether reinforcement learning could be used in surgery in the future.Methods: We created simple 2D tasks (Tasks 1–3) that mimicked surgery. We used a neural network library, Keras, for reinforcement learning. In Task 1, a Mac OS X with an 8 GB memory (MacBook Pro, Apple, USA) was used. In Tasks 2 and 3, a Ubuntu 14. 04LTS with a 26 GB memory (Google Compute Engine, Google, USA) was used.Results: In the task with a relatively small task area (Task 1), the simulated knife finally passed through all the target areas, and thus, the expected task was learned by AI. In contrast, in the task with a large task area (Task 2), a drastically increased amount of time was required, suggesting that learning was not achieved. Some improvement was observed when the CPU memory was expanded and inhibitory task areas were added (Task 3).Conclusions: We propose the combination of reinforcement learning and surgery. Application of reinforcement learning to surgery may become possible by setting rules, such as appropriate rewards and playable (operable) areas, in simulated tasks

Effect of Impurity in Phase Transition on Triglyceride Crystals

The allotropic transition of polymorphsum in tristearin is followed by X-ray diffraction. Four modifications; α-, β’-, intermediate and β- form of tristearin had been identified. The transition rate of modification is depended on a quantity of impurity (liquid paraffin) mixed in tristearin. In the much quantity of impurity, the transition rate of modification become the rapid transition of α-form to β-form. The intensity of X-ray diffraction on (001) and (100) plane in a unit cell of β-form is the same phenomenon for impurity effect

水素添加油中でのトリグラセライドの結晶成長

植物油および動物油に水素添加して,結晶性トリグリセライドの量を増加させて試料とし,それらの結晶形態が電子顕微鏡によって観察され,また,多形現象の相転移がX線回折によって測定された。これらの実験によって得られた結晶形態および多形現象の相転移について結晶成長機構を探る観点から検討するのがこの研究の目的である。 実験の結果は植物性油脂,動物性油脂のそれぞれの結晶変態がβ'型,β型であり,これらの変態に対応する結晶形態が前者の場合比較的大きく,後者の場合小さい単結晶に成長することが見出された。 脂肪酸組成は植物性油脂が動物性油脂よりも脂肪酸の種類が少ない。その点から,植物性油脂変態の転移速度が早く,動物性油脂は遅いとされている。しかし実験結果は逆の傾向を示している。これは油脂を構成している液体トリグラセライドと結晶性トリグラセライドの重量比が,動物性油脂の方が植物性油脂よりも大きいために結晶性トリグラセライド分子が液体トリグラセライド分子を媒介にして容易に移動することができて単位格子を作り,また単位格子のパッキングを密にするため転移速度が早くなったと考えられる。 さらに結晶の形態において,β型よりβ'型の方が大きい単結晶に成長する機構は,液体トリグリセライド分子が多いため,結晶性トリグリセライド分子の移転が容易で,多くの結晶核ができやすくなり,単結晶は小さくなる。反対に結晶核が少ないと,核に吸着される結晶性トリグリセライド分子は多くなるので大きい単結晶が成長することになると思われる

Crystal Growth of Fatty Acids : I. Stearic Acid

ステアリン酸単結晶をベンゼン溶液中から育成し,結晶成長表面を光学顕微鏡と電子顕微鏡で観察し,らせん成長理論を裏付ける成長らせんを確認した。 結晶成長らせんステップはいずれも異方性を示し,単結晶外形と一致する角度をもっている。光学的に観察された成長らせんには,単一らせん,複数のらせん,反対の符号を持つ2つの転位から出発した成長らせんのつくるループなどが識別されたが,これらはいずれも,らせん成長理論の予測と一致するものであった。不純物によると思われるらせんステップの局部的な曲りが観察されたが,これは不純物効果として説明されるだろう。レプリカ法による,電子顕微鏡を用いて,成長らせん中心付近の徴視的な観察を行ったが,その結果,光学的に確認された成長らせんは,10本以上の単一らせんが束になってできたmacro-spiralに対応することがわかった。The growth patterns on the as-grown surfaces of stearic acid single crystals obtained from benzene solution were observed by optical and electron microscope. Optically, many kinds of growth spiral steps were detected, providing the validity of the spiral growth theory in the case of this solution growth of stearic acid. The modulation of growth steps were observed and explained by the effect of the impurities, which had been included in the solution. Further observations by an electron microscope of replica method have clarified that the growth spirals detected by an optical microscope are the macro spiral consisted of more than ten single steps and that there are many single spirals around the center of the macrospiral.この論文の一部は,国際結晶成長学会議(ICCG-5,Boston,1977.7)にて行われる2つの講演(Growth of Large Single Crystals of Stearic Acid from SolutionとGrowth Mechanism of Stearic Acid Single Crystals)に含まれている

Impact of a Booklet about Diabetes Genetic Susceptibility and Its Prevention on Attitudes towards Prevention and Perceived Behavioral Change in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes and Their Offspring

Background. Offspring of type 2 diabetic patients are at a high risk of type 2 diabetes. Information on diabetes genetic susceptibility and prevention should be supplied to the offspring. Methods. A six-page booklet on diabetes genetic susceptibility and prevention was distributed to 173 patients who ere ordered to hand it to their offspring. The patients answered a self-administered questionnaire on booklet delivery and attitudinal and behavioral changes toward diabetes and its prevention in themselves and their offspring. Results. Valid responses were obtained from 130 patients. Forty-nine patients had actually handed the booklet. Booklet induces more relief than anxiety. From the patient's view, favorable attitudinal and/or behavioral changes occurred in more than half of the offspring who were delivered the booklet. Conclusion. The booklet worked effectively on attitudes and behaviors toward diabetes and its prevention both in patients and their offspring. However, the effectiveness of patients as information deliverers was limited