Remote and Feedback Control of the Flap Angle in a Wind Tunnel Test Model by Optical Measurement

We have developed a remote and precise feedback control system using optical measurement technology to alter the angle of a flap, which is part of a wind tunnel test model, automatically and to earn the aerodynamic data efficiently. To rectify the wasteful circumstance that Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA)’s low-turbulence wind tunnel stops ventilation every time to switch model configurations, we repaired hardware for remote operation and generated software for feedback control. As a result, we have accomplished a system that dramatically advances the efficiency of wind tunnel tests. Moreover, the system was able to consider the deformation of the model through optical measurement; the system controlled flap angles with errors less than the minimum resolution of optical measurement equipment. Consequently, we successfully grasped the nonlinearity of three aerodynamic coefficients CL, CD, and CMp that was impossible so far

Tephrochronological study on the 1986-1987 eruptions of Izu-Oshima volcano, Japan

Sequences and products of the Izu-Oshima 1986-1987 eruptions which started on November 15, 1986, were investigated tephrochronologically. The results are summarized as follows : 1) Summit eruptions (Crater A) During 15-20, Nov. 1986, Strombolian eruptions continued to make a lava lake from where lava flows spilt over and went down the slope of the central cone to the caldera floor (LA I～IV). Volcanic ash and scoria (TA-1～4) were dispersed to the eastern and western parts of the island. On 21 Nov., a little after the beginning of the fissure eruption (Craters B), Strombolian eruptions were reactivated and ejected large volcanic bombs and scoria (TA-5) from Crater A. On Dec. 18, 1986, small explosion occurred from the Crater A for three or four hours, ejecting a scoria fall (TA-6) and bomb. The level of the lava lake lowered about 5 meters. On Nov. 16, 1987, a phreatic explosion occurred to break the crust of the lava lake, and the lava drained back to the deep on Nov. 18. 2) Fissure eruptions in the caldera floor (Craters B) At 16 : 15, on Nov. 21, 1986, fissure eruptions (Craters B) started on the caldera floor and extended to the slope of the central cone. The eruptions became explosive one, generating lava fountains with the height of more than 1500 meters, with a high discharge rate of 8×106 ton/hour, producing pyroclastic cones and rootless (clastogenic) lava flows (LB I and III). Subplinian scoria falls were dispersed to west (TB-1) and east (TB-2). About 5 hours after the beginning, the activity waned to produce only volcanic ash (TB-3 and -6) and finer scoria falls (TB-4 and -5) and ceased on Nov. 23. A rheomorphic lava flow (LB II) occurred from the edge of the deformed cone on Nov. 23. 3) Fissure eruptions on the somma slope (Craters C) At 17 : 45, on Nov. 21, 1986, fissure eruptions occurred on the somma slope, and produced two lava flows (LC I and II), scoria cones, and vesicular scoria falls (TC-1 and -3) from the 11 craters. 4) The 1986 eruptions ejected 0.053 km3, 7.9×107 tons of lava and pyroclasts from A, B and C craters (Table 4)

Dispersion of single-walled carbon nanotubes modified with poly-l-tyrosine in water

In this study, complexes composed of poly-l-tyrosine (pLT) and single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) were produced and the dispersibility of the pLT/SWCNT complexes in water by measuring the ζ potential of the complexes and the turbidity of the solution were investigated. It is found that the absolute value of the ζ potential of the pLT/SWCNT complexes is as high as that of SWCNTs modified with double-stranded DNA (dsDNA) and that the complexes remain stably dispersed in the water at least for two weeks. Thermogravimetry analysis (TGA) and visualization of the surface structures of pLT/SWCNT complexes using an atomic force microscope (AFM) were also carried out

Xanthohumol prevents atherosclerosis by reducing arterial cholesterol content via CETP and apolipoprotein E in CETP-transgenic mice.

BACKGROUND: Xanthohumol is expected to be a potent anti-atherosclerotic agent due to its inhibition of cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP). In this study, we hypothesized that xanthohumol prevents atherosclerosis in vivo and used CETP-transgenic mice (CETP-Tg mice) to evaluate xanthohumol as a functional agent. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: Two strains of mice, CETP-Tg and C57BL/6N (wild-type), were fed a high cholesterol diet with or without 0.05% (w/w) xanthohumol ad libitum for 18 weeks. In CETP-Tg mice, xanthohumol significantly decreased accumulated cholesterol in the aortic arch and increased HDL cholesterol (HDL-C) when compared to the control group (without xanthohumol). Xanthohumol had no significant effect in wild-type mice. CETP activity was significantly decreased after xanthohumol addition in CETP-Tg mice compared with the control group and it inversely correlated with HDL-C (%) (P<0.05). Furthermore, apolipoprotein E (apoE) was enriched in serum and the HDL-fraction in CETP-Tg mice after xanthohumol addition, suggesting that xanthohumol ameliorates reverse cholesterol transport via apoE-rich HDL resulting from CETP inhibition. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest xanthohumol prevents cholesterol accumulation in atherogenic regions by HDL-C metabolism via CETP inhibition leading to apoE enhancement

The 2016 M7 Kumamoto, Japan, Earthquake Slip Field Derived From a Joint Inversion of Differential Lidar Topography, Optical Correlation, and InSAR Surface Displacements

International audienceObservations of surface deformation within 1-2 km of a surface rupture contain invaluable information about the coseismic behavior of the shallow crust. We investigate the oblique strike-slip 2016 M7 Kumamoto, Japan, earthquake, which ruptured the Futagawa-Hinagu Fault. We solve for variable fault slip in an inversion of differential lidar topography, satellite optical image correlation, and Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar (InSAR)-derived surface displacements. The near-fault differential lidar pose several challenges. The model fault geometry must follow the surface trace at the sub-kilometer scale. Integration of displacement datasets with different sensitivities to the 3D deformation field and varying spatial distribution permits additional complexity in the inferred slip but introduces ambiguity that requires careful selection of the regularization. We infer a M w 7:09 þ0:03 −0:05 earthquake. The maximum slip of 6.9 m occurred at 4.5-km depth, suggesting an on-fault slip deficit in the upper several kilometers of the crust that likely reflects distributed and inelastic deformation within the shallow fault zone. Plain Language Summary Coseismic slip inversions quantify fault slip over a fault surface and serve as critical input into research on rupture propagation, earthquake triggering, and seismic hazard. However, coseismic slip distributions are rarely constrained by observations of surface displacement immediately adjacent to the fault rupture. This limits the quality of slip models within the shallowest crust. We solve for the slip field of the 2016 M7 Kumamoto, Japan, earthquake throughout the seismogenic crust using near-and far-field observations from differential lidar topography, satellite optical image correlation, and Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar surface displacements. The near-field differential lidar topography is critical for measuring shallow fault slip. We infer a M w 7:09 þ0:03 −0:05 earthquake and a maximum slip of 6.9 m at 4.5-km depth. This represents a shallow fault slip deficit where slip is greater at depth than at the surface. The missing shallow along-fault slip is accommodated as off-fault and inelastic deformation, presumably along secondary faults and folds in the shallow crust. Future earthquakes are also likely to be measured with different surface displacement data types. Researchers will have a new opportunity to learn about the behavior of the shallow fault zone and will also be presented with technical challenges such as those discussed here

Effect of xanthohumol on serum cholesterol and CETP activity.

<p>Serum HDL-C concentration in the control group (closed circle), xanthohumol group (opened circle) and Chow group (closed triangle) of CETP-Tg mice (A), and in the control group (closed square) and xanthohumol group (opened square) of wild-type mice (B) over time. (C) Serum CETP activity after 18 weeks of treatment. (D) Correlation of serum CETP activity and HDL-C/T-Cho (%) in CETP-Tg mice fed HCD after 18 weeks. CE content of serum (E) and HDL-fraction (F) after 18 weeks. (N = 15; CETP-Tg mice control, N = 16; CETP-Tg mice xanthohumol, N = 10; CETP-Tg mice Chow, N = 3; wild-type mice control, N = 8; wild-type mice xanthohumol) Means±SEM. *<i>P</i><0.05, **<i>P</i><0.01.</p

Expression analyses in mice liver and ab. aorta.

<p>(A) SR-B1 and (B) LCAT protein expression in liver. Data was standardized for β-actin expression. (N = 15; CETP-Tg mice control, N = 18; CETP-Tg mice xanthohumol, N = 11; CETP-Tg mice Chow, N = 6; wild-type mice control, N = 8; wild-type mice xanthohumol) (C, D) Transcript analyses of liver (upper) and ab. aorta (lower) in CETP-Tg mice (C) and wild-type mice (D). (N = 12; CETP-Tg mice control, N = 13; CETP-Tg mice xanthohumol, N = 9 to 10; CETP-Tg mice Chow, N = 5; wild-type mice control, N = 7 to 8; wild-type mice xanthohumol) All data were standardized for GAPDH expression. Expression levels of control group (without xanthohumol) were set at 1.0. Means±SEM. *<i>P</i><0.05, **<i>P</i><0.01.</p