Influence on uncertainty of earthquake response analysis results by initial particle arrangements and cohesion parameters in extended distinct element method

Following the occurrence of extremely large earthquakes, such as the Great East Japan Earthquake, the level of design for earthquake ground motion in nuclear power plants has been enhanced. Additionally, the quantitative evaluation of the seismic performance of critical facilities, such as nuclear power plants, and earthquake-induced failure of surrounding slopes are becoming increasingly important as deterministic approaches in regulation. However, evaluation of other aspects besides the design for earthquake ground motion in probabilistic risk assessment (PRA) needs to be conducted voluntarily by the corporation. For the earthquake response analysis, including the seamless transition of the slope from continuum to dis-continuum, the extended distinct element method (EDEM) is an effective approach; however, EDEM is characterised by initial particle arrangement uncertainty. Therefore, we investigated the uncertainty in the EDEM results with respect to failure timing and region. Although essential in the evaluation of impact force in the PRA framework, there are few researches regarding the uncertainty of impact force on the wall of the reactor building after slope failure caused by numerous initial particle arrangements. Furthermore, reducing the computational time is crucial in PRA. Hence, the parameters that do not have an influence on the EDEM results can be omitted, resulting in their dispersion and a reduction in the computational time. This research aims to investigate the impact force uncertainty caused by initial particle arrangements and the influence of cohesion uncertainty. For the former, we conducted 50 numerical simulations for the uncertainty of EDEM results caused by the initial particle arrangements. For the latter, we conducted 50 numerical simulations with two uncertainty factors, namely, cohesion and initial particle arrangement. The simulation results revealed that the largest and second largest loads on the wall occurred in two cases, namely, when there were single particles impacting the wall and when there were group particles impacting the wall. Additionally, the uncertainty caused by cohesion was less than that arrangement when the coefficient of variation was 0.1. Thus, the cohesion uncertainty can be ignored if it is somewhat small

Effects of Ground Improvement and Armored Embankment to the Displacements of the Seawalls and Back Fill During Earthquake

Large shaking table tests of the caisson type seawalls under various conditions were conducted in order to investigate the effects of the armored embankment and the improvement of sandy seabed and backfill by densification to the deformation of the seawalls during earthquake. Main results obtained from the shaking table tests were as follows : (1) Seaward horizontal displacement and tilting of the caisson were drastically reduced by the existence of the armored embankment in front of the caisson. (2) Improvement of the sandy seabed by densification method just under the rubble mound was much effective to reduction of the displacements of the caisson. (3) It was possible that the lateral movement of the liquefied backfill was reduced by the improvement of a part of the backfill just behind the caisson even though without the armored embankment in front of the caisson

Area of Compaction to Prevent Uplift by Liquefaction

In this study, shaking table tests, upper seepage flow tests and numerical analyses were conducted to determine the condition of improvement by the compaction method, including the extent of area and the density, to prevent uplift of underground pipes by liquefaction. Based on the results of these investigations, a procedure to determine the improvement conditions was proposed

MRI reveals menstrually-related muscle edema that negatively affects athletic agility in young women

ContextAbout 10% of Japanese female athletes are afflicted by menstrually-related edema, mainly in the lower limbs, and, with few studies on this problem, the effect on performance remains unclear.ObjectiveTo quantitatively evaluate fluid retention in the calf in female students over their menstrual cycle using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and to determine the relationship of MRI changes and athletic performance.DesignThe menstrual cycle was divided into 5 phases: menstrual, follicular, ovulatory, early luteal, and late luteal with sampling done in either morning (AM) or afternoon (PM) sessions. At each phase, MRI of the calf (7:00–8:00, 14:00–16:00), body composition and hormones (7:00–8:00), and athletic performance (14:00–16:00) were evaluated

CNVs in Three Psychiatric Disorders

BACKGROUND: We aimed to determine the similarities and differences in the roles of genic and regulatory copy number variations (CNVs) in bipolar disorder (BD), schizophrenia (SCZ), and autism spectrum disorder (ASD). METHODS: Based on high-resolution CNV data from 8708 Japanese samples, we performed to our knowledge the largest cross-disorder analysis of genic and regulatory CNVs in BD, SCZ, and ASD. RESULTS: In genic CNVs, we found an increased burden of smaller (500 kb) exonic CNVs in SCZ/ASD. Pathogenic CNVs linked to neurodevelopmental disorders were significantly associated with the risk for each disorder, but BD and SCZ/ASD differed in terms of the effect size (smaller in BD) and subtype distribution of CNVs linked to neurodevelopmental disorders. We identified 3 synaptic genes (DLG2, PCDH15, and ASTN2) as risk factors for BD. Whereas gene set analysis showed that BD-associated pathways were restricted to chromatin biology, SCZ and ASD involved more extensive and similar pathways. Nevertheless, a correlation analysis of gene set results indicated weak but significant pathway similarities between BD and SCZ or ASD (r = 0.25–0.31). In SCZ and ASD, but not BD, CNVs were significantly enriched in enhancers and promoters in brain tissue. CONCLUSIONS: BD and SCZ/ASD differ in terms of CNV burden, characteristics of CNVs linked to neurodevelopmental disorders, and regulatory CNVs. On the other hand, they have shared molecular mechanisms, including chromatin biology. The BD risk genes identified here could provide insight into the pathogenesis of BD

Influence on uncertainty of earthquake response analysis results by initial particle arrangements and cohesion parameters in extended distinct element method

Following the occurrence of extremely large earthquakes, such as the Great East Japan Earthquake, the level of design for earthquake ground motion in nuclear power plants has been enhanced. Additionally, the quantitative evaluation of the seismic performance of critical facilities, such as nuclear power plants, and earthquake-induced failure of surrounding slopes are becoming increasingly important as deterministic approaches in regulation. However, evaluation of other aspects besides the design for earthquake ground motion in probabilistic risk assessment (PRA) needs to be conducted voluntarily by the corporation. For the earthquake response analysis, including the seamless transition of the slope from continuum to dis-continuum, the extended distinct element method (EDEM) is an effective approach; however, EDEM is characterised by initial particle arrangement uncertainty. Therefore, we investigated the uncertainty in the EDEM results with respect to failure timing and region. Although essential in the evaluation of impact force in the PRA framework, there are few researches regarding the uncertainty of impact force on the wall of the reactor building after slope failure caused by numerous initial particle arrangements. Furthermore, reducing the computational time is crucial in PRA. Hence, the parameters that do not have an influence on the EDEM results can be omitted, resulting in their dispersion and a reduction in the computational time. This research aims to investigate the impact force uncertainty caused by initial particle arrangements and the influence of cohesion uncertainty. For the former, we conducted 50 numerical simulations for the uncertainty of EDEM results caused by the initial particle arrangements. For the latter, we conducted 50 numerical simulations with two uncertainty factors, namely, cohesion and initial particle arrangement. The simulation results revealed that the largest and second largest loads on the wall occurred in two cases, namely, when there were single particles impacting the wall and when there were group particles impacting the wall. Additionally, the uncertainty caused by cohesion was less than that arrangement when the coefficient of variation was 0.1. Thus, the cohesion uncertainty can be ignored if it is somewhat small

MRI reveals menstrually-related muscle edema that negatively affects athletic agility in young women - Fig 3

<p>Outer peripheral area (A, cm²) and rectangular area of sway (B, cm²). Scale bar: 1 cm.</p

MRI reveals menstrually-related muscle edema that negatively affects athletic agility in young women

<div><p>Context</p><p>About 10% of Japanese female athletes are afflicted by menstrually-related edema, mainly in the lower limbs, and, with few studies on this problem, the effect on performance remains unclear.</p><p>Objective</p><p>To quantitatively evaluate fluid retention in the calf in female students over their menstrual cycle using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and to determine the relationship of MRI changes and athletic performance.</p><p>Design</p><p>The menstrual cycle was divided into 5 phases: menstrual, follicular, ovulatory, early luteal, and late luteal with sampling done in either morning (AM) or afternoon (PM) sessions. At each phase, MRI of the calf (7:00–8:00, 14:00–16:00), body composition and hormones (7:00–8:00), and athletic performance (14:00–16:00) were evaluated.</p><p>Participants</p><p>13 adult healthy Japanese female students with eumenorrhea.</p><p>Results</p><p>Estradiol levels decreased significantly in the menstrual phase and the follicular phase compared to the early luteal phase (<i>P</i> = 0.001, <i>P</i> = 0.024 respectively). Menstrual phase estradiol levels were significantly lower compared to the ovulatory phase (<i>P</i> = 0.015), and the late luteal phase (<i>P</i> = 0.003). Progesterone levels decreased significantly in the menstrual phase and the follicular phase compared to the ovulatory phase (<i>P</i> = 0.012, <i>P</i> = 0.009 respectively), the early luteal phase (both <i>P</i> = 0.007), and the late luteal phase (<i>P</i> = 0.028, <i>P</i> = 0.029 respectively), and it along with a significant decrease in the ovulatory phase compared to the early luteal phase (<i>P</i> = 0.010). AM T2 signals were significantly lower in the menstrual phase compared to the ovulatory phase (<i>P</i> = 0.043) but not other phases. PM T2 signals increased significantly in the menstrual phase compared to the follicular phase (<i>P</i> = 0.003), ovulatory phase (<i>P</i> = 0.009), and the late luteal phase (<i>P</i> = 0.032), and the difference between the AM and PM values increased significantly in the menstrual phase compared to the other 4 phases (<i>P</i><0.01). A negative correlation between fluid retention and agility was observed.</p><p>Conclusion</p><p>In female students fluid retention during the menstrual phase could be a factor that influences athletic agility.</p></div