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This study focused on reinforcing the interface of continuous-ramie yarn-reinforced polylactic acid (PLA) filaments with cellulose nanofibers (CNFs) for 3D printing applications. To realize the reinforcement effect of CNFs, the distribution of dispersed CNFs at the surface of ramie fiber is necessary. Thus, we developed a new false-untwisting process to enable the continuous dip-coating of CNF slurry while the ramie yarn is untwisted yarn. This study was designed to reveal the influence of the false-untwisting process and CNF content on the surface morphology of the processed yarn and on the mechanical properties of the yarn–PLA composite filaments. We found that the false-untwisting process achieved the formation of fuzzy CNFs. Furthermore, the tensile strength and Young’s modulus of the filaments were improved by up to 20.0% and 26.6%, respectively, compared to those of ramie yarn-reinforced PLA filaments without CNFs.

Transcription factors organize gene expression profiles by regulating promoter activity. However, the role of transcription factors after transcription initiation is poorly understood. Here, we show that the homeoprotein Nkx2-5 and the 5'-3' exonuclease Xrn2 are involved in the regulation of alternative polyadenylation (APA) during mouse heart development. Nkx2-5 occupied not only the transcription start sites (TSSs) but also the downstream regions of genes, serving to connect these regions in primary embryonic cardiomyocytes (eCMs). Nkx2-5 deficiency affected Xrn2 binding to target loci and resulted in increases in RNA polymerase II (RNAPII) occupancy and in the expression of mRNAs with long 3'untranslated regions (3' UTRs) from genes related to heart development. siRNA-mediated suppression of Nkx2-5 and Xrn2 led to heart looping anomaly. Moreover, Nkx2-5 genetically interacts with Xrn2 because Nkx2-5(+/-)Xrn2(+/-), but neither Nkx2-5(+/-)nor Xrn2(+/-), newborns exhibited a defect in ventricular septum formation, suggesting that the association between Nkx2-5 and Xrn2 is essential for heart development. Our results indicate that Nkx2-5 regulates not only the initiation but also the usage of poly(A) sites during heart development. Our findings suggest that tissue-specific transcription factors is involved in the regulation of APA.

Transcription factors organize gene expression profiles by regulating promoter activity. However, the role of transcription factors after transcription initiation is poorly understood. Here, we show that the homeoprotein Nkx2-5 and the 5'-3' exonuclease Xrn2 are involved in the regulation of alternative polyadenylation (APA) during mouse heart development. Nkx2-5 occupied not only the transcription start sites (TSSs) but also the downstream regions of genes, serving to connect these regions in primary embryonic cardiomyocytes (eCMs). Nkx2-5 deficiency affected Xrn2 binding to target loci and resulted in increases in RNA polymerase II (RNAPII) occupancy and in the expression of mRNAs with long 3‘untranslated regions (3' UTRs) from genes related to heart development. siRNA-mediated suppression of Nkx2-5 and Xrn2 led to heart looping anomaly. Moreover, Nkx2-5 genetically interacts with Xrn2 because Nkx2-5+/-Xrn2+/-, but neither Nkx2-5+/-nor Xrn2+/-, newborns exhibited a defect in ventricular septum formation, suggesting that the association between Nkx2-5 and Xrn2 is essential for heart development. Our results indicate that Nkx2-5 regulates not only the initiation but also the usage of poly(A) sites during heart development. Our findings suggest that tissue-specific transcription factors is involved in the regulation of APA.

割れ目系岩盤を対象とした高レベル放射性廃棄物の地層処分における地下水移行シナリオに基づく安全評価にあたっては、地下水流動特性の評価が重要であり、そのためには、地下水流動の卓越経路となる割れ目やその水理特性の空間分布を推定する必要がある。このことから、岩盤中の割れ目分布に起因した水理特性の不均質性を考慮した水理地質構造のマルチスケールモデル化手法を構築することを目的に、割れ目ネットワークモデルを適用した数十m四方程度の領域における三次元地質構造モデルおよび水理地質構造モデルを構築した。さらには、構築した割れ目ネットワークモデルに基づき、水理特性の空間的不均質性を考慮した連続体モデルを用いた数km四方程度の領域における水理地質構造モデルを構築した。これらの検討を通じて、調査データの種類や量に応じた割れ目ネットワークモデルを適用した地質構造モデルや水理地質構造モデルを構築するための方法論や、水理特性の空間的不均質性を考慮した連続体モデルによる水理地質構造モデルを構築するための方法論を提示した。, It is important to evaluate groundwater flow characteristics on several spatial scales for assessment of long-term safety on geological disposal of high-level radioactive wastes. An estimation of hydraulic heterogeneity caused by fracture network is significant for evaluation of the groundwater flow characteristics in the region of tens of meters square. Heterogeneity of equivalent hydraulic properties is needed to estimate for evaluation of the groundwater flow characteristics in the region of several km square. In order to develop the methodology for multi-scale hydrogeological modeling taking into account the hydraulic heterogeneity, spatial distribution of fractures and their hydraulic properties have been modeled using discrete fracture network (DFN) model. Then, hydrogeological continuum model taking into account the hydraulic heterogeneity has been estimated based on the DFN model. Through this study, the methodology for multi-scale hydrogeological modeling according to type of investigation data has been proposed., 著者所属: 日本原子力研究開発機構(JAEA), JAEA-Research 2015-011

我が国の地層処分事業は段階的に進められ、精密調査地区の選定段階においては、地下施設の基本レイアウトの設定、長期安全性に関する予備的評価等が行われる予定である。このためには、地上からの調査による限られた情報に基づいて、さまざまな不確実性や、地質構造や地質環境の不均質性を考慮した、評価対象とする地域の水理地質構造モデルの構築方法、さらに、処分施設に必要となる地下深部の空間的な広がりを考慮した、好ましい性能の岩盤領域(母岩)の把握方法等について、技術的な見通しを得るために、具体的なアプローチ、方法論を検討しておくことが重要である。本研究は、精密調査地区選定段階において地層処分施設の設定に好ましいということを判断するための指標について検討を行い、どのような手法と指標で評価することが有効となりえそうかという技術的課題について、幌延深地層研究計画における調査データを例題として用いた検討を実施し、手法の有効性の確認と課題の抽出を行った。, In Japan, a step-wise approach is applied in the site selection process for the geologic disposal site. Preliminary surface-based investigations will be followed by detailed investigations. The basic repository concept, including underground design and layout, will be discussed at the end of surface-based investigations. The repository concept will depend on the spatial extent of the candidate rock formation(s) and their barrier performance. However, information obtained from the surface is limited and includes uncertainties. It is thus important to assess host rock performance considering uncertainties. In this study, methodology for evaluation of geological conditions has been developed that focuses on determining the usable volume of host rock with specific performance characteristics. Initially, multiple performance indices have been discussed and defined from the viewpoint of barrier performance. Then the evaluation procedure is illustrated by using the dataset obtained from the Horonobe Underground Research Laboratory Project. Finally the proposed procedure is reviewed and future challenges are extracted., 著者所属: 日本原子力研究開発機構(JAEA), JAEA-Research 2011-056

本研究では、超深地層研究所計画の第1段階や広域地下水流動研究におけるボーリング調査結果を用いて、土岐花崗岩中の透水性構造分布に起因する水理学的な不均質性を考慮したブロックスケールの水理地質構造モデルを構築した。また、構築したブロックスケールの水理地質構造モデルに基づき、モデル化領域を対象とした等価な水理特性を算出し、既往の単孔式水理試験結果との比較することで算出した等価な水理特性の妥当性を確認した。, In this study, water conducting features in Toki granite were defined by the interpretation and integration of geological and hydrogeological data obtained from the borehole investigation in the Phase I of the MIU Project and Regional Hydrogeological Study. Then, the hydrogeological model of Block scale was constructed using hydraulic discrete fracture networks, and equivalent hydraulic conductivities in Block scale were calculated. And, adequacy of equivalent hydraulic conductivities in Block scale was confirmed using result of hydraulic packer tests., 著者所属: 日本原子力研究開発機構(JAEA), JAEA-Research 2012-022

グラウチングは、地下構造物の施工において湧水を抑制するうえで重要な技術である。一方、地層処分の観点からは、グラウチングに使用されるセメント材料が人工バリアの性能に影響を及ぼす可能性を避けるために、グラウチングの効果やその浸透範囲を定量的に把握する必要がある。このような観点から、経済産業省資源エネルギー庁からの研究受託の一環として、瑞浪超深地層研究所の深度200mレベルに掘削した避難所周辺を対象とし、グラウチングの効果に関する研究を実施した。本研究では、プレグラウチング後に掘削した避難所から計10本のボーリング孔を掘削し各種調査を行うとともに、その結果を総合的に評価し水理地質構造モデルの構築及び地下水流動解析を実施し、グラウト材の浸透範囲やその効果を定量的に検討した。その結果、既存のグラウチング手法は結晶質岩の大量湧水抑制対策として十分な効果を発揮していることを確認するとともに、グラウチングにより1オーダー以上の透水性の低減があったと推定された。, Grouting has practical importance for the reduction of groundwater inflow into excavations during construction of underground facilities. Considering the performance assessment of a radioactive waste repository, the performance of the engineered barrier system could be adversely affected by a high pH plume generated from grout. Therefore, a quantitative estimation of the effectiveness of grouting and grout material is essential. This study has been performed in the Mizunami URL being excavated in crystalline rock as a part of the Project for Grouting Technology Development for the Radioactive Waste Repository funded by METI, Japan. The aims were to evaluate the applicability of existing grouting technology and to develop methodology to determine the distribution of grout and change in hydraulic properties of the grouted rock volume. The target rock is the volume of rock around a planned refuge niche where the pre-excavation grouting was performed at 200-m depth from ground surface. After excavation of the refuge niche, ten boreholes were drilled and different kinds of investigations were carried out during and after drilling. The results were integrated and groundwater flow analysis of pre and post excavation grouting conditions were carried out to estimate quantitatively the effect of pre-excavation grouting. The results suggest that current pre-excavation grouting technology is effective for reduction of groundwater inflow into excavations and that hydraulic conductivity of the surrounding rock can be reduced by more than one order of magnitude., 著者所属: 日本原子力研究開発機構(JAEA), JAEA-Technology 2009-081

このデータ集は、2004年4月から2008年3月までに瑞浪超深地層研究所における研究坑道内、地上から掘削したボーリング孔(MSB-2号孔,MSB-4号孔及びMIZ-1号孔)から採取した地下水の地球化学特性データをとりまとめたものである。また、本データ集では、データを用いたさまざまな目的の解析を行う過程でデータの確認ができるように、試料採取地点,試料採取時間,採取方法及び分析方法などを示した。, This report compiles data set of the groundwater chemistry obtained at Mizunami Underground Research Laboratory (MIU) between the fiscal year 2004 and the fiscal year 2007. These data includes groundwater chemistry of inflow in the shafts and sampled groundwater in the boreholes, which drilled from sub-stages of MIU and from surface (MSB-2, MSB-4, and MIZ-1). Basic information (e.g. sampling location, sampling date, sampling method, analytical method) are also described in terms of quality control and traceability., 著者所属: 日本原子力研究開発機構(JAEA), JAEA-Data/Code 2010-010

Miniature Calendar is an online exhibition in calendar form, created by artist Tatsuya Tanaka, whose work Miniature Life continually asks questions such as: what if this stalk of broccoli were a tree? These leaves floating on the surface of water, boats? Presented online as a daily calendar, Tanaka's photographs show mostly figures arranged diorama-style surrounded by everyday objects. As an example, the Aug. 1, 2021 photo creates a restaurant scene from dominos, whose black dots represent burners on which tiny figures cook food. To see the evolution of Tanaka's style, visitors can explore the Archive, which dates back to April 2011. A two-minute video embedded in the "About" section provides a look into Tanaka's studio, including the drawers of cataloged objects the artist employs and the 3D printing used to create new ones. There are also links to physical exhibitions of Tanaka's Miniature Life (click "Exhibition") and merchandise such as books, puzzles, T-shirts, and of course, printed calendars (click "Product"). Follow on Instagram (@tanaka_tatsuya) for new photos each day.

Miniature Calendar is an online exhibition in calendar form, created by artist Tatsuya Tanaka, whose work Miniature Life continually asks questions such as: what if this stalk of broccoli were a tree? These leaves floating on the surface of water, boats? Presented online as a daily calendar, Tanaka's photographs show mostly figures arranged diorama-style surrounded by everyday objects. As an example, the Aug. 1, 2021 photo creates a restaurant scene from dominos, whose black dots represent burners on which tiny figures cook food. To see the evolution of Tanaka's style, visitors can explore the Archive, which dates back to April 2011. A two-minute video embedded in the "About" section provides a look into Tanaka's studio, including the drawers of cataloged objects the artist employs and the 3D printing used to create new ones. There are also links to physical exhibitions of Tanaka's Miniature Life (click "Exhibition") and merchandise such as books, puzzles, T-shirts, and of course, printed calendars (click "Product"). Follow on Instagram (@tanaka_tatsuya) for new photos each day.