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In various dynamic systems, accurately predicting frictional stick–slip motion is critical for maintaining stability. To address this issue, we integrated a particle filter with a rate- and state-dependent friction model to enhance the prediction of stick–slip dynamics. Our method assimilates the experimental data and iteratively updates the parameter distributions to align with the observed stick–slip events. Using the proposed approach, we demonstrate parameter estimation for different dynamic behaviors of a one-degree-of-freedom system, enabling a robust simulation of stick–slip motion. Specifically, as the particle filter assimilates data, the prediction interval for the candidate parameter set becomes narrow, thereby yielding increasingly precise forecasts. Subsequently, by utilizing the posterior parameter distributions obtained through Bayesian updates, our approach successfully simulated and predicted the experimental stick–slip outcomes. This validation underlines the capability of the rate- and state-dependent friction model to describe complex frictional motions, and suggests the potential of the particle filter as a powerful Bayesian tool for predicting nonlinear dynamics, including stick–slip motion.

Abstract Background Workplace cancer screening programs are determined as part of an employee’s benefits package and health checkups are perceived positively. However, the current status of workplace cancer screening programs in Japan is unavailable. This study aimed to assess the adherence to national guidelines for colorectal, breast, and cervical cancer screenings in the workplace among Japanese enterprises and identify factors associated with excessive or inadequate screenings. Methods A cross-sectional study design was employed. Data were obtained from a survey conducted by the “Corporate Action to Promote Cancer Control” between November and December 2022 among registered partner enterprises in Japan. The survey included questions on background characteristics, cancer screening practices, and intervention approaches. The analysis included 432 enterprises that provided complete responses regarding colorectal, breast, and cervical cancer screenings. Results The guideline-adherence rates for colorectal, breast, and cervical cancer screenings in the workplace were 12.7%, 3.0%, and 8.8%, respectively. Enterprises had lower adherence to screening guidelines than local governments. Colorectal (70.8%) and breast (67.1%) cancer screenings were predominantly categorized as “overscreening” and cervical (60.6%) cancer screening, as “underscreening.” Factors such as enterprise scale, health insurance associations, and the number of interventional approaches were significantly associated with increased “overscreening” (101–1000: β = 0.13, p = 0.01; ≥ 1000: β = 0.17, p

Biliary stent occlusion is due, in part, to biofilm formation by bacteria. However, previous culture-based approaches may not have revealed all microorganisms on the surface. Twenty-seven patients underwent endoscopic retrograde biliary drainage for the removal or replacement of plastic biliary stents. We analyzed occlusion severity using image-analyses of a longitudinal section of the biliary stent and evaluated the microbial profile of sludge deposition inside the stents using 16S rRNA sequencing with a MiSeq Illumina platform. We then evaluated the association of microbial profiles with the duration of stent placement and stent occlusion severity. Actinobacteria and Synergistetes were much more abundant in occluded stents compared with non-occluded stents. An abundance of Bifidobacterium spp. and OTU00006 Bifidobacterium animalis (100%) correlated with stent occlusion severity (rho, 0.62; p

CD19 chimeric antigen receptor T (CD19CAR-T) cells have achieved promising outcomes in relapsed/refractory B cell malignancies. However, recurrences occur due to the loss of CAR-T cell persistence. We developed dual T/B cell co-stimulatory molecules (CD28 and CD40) in CAR-T cells to enhance intense tumoricidal activity and persistence. CD19.28.40z CAR-T cells promoted pNF-κB and pRelB downstream signaling while diminishing NFAT signaling upon antigen exposure. CD19.28.40z CAR-T cells demonstrated greater proliferation, which translated into effective anti-tumor cytotoxicity in long-term co-culture assay. Repetitive weekly antigen stimulation unveiled continuous CAR-T cell expansion while preserving central memory T cell subset and lower expression of exhaustion phenotypes. The intrinsic genes underlying CD19.28.40z CAR-T cell responses were compared with conventional CARs and demonstrated the up-regulated genes associated with T cell proliferation and memory as well as down-regulated genes related to apoptosis, exhaustion, and glycolysis pathway. Enrichment of genes toward T cell stemness, particularly SELL, IL-7r, TCF7, and KLF2, was observed. Effective and continuing anti-tumor cytotoxicity in vivo was exhibited in both B cell lymphoblastic leukemia and B cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma xenograft models while demonstrating persistent T cell memory signatures. The functional enhancement of CD37.28.40z CAR-T cell activities against CD37+ tumor cells was further validated. The modification of dual T/B cell signaling molecules remarkably maximized the efficacy of CAR-T cell therapy.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of a one-day sheep-rearing experience on motivation and anxiety levels in patients with chronic mental illness. The study assessed changes in oxytocin and cortisol levels and brain activity in the prefrontal cortex, which is known to be associated with emotion and motivation. The study employed a non-randomized controlled trial design, with participants receiving both an intervention day (sheep rearing) and a control day (usual psychiatric day care) in a crossover fashion. Written informed consent was obtained from all participants. The intervention day consisted of hands-on sheep rearing activities, while the control day consisted of general activities available at the psychiatric day care center. Results showed that the sheep-raising experience had an equal effect on motivation and increased mean oxytocin levels. In addition, significantly more activity was observed in the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) region of the brain compared to typical psychiatric daycare activities (p < 0.032, p < 0.043). Participants tended to have increased oxytocin levels after sheep rearing, and the activation of the DLPFC has not previously been observed in animal intervention studies. These are new findings in psychiatric occupational therapy that may have effects on social cognition and interpersonal relationships in patients with chronic mental illness.

Abstract No established predictive or risk classification tool exists for the neurological outcomes of post-cardiac arrest syndrome (PCAS) in patients with in-hospital cardiac arrest (IHCA). This study aimed to investigate whether the revised post-cardiac arrest syndrome for therapeutic hypothermia score (rCAST), which was developed to estimate the prognosis of PCAS patients with out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA), was applicable to patients with IHCA. A retrospective, multicenter observational study of 140 consecutive adult IHCA patients admitted to three intensive care units. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curves (AUCs) of the rCAST for poor neurological outcome and mortality at 30 days were 0.88 (0.82–0.93) and 0.83 (0.76–0.89), respectively. The sensitivity and specificity of the risk classification according to rCAST for poor neurological outcomes were 0.90 (0.83–0.96) and 0.67 (0.55–0.79) for the low, 0.63 (0.54–0.74) and 0.67 (0.55–0.79) for the moderate, and 0.27 (0.17–0.37) and 1.00 (1.00–1.00) for the high-severity grades. All 22 patients classified with a high-severity grade showed poor neurological outcomes. The rCAST showed excellent predictive accuracy for neurological prognosis in patients with PCAS after IHCA. The rCAST may be useful as a risk classification tool for PCAS after IHCA.

Abstract Background Texture and color enhancement imaging (TXI) enhances the changes in endoscopic features caused by gastric neoplasms, such as redness/whiteness and elevation/depression. This study aimed to demonstrate the effectiveness of TXI in improving the visibility of gastric neoplasms compared with white light imaging (WLI) using conventional (CE) and newly developed endoscopes (NE). Methods We recruited patients who were histologically diagnosed with gastric neoplasms; endoscopy was performed, and gastric neoplasms photographed using three imaging modalities, including WLI, TXI mode 1 (TXI-1) and TXI mode 2 (TXI-2). Two different endoscopes (CE and NE) were used for the same patients. Six endoscopists provided the visibility scale scores ranging from 1 (poor) to 4 (excellent) for gastric neoplasms. The primary outcome was the visibility scale scores based on each modality and endoscope. The secondary outcome was the identification of factors including H. pylori infection, atrophy, location, size, morphology, histological diagnosis and intestinal metaplasia that affect the differences in visibility scale scores between TXI-1/TXI-2 and WLI. Results Fifty-two gastric neoplasms were analyzed. The mean visibility scale scores with the NE were 2.79 ± 1.07, 3.23 ± 0.96 and 3.14 ± 0.92 for WLI, TXI-1 and TXI-2, respectively. The mean visibility scales with the CE were 2.53 ± 1.10, 3.04 ± 1.05 and 2.96 ± 1.92 for WLI, TXI-1 and TXI-2, respectively. For both endoscopes, significant differences were observed in visibility scale scores between WLI and TXI-1 (p

Purpose: High-intensity interval training (HIIT) may induce training-specific physiological adaptations such as improved respiratory and cardiovascular adjustments before and after the onset of high-intensity exercise, leading to improved exercise performance during high-intensity exercise. The present study investigated the effects of HIIT on time-dependent cardiorespiratory adjustment during maximal exercise and before and after initiation of high-intensity exercise, as well as on maximal exercise performance.Methods: 21 healthy male college students were randomly assigned to HIIT group (n = 11) or control group (n = 10). HIIT group performed training on a cycle ergometer once a week for 8 weeks. The training consisted of three bouts of exercise at 95% maximal work rate (WRmax) until exhaustion. Before and after the HIIT program, dynamic cardiorespiratory function was investigated by ramp and step exercise tests, and HIIT-induced cardiac morphological changes were assessed using echocardiography.Results: HIIT significantly improved not only maximal oxygen uptake and minute ventilation, but also maximal heart rate (HR), systolic blood pressure (SBP), and time to exhaustion in both exercise tests (p < 0.05). Time-dependent increases in minute ventilation (VE) and HR before and at the start of exercise were significantly enhanced after HIIT. During high-intensity exercise, there was a strong correlation between percent change (from before to after HIIT program) in time to exhaustion and percent change in HRmax (r = 0.932, p < 0.001). Furthermore, HIIT-induced cardiac morphological changes such as ventricular wall hypertrophy was observed (p < 0.001).Conclusion: We have demonstrated that HIIT at 95% WRmax induces training-specific adaptations such as improved cardiorespiratory adjustments, not only during maximal exercise but also before and after the onset of high-intensity exercise, improvement of exercise performance mainly associated with circulatory systems.

Abstract High photon energy vacuum ultraviolet radiation (VUV, 100−200 nm wavelength) is challenging to detect. It easily degrades conventional silicon and semiconductor photodetectors. Fluoride photodetectors can be the answer, but the correlation between fabrication parameters and photodetector performance is not known. Here, the effect of annealing is investigated on the characteristics of neodymium trifluoride thin film/quartz substrate interface and NdF3 photoconductivity within the VUV. Thin films are deposited on unheated and heated (600 °C) substrates with post‐deposition annealing. Dark current of films on unheated substrates decreases by as much as 1/10 as resistance increases from 1 −12 TΩ after annealing. Dark current of films on heated substrates increases even after annealing, resulting in similar photo and dark currents of ≈303.7 nA and poor detectors. Fluorine diffuses from the film to the substrate during deposition, exacerbated by substrate heating but not by annealing. Fluorine diffusion degrades crystallinity near the interface, increasing the dark current. Fluorine diffusion is absent when MgF2 is used as the heated substrate. Unannealed NdF3/MgF2 detector on 600 °C‐heated substrate and 600 °C‐annealed NdF3/SiO2 detector on unheated substrate exhibit similar resistances of ≈14 TΩ. Considering the film/substrate interface and annealing is crucial when developing VUV photodetectors.

Abstract Aims Early risk stratification of patients with acute heart failure (AHF) is critical for appropriate triage and outcome improvement. The serum sodium, blood urea nitrogen, age, serum albumin, systolic blood pressure, and natriuretic peptide level (SOB‐ASAP) score can predict in‐hospital mortality of AHF. However, the relationship between the SOB‐ASAP score and long‐term prognosis is unknown. This study investigated the determinants of the long‐term prognosis of AHF by evaluating the SOB‐ASAP score. Methods This retrospective cohort study included all patients with acute decompensated heart failure who were admitted to our hospital between April 2017 and March 2018. And those who discharged were analysed retrospectively. The follow‐up period was 3 years. Primary end point was all‐cause death. Results Total of 140 patients were analysed. The median SOB‐ASAP score of entire cohort on admission was 3 points (interquartile range; 1–5). The Kaplan–Meier curve demonstrated that patients in the higher SOB‐ASAP group (score ≥3) had a higher incidence of all‐cause death (log‐rank test; P

Background: The optimal ablation index (AI) value for cavotricuspid isthmus (CTI) ablation is unknow. Objective: This study investigated the optimal AI value and whether preassessment of local electrogram voltage of CTI could predict first-pass success of ablation. Methods: Voltage maps of CTI were created before ablation. In the preliminary group, the procedure was performed in 50 patients targeting an AI ≥450 on the anterior side (two-thirds segment of CTI) and AI ≥400 on the posterior side (one-third segment of CTI). The modified group also included 50 patients, but the target AI for the anterior side was modified to ≥500. Results: In the modified group, the first-pass rate of success was higher (88% vs 62%; P < .01) than in the preliminary group, and there were no differences in the average bipolar and unipolar voltages at the CTI line. Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that ablation with an AI ≥500 on the anterior side was the only independent predictor (odds ratio 4.17; 95% confidence interval 1.44–12.05; P < .01). The bipolar and unipolar voltages were higher at sites without conduction block than at sites with conduction block (both P < .01). The cutoff values for predicting conduction gap were ≥1.94 mV and ≥2.33 mV with areas under the curve of 0.655 and 0.679, respectively. Conclusions: CTI ablation with a target AI >500 on the anterior side was shown to be more effective than an AI >450, and local voltage at a conduction gap was higher than without a conduction gap.

Abstract Background Data on acute toxicities after stereotactic radiotherapy (SRT) for brain metastases, including multiple and large lesions, are lacking. We aimed to evaluate the incidence and nature of toxicities immediately after SRT using a linear accelerator. Methods This retrospective study reviewed the medical records of 315 patients with brain metastases treated with SRT at our institution between May 2019 and February 2022. In total, 439 SRT sessions were performed for 2161 brain metastases. The outcome of interest was immediate side effects (ISEs), defined as new or worsening symptoms occurring during SRT or within 14 days after the end of SRT. Results Grade ≥ 2 and ≥ 3 ISEs occurred in 16 (3.6%) and 7 (1.6%) cases, respectively. Among 63 treatments for 10 or more lesions (range: 10–40), 1 (1.6%) ISE occurred. Among 22 treatments for lesions with a maximum tumor volume of > 10 cc, 2 (9.1%) ISEs occurred. Grade ≥ 3 ISEs included 1, 4, 1, and 1 cases of grade 3 nausea, grade 3 new-onset partial and generalized seizures, grade 3 obstructive hydrocephalus, and grade 5 intracranial hemorrhage, respectively. ISEs were more common in patients with a larger maximum tumor volume, primary sites other than lung and breast cancer, and pre-treatment neurological symptoms. Conclusion SRT using a linear accelerator for brain metastases, including multiple and large lesions, is safe, with a low incidence of ISEs. Serious complications immediately after SRT are rare but possible; therefore, careful follow-up is necessary after treatment initiation.

Background: Cardiac amyloidosis (CA) progresses rapidly with a poor prognosis. Therefore, methods for early diagnosis that are easily accessible in any hospital, are required. We hypothesized that based on the pathology of CA, morphological left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) without electrical augmentation, namely paradoxical LVH, could be used to diagnose CA. This study aimed to investigate whether paradoxical LVH has diagnostic significance in identifying CA in patients with LVH. Methods: Patients who presented with left ventricular (LV) wall thickness ≥ 12 mm on cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) were enrolled from a multicentre CMR registry. Paradoxical LVH was defined as a LV wall thickness ≥ 12 mm on CMR, SV1 + RV5

The Bingham fluid simulation model was constructed and validated using a physically consistent particle method, i.e., the Moving Particle Hydrodynamics (MPH) method. When a discrete particle system satisfies the fundamental laws of physics, the method is asserted as physically consistent. Since Bingham fluids sometimes show solid-like behaviors, linear and angular momentum conservation is especially important. These features are naturally satisfied in the MPH method. To model the Bingham feature, the viscosity of the fluid was varied to express the stress-strain rate relation. Since the solid-like part, where the stress does not exceed the yield stress, was modeled with very large viscosity, the implicit velocity calculation was introduced so as to avoid the restriction of the time step width with respect to the diffusion number. As a result, the present model could express the stopping and solid-like behaviors, which are characteristics of Bingham fluids. The proposed method was verified and validated, and its capability was demonstrated through calculations of the two-dimensional Poiseuille flow of a Bingham plastic fluid and the three-dimensional dam-break flow of a Bingham pseudoplastic fluid by comparing those computed results to theory and experiment.

This study evaluates the capability of a single inertial sensor based joint angles estimation during four different walking patterns in an outdoor setting. The sensor was placed on the upper part of the tibia, which was chosen due to its large range of motion and minimal foot-ground impact. A Bi-LSTM (bidirectional long short-term memory) data-driven approach was used for joint angle estimation. The results showed smaller errors in intra-subject angle estimation compared to inter-subject, with an average MAE (mean absolute error) of 2.11° to 3.65°. The study suggests that deep learning approaches can effectively process data from a single IMU (inertial measurement unit) for accurate human motion monitoring, reducing the need for multiple sensors. Despite using only one sensor and four different walking patterns (zigzag, sideways, backward, and ramp walking), our method achieved similar results to previous studies that used single-motion activities. This study, conducted outdoors without instructing participants, is a step closer to real-world application, potentially providing insights into lower body biomechanics in physiotherapy, mobility improvement progress after surgery, and aiding in the development of personalized exoskeletons robots.

Abstract Background and Purpose Few reports include volumetric measurements as endpoints after stereotactic radiotherapy (SRT) despite the importance of such measurements. This study aimed to (1) investigate the impact of the volumetric response (specifically, an over 65% and over 90% volume reduction in brain metastases) at 6 months post‐SRT on local control and (2) identify the predictive factors for a volumetric response of over 65% and over 90%. Materials and Methods This study included 250 unresected brain metastases (>0.3 cc) treated with SRT. Doses were stratified according to the biological effective dose (BED). The BED was calculated using four models: linear‐quadratic (LQ): α/β = 10; LQ: α/β = 20; LQ cubic: α/β = 12; and LQ linear: α/β = 10. The median prescription dose was 30 Gy/3 fractions (BED20, 45). The median follow‐up time after SRT was 18.6 months (range, 6.4–81.8 months). Results In the multivariate analysis, over 65% volume reduction and over 90% volume reduction were prognostic factors for local control (hazard ratio: 2.370, p = 0.011 and hazard ratio: 3.161, p = 0.014, respectively). A dose of 80% of the gross tumor volume (GTV) D80 > BED20 58 was a predictive factor for over 65% and over 90% volume reductions (odds ratio: 1.975, p = 0.023; odds ratio: 3.204, p

Abstract Background Multiple myeloma (MM) is an uncommon neoplasm in cats. There is no established standard of treatment due to the rare occurrence of this disease in cats. Bortezomib is a proteasome inhibitor that serves as the first-line drug for MM in humans, but its effectiveness currently is unknown in feline MM. We present here the case report of a feline MM that exhibited a favorable response to bortezomib. Case presentation The case was an 11-year-old non-castrated male domestic cat with light-chain MM presenting with clinical symptoms (anorexia, fatigue, and vomiting), mild azotemia, and pancytopenia. The cat failed on melphalan with prednisolone (MP), so bortezomib (Velcade) was initiated on Day 88. A total of 6 cycles of the treatment was performed, with each treatment cycle consisting of twice-weekly subcutaneous administration for 2 weeks followed by a 1-week rest. The dose of bortezomib was 0.7 mg/m2 for first week and 1.0 mg/m2 for second week in the first cycle. A dose of 0.7 mg/m2 was used for subsequent cycles. Prednisolone was used concomitantly in the first 2 cycles. Following treatment with bortezomib, clinical symptoms disappeared and a decrease in serum globulin and recovery of pancytopenia were noted. A monoclonal gammopathy, overproduction of serum immunoglobulin light chain, and Bence-Jones proteinuria that existed at diagnosis were undetectable on Day 123. A monoclonal gammopathy also was not detectable at the end of the bortezomib treatment (Day 213). Anorexia, fatigue, and marked bone marrow toxicity were experienced when bortezomib was administrated at a dose of 1.0 mg/m2, while no recognizable toxicity was observed at a dose of 0.7 mg/m2 throughout the treatment period. The case was placed on follow-up and there was no evidence of relapse as of Day 243. Conclusions Bortezomib was effective and durable for the treatment of this case of feline MM after failure with MP. Bortezomib was well-tolerated in this cat at a dose of 0.7 mg/m2, but not at 1.0 mg/m2. Bortezomib appears to be a drug worthy of further study for the treatment of feline MM.

Purpose: Type IIIb endoleak is a complication of endovascular repair of abdominal aortic aneurysms. The frequency of a type Ⅲb endoleak is approximately 0.23%. Because of its rarity, it poses diagnostic and treatment challenges. Case Report: A 72-year-old man underwent endovascular repair of an abdominal aortic aneurysm with an AFX with DuraPly™ (Endologix LLC, Irvine, CA, USA). One year later, he developed a type IIIb endoleak with rapid re-expansion of the aortic aneurysm due to stent fracture of main body of AFX. He then underwent a second AFX endovascular repair; however, one month after, follow-up ultrasonography showed blood flowing into the abdominal aortic aneurysm from the site of the previous type IIIb endoleak. A third endovascular repair was performed using an Excluder® (W. L. Gore & Associates, Newark, DE, USA); fortunately, during the six-month follow-up, the endoleak did not recur and the diameter of the aneurysm did not enlarge. Conclusion: Type IIIb endoleak is a very rare complication of endovascular aortic aneurysm repair and can be difficult to treat. However, it is essential to ensure that the proximal and distal seal zones are adequate, fixation is secure, and the components sufficiently overlap.

A calcium fluoride (CaF2) single crystal with asymmetric gold (Au) and aluminum (Al) electrodes is investigated as a photovoltaic sensor of high-energy vacuum ultraviolet (VUV) radiation. A photocurrent of at least 0.13nA is obtained at zero bias voltage, indicating that the sensor may be self-powered and can be operated without an external voltage source. The sensor is responsive only to wavelengths shorter than 130 nm, corresponding to photon energies greater than 9.5 eV. The 130-nm cutoff wavelength aligns with the transmission edge of the crystal, allowing it to screen out unwanted background UV and visible light without having to use filters. The 5.36 μs (fall time) time response of the sensor is similar to that of a commercial diamond UV sensor (5.05 μs). When operated in reverse- and forward-bias with an applied bias voltage ranging from –9 V to 9 V, the sensor exhibits rectification. In reverse-bias operation, increasing then decreasing the bias voltage leads to hysteresis which is attributed to surface defects at the CaF2/Au interface. As a self-powered filterless VUV sensor with a sufficiently fast response speed, the CaF2 sensor would be attractive for applications requiring high-power VUV light sources to be monitored.

Objectives: Patients with chronic schizophrenia exhibit negative symptoms, including decreased work motivation. Animal-assisted therapy programs have been reported to benefit such patients; hence, there is a possibility that sheep-rearing, rather than conventional employment training, may motivate these patients. Therefore, we investigated the effects of a one-day experiential learning program of sheep-rearing on the work motivation and anxiety of patients with chronic schizophrenia. Methods: Fourteen patients were included in a non-randomized controlled trial conducted between August 2018 and October 2018. The patients’ participation in the sheep-rearing experiential learning (one day; intervention day) and normal day care (one day; control day) programs were compared. The salivary cortisol and testosterone levels and State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) scores of the patients were analyzed. Results: The patients’ salivary testosterone was significantly higher on the intervention day ( p = 0.04) than on the control day ( p = 0.02). Their salivary cortisol was lower on the control day than on the intervention day, although the difference was not significant. Regression analysis was performed based on the change in salivary cortisol levels and STAI-Trait scores ( p = 0.006), and a regression equation was established. Conclusions: The study revealed that participation in sheep-rearing may have promoted the testosterone production but did not increase anxiety in patients with schizophrenia. Additionally, regression equations for salivary cortisol levels in such patients may provide information on individual differences in anxiety levels.

In this study, we introduce a novel framework that combines human motion parameterization from a single inertial sensor, motion synthesis from these parameters, and biped robot motion control using the synthesized motion. This framework applies advanced deep learning methods to data obtained from an IMU attached to a human subject’s pelvis. This minimalistic sensor setup simplifies the data collection process, overcoming price and complexity challenges related to multi-sensor systems. We employed a Bi-LSTM encoder to estimate key human motion parameters: walking velocity and gait phase from the IMU sensor. This step is followed by a feedforward motion generator-decoder network that accurately produces lower limb joint angles and displacement corresponding to these parameters. Additionally, our method also introduces a Fourier series-based approach to generate these key motion parameters solely from user commands, specifically walking speed and gait period. Hence, the decoder can receive inputs either from the encoder or directly from the Fourier series parameter generator. The output of the decoder network is then utilized as a reference motion for the walking control of a biped robot, employing a constraint-consistent inverse dynamics control algorithm. This framework facilitates biped robot motion planning based on data from either a single inertial sensor or two user commands. The proposed method was validated through robot simulations in the MuJoco physics engine environment. The motion controller achieved an error of ≤5° in tracking the joint angles demonstrating the effectiveness of the proposed framework. This was accomplished using minimal sensor data or few user commands, marking a promising foundation for robotic control and human–robot interaction.

IntroductionPhysical examinations to assess pubertal development are challenging in large epidemiological surveys. This study aimed to assess the reliability of judgment of pubertal onset in Japanese children by the original pubertal self-assessment sheet.MethodsA total of 144 children aged 10 or 12 years were recruited between March 2019 and September 2020 from the pediatric endocrine outpatient clinics of participating institutions. Agreement between the physician- and participantassessed pubertal onsets was determined using unweighted kappa (UK) and Gwet's agreement coefficient (AC1).ResultsThe physician's assessment of pubertal onset was in slight agreement with that of the self-assessment sheet in 10-year-old boys (UK: 0.23 and AC1: 0.14), whereas the agreement between the physician's assessment and self-assessment sheet results was good and the physician's assessment was fair (UK: 0.64 and AC1: 0.94) in 12-year-old boys. The physician's assessment of pubertal onset were in good and moderate agreement with the self-assessment sheet in 10-year-old girls (UK/AC1: 0.74/0.78, respectively). In 12-year-old girls, although it showed poor agreement with UK (0.46), there was a very good agreement with AC1 (0.88).ConclusionsAlthough self-assessment of breast development was in good agreement with that of the physician's assessment for determining pubertal onset in girls, large-scale epidemiological studies are difficult to conduct for adolescent boys, especially for those in the early pubertal stage.

Titanium alloy is widely used in different industrial applications. For the surface modification to improve the tribological properties, laser irradiation is a promising technology, which offers high efficiency, and high automation potential and geometrical flexibility. In this study, a novel method of surface modification for titanium alloys by carbonization using low fluence of laser irradiation in the atmosphere of PAO oil is proposed. Results show that the carbon content on the surfaces significantly increases with the laser shot number, with the laser irradiated spot showing little change of Ra. XPS analysis confirms that the carbon from the oil has bonded to the Titanium inside the alloy. By comparison with that irradiated without oil, the hardness of that irradiated in oil is much higher, demonstrating the feasibility of the surface modification of titanium carbide layer generation. To investigate the tribological properties, laser scanning irradiation in oil with different laser pulses were carried out to create laser modified areas and reciprocating ball-on-disk friction tests under oil lubrication were conducted. The laser modified areas show friction of 0.13, much lower than that of the unirradiated which is approximate 0.55, and the sliding lifetime of low friction is also increased with the laser pulse number. Moreover, by introducing patterning laser irradiation onto the uniformly irradiated area, the wear resistance can be further greatly improved, and the sliding lifetime can extend to 13 times of the optimal result of uniform irradiation.

Ethereum smart contracts are computer programs that are deployed and executed on the Ethereum blockchain to enforce agreements among untrusting parties. Being the most prominent platform that supports smart contracts, Ethereum has been targeted by many attacks and plagued by security incidents. Consequently, many smart contract vulnerabilities have been discovered in the past decade. To detect and prevent such vulnerabilities, different security analysis tools, including static and dynamic analysis tools, have been created, but their performance decreases drastically when codes to be analyzed are constantly being rewritten. In this paper, we propose Eth2Vec, a machine-learning-based static analysis tool that detects smart contract vulnerabilities. Eth2Vec maintains its robustness against code rewrites; i.e., it can detect vulnerabilities even in rewritten codes. Other machine-learning-based static analysis tools require features, which analysts create manually, as inputs. In contrast, Eth2Vec uses a neural network for language processing to automatically learn the features of vulnerable contracts. In doing so, Eth2Vec can detect vulnerabilities in smart contracts by comparing the similarities between the codes of a target contract and those of the learned contracts. We performed experiments with existing open databases, such as Etherscan, and Eth2Vec was able to outperform a recent model based on support vector machine in terms of well-known metrics, i.e., precision, recall, and F1-score.

Background: Impaired coronary flow reserve (CFR) portends a poor prognosis in patients with aortic stenosis. The present study aims to investigate how CFR changes over one year after transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) in patients with severe aortic stenosis, and to explore factors related to the changes. Methods: Consecutive patients undergoing TAVI were registered. CFR in the left anterior descending artery was measured by transthoracic echocardiography on three occasions pre-TAVI, one-day post-TAVI, and one-year post-TAVI. Results: A total of 59 patients were enrolled, 46 of whom completed one-year follow-up. CFR was impaired in 35 (59.3%) patients pre-TAVI, but the impairment was only seen in 2 patients (4%) one-year post-TAVI. CFR value improved from 1.75 (1.50–2.10) cm/s pre-TAVI, to 2.00 (1.70–2.30) one-day post-TAVI, and further to 2.60 (2.30–3.10) one-year post-TAVI (P

Mass spawning dates of nyale worms (Eunicidae) have been scientifically predictable since 2019. The month of spawning is consistently following the pattern of the February full moon, while the date of spawning is consistently on the 20th of the lunar calendar. There are particular years with February only spawning, March only spawning, and split spawning in both February and March. The existing prediction of the split spawning, however, was constructed with very little available data. The present study aimed to revisit the split spawning prediction using the Metonic cycle, a 19-year lunisolar cycle. The results show that the spawning prediction very much follows the Metonic Cycle. There are minor dates on split spawning to be revised, when February full moon rises on 14th February. The revised hypothesis is that split spawning is very likely to occur when the full moon rises between the 7th to 13th of February. When February full moon appears before the 7th of February, single spawning will take place on the fifth day after the March full moon. When February full moon befalls after the 13th of February, single spawning will occur on the fifth day after the February full moon. The revised prediction method has only 2 (two) deviances in 114 years of simulation dates. The present study is the first to suggest the link between Polychaete spawning patterns and the Metonic Cycle.

Abstract Power soft robots—defined as novel robots driven by powerful soft actuators, achieving both powerfulness and softness—are potentially suitable for complex collaborative tasks, and an approach to actuating a power soft robot is the McKibben artificial muscle. This study aims to show the potential of hydraulic artificial muscles to be implemented in a power soft robot with high safety, including higher stability against sudden load separation or impact disturbance, and appropriate dynamic compliance. The stability of a manipulator arm driven by hydraulic muscle actuators is experimentally proven to be higher than that of pneumatic muscle actuators when the stored elastic energy is instantaneously released. Therefore, the hydraulic muscle actuator is a better candidate for actuating a power soft robot. By taking advantage of the incompressible liquid medium and the compliant structure of a hydraulic muscle, a second-order impedance control strategy with a braking method is proposed to improve dynamic compliance without sacrificing the safety features of hydraulic muscles. The results show that the manipulator can be easily shifted by a several-kilogram-level external force and react safely against sudden load change with low angular velocity by the proposed impedance control.

Abstract Background Non-ischemic cardiomyopathy (NICM) is a heterogeneous disease, and its prognosis varies. Although late gadolinium enhancement (LGE)-cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) demonstrates a linear pattern in the mid-wall of the septum or multiple LGE lesions in patients with NICM, the therapeutic response and prognosis of multiple LGE lesions have not been elucidated. This study aimed to investigate the frequency of left ventricular (LV) reverse remodeling (LVRR) and prognosis in patients with NICM who have multiple LGE lesions. Methods This single-center retrospective study included 101 consecutive patients with NICM who were divided into 3 groups according to LGE-CMR results: patients without LGE (no LGE group = 48 patients), patients with a typical mid-wall LGE pattern (n = 29 patients), and patients with multiple LGE lesions (n = 24 patients). LVRR was defined as an increase in LV ejection fraction (LVEF) ≥ 10 % and a final value of LVEF > 35 %, which was accompanied by a decrease in LV end-systolic volume ≥ 15 % at 12-month follow-up using echocardiography. The frequency of composite cardiac events, defined as sudden cardiac death (SCD), aborted SCD (non-fatal ventricular fibrillation, sustained ventricular tachycardia, or adequate implantable cardioverter-defibrillator therapies), and heart failure death or hospitalization for worsening heart failure, were summarized and compared between the groups. Results Among the 3 groups, the frequency of LVRR was significantly lower in the multiple lesions group than in the no LGE and mid-wall groups (no LGE vs. mid-wall vs. multiple lesions: 49 % vs. 52 % vs. 19 %, p = 0.03). There were 24 composite cardiac events among the patients: 2 in patients without LGE (hospitalization for worsening heart failure; 2), 7 in patients of the mid-wall group (SCD; 1, aborted SCD; 1 and hospitalization for worsening heart failure; 5), and 15 in patients of the multiple lesions group (SCD; 1, aborted SCD; 8 and hospitalization for worsening heart failure; 6). The multiple LGE lesions was an independent predictor of composite cardiac events (hazard ratio: 11.40 [95 % confidence intervals: 1.49−92.01], p = 0.020). Conclusions Patients with multiple LGE lesions have a higher risk of cardiac events and poorer LVRR. The LGE pattern may be useful for an improved risk stratification in patients with NICM.

Purpose: To evaluate customizing a knowledge-based planning (KBP) model using dosimetric analysis for volumetric modulated arc therapy for pancreatic cancer. Materials and Methods: The first model (M1) using 56 plans and the second model (M2) using 31 plans were created in the first 7 months of the study. The ratios of volume of both kidneys overlapping the expanded planning target volume to the total volume of both kidneys (Voverlap/Vwhole) were calculated in all cases to customize M1. Regression lines were derived from Voverlap/Vwhole and mean dose to both kidneys. The third model (M3) was created using 30 plans which data put them below the regression line. For validation, KBP was performed with the three models on 21 patients. Results: V18 of the left kidney for M1 plans was 7.3% greater than for clinical plans. Dmean of the left kidney for M2 plans was 2.2% greater than for clinical plans. There was no significant difference between all kidney doses in M3 and clinical plans. Dmean of the left kidney for M2 plans was 2.2% greater than for clinical plans. Dmean to both kidneys did not differ significantly between the three models in validation plans with Voverlap/Vwhole lower than average. In plans with larger than average volumes, the Dmean of validation plans created by M3 was significantly lower for both kidneys by 1.7 and 0.9 Gy than with M1 and M2, respectively. Conclusions: Selecting plans to register in a model by analyzing dosimetry and geometry is an effective means of improving the KBP model.

Abstract Background Financial incentives have been used to increase physical activity. However, the benefit of financial incentives is lost when an intervention ends. Thus, for this study, we combined social network incentives that leverage the power of peer pressure with financial incentives. Few reports have examined the impact of physical activity on social capital. Therefore, the main goal of this study was to ascertain whether a combination of two incentives could lead to more significant changes in physical activity and social capital during and after an intervention. Methods The participants were 39 older women over 65 years of age in Kumamoto, Japan. The participants were randomly divided into a financial incentive group (FI group) and a social network incentive plus financial incentive group (SNI + FI group). Both groups underwent a three-month intervention. Measurements of physical activity and social capital were performed before and after the intervention. Additionally, the effects of the incentives on physical activity and social capital maintenance were measured 6 months postintervention. The financial incentive group received a payment ranging from US$4.40 to US$6.20 per month, depending on the number of steps taken during the intervention. For the other group, we provided a social network incentive in addition to the financial incentive. The SNI + FI group walked in groups of three people to use the power of peer pressure. Results A two-way ANOVA revealed that in terms of physical activity, there was a statistically significant interaction between group and time (p = 0.017). The FI group showed no statistically significant improvement in physical activity during the observation period. In terms of the value of social capital, there was no significant interaction between group and time. Conclusion Our results suggest that social network incentives, in combination with financial incentives, are more effective for promoting physical activity than financial incentives alone among older women and that these effects can continue after an intervention. In the meantime, further studies should be conducted on the effect of physical activity on social capital. Trial registration UMIN000038080 , registered on 09/22/2019 (Retrospectively registered).

Abstract There have been few reports on fixation of Rommens classification Type IIIA fragility fractures of the pelvis (FFPs). Here, we present our less invasive surgical technique, called iliac intramedullary stabilization (ILIS), for the internal fixation of Type IIIA FFPs. The technique involves a closed reduction, termed the femur internal rotation reduction method (FIRM), whereby the fracture fragments are repositioned using lateral rotators by internally rotating the femur while the patient is in the prone position. Two iliac screws are inserted on the ilium bilaterally via the supra-acetabular bone canal during FIRM and connected with two transverse rods and two cross connectors. We refer to this internal fixation procedure as ILIS. We retrospectively recruited patients with Type IIIA fractures, treated using this procedure, at our institute between October 2017 and October 2019. We evaluated operative and post-operative outcomes. We enrolled 10 patients (9 women and 1 man; mean age, 85.2 years) who were followed up for over 6 months. All patients suffered FFPs after falling from a standing position. The mean operative time was 145.1 (range, 94–217) minutes, and the mean blood loss was 258.5 (range, 100–684) ml. All patients were allowed full weight bearing from post-operative day 1. All patients achieved bone union and regained their pre-injury walking ability at 6 months after surgery without evident secondary displacement. In conclusion, our ILIS technique allows less invasive internal fixation of Type IIIA FFPs with adequate stability for full weight bearing from post-operative day 1.

An artificial T cell adaptor molecule (ATAM) was generated to improve persistence of T cell receptor (TCR) gene-transduced T (TCR-T) cells compared to such persistence in a preceding study. ATAMs are gene-modified CD3ζ with the intracellular domain of 4-1BB inserted in the middle of CD3ζ. NY-ESO-1 TCR-T cells transduced with an ATAM with two separated virus vectors demonstrated superior proliferation upon antigen stimulation. To further develop clinically applicable ATAM-transduced TCR-T cells, we attempted to make a single virus vector to transduce the TCR and ATAM simultaneously. Because we failed to observe improved proliferation capacity upon stimulation after one virus vector (1vv) transduction, we compared TCR-T cells transduced with 1vv and two virus vector (2vv) methods to elucidate the reason. In Jurkat reporter cells, an ATAM transduced by the 2vv method demonstrated a higher intensity than by the 1vv method, and the ATAM intensity was associated with increased nuclear factor κB (NF-κB) signals upon stimulation. In ATAM-transduced primary T cells, a transduced ATAM by the 2vv method showed higher intensity and better proliferation. ATAM-transduced TCR-T cells demonstrated improved proliferation only when the ATAM was transduced at a higher intensity. To create a simpler transduction method, we need to develop a strategy to make a higher ATAM expression to prove the efficacy of ATAM transduction in TCR-T therapy.

Abstract Objective To elucidate the genetic background and genotype‐phenotype correlations for epilepsy with myoclonic‐atonic seizures, also known as myoclonic‐astatic epilepsy (MAE) or Doose syndrome. Methods We collected clinical information and blood samples from 29 patients with MAE. We performed whole‐exome sequencing for all except one MAE case in whom custom capture sequencing identified a variant. Results We newly identified four variants: SLC6A1 and HNRNPU missense variants and microdeletions at 2q24.2 involving SCN1A and Xp22.31 involving STS. Febrile seizures preceded epileptic or afebrile seizures in four patients, of which two patients had gene variants. Myoclonic‐atonic seizures occurred at onset in four patients, of which two had variants, and during the course of disease in three patients. Variants were more commonly identified in patients with a developmental delay or intellectual disability (DD/ID), but genetic status was not associated with the severity of DD/ID. Attention‐deficit/hyperactivity disorder and autistic spectrum disorder were less frequently observed in patients with variants than in those with unknown etiology. Significance MAE patients had genetic heterogeneity, and HNRNPU and STS emerged as possible candidate causative genes. Febrile seizures prior to epileptic seizures and myoclonic‐atonic seizure at onset indicate a genetic predisposition to MAE. Comorbid conditions were not related to genetic predisposition to MAE.

Abstract Background Total scalp irradiation presents technical and dosimetric challenges. While reports suggest that HyperArc, a new stereotactic radiosurgery planning technique applied to non-coplanar volumetric-modulated arc therapy (VMAT) technique, is associated with high conformity and rapid dose fall-off, the performance of HyperArc for total scalp irradiation has not been explored. The current study aimed to compare the dosimetric performance of HyperArc plans with those of non-coplanar VMAT plans in angiosarcoma of the scalp. Methods Ten patients with angiosarcoma of the scalp were included in this study. The performance of three different plans administered using TrueBeam Edge were compared: non-coplanar VMAT using flattening filter (FF) beams (VMAT-FF), HyperArc using FF beams (HyperArc-FF), and HyperArc using flattening filter free (FFF) beams (HyperArc-FFF). The dose distribution, dosimetric parameters, and dosimetric accuracy for each of these plans were evaluated. Results The three plans showed no statistically significant differences in target volume coverage, conformity, and homogeneity. The HyperArc-FF and HyperArc-FFF plans provided significantly lower mean brain doses (12.63 ± 3.31 Gy and 12.71 ± 3.40 Gy) than did the VMAT-FF plans (17.11 ± 5.25 Gy). There were almost no differences in sparing the organs at risk between the HyperArc-FF and HyperArc-FFF plans. The HyperArc-FF and HyperArc-FFF plans provided a shorter beam-on time than did the VMAT-FF plan. The 3%/2 mm gamma test pass rates were above 95% for all three plans. Conclusions Our results suggest that the HyperArc plan can be potentially used for radiation therapy of target regions with large and complicated shapes, such as the scalp, and that there are no advantages of using FFF beams.

Abstract Background Candidemia is one of the most life-threatening infections among critically ill patients in the intensive care unit. However, the number of studies on the impact of host- and early treatment-related factors on mortality in this cohort is limited. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between clinically relevant factors, including early treatment (appropriate antifungal therapy and/or central venous catheter removal) and mortality in intensive care unit patients with candidemia. Methods We performed a retrospective observational study in two Japanese University hospitals between January 2007 and December 2016. Adult intensive care unit patients with candidemia who met the following inclusion criteria: (1) ≥ 18 years old; (2) admitted in intensive care unit at the time of onset; and (3) central venous catheter in situ at the time of onset were included. We performed univariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis to identify factors associated with 30-day crude mortality. Results A total of 68 patients met the inclusion criteria, 47 (69%) of whom were males. The median age was 68.0 (interquartile range, 61.0–76.0) years. The most common causative Candida species was Candida albicans (40 [59%] patients). With respect to the source of infection, central venous catheter-related candidemia was the most frequent (30 [44%] patients). Thirty-day crude mortality was 54% (37 patients). In multivariate logistic regression analysis, Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II score (1-point increments) was the only factor that was independently associated with higher 30-day crude mortality. Other variables, including appropriate antifungal therapy and/or central venous catheter removal ≤ 24 h and ≤ 48 h following onset, did not significantly influence mortality. Conclusions Candidemia in intensive care unit patients is still associated with high 30-day crude mortality rates. The only predictor of death was Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II score ≤ 24 h following candidemia onset. Early empiric antifungal therapy and/or early CVC removal conferred no significant clinical benefit on survival in this patient population.

Abstract Obesity causes multiple conditions such as type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and so on, and an intervention is needed for controlling weight and improving metabolic syndrome. However, the effectiveness of lifestyle interventions and pharmacotherapy are restrictive for losing weight. Endoscopic sleeve gastroplasty (ESG) was developed as a new therapy, picking the best of both medication and surgery, less invasive and more effective. Recently, ESG is gradually spreading in Western countries, but there is Case report doesn't need conclusion/result for Japanese patients. We herein reported the first clinical case of ESG in Japan. Given the situation of the pandemic of COVID‐19, we could not invite a proctor from Western countries and receive the instruction of the device setting and maneuver face to face. Thus, we conducted the training for device setting, maneuver, and operation under a web‐based international remote collaboration. Eventually, we completed ESG without an adverse event. We could prove this web‐based proctor system was useful through the introduction of ESG in Japan. The international remote collaboration could become a new normal even in the endoscopy field post‐COVID‐19 era.

Gait analysis is important in a variety of applications such as animation, healthcare, and virtual reality. So far, high-cost experimental setups employing special cameras, markers, and multiple wearable sensors have been used for indoor human pose-tracking and gait-analysis purposes. Since locomotive activities such as walking are rhythmic and exhibit a kinematically constrained motion, fewer wearable sensors can be employed for gait and pose analysis. One of the core parts of gait analysis and pose-tracking is lower-limb-joint angle estimation. Therefore, this study proposes a neural network-based lower-limb-joint angle-estimation method from a single inertial sensor unit. As proof of concept, four different neural-network models were investigated, including bidirectional long short-term memory (BLSTM), convolutional neural network, wavelet neural network, and unidirectional LSTM. Not only could the selected network affect the estimation results, but also the sensor placement. Hence, the waist, thigh, shank, and foot were selected as candidate inertial sensor positions. From these inertial sensors, two sets of lower-limb-joint angles were estimated. One set contains only four sagittal-plane leg-joint angles, while the second includes six sagittal-plane leg-joint angles and two coronal-plane leg-joint angles. After the assessment of different combinations of networks and datasets, the BLSTM network with either shank or thigh inertial datasets performed well for both joint-angle sets. Hence, the shank and thigh parts are the better candidates for a single inertial sensor-based leg-joint estimation. Consequently, a mean absolute error (MAE) of 3.65° and 5.32° for the four-joint-angle set and the eight-joint-angle set were obtained, respectively. Additionally, the actual leg motion was compared to a computer-generated simulation of the predicted leg joints, which proved the possibility of estimating leg-joint angles during walking with a single inertial sensor unit.

A chronic contained rupture is an extremely rare subtype of abdominal aortic aneurysm rupture. We report the case of a 59-year-old man with a medical history of traumatic lumber fracture 7 years ago. He presented to us with an asymptomatic irregular abdominal aortic aneurysm, and surgery was performed 1 week after he was hospitalized. Based on the medical history, imaging, blood tests, and pathologic results, we determined that the chronic contained rupture progressed from a localized abdominal aortic dissection. This case illustrates the need to follow the morphology of aortic aneurysms if chronic abdominal aortic dissection is observed.

Introduction: Several studies have reported the relation between the imaging dose and secondary cancer risk and have emphasized the need to minimize the additional imaging dose as low as reasonably achievable. The iterative cone-beam computed tomography (iCBCT) algorithm can improve the image quality by utilizing scatter correction and statistical reconstruction. We investigate the use of a novel iCBCT reconstruction algorithm to reduce the patient dose while maintaining low-contrast detectability and registration accuracy. Methods: Catphan and anthropomorphic phantoms were analyzed. All CBCT images were acquired with varying dose levels and reconstructed with a Feldkamp–Davis–Kress algorithm-based CBCT (FDK-CBCT) and iCBCT. The low-contrast detectability was subjectively assessed using a 9-point scale by 4 reviewers and objectively assessed using structure similarity index (SSIM). The soft tissue-based registration error was analyzed for each dose level and reconstruction technique. Results: The results of subjective low-contrast detectability found that the iCBCT acquired at two-thirds of a dose was superior to the FDK-CBCT acquired at a full dose (6.4 vs 5.4). Relative to FDK-CBCT acquired at full dose, SSIM was higher for iCBCT acquired at one-sixth dose in head and head and neck region while equivalent with iCBCT acquired at two-thirds dose in pelvis region. The soft tissue-based registration was 2.2 and 0.6 mm for FDK-CBCT and iCBCT, respectively. Conclusion: Use of iCBCT reconstruction algorithm can generally reduce the patient dose by approximately two-thirds compared to conventional reconstruction methods while maintaining low-contrast detectability and accuracy of registration.

The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of vertical trunk supportability improvement on activities. The study participants were 36 people. Trunk function and physical performance were evaluated using the following tests: trunk righting test (TRT), maximal isometric knee extensor strength test, side hop test, triple hop distance test, stabilometry of one-leg standing, and one-leg rebound jump. The measurement was performed three times: pre-trunk training (pre), post-trunk training for 1 month (post), and 2 months after the second measurement (detraining). Details of trunk training: Two sets of 30-s maximal lateral reach exercises on each side, following the four sets of 15-s maximal raising trunk exercises on each side. The results with TRT in post-training were significantly larger than those in pre-and detraining. Similarly, the results with one-leg rebound jump efficiency in post-training were significantly larger than those in pre-and detraining. Our findings indicate that jump efficiency changes in proportion to the change in vertical trunk supportability.

In this study, we developed a one-step method for fabricating hydrophobic surfaces on copper (Cu) substrates. Cuprous oxide (Cu2O) with low free energy was successfully formed after low-fluence laser direct irradiation. The formation of Cu2O enhanced the hydrophobicity of the Cu substrate surface, and the contact angle linearly increased with the proportion of Cu2O. The Cu2O fabricated by low-fluence laser treatment showed the same crystal plane orientation as the pristine Cu substrate, implying an epitaxial growth of Cu2O on a Cu substrate.

We propose a new theoretical kinetic model of strength recovery by oxidation-induced self-healing of surface cracks in composites containing a healing agent (HA). The kinetics is a key parameter in the design of structural components that can self-heal the damage done in service. Based on three-dimensional (3D) observations of crack-gap filling, two crack-gap filling models, i.e., a bridging model and a tip-to-mouth filling model, are incorporated in the proposed kinetic model. These crack-gap filling models account for the microstructural features of the fracture surfaces, crack geometry, and oxidation kinetics of the healing-agent. Hence, the minimum and maximum remaining flaw sizes in the healed crack gaps are estimated for various healing temperatures, times, and oxygen partial pressure conditions. Further, the nonlinear elastic fracture mechanics suitable for small-sized remaining flaws, together with a statistical analysis of the original Weibull-type strength distribution, enables the prediction of upper and lower strength limits of the healed composites. Three sintered alumina matrix composites containing silicon carbide (SiC)-type HAs with various volume fractions and shapes, together with monolithic SiC ceramics, are considered. The strength of the healed-composite predicted by our model agrees well with the experimental values. This theoretical approach can be applied to HAs other than SiC and enables the design of self-healing ceramic components for various applications.

Self-healing materials have been recognized as a promising type of next-generation materials. Among them, self-healing ceramics play a particularly important role, and understanding them better is necessary. Therefore, in this study, we applied the oxidation kinetics-based constitutive model to finite element analysis of a series of damage-healing processes in self-healing ceramics (alumina/SiC composites). In the finite element analysis, the data on the microstructure distribution, such as relative density, size and aspect ratio of pores, and grain size, were taken as input values and reflected onto the parameters of a continuum damage model using a fracture mechanical model. We then performed a 3-point bending analysis, to consider both the self-healing effect under certain temperature and oxygen partial pressure conditions and scatter of the strength of the ceramics. Our results confirmed that the proposed methodology can reasonably reproduce both strength recovery and damage propagation behavior in self-healing ceramics.

In the use of a cloud storage, sharing of data with efficient access control is an important requirement in addition to data security and privacy. Cui et al. (IEEE Trans. on Comp. 2016) proposed key-aggregate searchable encryption (KASE), which allows a data owner to issue an aggregate key that enables a user to search in an authorized subset of encrypted files by generating an encrypted keyword called trapdoor. While the idea of KASE is elegant, to the best of our knowledge, its security has never been discussed formally. In this paper, we discuss the security of KASE formally and propose provably secure schemes. We first introduce our provably secure scheme, named first construction, with respect to encrypted files and aggregate keys in a single-server setting. In comparison with the scheme of Cui et al., the first construction is secure without increased computational costs. Then, we introduce another provably secure scheme, named main construction, with respect to trapdoors in a two-server setting. The main construction guarantees the privacy of a search, encrypted files, and aggregate keys. Considering 5,000 encrypted keywords, the first construction can finish search within three seconds and the main construction can finish search within six seconds.

Abstract Adhesion is one of essences with respect to rubber friction because the magnitude of the friction force is closely related to the magnitude of adhesion on a real contact area. However, the real contact area during sliding depends on the state and history of the contact surface. Therefore, the friction force occasionally exhibits rate-, state-, and pressure dependency. In this study, to rationally describe friction and simulate boundary value problems, a rate-, state-, and pressure-dependent friction model based on the elastoplastic theory was formulated. First, the evolution law for the friction coefficient was prescribed. Next, a nonlinear sliding surface (frictional criterion) was adopted, and several other evolution laws for internal state variables were prescribed. Subsequently, the typical response characteristics of the proposed friction model were demonstrated, and its validity was verified by comparing the obtained results with those of experiments conducted considering the contact surface between a rough rubber hemisphere and smooth acrylic plate.

Abstract Background Toe grip-related training requires individuals to actively exercise muscles that are not frequently used; therefore, it may improve not only toe grip strength but also cognitive function. The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of toe grip-related training on predictors of physical performance and cognitive function in nursing home residents. Methods A total of 35 nursing home residents (35 left and 35 right feet; mean age, 82.1 ± 7.9 years) were included in this study. The participants were divided into two groups: a training group and a control group. The Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) was used to assess the cognitive function of the participants, and the Fall Risk Index (FRI) was used to evaluate the risk of falls. Toe grip-related physical function was also assessed. Baseline endpoints were evaluated and the effects of toe grip-related training were examined following a 12-week training intervention. Results The training group showed significant improvements in MMSE score, FRI score, toe grip strength, and the toe skill (TS) test; however, the control group did not show these changes. The training group showed significant increases in Δ MMSE, Δ toe grip strength, and Δ TS (right foot) than the control group. Stepwise regression analysis revealed that Δ toe grip strength is an independent factor of Δ MMSE. Conclusions Toe grip training improves not only toe grip strength itself, but also cognitive function. Furthermore, change in toe grip strength was an independent factor of change in MMSE in those populations. Trial registration UMIN, UMIN000027437. Registered on 26 May 2017.

Digitizing handwriting is mostly performed using either image-based methods, such as optical character recognition, or utilizing two or more devices, such as a special stylus and a smart pad. The high-cost nature of this approach necessitates a cheaper and standalone smart pen. Therefore, in this paper, a deep-learning-based compact smart digital pen that recognizes 36 alphanumeric characters was developed. Unlike common methods, which employ only inertial data, handwriting recognition is achieved from hand motion data captured using an inertial force sensor. The developed prototype smart pen comprises an ordinary ballpoint ink chamber, three force sensors, a six-channel inertial sensor, a microcomputer, and a plastic barrel structure. Handwritten data of the characters were recorded from six volunteers. After the data was properly trimmed and restructured, it was used to train four neural networks using deep-learning methods. These included Vision transformer (ViT), DNN (deep neural network), CNN (convolutional neural network), and LSTM (long short-term memory). The ViT network outperformed the others to achieve a validation accuracy of 99.05%. The trained model was further validated in real-time where it showed promising performance. These results will be used as a foundation to extend this investigation to include more characters and subjects.