So far, we have developed effective wide area disaster information network (WDN) using Internet over the combination of both wired and wireless network. In this information network, two important ...functions including resident safety information system and bidirectional video communication system between evacuation places and disaster information center are provided. However, in this WDN, system failure of network and computing facilities by disaster was not considered. In order to recover the information system as soon as possible from the system failure, network protocol has to deal with those requirements. In this paper, we introduce wireless recovery protocol (WRP) to temporally recover WDN with minimum configuration even though some of network and computing facilities were damaged by disaster, using network management and GPS functions. The design and implementation of the WRP is precisely described. The prototype system and its hardware and software environment to evaluate its functionality are also precisely described.
Submergence induces rapid elongation of internodes in floating rice(Oryza sativa L. cv. Habiganj Aman II). The initial signalfor such internodal elongation has been considered to be the reduced ...partialpressure of oxygen in submerged internodal cavities, which promotes theelongation of internodes through the enhancement of ethylene synthesis. Weexamined the relationship between low oxygen pressure and ethylene production inthe rapid elongation of floating rice internodes using ethylene biosynthesisinhibitors, aminooxyacetic acid (AOA) and CoCl^sub 2^. When floating ricestem segments were incubated in an atmosphere of low O^sub 2^, internodalelongation accelerated and ethylene production increased. However, in stemsegments treated with AOA or CoCl^sub 2^, low O^sub 2^ stillstimulated the elongation of internodes although the ethylene production by theinternodes was less than by those in control stem segments where internodalelongation was not promoted. These results indicate that low O^sub 2^ iscapable of causing rapid elongation of internodes of floating rice independentlyof enhanced production of ethylene. In addition to low O^sub 2^,submergence, ethylene and gibberellic acid each enhanced the production ofethylene by internodal tissues, suggesting that enhanced ethylene production isa common phenomenon accompanied by the acceleration of internodal elongation infloating rice.PUBLICATION ABSTRACT
We developed the optical-fiber-probe-coupled laser-terahertz emission microscope system. One focuses femtosecond laser pulses on a sample surface through the optical fiber-probe with a beam diameter ...of 5 /spl mu/m, detects terahertz emission from the photo-excited area, and obtains images by scanning the laser beam. The gold line and space patterns are evaporated on a semi-insulating gallium arsenide substrate, and measured in order to investigate the spatial resolution of the system.
We found that several BC2F4 lines had high leaf photosynthetic rates under light-saturated and ambient CO2 conditions. These lines are progenies of BC2F1 plants with high photosynthetic capacities ...which were generated by backcrossing between Oryza rufipogon (W630) and O. sativa cv. Nipponbare, as a recurrent parent. Some photosynthetic characteristics of the BC2F4 lines were investigated to identify the factors increasing photosynthetic rates. Photosynthetic rates of these lines under light-saturated conditions at 50 to 700 ppm CO2 concentrations were higher than those in Nipponbare. The estimated-maximum photosynthetic rates under light-saturated and CO2-saturated conditions in BC2F4 lines were also higher than that in Nipponbare. The photosynthetic rate under light-saturated and ambient CO2 conditions was positively correlated with the carboxylation efficiency as an indicator of ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase (Rubisco) activity in vivo rather than stomatal conductance. Initial and total Rubisco activities in vitro tended to be higher in the BC2F4 lines than in Nipponbare. The content of active Rubisco calculated from the activation state of Rubisco was also higher in the BC2F4 lines than in Nipponbare. These results suggest that high photosynthetic capacities of BC2F1 plants can be maintained high in their progenies and high photosynthetic rates under light-saturated and ambient CO2 conditions in the BC2F4 lines are achieved mainly by the high activity of Rubisco due to the high active Rubisco content.
Several susceptibility loci for both of schizophrenia and bipolar disorder (BPD) have been found to overlap on several chromosomes including 8p21. Expression of dihydropyrimidinase-related protein 2 ...(DRP-2), which gene is located on 8p21, was found to be reduced in the brains of individuals with schizophrenia and BPD. Recently, we demonstrated a significant association between the DRP-2 gene and schizophrenia. Based on the rationale, we investigated the genetic association of the DRP-2 gene with BPD using a case-control study in the Japanese population. However, no significant associations were found between five polymorphisms of the DRP-2 gene (−975C>G, 352G>A, 426C>T, 1506T>C, and *2236T>C), and BPD, nor were associations detected between either of the polymorphisms and any subtype of BPD, bipolars I and II. The present study did not provide any evidence for a contribution of the DRP-2 gene to susceptibility to BPD.
Odours discharged from wastewater treatment plants generally cause severe damage to locals. When facility odors affect air quality and cause citizen complaints, an investigation of those odours may ...require using standardized scientific methods. Odour intensity is one of the main odour characterization parameter, and represents an important sensory indicator of environmental odours.
Presently, different international standards have been developed for the measurement of odours. Main consolidated methods are the measurement of odour index assessed by panelists, standardized in Japan and developed there more than 40 years ago; and the measured of odour concentration by dynamic olfactometer according to European standard EN13725:2003.
In this study odour samples were collected on a municipal wastewater treatment plant to investigate the relationship between odour index assessed by Japanese standard methods and odour concentration measured with dynamic olfactometry. A monthly sampling and relative odour measurement were carried out for consecutive 8 months at the Laboratory of the Sanitary Environmental Engineering Division (SEED) at the University of Salerno (Italy).
Results show a strong linear correlation between the two investigated odour measurement methods, in the case of the measurement of high concentrations. While at lower odour concentrations were observed a difference between the two methods.
We examined the antiangiogenic and antitumor efficacy of a newly-developed matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) inhibitor, BPHA (N-biphenyl sulfonyl-phenylalanine hydroxiamic acid). BPHA potently inhibits ...MMP-2, 9 and 14 but not MMP-1, 3 or 7. In contrast, (-)BPHA, an enantiomer of BPHA, was inactive against all MMP tested. Daily oral administration of BPHA in mice resulted in potent inhibition of tumor-induced angiogenesis, primary tumor growth and liver metastasis, whereas (-)BPHA did not. These results demonstrate that selective MMP inhibition is correlated with antiangiogenic and antitumor efficacy and that the selective MMP inhibitor BPHA has therapeutic potential without hematotoxic effect or loss of body weight.
Mode coupling coefficients and impulse responses in a multimode graded-index fiber are investigated both experimentally and theoretically. Mode coupling coefficient measurements at 1.27 μm are made ...for a fiber before and after nylon coating. The fiber is 10 km in length and has no splicing point. The mode coupling coefficient change due to nylon coating is found to be relatively small. In the nylon-coated fiber, the coefficient increases monotonically as increasing a principal mode number, and the tendency is in good agreement with the theoretical prediction considering random bends along the fiber axis. With the increase in mode coupling coefficient and 0.01 dB/km of excess loss by nylon coating, 2.7 percent of increase in 3-dB bandwidth is observed. This increase in 3-dB bandwidth is explained by the theoretical calculation. The length dependence of 3-dB bandwidth exhibits a small mode mixing effect in the fiber. By the theoretical predictions based on the experimental mode coupling coefficients, the coupling length is estimated to be 25 km. It is also clarified that the length dependence of 3-dB bandwidth shows the L -0.5 characteristic for L > 200 km.
Compacts of spherical alumina particles with and without c-axis orientation were prepared in high magnetic field and were employed to separate the shape and crystalline factors for the anisotropic ...sintering in alumina compacts. The compact of the spherical particles showed markedly anisotropic shrinkage in sintering when they are oriented. Isotropic shrinkage was noted when the particles were randomly oriented. Clearly, the crystalline factor plays an important role in the anisotropic shrinkage in sintering. The shape factor also plays a role in the anisotropic shrinkage in alumina compacts made of industrial grade powder.
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