Variable Forgetting Factor-Based Friction Compensation Method of Precision Stages

Shigeki Goka,Seiji Hashimoto,Kiyoshi Ohishi,Takeo Ishikawa,Shuichi Adachi,Koji Kosaka,Hiroshi Kubota,Tadahiro Ohmi 제어로봇시스템학회 2006 제어로봇시스템학회 국제학술대회 논문집 Vol.2006 No.10

The beetle commercialization in Japan will destroy the evolutionary history of mites

Koichi Goka,Kimiko Okabe 한국응용곤충학회 2008 한국응용곤충학회 학술대회논문집 Vol.2008 No.10

Development of International Standardization Using Debris Environment Models for Spacecraft Design

Masato Uchino,Yasuhiro Akahoshi,Yukihito Kitazawa,Tekeo Goka,Hiroto Nagai 한국항공우주학회 2008 한국항공우주학회 학술발표회 논문집 Vol.- No.-

Accurate estimations of impact flux of debris, relative impact velocity, and impact angle of space debris on an orbit are necessary for reliable design of spacecrafts. Space agencies of some countries have their space debris environment models which can estimate debris flux as a function of the size, relative impact velocity, and impact angle in a spacecraft orbit. However. it is known that the calculation results of models have not been always consistent with each other. In the present. since an estimation result of debris impact depends on the choice of debris environment model, no unified estimation exists in design of spacecrafts. Therefore, international standardization of estimation using the debris environment model is required and the proposal of the international standard is being prepared in Japan. In this paper, as the first step of the international standardization of estimation of debris environment model, we compare the estimation results of debris impact flux in the low earth orbit calculated by three available debris environment models: ORDEM2000 of NASA, MASTER2001 of NASA, and MASTER2005 that is the an upgrade version of MASTER2001. In addition, we suggest a reasonable method using the three debris environment models for the international standardization of spacecraft design.

VEGF-Induced Vascular Permeability Is Mediated by FAK

Chen, X.,Nam, J.O.,Jean, C.,Lawson, C.,Walsh, Colin T.,Goka, E.,Lim, S.T.,Tomar, A.,Tancioni, I.,Uryu, S.,Guan, J.L.,Acevedo, Lisette M.,Weis, Sara M.,Cheresh, David A.,Schlaepfer, David D. Cell Press 2012 DEVELOPMENTAL CELL Vol.22 No.1

Endothelial cells (ECs) form cell-cell adhesive junctional structures maintaining vascular integrity. This barrier is dynamically regulated by vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) receptor signaling. We created an inducible knockin mouse model to study the contribution of the integrin-associated focal adhesion tyrosine kinase (FAK) signaling on vascular function. Here we show that genetic or pharmacological FAK inhibition in ECs prevents VEGF-stimulated permeability downstream of VEGF receptor or Src tyrosine kinase activation in vivo. VEGF promotes tension-independent FAK activation, rapid FAK localization to cell-cell junctions, binding of the FAK FERM domain to the vascular endothelial cadherin (VE-cadherin) cytoplasmic tail, and direct FAK phosphorylation of β-catenin at tyrosine-142 (Y142) facilitating VE-cadherin-β-catenin dissociation and EC junctional breakdown. Kinase inhibited FAK is in a closed conformation that prevents VE-cadherin association and limits VEGF-stimulated β-catenin Y142 phosphorylation. Our studies establish a role for FAK as an essential signaling switch within ECs regulating adherens junction dynamics.

The reptile associated ticks and Borrelia from imported reptiles

Ai Takano,Hiroki Kawabata,Haruo Watanabe,Tei-ichiro Shino,Koichi Goka,Yumi Une,Hiromi Fujita 한국응용곤충학회 2008 한국응용곤충학회 학술대회논문집 Vol.2008 No.10

Borrelia, which is transmitted by arthropod, is known as an infectious agent to vertebrate, such as Lyme disease (LD) Borrelia and Relapsing fever (RF) Borrelia. LD Borrelia is only transmitted by hard-bodied ticks classified into the Ixodes ticks. In contrast, almost of RF Borrelia was transmitted by soft-bodied ticks, Argasid ticks. Thus so far, the co-evolution was thought to be established between Borrelia and tick. In this study, we found unknown borreliae from imported reptiles and its associated ticks (we preliminary named as ‘REP Borrelia’). Ticks were introduced into Japan with world-wide trading of reptiles. Ticks were classified into genus Amblyomma or Hyalomma. Out of 82 ticks, 76 were positive for PCR of tickmitochondrial gene for 16S rRNA, and we used these 76 ticks for our examination. From 57 ticks (75%), Borrelia turcica and unknown three Borrelia spp. were detected or isolated. In addition, we examined imported reptiles which were infested exotic ticks. A total of 15 reptiles including 5 of Testudo graeca, 1 of T. horsfieldii, 2 of Phelsuma dubia and 7 of Geochelone pardalis were used for isolation study of Borrelia. Borrelia was isolated from 11 reptiles (73.3%) as follows: T. graeca, T. horsfieldii, G. pardalis. It suggested that, these imported reptiles and exotic ticks were highly infected with Borrelia. Phylogenetic analysis based on the DNA sequences of Borrelia, it was indicated that REP Borrelia constituted a cluster which was independent from RF and LD Borrelia. Surprisingly, this REP Borrelia was expected that was transmitted by hard-bodied tick, although it was thought to be diverged from ancestor RF Borrelia. From quantitative analysis of divergence based on 16S rRNA gene, it was expected that REP and RF Borrelia were differentiated around 50 million years ago (MYA). On the other hand, the oldest soft-bodied tick fossil from New Jersey amber was indicated that soft-bodied tick was speciated since ~92 MYA. In fact, soft-bodied tick was already diverged into genus level when RF and REP Borrelia were diverged. This may suggest that the vector switching event was occurred in ancestor REP/RF Borrelia.

Do Anxiety and Depression Levels Affect the Inflammation Response in Patients Hospitalized for COVID-19

Aybeniz Civan Kahve,Hasan Kaya,Merve Okuyucu,Erol Goka,Sureyya Barun,Yunus Hacimusalar 대한신경정신의학회 2021 PSYCHIATRY INVESTIGATION Vol.18 No.6

Objective The whole world is still struggling with the COVID-19 pandemic. Inflammation response, thought to be associated with severe illness and death, is an important research topic in COVID-19. Inflammation is also an essential condition explored in psychiatric illnesses. Our knowledge about the relationship between the inflammation response and psychiatric comorbidities in patients with COVID-19 is very limited. In this study, the relationship between anxiety and depression levels and inflammation response of patients with COVID-19 hospitalized in the hospital was examined.Methods 175 patients were included in the study. Sociodemographic Data Form, Beck Depression Inventory and Beck Anxiety Inventory were applied to the patients. To evaluate the inflammation responses, blood sedimentation rate, C-reactive protein (CRP), procalcitonin, ferritin, neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio (NLR), and IL-6 levels were examined.Results In our study, no relationship was found between anxiety and depression levels and inflammatory responses in patients hospitalized with a diagnosis of COVID-19. Anxiety and depression levels of women were higher than men, and NLR, ferritin, IL-6 levels were found to be lower than men. Anxiety levels increase with age. There is a positive correlation between NLR and ferritin levels and duration of hospitalization.Conclusion Our study examining the relationship of psychiatric comorbidities with the inflammation response and our increasing literature knowledge, together with studies evaluating the mental effects of COVID-19, suggest that determining the relationship between inflammation responses and psychiatric comorbidities in COVID-19, whose pathophysiology has not been clarified yet, maybe an essential step in interventions on the course of the disease.

Estimating colonization and invasion risk maps for Linepithema humile, in Japan

Sachiko Moriguchi,Maki N. Inoue,Toshio Kishimoto,Takeshi Kameyama,Fuminori Ito,Koichi Goka 한국응용곤충학회 2015 Journal of Asia-Pacific Entomology Vol.18 No.2

Our goal was to create colonization and invasion risk maps for the Argentine ant, Linepithema humile, based on occurrence data in Japan, by combining colonization- and invasion-related variables and spatial filters that alleviate spatial autocorrelation. With these data, we will be better able to implement surveillance and control programs. Species distribution models were generated, using the maximum entropy approach, from presence-only data collected from 12 locations. Colonization-related variables (e.g., temperature, precipitation) and invasionrelated variables (e.g., urban area, distance from ports) were used as environmental variables and spatial filters that alleviate spatial autocorrelation were included at the same time. The high invasion risk area was restricted to coastal areas, whereas high colonization risk applied to a broader area. Elevation, minimum temperature, and flowaccumulationwere themost effective variables for predicting colonization risk,whereas urban area, elevation, and the port distance index were the most effective variables for predicting invasion risk. The invasion risk map had a higher level of accuracy than the colonization risk map. We identified those areas with a high risk of invasion in the early stages and strong propagule pressure with a model using both invasion-related variables and colonization-related variables to accurately estimate the initial invasion distributions. We found that high colonization risk areas were concentrated in the Okinawa and Ogasawara Islands; ecosystems with highly endemic ant species that are likely to have a high sensitivity to L. humile introduction. Our data will aid in strengthening both domestic and international quarantine systems to prevent such introductions.