Mouse Molecular Genetics Symposium : Upstream and downstream regulators of Nanog and ERas, two important molecules in ES cell biology

( Shinya Yamanaka ),( Kazutoshi Takahashi ),( Yoshimi Tokuzawa ) 한국생화학분자생물학회 (구 한국생화학회) 2004 생화학분자생물학회 춘계학술발표논문집 Vol.2004 No.-

Monetary scaled botheration of manual processes for PET bottle recycle and its dependency on bottle number

( Fumitake Takahashi ),( Qiuhui Jiang ),( Shinya Suzuki ) 한국폐기물자원순환학회(구 한국폐기물학회) 2016 한국폐기물자원순환학회 춘계학술발표논문집 Vol.2016 No.-

Waste recycles are one of social challenges all over the world aiming for the reduction of resource consumption and better waste management to the environment. PET bottles are typical recyclable waste. In many areas in Japan, PET bottles are segregated as recyclable waste and collected by local municipalities. For more efficient collection and recycle, it is usually requested to citizen to open caps, remove labels, wash bottles, and compact bottles before the disposal. According to the authors’ preliminary survey of collected PET bottles, these manual processes were completed for only 34% of collected PET bottles. The authors considered that psychological resistance discourages people (PET bottle users) to complete these manual processes. For example, washing a PET bottle is a little bothered task and thus some of people dispose of PET bottles without washing. In this study, the authors focused on the impact of bottle number on botheration of these manual processes. Although botheration of these manual processes is expected to increase with the increase of bottle number, quantitative impact of bottle number is still uncertain. It motivated this research. The authors developed a new method to scale botheration which people feel when they do the manual processes for PET bottle recycle. This method scales the botheration first (adjusted Z score) based on binary pairwise comparison and evaluated botheration are transformed as a unit of money (e.g. JPN yen) based on 3 types of single logarithmic linearity between adjusted Z scores and market prices. Web questionnaire was conducted to scale botheration of the manual processes with different number of PET bottles. Questionees were adjusted to set equal male/female balance and equal age distribution from 20’s to 60’s at 10-year age interval. 210 data were collected for each questionnaire and dataset was analyzed. Analysis results suggest that botheration increases exponentially with the increase of bottle number for all cases. In the case of cap-open process, botherations were scaled 0.002-3.01 yen for one bottle, 0.005-4.97 for two bottles, 0.029-11.7 for three bottles, 0.239-33.0 for 5 bottles, 1.35-77.0 for 10 bottles, 245-987 for 20 bottles, 250-995 for 30 bottles, respectively. When the number of PET bottle increases, increase rate of the botheration was not linear and usually much higher than the botheration expected based on linear increase trend especially when bottle number exceeds 10. This suggest that it will discourage people to do manual processes for PET bottle recycle if they keep untreated bottle more than 10. It is recommended to open a cap, remove a label, wash and compact a bottle just immediately after people use PET bottles.

Psychological preferences of trash bins arrangement: 3 trash bins case

( Fumitake Takahashi ),( Qiuhui Jiang ),( Shinya Suzuki ) 한국폐기물자원순환학회(구 한국폐기물학회) 2017 한국폐기물자원순환학회 심포지움 Vol.2017 No.1

Trash bin or trash containers are daily used to collect wastes in both public and private spaces. Although trash bins are well known and always used tools in our daily lives, little scientific concerns have been paid to trash bins. For example, appropriate management of trash bins is usually based on experiences, not scientific researches. In public spaces, there are usually several trash bins to encourage waste segregation of recyclable and non-recyclable wastes by waste disposers. When three trash bins are set in certain site, they might be used for combustible wastes, incombustible wastes, and recyclable ones like PET bottles, cans,and papers, respectively. In this study, the authors focuses on the arrangement of three trash bins. If the position of trash bins, right, center, and left side in this case, can give some psychological impacts on waste disposers,it might encourage or discourage waste segregation by waste disposers. In this sense, it might be one of important subjects in appropriate management of trash bins. Therefore,the authors investigated psychological preferences of three trash bins arrangement. Trash bins for combustible wastes (burnable waste; BU), non-combustible wastes (NC), and recyclable wastes are tested. Recyclable wastes are PET bottles (PE) or cans (CA) in each survey. Psychological preferences of trash bin arrangement were scaled by web questionnair using pairwise comparison method with Thurstone's law of comparative judgement. When one pair of three trash bins arrangments like BU-PE-NC and PE-NC-BU was presented to questionees, they selected one that they felt easier and/or more appropriate to segregate wastes. All pairs of trash bin arrangements, 12 pairs in this case, were tested. Each web questionnair was conducted for 2 days and repeated 3 times from Jan. to Mar. in 2017. In eash survey, selection data was collected from 210 persons. Therefore, total 630 data was collected in this study. Gender of respondents were balanced equally. The age of respondents were from 20’s to 60’s and also balanced equally with 10-year interval. Selection ratio of each three trash bins arrangement were converted correspondignly to Z score based on Thurstone’s law of comparative judgement. Higher Z score means higher preference. Z scores of totally 12 arrangements of three trash bins are shown in Figure 1 (BU-NC-PE) and Figure 2 (BU-NC-CA), respectively. Standard deviations of Z scores were calculated based on analytical results of 3 times web questionnairs and shown as error bar in each Figure. Regardless of recyclable waste type (PE or CA), people clearly prefered trash bin for combustible waste (BU) at left side. The right side is secondary prefered and center position was not prefered (second and third worst). Trash bin for non-combustible wastes (NC) was prefered to be set directly next to BU trash bin. It means that NC trash bin at center position was prefered better than left and right sides. When BU and NC trash bins were set seperately, in particular NC at left side and BU at right sides, the preference of this trash bin arrangement was the worst regardless of PE and CA at the center. This clearly suggests that people prefer sequential arrangement of BU and NC trash bins. Before these surveys, the authors expected that there was no significant difference in preferences of trash bin arrangement or BU trash bin at right side was relatively prefered than center or left side because most people were righthanded. BU transh bin at right side seemed to be easier to dispose of combustible wastes by right hand. However, survey results show that BU trash bin at left side is more prefered than that at right side. The left-to-right direction like text reading might explain such preferece difference. If people prefer to firsty dispose of combustible wastes, next noncombustible wastes, and finally recyclable wastes (PE or CA), the most prefered arrangements (BU-NC-PE and BU-NC- CA) enable the same order of waste disposal along with text reading direction. Further research is necessary to investigate psychological preferences of trash bins arrangement, in particular four or five trash bins arrangement case.

Slot shape preference for five different colored pet bottle containers based on web questionnaires using pairwise comparison method

( Qiuhui Jiang ),( Shinya Suzuki ),( Fumitake Takahashi ) 한국폐기물자원순환학회(구 한국폐기물학회) 2017 한국폐기물자원순환학회 심포지움 Vol.2017 No.1

In our daily life, trash containers are usually used to collect wastes in private and public places. Therefore, we can consider trash bins as an important social infrastructure to keep public/private spaces sanitaiy and beautiful. We assume the design (color, slot shape and others) will influence the waste segregation efficiency and collectability of trash container. In the prior study, the authors found the color preference for PET bottle container. As shown in figure 1, the color with higher preference (right side) makes people feel as “appropriate color” for pet bottle container. White and gray are the most preferable colors and purple is the worst preferable color. In this study, the authors focus on the design of slot shape for PET bottle container. In addition, interactive effect of container color on slot shpare preferences is also concerned. The objective of this study is to measure preference degrees of different slot shape design for PET bottle container and investigate the impact of container color on slot shape preferences. We used web questionnaires data to scale slot shape preferences by binary pairwise comparison method. In the web questionnaires, two trash bins with different slot shapes and the same color were shown to the questionees. They were requested to only answer which slot shape they feel better for pet bottle container depending on their image and/or impression. Selection ratio dataset were analyzed to quantify the preference degree (Z score) using Thurston’s law of comparative judgment. We repeated the questionairs twice and questionees were adjusted to set equal male/female balance and equal age distribution from 20’s to 60’s at 10-year age interval. Average Z score obtained by twice questionuairs were used to discuss in this study. Larger Z score means the higher perference. In this study, we tested six types of different slot shapes for the PET bottle containers. In addition, five different colors, white, gray, blue, red and purple, were also tested, receptively. Figure 2 shows scaled preferences of slot shape with 5 different container colors. Although the five colors have different preference degree (Z score) as PET bottle container color, preferences of six different slot shapes and their orders are almost the same regardless of container color. The most preferred slot shape is two circles. It is the most familiar disposal slot design of trash containers set in public places in Japan. One circle design was secondly preferred and it is also familiar design of disposal slot in Japan. Ellipse is the similar shape with circle and thirdly preferred in all color cases. Bottle shape was preferred more than rounded-rectangle only in gray color. In red color case, the worst preferred shape is bottle shape. On the other hand, square is the worst preferred shape in other color cases. These results indicate that different color of trash bin has no psychological influence on preferred shape of disposal slot. In contrast, less preferred slot shape might receive non-negligible impact from container color. Further study is necessary to investigate interactive effect of container color on preferences of disposal slot shape.

Effect of UV -B radiation on seedlings of two Solidago virgaurea populations from the Mt. Hakusan area of Japan

Nakajima, Nobuyoshi,Takahashi, Shinya,Tamaoki, Masanori,Kubo, Akihiro,Aono, Mitsuko,Saji, Hikaru Korean Society of Photoscience 2002 Journal of Photosciences Vol.9 No.2

We collected seeds of Solidago virgaurea plants growing at different altitudes on the Mt Hakusan area in Japan and cultivated them in a naturally-lit green house. Three-week-old seedlings were irradiated with supplemental UV-B for 12 h each day for 1 and 2 weeks. After a week of itradiation the seedlings of the population collected from the higher altitude at Oh-nanjiho (ON) had accumulated more anthocyanins than those from the lower altitude at Bettoh-deai (BD). Levels of anthocyanins in the ON seedlings were highly correlated with the dose of UV-B radiation and the correlation was also observed after 2 weeks. The growth of the third leaves was retarded by UV-B radiation in both populations. The extent of growth retardation in the third leaves was correlated with the dose of UV -B radiation in both populations. However, no significant difference in the extent of leaf area growth was observed between the ON and BD populations. The increase in plant fresh weight was extensively inhibited in the ON seedlings after 1 week of UV-B radiation. The inhibition was recovered to those in the BD population by 2 weeks irradiation. These results indicate that these populations respond differentially to supplementary UV -B radiation during the first week. Because flavonoids such as anthocyanins play an important role in protection against UV-B radiation in many plants, populations growing at higher altitude may be better able to adapt to increased global levels of UV-B radiation.

Analysis of different color preferences for trash containers scaled by binary pairwise comparison method

( Qiuhui Jiang ),( Shinya Suzuki ),( Fumitake Takahashi ) 한국폐기물자원순환학회(구 한국폐기물학회) 2016 한국폐기물자원순환학회 춘계학술발표논문집 Vol.2016 No.-

In Japan, there are 5 main types of wastes: combustible waste, incombustible waste, PET bottles, cans (metals) and glasses. In any places including private and public spaces, we always use trash bins (trash containers) to collect our wastes. Therefore, we can consider trash bins as an important social infrastructure to keep public/private spaces sanitary and beautiful. There are many different design of the trash bin in Japan. We assume the trash bin design will influence the waste segregation efficiency (functionality) of trash bin, like color, slot shape and other elements. In this research, the objective is to find the preference degree of different colors of four types trash bins (combustible, incombustible, can and PET bottle) design. We used web questionnaires data to scale the preference by binary pairwise comparison method. At first we decide 10 common different colors for the trash bins design, as blue, red, yellow (three normal color), brown, purple, green, orange (mixed color), white, gray, black (White/black gradation). In the web questionnaires, two trash bins with different colors were shown to the questionees. They were requested to only answer which color they feel better depending on their image. Selection ratio dataset were analyzed to quantify the preference degree (Z score) using Thurston’s law of comparative judgment. We repeated the questionairs 3 times and got 210,210, and 310 questionnaires data, respectively. Questionees were adjusted to set equal male/female balance and equal age distribution from 20’s to 60’s at 10-year age interval. Average Z score of three times were used to discuss in this study. Larger Z score means the higher perference. Figure 1 shows the color preference of trash bin colors for combustible waste, incombustible waste, PET bottle and can, respectively. The color with higher preference (left side) makes people feel as “appropriate color” for target type of waste. Obviously, the most preferred colors of trash bins are red for combustible waste, gray for incombustible waste, white for PET bottle and gray for can, respectively. Orange color is also preferred as combustible waste trash bin. Such preferred colors (red and orange) might remind fire color. Black and gray are preferred for incombustible waste. These preferred colors might remind “anti-fire”. White and gray are specifically preferred for PET bottles. Green is also preferred compared with other colors excluding white and gray. This might be derived from the color of green tea bottles. On the other hand, preferred colors for cans are gray, orange and blue. They have no color similarity. In this survey, gray is relatively preferred for all types of wastes. In contrast, purple is not preferred regardless of waste type.

Water adsorption on iron phthalocyanine thin films on silver-adsorbed silicon surface

Kohei OKANDA,Shinya OHNO,Kazutoshi TAKAHASHI,Masatoshi TANAKA 한국진공학회 2016 한국진공학회 학술발표회초록집 Vol.2016 No.8

Mitigation of Load Frequency Fluctuation Using a Centralized Pitch Angle Control of Wind Turbines

Junqiao, Liu,Rosyadi, Marwan,Takahashi, Rion,Tamura, Junji,Fukushima, Tomoyuki,Sakahara, Atsushi,Shinya, Koji,Yosioka, Kazuki Journal of International Conference on Electrical 2013 Journal of international Conference on Electrical Vol.2 No.1

In this paper an application of centralized pitch angle controller for fixed speed wind turbines based wind farm to mitigate load frequency fluctuation is presented. Reference signal for the pitch angle of each wind turbine is calculated by using proposed centralized control system based on wind speed information. The wind farm in the model system is connected to a multi machine power system which is composed of 4 synchronous generators and a load. Simulation analyses have been carried out to investigate the performance of the controller using real wind speed data. It is concluded that the load frequency of the system can be controlled smoothly.

3D Transient Analysis of Ultrasonic Propagation in Flow Field Using Finite Difference Time Domain Method

Kazuhiro Muramatsu,Akira Kimoto,Shinya Takahashi 제어로봇시스템학회 2009 제어로봇시스템학회 국제학술대회 논문집 Vol.2009 No.8

In this paper, the method of 3D transient analysis of the ultrasonic propagation in flow field is developedusing the finite difference time domain method. In this method, in order to take account of flow field, the semi-Lagrange coordinate system, in which physical quantities are defined by the Euler coordinate system and the time derivativeterm is discretized by the Lagrange coordinate system, is applied. The developed method is applied to a simple model of flow meter for air, in which the flow fields are laminar and turbulent flows. To verify the developed method, the measurement is also carried out. The waveform of acoustic pressure on the surface of receiver obtained from the calculation is compared with the measured voltage waveform. The propagation times obtained from the calculation are in good agreement with those obtained from the experiment in various flow rates. However, the tendency of amplitude of waveform by flow rate in the calculation is different from that in the experiment at present.

Therapeutic Prediction of Osteoporotic Vertebral Compression Fracture Using the AO Spine-DGOU Osteoporotic Fracture Classification and Classification-Based Score: A Single-Center Retrospective Observational Study

Koki Mitani,Toshiyuki Takahashi,Shinya Tokunaga,Tomoo Inoue,Ryo Kanematsu,Manabu Minami,Junya Hanakita 대한척추신경외과학회 2023 Neurospine Vol.20 No.4

Objective: The treatment of osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures (OVCFs) is based on their severity; however, an efficient prediction tool is lacking. We aimed to evaluate the validity of the osteoporotic fracture classification (OF classification) and scoring system (OF score) in predicting the treatment strategy for patients with OVCF, defined according to the Japanese criteria. Methods: We retrospectively investigated 487 consecutive patients diagnosed with vertebral body fractures between January 2018 and December 2022. Only patients with their fresh vertebral fracture episode during the study period were included. Patients were classified into 3 groups: conservative treatment, balloon kyphoplasty (BKP), and open surgery. OF classification and OF scores were assessed for each patient. Results: A total of 237 patients with OVCF were included. There were 127, 81, and 29 patients in the conservative, BKP, and open surgery groups, respectively. The OF score was significantly higher in the BKP and open surgery groups than in the conservative group (p < 0.001). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that antiosteoporotic drug use, OF classification, progressive deformity, neurological symptoms and mobilization were independent risk factors for operative treatment (all p < 0.001). Receiver operating characteristic analysis showed that the cutoff OF score for operative indication was 5.5, with a sensitivity of 91.9%, specificity of 56.5%, and area under the curve of 0.820 (95% confidence interval, 0.769–0.871). Conclusion: The OF score identified patients who required operative treatment with a high degree of accuracy. This is especially important for ruling out patients who definitely require operative treatment.