The Influence of Posture on Instability Evaluation Using Flexion–Extension X-Ray Imaging in Lumbar Spondylolisthesis

Inoue Daisuke,Shigematsu Hideki,Nakagawa Yoshiyuki,Takeshima Toshichika,Tanaka Yasuhito 대한척추외과학회 2021 Asian Spine Journal Vol.15 No.3

Study Design: Prospective clinical study. Purpose: To determine the optimal posture for instability evaluation using flexion–extension X-ray imaging in patients with lumbar spondylolisthesis. Overview of Literature: Currently, flexion–extension X-ray imaging is the most practical approach for the evaluation of lumbar instability. In flexion–extension X-ray imaging, achievement of the greatest segmental motion with flexion–extension movement is necessary. However, to our knowledge, currently, there is no standardized posture for determining lumbar instability. Methods: Twenty-three individuals with lumbar spondylosis related to the fourth vertebra underwent flexion–extension X-ray imaging in different postures (standing, sitting, and lateral decubitus positions), lumbar magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and low back pain Visual Analog Scale (VAS) evaluation on the same day. Intervertebral angle, percent slippage, and intervertebral disc area ratio for different postures during flexion and extension were compared using Tukey’s method. The effect of low back pain and the association between MRI facet effusion and these measurements were investigated according to posture. Results: The percent slippage during extension (p=0.036), change in the percent slippage between flexion and extension (p=0.004), and change in the intervertebral angle (p=0.042) were significantly different between the sitting and lateral decubitus positions. There were also significant differences between the standing and lateral decubitus positions in the change in intervertebral angle (p=0.010). In patients with VAS score <40, there were significant differences in the intervertebral angle (p=0.011) between the standing and lateral decubitus positions, percent slippage (p=0.048), and intervertebral disk ratio (p=0.008) between the sitting and lateral decubitus positions. We found no relationship between MRI facet effusion and posture in terms of instability. Conclusions: In this study, intervertebral instability was best evaluated in the lateral decubitus position when using flexion–extension X-ray imaging for patients with fourth lumbar vertebral spondylolisthesis.

Networks of tooth helix deviations of ground and super-finished gears – Phase edges and intensity vertices

Daisuke Iba,Hiroki Inoue,Hidekatsu Noda,김명수,Ichiro Moriwaki 대한기계학회 2019 JOURNAL OF MECHANICAL SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY Vol.33 No.12

The purpose of this study was to try to clarify relative relationships among deviations on each tooth of gears by using the graph theory. Our previous study proposed a method to derive correlation coefficients among the tooth helix deviations and applied it to a ground helical gear. In addition, the coefficients were used as edges, and a network image of the relative helix deviations was generated. In this paper, this method was applied to the analysis of super-finished helical gears, and the phase relationship among the helix deviations was derived. Furthermore, this paper proposed a method, which enables us to derive the magnitude of helix deviation as a norm of signal, which disappeared from the phase network. Then, the derived magnitude was added to the network as the intensity of the vertices. As a result of the application of the proposed method to an analysis of the ground and super-finished helical gears, it was found that the newly created network images were able to show the different characteristics between the gear-finishing processes.

Single-Phase Heat Transfer of R245fa + Lubricant Oil Mixtures Inside Horizontal Smooth and Microfin Tubes

Daisuke Jige,Yufei Liu,KAZUHIDE WATANABE,Norihiro Inoue 대한설비공학회 2019 International Journal Of Air-Conditioning and Refr Vol.27 No.2

The effect of lubricant oil on the single-phase heat transfer of R245fa inside horizontal smooth and microfin tubes was experimentally investigated. Tests were conducted using a horizontal smooth tube with an inner diameter of 8.32 mm and two microfin tubes with equivalent diameters of 8.9 and 8.7 mm, fin height of 0.12 and 0.18 mm, and number of fins of 65 and 85, respectively. The heat transfer coefficients were measured for pure R245fa and R245fa + lubricant oil mixture in the Reynolds number range of 2000–10000, heat fluxes of 5 and 10 kWm −2, and refrigerant temperatures of 30∘C and 45∘C at the test section inlet. Oil concentration was varied at 1, 2 and 5 wt.%. The results showed that the heat transfer of pure R245fa agreed well with previous correlations. However, the heat transfer coefficients of the R245fa + lubricant oil mixtures were lower than those of the pure R245fa, and decreased with an increase in oil concentration for both smooth and microfin tubes. The reduction in heat transfer was more marked for the HF tube than for the smooth and LF tubes. For the HF tube, the decrease in heat transfer was apparently more pronounced at higher oil concentrations from 2 to 5 wt.% owing to immiscibility between the oil and refrigerant.

Evaporation Heat Transfer and Pressure Drop Characteristics of R32 Inside a Multiport Tube with Microfins

Daisuke Jige,Shogo Kikuchi,Hikaru Eda,Norihiro Inoue,Shigeru Koyama 대한설비공학회 2018 International Journal Of Air-Conditioning and Refr Vol.26 No.2

This study investigated the evaporation heat transfer and pressure drop characteristics of R32 in a horizontal multiport tube consisting of rectangular minichannels with straight microfins. The heat transfer coefficient and pressure drop were measured for a mass velocity range of 50–400 kgm −2 s −1 and heat flux range of 5–20 kWm −2 at a saturation temperature of 15 ∘ C. The frictional pressure drop during an adiabatic two-phase flow was also measured for a mass velocity range of 50–400 kgm −2 s −1 and quality range of 0.1–0.9 at the same saturation temperature. The heat transfer coefficient increased with an increasing quality owing to the increase in forced convection. The dryout inception quality increased with the increase in mass velocity. The effects of heat flux on the heat transfer coefficient were small, except in a high-quality region. The heat transfer coefficient in a multiport tube with microfins was higher than that in a multiport tube without microfins in a high-quality region at a mass velocity of 200 kgm −2 s −1 and in a low-quality region at a mass velocity of 400 kgm −2 s −1. The effects of mass velocity and microfins on the frictional pressure drop were clarified. It is suspected that the effects of a microfin on the frictional pressured drop can be considered using the hydraulic diameter. The frictional pressure drop was shown to be in good agreement with previous correlations.

Experimental Study on Condensation Heat Transfer and Flow Modes of R245fa on Enhanced Surface Tubes

Daisuke Jige,Tomonobu Matsuno,NORIHIRO INOUE 대한설비공학회 2015 International Journal Of Air-Conditioning and Refr Vol.23 No.2

The present study experimentally investigated the condensation heat transfer characteristics and condensate flow mode of R245fa on horizontal low-finned and microscopic-grooved tubes. Five low-finned tubes and a microscopic-grooved tube with tube diameters at the fin tip of approximately 19 mm were used. Experiments were conducted at a saturation temperature of 40°C. The fundamental heat transfer characteristics of the low-finned and microscopic-grooved tubes were experimentally investigated to clarify the flow modes of the condensate and the efficacy of the enhanced heat transfer.

Isolation and Partial Characterization of Two Ferredoxins from the Photosynthetic Bacterium Heliobacillus mobilis

Hatano, Atsushi,Inoue, Kazuhito,Deo, Daisuke,Sakurai, Hidehiro Korean Society of Photoscience 2002 Journal of Photosciences Vol.9 No.2

Two ferredoxin (Fd) fractions, namely, Fd-A and Fd-B were isolated from Heliobacillus mobilis cells, and purified by ammonium sulfate fractionation, DEAE, gel-permeation and Phenyl-Superose column chromatographies under anaerobic conditions. Their absorption spectra were typical of 2[4Fe-4S] cluster type Fds with peaks at about 385 and 280 nm and a shoulder at about 305 nm. Their N-terminal amino acid sequences were determined, which showed that both of them contain a [4Fe-4S] cluster binding motif. Fd-B was sensitive to oxygen, and itsA$_{385}$ value decreased by about 50% in 2 h at 4$^{\circ}C$ under aerobic conditions. In contrast, $A_{385}$ of Fd-A was essentially unchanged up to 24 h under the same conditions.

Accumulation of Intracellular Storage Compounds by Waste Activated Sludge as Value-added Products: For Turning Wastewater Treatment Plants to Biorefinery Plants

Michihiko IKE,Daisuke INOUE 대한환경공학회 2019 대한환경공학회 학술발표논문집 Vol.2019 No.-

Two-Phase Flow Patterns and Evaporation Heat Transfer of R134a in a Vertical Narrow Rectangular Channel

Hoheum Cho,Daisuke Jige,Hiromasa Miyata,NORIHIRO INOUE 대한설비공학회 2018 International Journal Of Air-Conditioning and Refr Vol.26 No.1

This study experimentally investigated the flow pattern, void fraction, and evaporation heat transfer characteristic of R134a upward flow in a vertical narrow rectangular channel having a hydraulic diameter of 0.99 mm, resembling a plate heat exchanger. Experiments were performed with mass velocities and vapor quality ranging between 30–200 kgm −2 −2s −1 −1 and 0.05–0.9, respectively, at a saturation temperature of 15 ∘C. Flow patterns were classified into bubble, slug, churn, and annular flows. The void fraction increased with increasing quality, and decreased with decreasing mass velocity in the low-quality region. Further, the influence of flow inlet/outlet positions remarkably appeared when the superficial gas velocity was low. The observed flow patterns and the measured void fraction were compared to that in previous studies. The effects of mass velocity and heat flux on the evaporation heat transfer coefficient were small, and the heat transfer through the thin liquid film was dominant.

Osteoporosis Associated with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

Ryo Okazaki,Reiko Watanabe,Daisuke Inoue 대한골대사학회 2016 대한골대사학회지 Vol.23 No.3

Recent epidemiological studies have revealed that osteoporosis is closely associated with common chronic diseases including diabetes, hypertension, chronic kidney disorders, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). COPD is a chronic inflammatory airway disease but now well known to be associated with various systemic comorbidities including osteoporosis. Osteoporosis and osteoporotic fractures are extremely common in COPD patients, which have significant impacts on their quality of life (QOL), activities of daily life (ADL), respiratory function, and possibly their prognosis. COPD-associated osteoporosis is however extremely under-recognized, hence undertreated. Recent studies have suggested that both decreased bone mineral density (BMD) and impaired bone quality compromise bone strength causing fractures in COPD. In COPD patients, various general clinical risk factors for osteoporosis are present including smoking, older age, low body weight, and physical inactivity. In addition, disease-related risk factors such as decreased pulmonary function, inflammation, glucocorticoid use and vitamin D deficiency/insufficiency have been linked to the development of osteoporosis in COPD. Increased awareness of osteoporosis in COPD, especially that of high prevalence of vertebral fractures is called upon among general physicians as well as pulmonologists. Routine screening for osteoporosis and risk assessment of fractures will enable physicians to diagnose COPD patients with comorbid osteoporosis at an early stage. Timely prevention of developing osteoporosis together with appropriate treatment of established osteoporosis may improve QOL and ADL of the COPD patients, preserve their lung function and eventually result in better prognosis in these patients.

Effect of Rare Metals on Uptake Characteristics and Growth Response of Leafy Vegetables

Md. Shoffikul Islam,Daisuke Ueno,Takashi Someya,Koichi Inoue,Noriko Ryuda 한국토양비료학회 2014 한국토양비료학회 학술발표회 초록집 Vol.2014 No.6