Chukyo University

Introduction: Perioperative hypotension is common in kidney transplant recipients and linked with poor allograft outcomes. We use synthetic angiotensin II (AT2S) as the first-line vasopressor for these patients. Lack of evidence exist evaluating the impact of obesity on AT2S requirements and allograft function in this population. We hypothesize that kidney transplant patients with obesity require a longer AT2S duration, higher AT2S doses, and have increased rates of delayed graft function (DGF). Methods: This retrospective, single-center, cohort study compared AT2S use and allograft function in kidney transplanted patients with and without obesity. Included patients were adults who underwent an isolated kidney transplant and required vasopressors perioperatively with AT2S. Data was collected from the date of transplant until 28 days post-operative. We identified 305 eligible patients from 1/2021-9/2024. Co-primary endpoints included differences in vasopressor duration, dose, and allograft function. Statistical analysis of study endpoints was assessed using descriptive and inferential statistics. Results: 305 patients (N=179 obese, N=126 non-obese) were included with balanced baseline characteristics, except significant differences in race, diabetes, hemodialysis duration, and transplant duration (P< 0.05). AT2S duration (hours) [17 (3-52.3) vs. 6.5 (1.75-29.4) hours (P< 0.001)], total dose received (mcg) [2977.8 (1012.2-7327) vs. 1025.8 (282.6-1866.1) mcg (P< 0.001), and rates of delayed graft function 36.3% vs. 20.6% (P=0.003) were higher in patients with obesity. Linear regression showed pre-operative hemodialysis duration and post-operative propofol to be associated with both AT2S duration and dose (P< 0.05). Propofol dose, cold-ischemic time, vasopressor duration, and donor terminal Scr were associated with DGF (P< 0.05). Conclusions: Obese kidney transplanted recipients required higher doses of AT2S for longer durations and had a higher incidence of DGF. This is consistent with prior evidence linking obesity to increased DGF risk. The higher doses may reflect longer transplant surgeries, more profound inflammatory response during surgery, or increased propofol requirements for obese patients. Further exploration is needed to investigate these observations.

This study proposes a method to quantitatively estimate the effective road width available for fire engine access in on-street parking environments using drone imagery and deep learning-based object detection. Vehicle objects were detected using a YOLOv8 model, and occupancy areas were delineated through Canny edge-based boundary extraction. The minimum passage width was estimated via a y-coordinate iterative search and converted into real-world units using the Ground Sample Distance (GSD) derived from standardized lane markings. Experimental results showed that effective road widths ranged from approximately 2.8 m to 3.8 m, indicating that on-street parking can significantly constrain fire engine accessibility regardless of the road’s planned geometric layout. The proposed approach provides a quantitative image-based methodology for identifying urban fire safety vulnerabilities and supporting evidence-based emergency response planning.

In this study, we propose a semantic grasping method that accounts for post-grasp stability without requiring a preexisting 3D shape of the object. Among multiple candidate grasp points, the method selects the one that minimizes the moment at the grasp point with respect to the object’s centroid. This paper proposes a semantic grasping method that explicitly considers post-grasp stability without requiring an instance-specific 3D shape model. The method estimates a grasp pose that minimizes moment at the grasp point with respect to the object’s centroid, thereby maintaining a stable orientation after lifting. In experiments, we evaluated post-grasp stability against conventional methods; the proposed method maintained a stable state in 18 out of 25 trials, outperforming the conventional method (4 out of 25).

Social isolation among older adults is a growing concern, partially owing to diminished social cognitive function. Physical activity can potentially enhance social cognitive function. This study focused on humour as an important facilitator of social interaction and examined how physical activity was associated with humour expression and loneliness. This study included 5,212 Japanese older adults. We examined the associations between physical activity patterns (past and present exercise experiences, physical activity levels, sedentary behaviour), humour-related outcomes (humour styles and humour coping styles), and feelings of loneliness. All the measures were self-reported. We applied Bayesian sparse regression modelling and structural equation modelling (BSEM) to analyse these large sample datasets. Bayesian sparse regression models revealed that past and present sport/exercise experience with friends were associated with positive humour expressions. In contrast, sedentary behaviour was associated with a lower overall propensity for humour expression. BSEM indicated that exercise experiences with friends was associated with reduced feelings of loneliness, partially mediated by the utilisation of positive humour expressions. These findings suggest the novel role of social physical activity in reducing loneliness among older adults through positive humour expression. Furthermore, reducing sedentary behaviours is important for maintaining humour expression.

This paper investigates the impact of bifurcations on the performance of power electronic circuits. We focus on circuits that include energy-harvesting devices, which exhibit a maximum power point (MPP). In particular, a DC–DC converter with a photovoltaic (PV) module is considered a representative example of such systems to evaluate the relationship between the circuit performance indices (such as power conversion and maximum power point tracking (MPPT) efficiency) and the bifurcation phenomena observed in the system. First, experimental results are reported that evaluate circuit characteristics and performance under MPPT control. Then, a novel mathematical PV model is presented and fully defined using experimentally measured parameters; this model does not necessitate the use of root-finding algorithms. Next, this model is integrated with the switched nonlinear model of a DC–DC converter subject to peak current mode control (PCMC), and a stability analysis of the periodic orbits is performed. Finally, the relationship between circuit performance and observed bifurcation phenomena is investigated and discussed. This research demonstrates the occurrence of both period-doubling and Neimark–Sacker bifurcations in the system considered here, and these features are shown in a two-parameter bifurcation diagram.

Title-overlaid images are useful as thumbnails on social media, where users prefer concise information to share and watch contents. Focusing on food contents, we aim to support creation of attractive title-overlaid food images to attract viewers' attentions. This paper first analyzes the effect of font styles of the title on the attractiveness of title-overlaid images via preference experiments, and creates a dataset. Next, we design a prototype model of attractive font selection for a food image and its title. Its effectiveness is demonstrated through experiments on the created dataset.

To evaluate the applicability of a cylindrical rotating detonation (RD) combustor as a torch, combustion experiments were conducted in a scramjet model combustor. The results were compared with those obtained under low back pressure conditions to assess the performance of the RD torch. The torch had a combustion chamber with an inner diameter of 10 mm and a length of 173 mm, operating at a mass flow rate of 4.0 g/s and an equivalence ratio of 1.15. The total temperature, total pressure and Mach number of the main air were 641–719 K, 0.6 MPa and 2.8, respectively. Comparing the results under the two conditions, we concluded that the torch operated in detonation mode for up to 9.0 seconds under supersonic flow, even during main H2 combustion. The detonation wave speed was ranged from 2.07 to 2.14 km/s, corresponding to 84–86% of Chapman-Jouguet velocity and 156–160% of the sound speed in the burned gas. At a main H2 mass flow rate of 1.1 g/s, the scramjet combustor operated in scramjet mode, achieving both ignition and flameholding using the RD torch during scramjet-mode operation. Furthermore, we identified the effects of the main H2 combustion on the torch. Continuous propagation of detonation waves, consistent trends in the axial time-averaged pressure distribution even after the exhaust transitioned to a subsonic jet, pressure oscillations induced by the combustion in the cavity, and an increase in detonation wave speed all suggest new potential applications for the RD torch and directions for future work.

The Physical Effort Scale (PES) assesses tendencies to approach or avoid physical effort and provides a framework for examining how automatic effort-avoidance tendencies influence physical activity (PA) behavior. To facilitate cross-cultural PA research, this study developed and validated a Japanese version of the PES (PES-JP) following cross-cultural adaptation guidelines. An online survey was conducted among 398 Japanese aged 20-59 years. Exploratory analyses suggested a two-factor structure of the PES-JP (approach and avoidance), and both subscales demonstrated high internal consistency (α = .92, .87). Concurrent validity was supported by associations with PA. The approach score was positively related to moderate-to-vigorous PA (MVPA; β = .19) and negatively to sitting time (β = -.17). In contrast, the avoidance score showed the opposite pattern (β = -.13 for MVPA, β = .20 for sitting). The global score (approach minus avoidance), which reflects the overall tendency to approach rather than avoid physical effort, showed a similar pattern to the approach dimension (β = .19 for MVPA, β = -.22 for sitting). Test-retest reliability was acceptable (ICCs = .65-.81). The PES-JP demonstrates sound psychometric properties for assessing tendencies toward physical effort in Japanese adults and provides a useful tool for research on individual differences in PA behavior. The scale may also facilitate cross-cultural investigations of how tendencies toward physical effort influence PA across diverse populations.