Kobe City College of Technology

This study proposes a method to enhance the recyclability of glass fiber-reinforced plastics (GFRP) by imparting dismantling ability to thermosetting adhesives through microwave irradiation. Single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNT) were added to epoxy adhesives at concentrations ranging from 0.2 to 1.0 wt%. The results showed that adhesive strength improved at 0.2–0.6 wt% for epoxy. Additionally, thermal decomposition and successful disassembly were observed at concentrations of ≧ 0.6 wt% for epoxy under microwave irradiation. This approach provides a promising bonding technology that enables both strong adhesion and easy disassembly, contributing to improved recyclability of FRP structures.

Understanding how mice process and respond to visual depth cues is crucial for studying visual perception, yet traditional behavioral analyses often miss key aspects of this process, such as the dynamic transitions between behavioral states and the integration of multiple spatial cues that shape depth-related behaviors. Here we demonstrate that mouse responses to visual depth cues are more sophisticated than previously recognized, involving both direct avoidance behaviors and complex modulations of exploratory patterns. By combining a modified circular apparatus with Hidden Markov Model analysis, we reveal that mice transition between three distinct behavioral states-resting, exploring, and navigating-in response to visual depth cues. Using this framework, we uncover several fundamental aspects of mouse visual processing: depth perception has an optimal range of spatial frequencies, with strongest responses to patterns between 6-8 cm; visual processing integrates multiple spatial cues rather than triggering simple avoidance; and initial strong cliff-avoidance responses evolve into more nuanced behavioral adaptations over time. Comparisons between wild-type C57BL/6J mice (Mus musculus), retinal degeneration models (rd1-2J, C57BL/6J background, Mus musculus), and control conditions confirm that these behavioral patterns specifically reflect visual processing rather than general exploratory behavior. These findings reveal that mouse depth perception involves sophisticated neural processing that modulates overall exploratory behavior rather than simply triggering avoidance responses. Our approach establishes a new framework for analyzing complex behavioral sequences in neuroscience research, demonstrating how refined behavioral analysis can reveal previously undetectable aspects of sensory processing.

The use of chatbot services has been rising in the field of mental health; however, the therapeutic mechanism underlying them remains unclear. Hence, through a randomized controlled trial, we aimed to show that a chatbot utilizing a Unified Protocol (UP) for the transdiagnostic treatment of emotional disorders—referred to as the UP chatbot—could reduce symptoms of anxiety in university students by encouraging their negative emotional expressions. We randomly assigned 310 Japanese university students to one of four groups: one that received only the UP chatbot service; one that received only the UP guidance service; one that received both services; and a waitlist group that did not receive any service. Over an 8-week intervention and a 4-week follow-up, the participants filled out questionnaires assessing symptoms of anxiety and depression. Additionally, we employed sentiment analysis to examine their emotional expressions with the chatbot. Our analysis of a latent growth curve model indicated that the participants in the group receiving only the UP chatbot service reported significantly higher reductions in symptoms of anxiety than the waitlist group; these effects were sustained during the follow-up. Furthermore, they demonstrated significantly stronger expressions of sadness than the waitlist group. Thus, the UP chatbot, similar to the UP human therapist, may have encouraged the participants to express negative emotions, facilitated emotional acceptance, and reduced their anxiety. • A randomized controlled trial tested a chatbot’s impact on students’ anxiety. • The chatbot incorporated interventions based on a unified protocol. • The chat-only group experienced reduced anxiety compared to the waitlist group. • The chat-only group expressed more instances of sadness than the waitlist group. • The chatbot, like the human therapist, facilitated students’ expressions of sadness.

This study improves the previously proposed two-phase pulse width modulation (PWM) scheme with 2-degrees-offreedom (2-DoF) variable switching pause periods for equalizing device loss in an unbalanced three-phase inverter. ThisPWMscheme is extended to incorporate 5-degrees-of-freedom (5-DoF) variable switching pause periods, enabling individual loss adjustments for each device. Theoretical and numerical results demonstrate that the proposed 5-DoF PWM scheme effectively equalizes losses for each device in an unbalanced three-phase inverter.

In factories that handle metals, steel, and other materials, the noise produced by machinery and manufacturing processes is called noise owing to its loudness and high frequency. Earplugs are primarily used to prevent noise-induced hearing loss. However, because earplugs block out all external sounds, including work conversations and warning sounds, there is a need for earphones (earplugs) that can selectively allow essential sounds, such as speech and danger alerts, to pass through while blocking other external noises. We propose a method for discriminating whether a signal contains speech using a bilateral clamper. In this study, the noise-only regions did not produce any output, making the earphones function similarly to regular earplugs. The signal containing the voice is subjected to noise reduction by a low pass filter.

Microscale thermophoresis (MST) has garnered significant attention as a manipulation method for chemical species ranging from nanometers to micrometers in liquids. In particular, techniques for manipulating single nanometer-sized objects have been developed by driving MST through laser heating with near-infrared wavelengths focused down to submicron scales or via photothermal conversion of plasmonic nanoparticles. While MST simulations on a macroscopic scale can be addressed by solving the diffusion equation using the finite element method, alternative computational approaches are required to investigate thermophoretic behavior at the single-particle level. For this purpose, we have developed a numerical method for the thermophoresis of individual nanoparticles diffusing in a liquid by combining the finite element method for steady-state heat conduction with Brownian dynamics simulations. The scripts for the finite element method and Brownian dynamics calculations used in the present simulations are uploaded in the Supporting Information and freely available. The numerical results demonstrated satisfactory agreement with the experimental results of laser-induced thermophoresis performed on polystyrene nanoparticles with a diameter of 500 nm in water. This computational method is highly useful for controlling MST at the single-particle level, enabling the design of spatial temperature distributions and the evaluation of thermophoretic forces acting on individual nanoparticles.

A method is being developed to improve the identification accuracy of side-scan sonar. By performing a Fourier transform on side-scan sonar data and comparing the results, differences in frequency components can be observed. To improve the identification accuracy, it is necessary to understand the ship’s movement and apply corrections before performing the Fourier transform. The objective of this research is to correct side-scan sonar data using information from RTK positioning. The corrections target three of the ship's six degrees of freedom: roll, pitch, and heave. Experiments were conducted in two locations: at sea and on land. To derive an appropriate correction formula, accurate information is required not only for pitch but also for roll and heave.

In this study, we propose an attitude compensation for Universal Vacuum Gripper with Tactile function. It consists of conductive powders, a silicon membrane, and 8 electrodes. It enables tactile sensing by reading the resistance change of conductive powder due to load. The pressure distribution is constructed by measuring the impedance change of the conductive powder with 16 pairs of electrodes. Output values vary depending on posture due to conductive powder bias caused by tilt. We investigated the effect of posture on output values and confirmed the usefulness of posture compensation. Pressure characteristics experiments will be conducted from all angles in the future. The goal is to achieve the same output characteristics at any angle.

Abstract Light‐diffusing polarizers of liquid crystal (LC)/polymer composites are fabricated via a self‐assembly process. The transmittance has a polarization extinction ratio more than ten and is controlled electro‐ or thermo‐responsively. Such stimuli responsiveness results from unidirectionally oriented, highly rotatable LCs existing in LC‐rich domains. The polarizers are photoinduced self‐organizable, electro‐driven controllable, and wavelength adjustable. The structures comprise (sub) micrometer‐long, narrow domains of LC and isotropic polymer phases, and some LCs are oriented perpendicular to the domain boundaries. Such LC orientation becomes self‐assembly ordered through photopolymerization‐induced phase separation (PPIPS), performed by nonuniform photoirradiation with direct or Fourier‐transformed speckle‐pattern projection. The polarization extinction ratio of light diffusion increases, as the compositional ratio of urethane prepolymers increases or the photoirradiation becomes more intense. LCs are found to be oriented more uniaxially in the LC‐richer (polymer‐poorer) phases. The uniaxially oriented LCs contribute to the optical polarization of light diffusion. The electro‐response time of polarization change is the order of 100 ms and microscopically caused by LC reorientation behavior in LC‐rich domains among open polymer networks. Two different light‐source wavelengths can be chosen for PPIPS by adjusting photoinitiators. The light‐diffusing polarizers extend photonic application range from the points of view of users and manufacturers.