In order to elucidate the mechanism of accidents and abuse from head injury cases, it is essential to conduct experiments and measure the acceleration and angular velocity of the head. It is also important to analyze the behavior of the human body at the time of injury, as measuring acceleration and angular velocity alone is not sufficient. Slight differences in body behavior and posture result in different injury tendencies. In this paper, we explain the importance of behavior analysis by using our research on infant falls as an example to show how the behavior of the human body during falls affects head injuries.

With In Japan, since the number of dialysis patients is increasing due to population aging, this leads to a growing proportion of long-term dialysis cases. Because of this, dialysis related osteoporosis is also on the rise, and complications involving the jawbone are becoming more prevalent. Orthopantomograms (panoramic dental X-rays) are commonly used in visualization around the jawbone for dental screening, however, this has limitations in accurately assessing bone mineral density due to overlapping of anatomical structures during imaging process. In this study, we develop a method for generating a pseudo-orthopantomogram from three-dimensional CT images that reflect Hounsfield Units (HU) with rotational panoramic projection, enabling the evaluation of bone density without being influenced by overlapping of the bone tissue. In the evaluation experiments, qualitative evaluation was performed regarding the alignment and visualization quality between conventional orthopantomograms and the pseudo-orthopantomograms, and we have confirmed the usefulness of the proposed method. In addition, the method has been also applied to a clinical assessment of osteoporosis and the application of DentalSCOPE🄬 have been tested. Bone density assessment with a dental scope was adequately applicable for use in clinical practice.

Optical methods for visualizing fingerprints non-destructively in criminal investigation using the time-resolved spectroscopy and hyperspectral imaging are reviewed. Fluorescence emitted by photoexcited latent fingerprints is utilized for non-destructive visualization of fingerprints. Fluorescence spectrum of fingerprints when excited by an ultraviolet laser has two peaks at 340 and 440 nm, and that the most effective excitation wavelength was 280 nm. Furthermore, the relative intensity of the two peaks at 340 and 440 nm was shown to change over time by ultraviolet irradiation. The time-resolved spectroscopy using a nanosecond pulsed tunable laser was utilized to visualize fingerprints. It was effective in visualizing fingerprints when the background fluorescence was strong. This method was also effective for visualization of other body fluids. Among the components of fingerprints, measurement of excitation-emission matrix revealed that some amino acids contribute to the fluorescence spectra of fingerprints. A portable hyperspectral imager was developed to visualize fingerprints at crime scenes. One of its successful applications is to separate overlapping fingerprints, which was not able to use as evidence before. Using differences in fluorescence spectra of overlapping fingerprints, overlapping fingerprints were successfully separated by statistical analyses. A light irradiation system for efficient hyperspectral imaging was fabricated using motorized stages.

Currently, metal materials used for resistance include Cu-Ni alloys, Cu-Mn alloys, and Ni-Cr alloys, these metal materials have high density. It is desirable to use low-density aluminum matrix composites in order to study weight reduction. Cr is used as a resistance material, and it is considered that the resistance can be set to an arbitrary value by dispersing Cr in Al. The compression rotation shearing system at room temperature (CROSS-RT) is one of the methods for forming the composite materials without alloying multiple metal powders. In the present study, the fabrication of Al/Cr composite materials is carried out by CROSS-RT. The Vickers hardness, grain size and porosity of the Al/Cr composite material were evaluated. It was clarified that the Al/Cr composite materials can be formed by CROSS-RT. By using this method, the Al/Cr composite materials became dense and the Vickers hardness improved. The grain size of material produced by CROSS-RT is small. The reason for this is the inhibition of crystal grain growth due to the absence of heating from the outside.

Surges occur in compressor systems including turbo compressors at low flow rates. Surges not only degrade the performance of the compression system but can also damage the compressor system. There have been few studies on low-flow rate centrifugal compressors, and their characteristics are still unknown. In this study, the behavior and generation process of surges in small-flow centrifugal compressors were investigated. As a result, it was found that surges occur even in very low flow rate compressors, and that pressure fluctuations occur, which may be a precursor to the occurrence of surge. These small pressure fluctuations which occur intermittently show chaotic characteristics.

Al-Si-based cast alloys are commonly used for engines and automobile transmissions. When Al-Si alloy is contaminated with Fe, Fe reacts with Al and Si during solidification, forming solid intermetallic compounds such as Al₁₅Fe₄Si₂ and Al₅FeSi. It is reported that Al₅FeSi, which forms at high Fe content, significantly deteriorates the strength and elongation of Al-Si alloy. On the other hand, when Mn is added to an Al-Si alloy containing Fe, Al₁₅(Fe,Mn)₄Si₂ precipitates instead of Al₅FeSi. Therefore, the addition of Mn can suppress the harmful effect of Al₅FeSi precipitation on the Al-Si alloy. In this study, to understand the forming conditions of Al₁₅(Fe,Mn)₄Si₂ and Al₅FeSi, molten Al-Si-Fe-Mn alloy was equilibrated with Al₁₅(Fe,Mn)₄Si₂ and Al₅FeSi, and the Fe and Mn contents of the alloy was investigated. Based on the experimental results, the forming conditions of Al₁₅(Fe,Mn)₄Si₂ and Al₅FeSi in molten Al-Si-Fe-Mn alloy during solidification were thermodynamically discussed. It was found that molten Al-12mass%Si alloy is saturated with both Al₁₅(Fe,Mn)₄Si₂ and Al₅FeSi at 850 K. The forming condition of β-Al₅FeSi and the condition required to change Al₅FeSi into Al₁₅(Fe,Mn)₄Si₂ at 850 K were obtained as follows; [mass%Fe] > – 0.018 [mass%Mn] + 0.7 [mass%Mn] > 0.1 [mass%Fe] + 0.13

The enforcement braking devices (EBD) aimed to prevent traffic accidents while installed at road construction sites with traffic-lane regulation, are currently subject of intense investigations. An employment of EBD mechanisms considerably increases protection of drivers, pedestrians and workers in any road construction sites. Thus, in order to improve the EBD’s reliability, and in a consequence, to enhance the collision safety, these authors recommend a thorough analysis of the device’s braking characteristics as well as subsequent optimization of its structure. In our earlier publications, we elaborate the optimized structure of the λ type EBD (referred here as the ‘current type’) for the shortening of the braking distance. However, the persisting problem of an unstable braking behavior of the current type EBD was not analyzed in a greater detail. In a consequence, the present paper targets the novel type of EBD, which has all the advantages of the ‘current type’ and improves revealed drawbacks. Thus, we advocate the device with vertical plate (mast), triangular-shaped block (arm) and base plate. A simple model collision tests and theoretical calculations based on the conservation energy and momentum principle are employed in our study. The experiments with the ‘current type’ and ‘novel type’ EBD were carried out for three different velocities of an automobile. Our results demonstrate the new kind of EBD is effective for braking and halting automobile. Moreover, the promoted device is capable of stabilizing braking behavior. It also allows certain downsizing of the device and its weight reduction.