Cellular Bucket Brigades (CBBs) can absorb the impact of velocity variability on throughput, which makes them perform better than traditional Bucket Brigades under random worker velocities. However, the throughput of CBBs may decrease because of blocking and/or halting at discrete workstations. Among the various solutions, collaboration has emerged as an interesting candidate because it can substantially reduce the impact of blocking and halting. To improve the throughput of the existing collaborative model, two types of collaboration models are proposed from different perspectives. One of the problems addressed is that the existing collaborative model performs unsatisfactorily to achieve higher throughput in some cases due to its design, and another is that it has complex worker operation principles and many unproductive movements. A comparison of the proposed and existing models shows that the proposed models achieve outstanding improvements in throughput figures.

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In Vietnam, the waste collection is a labor intensive task in MSW management, and the improvement of collection efficiency would be one of the important problems. Da Nang city has a good practice in waste collection system and various collection systems, e.g. dustbin collection, tricycle collection, truck collection, and waste transfer stations. The objectives of this study were to get the basic data on waste collection operation on different collection systems as the basis of planning rational waste collection system by GPS and GIS applications, and to estimate the collection resources and compare the operational efficiency by collection system. 

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The flow past a capsule-shaped space transportation system (STS) is numerically analyzed using computational fluid dynamics (CFD) for different free stream Mach numbers ranging from 1.2 to 5.0, where a capsule is modeled by a cone, and a rocket by a circular cylinder. The objective of this research is to study Mach number effects on phenomena of the supersonic aerodynamic interference with periodic flow oscillations at supersonic regime. So far we have considered two models: model A (without disk) and model B (with disk). It was found from experimental and computational results that the flow around model A becomes steady, where aerodynamic interaction is not observed, while in model B, flow becomes unsteady with periodic oscillations. This flow oscillation is considered to be a potentially high risk in separation of the capsule and rocket. Therefore, the present study focuses on the unsteady case of model B. Numerical results at M=3.0 compared well with experimental ones, which validates the present CFD. Time-averaged results are employed to see the whole trajectories of shock waves and the variation in amplitude of flow oscillation during one cycle. Moreover, a fence is proposed as a device to suppress the flow oscillation.

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Photographic pictures have been taken of thread looping of an industrial sewing machine using three kinds of presser feet and six kinds of fabrics to investigate how the shapes of presser feet and the loop guard affect thread looping.
The pictures have shown that :
(1) A form of typical loop with the loop guard conforms to a lemniscate inclined by about 13°to the scarf side of the needle.
(2) The width of typical loop (Y_g) with the loop guard is given by :
Y_g_??_Y+d·tan13°
where,
Y : the width of a typical loop without the loop guard, and
d₀ : the distance from the lowerside of a throat plate to the of a shuttle hook.
(3) The flagging, which causes the skipping stitches, can be prevented by using a proper shape of presser foot that press fabrics down tightly, even when the sewed fabrics tend to flag.

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超イオン導電体は固体電解質とも呼ばれ,電気化学の分野では19世紀末から研究されてきた.また,最近ではリチウムイオン二次電池や燃料電池などに用いる材料として多くの注目を集めている.しかしながら,超イオン導電体の基礎物性が十分に理解されているとは言い難い.超イオン導電体の最大の特徴は融点より遥かに低い温度で,一部のイオンがあたかも液体中におけるイオンのように動き回ることにある.何故このような現象か起こりうるのか,どういった条件を満たす物質か超イオン導電性を示すのか.本解説の前半部では,超イオン導電体の初歩的な内容と代表的な物質系について概説した後,高いイオン導電性を生み出す原因を筆者か提案している超イオン導電体の結合揺らぎモデルの観点から考察する.後半部では,超イオン導電ガラスが示す物性の例,イオン導電体の応用例,イオン伝導と関連した現象の例をトピックス的に紹介する.

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Ni-plated steel wire used for springs in electrical appliances and other devices has good corrosion resistance. It is demanded as an alternative to stainless steel wire in a mildly corrosive environment. However, surface gloss is required for this material. To achieve surface gloss in wire drawing, die wear can be a problem. It is common knowledge that drawing with back tension is effective in improving die wear. Tandem pass drawing, the method of drawing continuously through two dies, is expected to improve die wear because of the back tension provided by the drawing force in the first die. There have been several reports on wire diameter in the tandem pass drawing, but only a few reports on surface gloss. This research has been conducted to investigate the relationship between tandem pass drawing conditions and surface gloss. In addition, friction coefficients and die pressures that affect die lifetime have been calculated by the finite element method. It is found that surface gloss, as-processed by single pass drawing, can be attained by tandem pass drawing with a low maximum shear stress at the .

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We clarify that metamagnetic transitions in three dimensions show unusual properties as quantum phase transitions if they are accompanied by changes in Fermi-surface topology. An unconventional universality deeply affected by the topological nature of Lifshitz-type transitions emerges around the marginal quantum critical point (MQCP). Here, the MQCP is defined by the of the finite temperature critical line and a quantum critical line running on the zero temperature plane. The MQCP offers a marked contrast with the Ising universality and the gas–liquid-type criticality satisfied for conventional metamagnetic transitions. At the MQCP, the inverse magnetic susceptibility χ⁻¹ has a diverging slope as a function of the magnetization m (namely, |dχ⁻¹⁄dm|→∞) in one side of the transition, which should not occur in any conventional quantum critical phenomena. The exponent of the divergence can be estimated even at finite temperatures. We propose that such an unconventional universality indeed accounts for the metamagnetic transition in ZrZn₂.

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This study was scheduled to investigate the effect of low-power He-Ne laser (λ=632.8nm, 8.5mW) on the sympathetic nerue activity and pain sensory nerue.
Five-minute irradiation with the laser was performed on the shousanli (Li 10) of 10 volunteers (group T) as controls and on the area near stellate ganglion of 10 volunteers (group S).
The skin temperature and pain threshold were measured at the (Li 4, Hoku) using a pain meter (UDH104, Unique Medical) and finger blood flow and blood mass were measured at the 2nd fingertip using a doppler blood flow detector (ALF 2100, Advance) before, immediately after and 30 minutes after irradiation.
No change in the skin temperature, pain threshold and blood mass was observed in both groups Blood flow increased slightly in group S after irradiation but unchanged in group T.
These results suggested that laser it on the stellate ganglion appeared no change in the sympathetic tone of homeostatic condition.

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Decentralized algorithms are often used in the cooperative robotics field, especially by large swarm systems. We present a distributed algorithm for a problem in which a group of autonomous mobile robots must surround a given target. These robots are oblivious, i.e., they have no memory of the past. They use only local sensing and need no dedicated communication among themselves. We introduce, then solve the problem in which the group of autonomous mobile robots must surround a given target – we call it the “discrete multiorbit target surrounding problem” (DMTSP). We evaluate our solution using simulation and prove that our solution invariably ensures that robots enclose the target in finite time.

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Traditionally, robot control has been done typically by "highly precise control algorithms": the position of each movable body part is accurately determined at any time with vast amount of computation. This, however, causes serious problems, particularly in terms of adaptability and energy efficiency. On the other hand, an extreme approach has been gaining a lot of attention recently. A good instantiation is the passive dynamic walker, driven only by exploiting the intrinsic dynamics of its mechanical system. However, the mechanical system is not everything, just as the control system is not everything; "well-balanced" coupling between control and mechanical systems should be considered. In addition, the " " between the two systems should be flexibly varied according to the environment encountered. In light of these facts, this study intensively focuses on the stiffness of robots' joints, since this effectively influences the dominance relationship between control and mechanical systems. More specifically, the aim of this study is to develop a "real-time tunable spring" that can smoothly change its elasticity without changing its natural length, allowing robot's joints to change their position and stiffness independently.

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Objectives: In our investigation we had a goal to present and measure the effect of the authentic outdoor medical SPA programs “Shumadian Forest hammam”, “Cigota Cross SPA golden pine forest hammam” and “Tara hammam as 75+, ageing well program” that combine phytoncides, heliotherapy, mineral springs water, zero distance food, tradition and heritage of the Serbian people, on the health of the people
Material and Methods: Our investigation was designed to measure the effects of Medical SPA programs proposed by experts team of Medical SPA Association of Serbia. One of the programs “Cigota Cross SPA Golden pine forest hammam” has been designed for the healthy women age 50 + for the promotion of healthy life style, better quality of life and preventing disease.
Program encompass several leisure activities: 1 hour walking through the wild nature (woods and fields, collecting herbs and flowers), 10 minutes of kneipp therapy, (walking through the spring water) 30 minutes of meditation below the oak three, listening birds song, 10 minutes of breath excercise, 10 minutes of folk dance therapy along with music therapy from shepards pipe, Next 30 minutes takes time to prepare and consume the brunch tailored by zero distance food protocols and according the mood food questionnaire, Natural spring water (4 x 200 ml or more) has been consumed during the program protocol. At the end the attendants were involved in selfness workshop (how to make their own herbal ball from collected herbs and flowers, for self massage during additional 30 minutes.
  The traveling by bus to the destination from the , and backward was 45-50 minutes.
  The measurement of physiological parameters was conducted by pulse oxymeter device twice before entering the bus from the and from the program destination.
  The Manchester colour wheel test and aromadiagnostic test, as nonverbal mood profile state tests were performed after the pulse oxymeter measurement
  The GHQ has been performed the day before the program, to select healthy attendants.
  The Burn out test, Life satisfaction test, stress scale, and POMS24 scale were performed the day before the program and before entering the bus after the program.
  All of 30 participants have completed the program procedure.
Results: We have calculated overall score from the tests before and after the program and we have found that there are higher scores of overall oxygen saturation after the program, lower score of Burn out tests, lower score of stress test. POMS24 test shows lower score of TMD,
  The Manchester colour wheel, and aromadiagnostic tests indicate the changes towards more balanced emotional state.
Conclusion: Our pilot investigation showed that there is measurable positive effect of authentic forest hammam medical SPA programs on the holistic health of the attendants.
Summarizing the results of our pilot investigation we did not explore them by comprehensive statistical methods. That part of investigation will be organized after more thorough investigation in our future work.

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In Japan there has been a shift away from ‘preventing disaster' towards disaster mitigation, or reducing the damage caused by disaster. In order to reduce the damage caused by disasters it is important to maintain preparedness for disaster during non-disaster periods. Ota Ward, Tokyo, at both the local government and community level has made efforts towards disaster preparedness including the publication of hazard maps and evacuation plans as well as evacuation drills. The purpose of this research is twofold; firstly to understand the relationship between percieved and actual awareness of evacuation points, and secondly to understand the relationship between personal daily activity spaces, or out-of-home activity points, and the awareness of evacuation points.

A questionnaire survey was carried out in two areas of Ota Ward, Tokyo, selected for their varying degrees of risk caused by disaster. The survey yielded 714 valid responses. Concerning the awareness of local evacuation points, results showed that while 71.6% of respondents believe that they have some knowledge of their evacuation points only 50.7% could accurately locate their evacuation point on a map. Conversely 40.0% of respondents who didn't believe that they knew where their evacuation point is could correctly locate their evacuation point on a map. This implies that perceived awareness of evacuation points does not necessarily equate to actual awareness of evacuation points.

As well as the questionnaire survey respondents were also asked to plot their local evacuation points and the places they had visit in their daily life, from which a ‘zone' method was proposed to understand the spatial relationship between out-of-home activity points and the awareness of evacuation points. The analysis found that household structure, property ownership, and experience of actually walking the route from home to evacuation point as having a significant relationship to the awareness of evacuation points in that single households, renters and people who have not walked the route to their evacuation point tended to record evacuation points close to their activity spaces rather than designated evacuation points.

In identifying sectors of the community that tend to select evacuation points closer to their daily activity areas which could help to better understand congestion at evacuation points near areas with a concentration of public facilities such as shops and stations as well as methods to better communicate correct evacuation procedures.

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The occurrence of weld-lines is one of the most undesirable phenomena in injection molding because the molded product's appearance is damaged, and its strenght is reduced in the area around the welded portion. It is difficult to prevent and limit the generation of these lines, thus studies have focused on their elimination or reduction.
A Glass-Inserted Mold has been developed to observe the behavior of molten plastic flow inside an injection mold. In this study the weld-line generation process has been visually analyzed using this mold. The main results obtained are summarized as follows.
(1) Weld-line disappear after the meeting angle of two fronts becomes a particular vanishing angle within the range of 120°-150°, and the range particular to the material does not depend on the molding conditions and cavity shapes.
(2) The above vanishing angle depends on the pressure near the melt front because it faces the hot skin layer against the cavity wall after the front makes contact.
(3) Weld-lines are thought to be caused when a 3-D curved surface of two flow fronts swirls back towards a flat cavity wall at their due to fountain flow, thus folding the surplus area which is generated.
In future research the vanishing angle will be introduced into numerical simulations, thus allowing a perdiction for when the weld-lines disapper.

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We propose an approach of estimating individual growth curves based on the birthday information of Japanese Thoroughbred horses, with considerations of the seasonal compensatory growth that is a typical characteristic of seasonal breeding animals. The compensatory growth patterns appear during only the winter and spring seasons in the life of growing horses, and the between winter and spring depends on the birthday of each horse. We previously developed new growth curve equations for Japanese Thoroughbreds adjusting for compensatory growth. Based on the equations, a parameter denoting the birthday information was added for the modeling of the individual growth curves for each horse by shifting the meeting points in the compensatory growth periods. A total of 5,594 and 5,680 body weight and age measurements of Thoroughbred colts and fillies, respectively, and 3,770 withers height and age measurements of both sexes were used in the analyses. The results of predicted error difference and Akaike Information Criterion showed that the individual growth curves using birthday information better fit to the body weight and withers height data than not using them. The individual growth curve for each horse would be a useful tool for the feeding managements of young Japanese Thoroughbreds in compensatory growth periods.

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