Hierarchical Clustering Method for Extraction of Knowledge from a Large Amount of Data

The introduction of information systems in the medical field has made it possible to accumulate a large amount of health care examination data. Analysis of such data could yield valuable new knowledge about health and disease. In this paper, we propose a method for the analysis of large amounts of medical and health care data, especially images or signals. The proposed method treats data in a multidimensional space without any pre-processing, and the data is classified into groups according to the criterion. The criterion used in this paper is to maximize likelihood calculated from the probability density, which is given by the Parzen estimation method. The result of classification is expressed by a binary tree structure as a hierarchy of clusters. We applied this method to computer-generated data and practical electrocardiogram data, and the results showed its validity.     

Comparing vortex methods and finite difference methods in a homogeneous turbulent shear flow

The vortex method is applied to the calculation of a homogeneous shear turbulence, and compared with a finite difference code using identical calculation conditions. The core spreading method with spatial adaptation is selected as the viscous diffusion scheme of the vortex method. The shear rate is chosen so that it matches the maximum value observed in a fully developed channel flow. The isosurface, anisotropy tensors, and joint probability density functions reflect the ability of the present vortex method to quantitatively reproduce the anisotropic nature of strongly sheared turbulence, both instantaneously and statistically. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Crystallization kinetics for semicrystalline random copolymers of vinylidene chloride (VDC) with methyl acrylate (MA), and the effects on the internal morphology of the resin particles formed during synthesis

Isothermal crystallization kinetics for random copolymers of vinylidene chloride (VDC) with methyl acrylate (MA) is reported. Syntheses of many semicrystalline polymers follow heterogeneous reaction paths in which the macromolecule chains phase separate from the reaction mixtures. The internal particle morphology (the internal structure of the resin bead) from this type of reaction is granular and porous, as a result of the demixing processes accompanying polymer formation. Demixing in these polymers involves either liquid-liquid (L-L) phase separation followed by liquid-solid (L-S) transformation (crystallization) or L-S transformation alone. Crystallization (L-S transformation) must be an indispensable part of the process if a porous granular structure is to be expected. This is because L-S transformation is the most probable means by which the demixed structure can be stabilized against complete coalescence or agglomeration, which would lead to totally fused bead internal structure. This is particularly true if the glass transition temperature (T_g) is lower than the polymerization temperatures, as is the case with the VDC-MA copolymers. Copolymers that crystallize the fastest will have the finest (most porous) resin bead morphology. The result of this work is consistent with expectation. The homopolymer (PVDC) that crystallizes the fastest has the finest resin bead internal morphology. The copolymers show slower crystallization rates with increasing noncrystallizable MA content. Correspondingly, resin morphology measured by specific surface area decreased with increasing amounts of the noncrystallizable (MA) comonomer unit in the copolymer. This is clearly seen in SEM photographs of the internal bead structures of these copolymers. ©1995 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Magnetic and electrical properties of several Mn-based amorphous alloys

Magnetic and electrical properties of amorphous Mn-Y, Mn-Zr, and Mn-Nb alloys have been investigated. All these alloys have a temperature-dependent susceptibility which is well fitted by a Curie-Weiss law. This implies the existence of localized magnetic moments associated with the Mn atoms. In addition, amorphous Mn-Y alloys exhibit spin-glass characteristics at low temperature. The experimental results of the electrical resistivity show that the temperature coefficient of resistivity (TCR) of both Mn-Y and Mn-Zr are negative, while Mn-Nb has a positive TCR. On the other hand, the resistivity-temperature curves of Mn-Zr and Mn-Nb have nearly the same tendency but are different from that of Mn-Y.     

Simultaneous measurement of fluctuating velocity and pressure in the near wake of a circular cylinder

Simultaneous measurement of fluctuating velocity and pressure by a static-pressure probe and a hot-wire probe was performed in the near wake of a circular cylinder, in order to strengthen reliability of the measurement technique. Effect of geometry of the static-pressure probe was systematically investigated, and validity of the measurement results was addressed by quantitative comparison with reference data by a large-eddy simulation. Interference between the probes was found to mainly depend on the diameter of the pressure probe and only weakly on the length. A certain time lag between the velocity and pressure signals was detected in the experiment, and the measurement results of velocity–pressure correlation $\overline{up}$ and $\overline{vp}$ obtained with the correction of the time lag were in good agreement with the computational results. It was also found that the measurement of $\overline{vp}$ is extremely sensitive to a small time lag between the velocity and pressure signals, while that of $\overline{up}$ is not.     

The stress effect on magnetic domain structure of Fe-Co amorphous alloys

The stress effect on magnetic domain structure has been studied for the Fe-Co amorphous alloy system. The domain structure was dominated by the magnetostriction-internal stress coupling. By applying the tensile stress, the domain structure was changed significantly according to the magnitude and sign of magnetostriction. The value of internal stress estimated was about 3×10⁸ dyn/cm² and nearly constant for all the alloy composition.     

The flourescence lifetime of the benzyl radical

Time resolved fluorescence of the benzyl, monomethylbenzyl and dimethylbenzyl radicals strapped in rigid solvents at low temperatures has been observed using the second harmonic of the ruby laser at the exciting source. The fluorescence lifetimes of these radicals are very long (10^?7–10^?6 sec), which are influenced considerably by the methyl substituents. The long fluorescence lifetimes of the benzyl radical and its methyl derivatives are interpreted in terms of the forbidden character of the first doublet-doublet electronic transition.     

Calorimetric standards for photothermal methods in ultraviolet and visible spectral regions

Utilizing a time-resolved thermal lensing (TRTL) technique coupled with laser flash excitation, we have determined the heat conversion efficiency, a, of photoexcited molecules in solution at room temperature. The efficiencies of pyridazine, dicumarol, and 8-quinolinol are unity in the ultraviolet region. Azulene is demonstrated to be a good calorimetric standard in the visible region. The solvent effect on the thermal lens signal is well explained by thermal properties of solvent molecules, i.e. the cubic expansion coefficient and the specific heat capacity.     

Effects of 32-oxygenated lanosterol derivatives on 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase activity and cholesterol biosynthesis from 24,25-dihydrolanosterol.

The effects of 32-oxygenated lanosterol derivatives on 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) reductase activity and cholesterol biosynthesis from [24,25-3H]24,25-dihydrolanosterol were studied. Among the derivatives, 3 beta-hydroxylanost-7-en-32-oic acid was the most active in depressing HMG-CoA reductase activity (IC50: 0.7 microM) and cholesterol biosynthesis (IC50: 0.4 microM) from 24,25-dihydrolanosterol.