The Basin of Attraction of the Steady-States for a Chemotaxis Model in {\mathbb{R}^2} with Critical Mass

We consider the Cauchy problem for a parabolic–elliptic system in ${\mathbb{R}^2}$ , which is amathematical model of chemotaxis and also amodel of self-attracting particles. In the critical mass case, we determine the basin of attraction of the steady-states for the Cauchy problem through a Lyapunov functional.     

Optimal control of drainage basin considering moving boundary

The purpose of this article is to present a technique to optimally control river flood using a drainage basin considering a moving boundary. The main theme of this article is to obtain outflow discharge from the drainage basin that maintains the water level at a downstream point and empties the drainage basin as soon as possible. The water flow phenomenon inside the drainage basin when a river flood occurs is considered. This phenomenon can be analysed by the finite element method considering a moving boundary. The optimal control theory can be implemented to obtain the optimal control discharge. The finite element analysis with a moving boundary is introduced in the optimal control theory. A new boundary condition on the downstream side of the river is proposed. This condition is formulated by the solitary wave condition based on the basic water level being capable of representing natural water surface. As a numerical study, optimal control of shallow water flow is carried out for the Tsurumi River and its drainage basin model.     

Application of X-ray CT investigation of CO<Subscript>2</Subscript>–brine flow in porous media

A clear understanding of two-phase flows in porous media is important for investigating CO₂ geological storage. In this study, we conducted an experiment of CO₂/brine flow process in porous media under sequestration conditions using X-ray CT technique. The flow properties of relative permeability, porosity heterogeneity, and CO₂ saturation were observed in this experiment. The porous media was packed with glass beads having a diameter of 0.2 mm. The porosity distribution along the flow direction is heterogeneous owing to the diameter and shape of glass beads along the flow direction. There is a relationship between CO₂ saturation and porosity distribution, which changes with different flow rates and fractional flows. The heterogeneity of the porous media influences the distribution of CO₂; moreover, gravity, fractional flows, and flow rates influence CO₂ distribution and saturation. The relative permeability curve was constructed using the steady-state method. The results agreed well with the relative permeability curve simulated using pore-network model.     

Minimum standards of clinical practice for physical therapists working in intensive care units in Japan

Objective: Early mobilization and rehabilitation has become common and expectations for physical therapists working in intensive care units have increased in Japan. The objective of this study was to establish consensus-based minimum clinical practice standards for physical therapists working in intensive care units in Japan. It also aimed to make an international comparison of minimum clinical practice standards in this area. Methods: In total, 54 experienced physical therapists gave informed consent and participated in this study. A modified Delphi method with questionnaires was used over three rounds. Participants rated 272 items as “essential/unknown/non-essential”. Consensus was considered to be reached on items that over 70% of physical therapists rated as “essential” to clinical practice in the intensive care unit. Results: Of the 272 items in the first round, 188 were deemed essential. In round 2, 11 of the 62 items that failed to reach consensus in round 1 were additionally deemed essential. No item was added to the “essential” consensus in round 3. In total, 199 items were therefore deemed essential as a minimum standard of clinical practice. Participants agreed that 42 items were not essential and failed to reach agreement on 31 others. Identified 199 items were different from those in the UK and Australia due to national laws, cultural and historical backgrounds. Conclusions: This is the first study to develop a consensus-based minimum clinical practice standard for physical therapists working in intensive care units in Japan.     

A Review of Red Yeast Rice,a Traditional Fermented Food in Japan and East Asia: Its Characteristic Ingredients and Application in the Maintenance and Improvement of Health in Lipid Metabolism and the Circulatory System

Red yeast rice has been used to produce alcoholic beverages and various fermented foods in China and Korea since ancient times; it has also been used to produce tofuyo (Okinawan-style fermented tofu) in Japan since the 18th century. Recently, monacolin K (lovastatin) which has cholesterol-lowering effects, was found in some strains of Monascus fungi. Since statins have been used world-wide as a cholesterol-lowering agent, processed foods containing natural statins are drawing attention as materials for primary prevention of life-style related diseases. In recent years, large-scale commercial production of red yeast rice using traditional solid-state fermentation has become possible, and various useful materials, including a variety of monascus pigments (polyketides) that spread as natural pigments, in addition to statins, are produced in the fermentation process. Red yeast rice has a lot of potential as a medicinal food. In this paper, we describe the history of red yeast rice as food, especially in Japan and East Asia, its production methods, use, and the ingredients with pharmacological activity. We then review evidence of the beneficial effects of red yeast rice in improving lipid metabolism and the circulatory system and its safety as a functional food.     

Asymmetric Synthesis of β2-Aryl Amino Acids through Pd-Catalyzed Enantiospecific and Regioselective Ring-Opening Suzuki–Miyaura Arylation of Aziridine-2-carboxylates

A Pd-catalyzed enantiospecific and regioselective ring-opening Suzuki–Miyaura arylation of aziridine-2-carboxylates was developed. The cross-coupling allows for the asymmetric preparation of enantioenriched β²-aryl amino acids, starting from commercially available enantiopure d - and l -serine esters. The mechanism and selectivity of the reaction was rationalized based on computational models.     

A new cyano-substituted fluorescamine superior to its original form as a fluorescent probe for amino acid detection

Synthesis and spectral study of two new cyano-substituted fluorescamine as the fluorescent probes for amino acid detection have been carried out comparing with the original fluorescamine. Of the three compounds, the derivative with a cyano group at the meta-position on the 4-phenyl group was found to be superior to the original one in the reactivity toward some amino acids as well as the fluorescence intensity of the adducts. The fluorescent amino acid adducts were also applied to the peroxyoxalate chemiluminescence system as the fluorophores, in which the derivative described above was found to be more effective also in chemiluminescence than the original one.