- 4 - Abstract Introduction: Periodic fever syndromes are clinical entities classified as autoinflammatory diseases. The most of the periodic fever syndromes have genetic predisposition (monogenic periodic fever syndromes). PFAPA (Periodic Fever, Aphtous stomatitis, Pharyngitis a Adenitis) syndrome is an idiopathic disease with unknown aetiology. Results: In our study, we described the largest clinical series of patients with PFAPA syndrome from a single center. The laboratory results have confirmed uncomplicated course of PFAPA syndrome. In our measurements we observed significantly higher levels of serum cytokines (IL-1β and IFN-γ) during episodes of fever in PFAPA patients compared to the control group. Our measurements showed increased numbers of plasma cells in the peripheral blood of PFAPA patients. We have found increased levels of naïve CD4 and CD8 T cells and approximately 2-fold higher proportion of CD8 T cells in tonsils of PFAPA patients. Significant differences were also present at levels of IFN-γ, IL-1β, IL-6 and TNF-α in stimulated supernatants compared to supernatants from unstimulated peripheral blood from patients with PFAPA syndrome. Measurements of bacterial profile showed individual microbial profile in patients. Conclusion: Removal of the tonsillar tissue with the potential...

A theoretical investigation of one-dimensional planar photonic crystal waveguides is carried out. These waveguides consist of a dielectric layer sandwiched between two semiinfinite periodic dielectric structures. Using a novel approach, exact analytical solutions for guided modes in such waveguides are presented. The se rigorous solutions allow one to distinguish clearly between the index-guiding regime and guidance due to the photonic crystal effect. In the first part of this investigation, a rigorous analysis of the reflection of uniform plane waves from a semi- infinite periodic dielectric structure is undertaken. Both parallel and perpendicular polarizations for the incident plane wave are considered. Exact expressions for the reflection coefficients corresponding to two polarization cases are obtained using an impedance approach. The results for the reflection coefficient are then used to study propagation properties of guided modes in one-dimensional photonic crystal waveguides with semiinfinite periodic cladding regions. Characteristic equations, from which propagation constants of guided modes can be obtained, and solutions for electromagnetic fields of these modes are derived. Solutions for both TE (transverse electric) and TM (transverse magnetic) modes are presented. Numerical results for the propagation constant and field distributions of several lower-order modes are presented. The solutions unique to photonic crystal waveguides are emphasized. / Master of Science

京都大学 / 0048 / 新制・課程博士 / 博士(医学) / 甲第18166号 / 医博第3886号 / 新制||医||1003(附属図書館) / 31024 / 京都大学大学院医学研究科医学専攻 / (主査)教授 髙橋 良輔, 教授 三森 経世, 教授 佐藤 俊哉 / 学位規則第4条第1項該当 / Doctor of Medical Science / Kyoto University / DFAM

In this dissertation, the mechanical models of 2-DOF and 4-DOF nonlinear journal bearing rotor systems are established. A more accurate model of oil film forces is derived from Reynolds equations. The periodic motions in such nonlinear journal bearing systems are obtained through discrete mapping method. Such a semi-analytical method constructs an implicit discrete mapping structure for periodic motions by discretization of the continuous journal bearing rotor differential equations. Stable and unstable periodic solutions of periodic motions are obtained with prescribed accuracy. The bifurcation tree of periodic motions in rotor system without oil film forces is demonstrated through the route from period-1 motion to period-8 motion. Stable period-2 and unstable period-1 motion are presented for 2 DOF journal bearing rotor system. Possibly infinite periodic solutions are found in 4 DOF journal bearing rotor system. For the rotor systems, the stability and bifurcations of periodic motions are analyzed through eigenvalue analysis of the corresponding Jacobian matrix of the discretized nonlinear systems. The frequency amplitude characteristics of periodic motions in 2 DOF journal bearing system are presented for a good understanding of the nonlinear dynamics of journal bearing rotor system in frequency domain . The rich dynamics of the journal bearing systems are discovered. The numerical illustrations of stable periodic motions are brought out with the initial conditions from analytical prediction.

The objective of this dissertation is to develop a mechanical model of a nonlinear piezoelectric energy harvesting system induced by Duffing oscillator and predict the periodic motions of such a nonlinear dynamical system under different excitation frequency. In this dissertation, analytical distributed-parameter electromechanical modeling of a piezoelectric energy harvester will be presented. The electromechanically coupled circuit equation excited by infinitely many vibration modes is derived. The governing electromechanical equations are reduced to ordinary differential equations in modal coordinates and eventually an infinite set of algebraic equations is obtained for the complex modal vibration response and the complex voltage response of the energy harvester beam. One single vibration mode is chosen and discussed. The periodic motions are obtained through an implicit mapping method with high accuracy, stability and bifurcations of periodic motions are determined by the eigenvalue analysis. Frequency-amplitude characteristics of periodic motions are achieved by the Fourier transform

A transmission-line metamaterial design of a material-embedded electric line source radiating inside a ground recess is investigated. The media embedding the recessed line source are designed such that the embedded current creates the same radiation pattern as a line source over a flat conducting ground plane. Transmission-line metamaterial unit cell designs for the embedding media obtained from the transformation electromagnetics design technique are shown. The metamaterial design of the overall embedded source configuration is numerically tested using circuit simulations. It is shown that the embedded-source design creates the same radiation characteristics as the line source above a flat ground plane at the design frequency.

A study on phase synchronization in large populations of nonlinear dynamical systems is presented in this thesis. Using the well-known Rossler system as a prototypical model, phase synchronization in one oscillator with periodic external forcing and in two-coupled nonidentical oscillators was explored at first. The study was further extended to consider three-dimensional lattices and globally coupled populations of nonidentical oscillators, in which the mathematical formulation that represents phase synchronization in the generalized N-coupled Rossler system was derived and several computer programs that perform numerical simulations were developed. The results show the effects of coupling dimension, coupling strength, population size, and system parameter on phase synchronization of the various Rossler systems, which may be applicable to studying phase synchronization in other nonlinear dynamical systems as well.

A new method for predicting forced vibratory blade response to total pressure distortion has been developed using modal and harmonic analysis. Total pressure distortions occur in gas turbine engines when the incoming airflow is partially blocked or disturbed. Distorted inlet conditions can have varying effects on engine performance and engine life. Short-term effects are often in the form of performance degradation where the distorted airflow causes a loss in pressure rise, and a reduction in mass flow and stall margin. Long-term effects are a result of vibratory blade response that can ultimately lead to high cycle fatigue (HCF), which in turn can quickly cause partial damage to a single blade or complete destruction of an entire compressor blade row, leading to catastrophic failure of the gas turbine engine. A better understanding and prediction of vibratory blade response is critical to extending engine life and reducing HCF-induced engine failures. This work covers the use of finite element modeling coupled with computational fluid dynamics-generated pressure fields to create a generalized forcing function. The first three modes of a low-aspect-ratio, transonic, first stage blade of a two-stage fan were examined. The generalized forcing function was decomposed to the frequency domain to identify the dominant harmonic magnitude present, as well as other contributing harmonics. An attempt to define the relationship between modal force with varying total pressure distortion levels produced a sensitivity factor that describes the relationship in the form of a simple multiplier. A generalized force was applied to the blade and varied harmonically across a frequency range known to contain the first natural frequency. The mean rotor stress variation was recorded and compared to experimental results to validate the accuracy of the model and verify its ability to predict vibratory blade response accurately. / Master of Science

My PhD work focuses on developing new methods to create the macroscopic patterns in a simple, robust, and versatile way. For macroscopic pattern formation, we first use flow coating as an assembly technique, uniquely balancing two driving forces: (i) evaporative deposition of nonvolatile solutes at a three-phase contact line and (ii) precision movement of a confined meniscus layer. This balance leads to the formation of line-based patterns that range in height and width from nanometers to microns, with lengths greater than centimeters. Moreover, we couple this deposition methodology with functional ligand chemistry on the nanoparticle surface, which allows us to create complex nanoparticle structures. By lifting crosslinked nanoparticle ribbons and ropes, exceptionally intriguing structures emanate from this process. The nanoparticle ribbons and ropes demonstrate a leap forward in nanomaterials fabrication, since the nanoscale properties are embedded within a macroscale object that can be manipulated with conventional methods and engineered into advanced technologies Using mechanical instability, we fabricate a simple, robust stimuli-responsive surface with periodic structures over a large area based upon osmotically-driven surface wrinkling. Although surface wrinkling has received considerable attention in the scientific literature, only a handful of papers have shown the ability to harness perhaps the greatest potential attribute of surface wrinkles: their active reversible nature. The ability to precisely control surface topographic morphologies in accordance with established scaling relationships opens a wide array of advanced materials applications, which do not rely upon cost-limiting fabrication techniques. Specifically, the surfaces respond to solvent exposure by developing well-defined topographic structures over laterally extensive areas due to osmotically-driven differential strains between a surface layer and underlying soft substrate. The observed wrinkling occurs spontaneously, forming hierarchical morphologies with controlled dimensions, and vanishes upon removal of the solvent driving force. The combined responsiveness and reversibility of wrinkling allow for the realization of functional devices, such as smart windows, smart microlens arrays, reversible channels in microfluidic devices. Moreover, by using thermal and osmotic approaches, we study the influence of geometry and material properties on surface instability such as cracking and wrinkling in a trilayer system consisting of a thin film on a soft foundation supported by a rigid substrate.

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