Study on Accuracy Improvement of Slope Failure Region Detection Using Mask R-CNN with Augmentation Method.

We proposed an automatic detection method of slope failure regions using a semantic segmentation method called Mask R-CNN based on a deep learning algorithm to improve the efficiency of damage assessment in the event of slope failure disaster. There is limited research on detecting landslides by deep learning, and the lack of training data is an important issue to be resolved, as aerial photographs are not taken with sufficient frequency during a disaster. This study attempts to use CutMix-based augmentation to improve detection accuracy. We also compare the detection results obtained by augmentation of multiple patterns. In the comparison of the not augmented data case, the recall increased by 0.186 in the case using the augmented data with the shape of the slope failure region maintained. When the image data was augmented while maintaining the shape of the slope failure region, the recall score indicated the low oversights in the prediction result is 0.701. This is an increase of 0.186 compared to the case where no augmentation was performed. In addition, the F1 score was 0.740, this also increased by 0.139, and high values were obtained for other indicators. Therefore, the method proposed in this study is greatly useful for grasping slope failure regions because of the detection with high accuracy, as described above.

Insights into the Formation Pathway of Templated Ordered Nanostructured Carbonaceous Particles under Hydrothermal Conditions.

Ordered nanostructured materials and their porous counterparts are important for numerous applications in sorption and separation sciences, electrochemistry, catalysis, and photonics. They can be synthesized by introducing surfactant or amphiphilic polymer template(s) into the condensation stage of a developing solid. Understanding the pathways involved in the formation of these materials is of great interest and will help in the development of future synthesis schemes for designing nanomaterials with controlled nanostructures, pore sizes and shapes, and particle morphologies. In this work, the formation pathway of carbonaceous particles, with cubic-type ordered nanostructures, in the polymer amphiphile-templated hydrothermal condensation of sugar was investigated. A detailed transmission electron microscopy study revealed the initial formation of ∼50 nm sized nanoparticles and the structure attributable to assembled nanoparticles to form larger microparticle volumes. Small-angle X-ray scattering analysis showed the time-dependent development of the ordered structures in the carbonaceous particles. A dynamic stabilization-destabilization of the ordered phase was suggested through the analysis of the liquid crystalline gel-like matrix. The growing carbonaceous body inherited the final liquid crystalline phase, giving the microparticles a well-ordered cubic nanostructure. An additional internal domain texture was also revealed inside the microparticles. The proposed pathway will contribute toward establishing strategies for precisely manipulating nanostructured bodies as well as acquiring an in-depth understanding of the templated precipitations, including those in the natural systems.

Insight into Notch Signaling Steps That Involve pecanex from Dominant-Modifier Screens in Drosophila.

Notch signaling plays crucial roles in intercellular communications. In Drosophila, the pecanex (pcx) gene, which encodes an evolutionarily conserved multi-pass transmembrane protein, appears to be required to activate Notch signaling in some contexts, especially during neuroblast segregation in the neuroectoderm. Although Pcx has been suggested to contribute to endoplasmic reticulum homeostasis, its functions remain unknown. Here, to elucidate these roles, we performed genetic modifier screens of pcx We found that pcx heterozygotes lacking its maternal contribution exhibit cold-sensitive lethality, which is attributed to a reduction in Notch signaling at decreased temperatures. Using sets of deletions that uncover most of the second and third chromosomes, we identified four enhancers and two suppressors of the pcx cold-sensitive lethality. Among these, five genes encode known Notch-signaling components: big brain, Delta (Dl), neuralized (neur), Brother of Bearded A (BobA), a member of the Bearded (Brd) family, and N-ethylmaleimide-sensitive factor 2 (Nsf2). We showed that BobA suppresses Dl endocytosis during neuroblast segregation in the neuroectoderm, as Brd family genes reportedly do in the mesoderm for mesectoderm specification. Analyses of Nsf2, a key regulator of vesicular fusion, suggested a novel role in neuroblast segregation, which is distinct from Nsf2's previously reported role in imaginal tissues. Finally, jim lovell, which encodes a potential transcription factor, may play a role in Notch signaling during neuroblast segregation. These results reveal new research avenues for Pcx functions and Notch signaling.

Porous carbohydrate-based materials via hard templating.

Among various techniques, the hydrothermal carbonization (HTC) of biomass (either isolated carbohydrates or crude plants) is a promising candidate for the synthesis of novel carbon-based materials with a wide variety of potential applications. In this Minireview, we discuss various synthetic routes towards such porous carbon-based materials or composites through the HTC process, using the nanocasting procedure. We focus on the synthesis of carbon materials with different pore systems and morphologies directed by the presence of various nanostructured inorganic sacrificial templates. This method allows tailoring of the final structure via the tools of colloid and polymer science, leading to selectable material morphology for a wide range of applications.

Salt-induced formation of uniform fiberlike SBA-15 mesoporous silica particles and application to toluene adsorption.

Long, homogeneous fiberlike SBA-15 mesoporous silica particles are prepared by fine adjustment of three reaction conditions--stirring temperature, stirring time, and amount of inorganic salt added--using Pluronic P123 and TEOS under acidic conditions. The addition of NaCl along with a short stirring time played an important role in controlling the morphology and pore characteristics. Dynamic adsorption performance for gaseous toluene was systematically evaluated using four types of materials with different morphologies and pore characteristics synthesized with the addition of a different amount of NaCl. Breakthrough curves showed that the longer the fiberlike structure, the longer the breakthrough time. Furthermore, it was found from the breakthrough times and the total amounts adsorbed that long particles with high microporosity offer effective adsorption performance and should be useful in applications such as toluene adsorption.

Effect of pore structure in mesoporous silicas on VOC dynamic adsorption/desorption performance.

The dynamic adsorption/desorption behavior of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) such as toluene (C7H8) and benzene (C6H6) was evaluated for three kinds of mesoporous silicas of SBA-15, all having almost the same mesopore size of ca. 5.7 nm, and a MCM-41 silica with a smaller pore size of 2.1 nm using a continuous three-step test. The fiberlike SBA-15 silica exhibited exceptionally good breakthrough behavior, a higher VOC capacity, and easier desorption. The fiberlike silica was composed through the catenation of rodlike particles. The rodlike silicas, by comparison, were proven to be less useful in dynamic adsorption processes because of lower dynamic VOC capacities despite having comparative porous parameters with the fiberlike silica. The large dynamic VOC capacity of the fiberlike silica was attributed to the presence of a bimodal pore system consisting of longer, one-dimensional mesopore channels connected by complementary micropores.