Guinness World Record Research Articles

Special Issue on the 2011 off the Pacific Coast of Tohoku Earthquake Tsunami

An unprecedented M9.0 earthquake occurring at 14:46 local time on March 11, 2011, off of northeast Japan’s Pacific Ocean generated a huge tsunami which had a run-up of over 40 m at the highest point and nearly 20,000 lives were lost. The tsunami demonstrated the need to drastically readdress current tsunami countermeasures. “Guidebook for Tsunami Preparedness in Local Hazard Mitigation Planning” published prior to the March 11 tsunami had already estimated, as one of the cases of tsunami assumptions, that the tsunami could be generated by the largest earthquake near off the Sanriku Coast predicted by the recent seismology. The seismotectonics had predicted that off the Sanriku Coast consisted of three independent blocks, which could conceivably cause an M8.6 earthquake at the largest. However, three blocks were not independent and they moved continuously to yield an earthquake of M9.0. The Guidebook had recommended a combination of three approaches for handling such a tsunami; Construction of defense structures, Tsunami-resilient town development, and Disaster prevention systems – defense structures were not expected to completely prevent every tsunami but only reduce its effect. Caissons forming part of Kamaishi Port’s tsunami breakwaters and registered in Guinness World Records, were overturned but reduced the tsunami height from 14 m outside the port to 8 m inside. Many coastal dikes were also destroyed, even though three surfaces – fore slope, top slope, and rear slope – had been protected using concrete and other means. Such phenomena pinpoint the importance of toe protection against erosion. Since 2004, tsunami inundation hazard maps have been distributed to communities in Japan as an aid to public education and as part of the country’s nationwide disaster prevention system. Unexpectedly, these maps had a negative effect in many places where residents living outside inundation areas mentioned on the hazard maps believed they were safe under all condition. Many did not in fact keep track of the actual tsunami rising in front of their very eyes and not evacuate, thus losing their lives. The tsunami hitting the coast of the Fukushima Prefecture had a run-up height almost double that designed in defense plans. The Fukushima No.1 Nuclear Power Plants of the Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO) located on ground 4.8 m above sea level were immerged and a concurrent electric system failure led to total plant shutdown. The Fukushima nuclear disaster itself has become well known worldwide. The effects of the tsunami, however, are less so, despite damage such as fires, railroad destruction and drifting ships caused by the tsunami. With the nuclear incident overshadowing such effects, we are concerned that these results might be overlooked. To better prepare against potential future tsunami disasters, we must understand clearly what sort and how such diverse damage has been generated by the 2011 tsunami. This special issue focuses on the various types of tsunami-induced damages, emphasizing the valuable data and modeling obtained from field investigations in the tsunami-devastated areas. It will be more than worth publication if this special issue contributes in whatever way to furthering tsunami disaster research. Finally, we extend our sincere thanks to all of the contributors and reviewers involved with these articles. (written by Nobuo Shuto and Tomoyuki Takahashi)

Memorization and recall of very long lists accounted for within the Long-Term Working Memory framework

In a recent paper, Hu, Ericsson, Yang, and Lu (2009) found that an ability to memorize very long lists of digits is not mediated by the same mechanisms as exceptional memory for rapidly presented lists, which has been the traditional focus of laboratory research. Chao Lu is the holder of the Guinness World Record for reciting the most decimal positions of pi, yet he lacks an exceptional memory span for digits. In the first part of this paper we analyzed the reliability and structure of his reported encodings for lists of 300 digits and his application of the story mnemonic. Next, his study and recall times for lists of digits were analyzed to test hypotheses about his detailed encoding processes, and cued-recall performance was used to assess the structure of his encodings. Three experiments were then designed to interfere with the uniqueness of Chao Lu’s story encodings, and evidence was found for his remarkable ability to adapt his encoding processes to reduce the interference. Finally, we show how his skills for encoding and recalling long lists can be accounted for within the theoretical framework of Ericsson and Kintsch’s (1995) Long-Term Working Memory.

Celebrating the World Blood Donor Day 2012

Celebrating the World Blood Donor Day 2012

BIOBOARD

AUSTRALIA – Genetic Link Found for Brain Disorders. AUSTRALIA – Burns Treatment to Replace Skin Grafts. AUSTRALIA – Australian Scientists Discover How Liver Kills "Killer Cells". AUSTRALIA – High Fat Food Triggers Gene 'Switch' Leading to Type 2 Diabetes. CHINA – First Biologist from China Wins Lasker-DeBakey Clinical Medical Research Award. INDIA – H5 Bird Flu Outbreak in West Bengal. JAPAN – New Zealand, Japanese Scientists Collaborate on Functional Foods Research. SINGAPORE – Antibodies Can Bind Cancer Proteins on the Inside. SINGAPORE – A Guinness World Record for Singapore with A*STAR IMRE's world's smallest Working Gears. SINGAPORE – IBN Harnesses Ultrasmall Peptides to Repair Spinal Disc Damage. TAIWAN – Meningitis C Vaccination Breakthrough. TAIWAN – Taiwan Targets Developing High-end Medical Equipment in Three Stages. TAIWAN – Scientists Announce Technology to Grow Meat Faster at Lower Cost. TAIWAN – Taiwanese-American HIV/AIDS Academic Joins Team. OTHER REGIONS — Gene Behind Chronic Blood Cancer Identified. OTHER REGIONS — New Technology Could Make You Light-Hearted. OTHER REGIONS — HIV/AIDS Researcher David Ho Wins NIDA's 2011 Avant-Garde Award. OTHER REGIONS — Steven Chu - 2011 R&D Magazine's 49th Scientist of the Year. OTHER REGIONS — Shu Chien Awarded 2011 National Medal of Science.

3D Visualization of unsteady flames by the combined technique of multi-directional simultaneous photography and 3D-Computed Tomography

A novel technique consists of the following two conventional technique is presented in this article.; (1) multi-directional simultaneous photography and (2) 3D-CT(Computed Tomography). First, examples of the multi-directional simultaneous photography are given for entertainment use and research field. Next 3D-CT method is explained. Experimental results of the combined technique of 3D-CT with Guinness world record winning 158-lens-camera and 3D-PTV are shown. Time-series 3D-CT measurement, that is, 4D-CT accomplished with a single-high-speed camera and multi-mirror system is also introduced.

Breaking the Guinness World Record in Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation Training – Hong Kong, 24 January 2010

Breaking the Guinness World Record in Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation Training – Hong Kong, 24 January 2010

Estimation of heritability in myopic twin studies

To examine the genetic and environmental factors for myopia at the family level, as well as risk factors such as ocular measurements and environmental covariates at the individual level, by analysis of myopic twin data. A myopic twin study was conducted on participants from the 2000 Guinness World Records for twins in Taiwan. A total of 130 participants comprising 58 twin pairs and 13 siblings were recruited. The generalized estimating equation approach was used to evaluate the covariate effects. A Bayesian linear mixed model was then used to estimate the heritability. Pearson's intrapairwise correlation coefficients for ocular refraction and its components were higher among monozygotic twins than among dizygotic twins. The significance of sex suggested that women are more myopic than men. Both axial length and anterior chamber depth were significant factors associated with myopia. The results also showed that people with higher education levels were more likely to have a higher degree of myopia. After accounting for genetic and environmental effects and other covariates, the estimate of heritability of myopia was as high as 0.306. After adjusting for environmental covariates, heritability still plays a decisive genetic role in the development of myopia.

Superior self-paced memorization of digits in spite of a normal digit span: The structure of a memorist’s skill.

Over the last century many individuals with exceptional memory have been studied and tested in the laboratory. This article studies Chao Lu, who set a Guinness World Record by memorizing 67,890 decimals of pi. Chao Lu's superior self-paced memorization of digits is shown through analyses of study times and verbal reports to be mediated by mnemonic encoding and retrieval processes. Furthermore, Chao Lu's development of his superior memory for decimals of pi is consistent with his engagement in thousands of hours of memorization. In contrast to most other studied memorists, who have digit spans over 15 digits, Chao Lu exhibited a digit span in only the normal range. Implications for different types of memorization skills and associated practice activities are discussed.

Telemedicine in Extreme Conditions: Supporting the Martin Strel Amazon Swim Expedition

Slovenian Martin Strel, the Guinness world record holder in ultra marathon swimming, recently set a new world record by swimming the entire Amazon River. Over a 66-day period beginning in Atalaya, Peru, he swam to the Atlantic Ocean at Belém, Brazil. This record-breaking swim was part of the Amazon Swim Expedition. This entire mission was supported by a comprehensive medical team, the Amazon Virtual Medical Team (AVMT), which provided medical support using telemedicine. The AVMT, a multinational volunteer group of specialists, physicians, and telemedicine experts, provided medical support 24/7 in some of the most remote, dangerous, basin. The AVMT was directed basin. The AVMT was directed by Dr. Rifat Latifi and expedition team physician, Dr. Mateja de Leonni Stanonik, who was aboard the boat during the entire expedition. The expedition provided a unique opportunity to promote telemedicine and e-health in over 17 communities in the Amazon basin.

A Mini Axial and a Permanent Maglev Radial Heart Pump§

The implantability and durability have been for decades the focus of artificial heart R&D. A mini axial and a maglev radial pump have been developed to meet with such requirements.The mini axial pump weighing 27g (incl.5g rotor) has an outer diameter of 21mm and a length of 10mm in its largest point, but can produce a maximal blood flow of 6l/min with 50mmHg pressure increase. Therefore, it is suitable for the patients of 40-60kg body weight. For other patients of 60-80kg or 80-100kg body weight, the mini axial pumps of 23mm and 25mm outer diameter had been developed before, these devices were acknowledged to be the world smallest LVADs by Guinness World Record Center in 2004.The permanent maglev radial pump weighing 150g is a shaft-less centrifugal pump with permanent magnetic bearings developed by the author. It needs no second coil for suspension of the rotor except the motor coil, different from all other maglev pumps developed in USA, Japan, European, etc. Thus no detecting and controlling systems as well as no additional power supply for maglev are necessary. The pump can produce a blood flow up to as large as 10l/min against 100mmHg pressure.An implantable and durable blood pump will be a viable alternative to natural donor heart for transplantation.

More Dengue, More Questions

More Dengue, More Questions

Guinness World Records

Guinness World Records

Preliminary Bibliography of Best-Known Black Appalachian Musicians

African-American musicians have lived in, contributed to, and influenced Appalachian music since the introduction of the banjo and African work songs and chants through modern blues, jazz, gospel, pop, and rock music. While some of these musicians have been documented for their individual achievements, only recently have they been considered collectively in terms of the Appalachian region. This bibliography is not a comprehensive collection of all black music in Appalachia, but it highlights the best-known artists who were born within the Appalachian region. It does not include scores or record reviews. It favors blues and folk music over sacred, jazz, RB however, only those about whom there is published material in print--books, articles, newspaper columns, sound recordings, or videos--are listed in this index. Sources containing information about three or more included musicians or containing a general discussion of black music in Appalachia can be found under General Sources. Sources for individual musicians and groups follow the general headings and are categorized alphabetically by musician, then by category of material, then by entry. While this project reflects time restraints and the methodology does not cover every black Appalachian musician exhaustively, it is the first to compile the major known sources of the black artists in the region. General Sources General Dictionaries, Encyclopedias, and Guides Arnaudon, Jean-Claude. 1977. Dictionnaire du blues. Paris: Filipacchi. Carr, Ian. 1988. Jazz: The essential companion. New York: Prentice-Hall. Clarke, Donald. 1989. The Penguin encyclopedia of popular music. New York: Viking Penguin. Cowley, John, and Paul Oliver. 1996. The new Blackwell guide to recorded blues. Oxford: Blackwell. Harris, Sheldon. 1979. Blues who's who. 5th ed. New Rochelle, N.Y.: Arlington House. Kernfeld, Barry, ed. 2002. The new Grove dictionary of jazz. 3rd ed. New York: Grove's Dictionaries. Kinkle, Roger D. 1974. The complete encyclopedia of popular music and jazz, 1900-1950. New Rochelle, N.Y.: Arlington House. Larkin, Colin. 1993. The Guinness who's who of blues. 2nd ed. Enfield, England: Guinness World Records. --. 1998. The encyclopedia of popular music. 3rd ed. New York: Muze; distributed in the U.S. by Grove Dictionaries. Santelli, Robert. …