Springer Science and Business Media LLC Acta Medica Okayama 0046-5755 220 3 2026 Knot surgered elliptic surfaces without 1- and 3-handles for a (2, 2h + 1)-torus knot 29 EN Naoyuki Monden Department of Mathematics, Faculty of Science, Okayama University Reo Yabuguchi Department of Mathematics, Faculty of Science, Okayama University For any positive integers h and n, we show that a knot surgered elliptic surface E(n)T(2,2h+1) for a (2, 2h + 1)-torus knot T (2, 2h + 1) admits a handle decomposition without 1- and 3-handles using a Kirby diagram derived from a Lefschetz fibration on it. As a corollary, an elliptic surface E(1)2,2h+1 has such a handle decomposition. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Informa UK Limited Acta Medica Okayama 0020-739X 2026 Triangulation in teaching probability: teaching materials for the theoretical foundations of probability in real-world applications EN Yusuke Uegatani Hiroshima University High School Ippo Ishibashi Faculty of Education, Okayama University Aya Sakota Hiroshima University High School This paper proposes using the concept of triangulation with probabilistic models as a means to enhance theoretical inversion for deepening students�f understanding of the nature of probability in real-world contexts. Triangulation refers to the combined application of multiple methodologies to investigate the same phenomenon, particularly in the social sciences. Theoretical inversion refers to a shift in focus from surprising outcomes to the theoretical foundations of probability. The paper introduces three types of problem-solving tasks designed to enhance one of four types of triangulations: theory triangulation. Theoretical inversion is expected to emerge through engaging in these tasks. The characteristics of the problems are as follows. Problem 1 promotes students to compare different probabilistic models of events under similar procedures. Problem 2 provides students with an opportunity to simplify an experiment by omitting steps that add no new information. Problem 3 enhances students�f ability to recognise how subtle differences in the experimental setup can affect the resulting probability. These tasks are designed to encourage students to view probabilistic reasoning as a form of modelling and to appreciate the importance of assumptions, definitions of elementary events, and clarity in procedural descriptions. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

���R��w�������Ԋw������ Acta Medica Okayama 2436-8326 5 2026 ���������ړ��A��Տo�y�l���̔N��E�H���E��`�I���� 20 39 EN Hideaki KANZAWA-KIRIYAMA Division of Human Evolution, Paleontology and Anthropology, National Museum of Nature and Science, Tsukuba City, Ibaraki Prefecture Mai TAKIGAMI Division of Human Evolution, Paleontology and Anthropology, National Museum of Nature and Science, Tsukuba City, Ibaraki Prefecture Tsuneo KAKUDA Department of Legal Medicine, Interdisciplinary Graduate School of Medicine and Engineering, University of Yamanashi Leo SPEIDEL Center for Interdisciplinary Theoretical and Mathematical Sciences, RIKEN Garrett HELLENTHAL Department of Genetics, Evolution and Environment, University College London Genetics Institute (UGI), University College London Nancy BIRD Department of Genetics, Evolution and Environment, University College London Genetics Institute (UGI), University College London Yousuke KAWAI Genome Medical Science Project, National Institute of Global Health and Medicine, National Institute for Health Security NCBN Controls WGS Consortium Minoru SAKAMOTO National Museum of Japanese History Yuichi KAMEDA Division of Human Evolution, Paleontology and Anthropology, National Museum of Nature and Science, Tsukuba City, Ibaraki Prefecture Noboru ADACHI Department of Legal Medicine, Interdisciplinary Graduate School of Medicine and Engineering, University of Yamanashi Ken-ichi SHINODA National Museum of Nature and Science Naruya SAITOU National Institute of Genetics Tatsuhiko HAMADA Research Institute for the Dynamics of Civilizations, Okayama University �_�� (Research article) 10.18926/70052 This paper reports on the integrative research findings of the human bones excavated from the Inome Cave Site in Shimane Prefecture, based on dietary estimation using carbon and nitrogen isotope analysis, radiocarbon dating, and whole genome analysis. The dates of the analyzed human bones span a wide range, from the Middle to Late Kofun period, the Nara period to the Early Heian period, and the Middle to Late Heian period, indicating that the Inome Cave Site was continuously used as a burial place. Dietary habits were a mixture of C3 resources (C3 plants and terrestrial animals that consumed C3 plants) and marine resources, with individual variations in the intake of marine and terrestrial resources. A correlation was observed between differences in dietary habits and individual variations in the Jomon ratio in the nuclear genome, with individuals who consumed higher amounts of marine resources tending to have a higher Jomon ratio. This suggests that individuals with different backgrounds were buried in the same site due to interactions with surrounding settlements. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) Acta Medica Okayama 0018-9456 74 2025 Small Distance Increment Method for Measuring Complex Permittivity With mmWave Radar 6009610 EN Hang Song Research Institute for Semiconductor Engineering, Hiroshima University Hyun Joon Kim Department of Transdisciplinary Science and Engineering, Institute of Science Tokyo Mingxia Wan Department of Transdisciplinary Science and Engineering, Institute of Science Tokyo Bo Wei Faculty of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University Takamaro Kikkawa Research Institute for Semiconductor Engineering, Hiroshima University Jun-Ichi Takada Department of Transdisciplinary Science and Engineering, Institute of Science Tokyo Measuring the complex permittivity of material is essential in many scenarios, such as quality checks in material manufacturing. Generally, measurement methods for characterizing the material are based on the use of a vector network analyzer (VNA), which is large and not easy for on-site measurement, especially in high-frequency range such as millimeter wave (mmWave). In addition, some measurement methods require the destruction of samples, which is not suitable for nondestructive inspection. In this work, a small distance increment (SDI) method is proposed to nondestructively measure the complex permittivity of a material. In SDI, the transmitter and receiver are formed as a monostatic radar, which is facing toward the material under test (MUT). During the measurement, the distance between the radar and the MUT changes with small increments, and the signals are recorded at each position. A mathematical model is formulated to depict the relationship among the complex permittivity, distance increment, and measured signals. By fitting the model, the complex permittivity of MUT is estimated. To implement and evaluate the proposed SDI method, a commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) mmWave radar is utilized, and the measurement system is developed. Then, the evaluation was carried out on the acrylic plate. With the proposed method, the estimated complex permittivity of the acrylic plate shows good agreement with the literature values, demonstrating the efficacy of the SDI method for characterizing the complex permittivity of the material. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

American Astronomical Society Acta Medica Okayama 0004-637X 992 1 2025 Observing Supernova Neutrino Light Curves with Super-Kamiokande. VI. A Practical Data Analysis Technique Considering Realistic Experimental Backgrounds 27 EN Fumi Nakanishi Department of Physics, Okayama University Ken�fichiro Nakazato Faculty of Arts and Science, Kyushu University Masayuki Harada Kamioka Observatory, Institute for Cosmic Ray Research, The University of Tokyo Yusuke Koshio Department of Physics, Okayama University Ryuichiro Akaho Faculty of Science and Engineering, Waseda University Yosuke Ashida Department of Physics, Tohoku University Akira Harada National Institute of Technology, Ibaraki College Masamitsu Mori Division of Science, National Astronomical Observatory of Japan Kohsuke Sumiyoshi National Institute of Technology, Numazu College Yudai Suwa Department of Earth Science and Astronomy, The University of Tokyo Roger A. Wendell Kavli Institute for the Physics and Mathematics of the Universe (Kavli IPMU, WPI), Todai Institutes for Advanced Study, The University of Tokyo Masamichi Zaizen Department of Earth Science and Astronomy, The University of Tokyo Neutrinos from supernovae, especially those emitted during the late phase of core collapse, are essential for understanding the final stages of massive star evolution. We have been dedicated to developing methods for the analysis of neutrinos emitted during the late phase and observed at Super-Kamiokande (SK). Our previous studies have successfully demonstrated the potential of various analysis methods in extracting essential physical properties; however, the lack of background consideration has limited their practical application. In this study, we address this issue by incorporating a realistic treatment of the experimental signal and background events with the on-going SK experiment. We therefore optimize our analysis framework to reflect realistic observational conditions, including both signal and background events. Using this framework we study several long-time supernova models, simulating the late phase neutrino observation in SK and focusing in particular on the identification of the last observed event. We discuss the possibility of model discrimination methods using timing information from this last observed event. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Informa UK Limited Acta Medica Okayama 2766-0400 5 1 2025 Linking structure and process in dendritic growth using persistent homology with energy analysis 2475735 EN Misato Tone Department of Material Science and Technology, Tokyo University of Science Shunsuke Sato Department of Material Science and Technology, Tokyo University of Science Sotaro Kunii Department of Material Science and Technology, Tokyo University of Science Ippei Obayashi Center for Artificial Intelligence and Mathematical Data Science, Okayama University Yasuaki Hiraoka Kyoto University Institute for Advanced Study, Kyoto University Yui Ogawa NTT Basic Research Laboratories, NTT Corporation Hirokazu Fukidome Research Institute of Electrical Communication, Tohoku University Alexandre Lira Foggiatto Department of Material Science and Technology, Tokyo University of Science Chiharu Mitsumata Department of Material Science and Technology, Tokyo University of Science Ryunosuke Nagaoka Department of Material Science and Technology, Tokyo University of Science Arpita Varadwaj Department of Material Science and Technology, Tokyo University of Science Iwao Matsuda Institute for Solid State Physics, The University of Tokyo Masato Kotsugi Department of Material Science and Technology, Tokyo University of Science We present a material analysis method that links structure and process in dendritic growth using explainable machine learning approaches. We employed persistent homology (PH) to quantitatively characterize the morphology of dendritic microstructures. By using interpretable machine learning with energy analysis, we established a robust relationship between structural features and Gibbs free energy. Through a detailed analysis of how Gibbs free energy evolves with morphological changes in dendrites, we uncovered specific conditions that influence the branching of dendritic structures. Moreover, energy gradient analysis based on morphological feature provides a deeper understanding of the branching mechanisms and offers a pathway to optimize thin-film growth processes. Integrating topology and free energy enables the optimization of a range of materials from fundamental research to practical applications. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Springer Science and Business Media LLC Acta Medica Okayama 1471-2253 25 1 2025 Clinical predictors of extubation failure in postoperative critically ill patients: a post-hoc analysis of a multicenter prospective observational study 127 EN Jun Hattori Faculty of Medicine, Osaka University Aiko Tanaka Department of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine Junko Kosaka Department of Anesthesiology and Resuscitology, Okayama University Hospital Osamu Hirao Department of Anesthesiology, Osaka General Medical Center Nana Furushima Department of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine, Kobe University Hospital Yuichi Maki Department of Anesthesiology, Toho University Ohashi Medical Center Daijiro Kabata Center for Mathematical and Data Science, Kobe University Akinori Uchiyama Department of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine Moritoki Egi Department of Anesthesia, Kyoto University Hospital Hiroshi Morimatsu Department of Anesthesiology and Resuscitology, Okayama University Hospital Satoshi Mizobuchi Department of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine, Kobe University Hospital Yoshifumi Kotake Department of Anesthesiology, Toho University Ohashi Medical Center Ayumi Shintani Department of Medical Statistics, Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka Metropolitan University Yukiko Koyama Department of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine Takeshi Yoshida Department of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine Yuji Fujino Department of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine Background Postoperative patients constitute majority of critically ill patients, although factors predicting extubation failure in this group of patients remain unidentified. Aiming to propose clinical predictors of reintubation in postoperative patients, we conducted a post-hoc analysis of a multicenter prospective observational study.<br> Methods This study included postoperative critically ill patients who underwent mechanical ventilation for > 24 h and were extubated after a successful 30-min spontaneous breathing trial. The primary outcome was reintubation within 48 h after extubation, and clinical predictors for reintubation were investigated using logistic regression analyses.<br> Results Among the 355 included patients, 10.7% required reintubation. Multivariable logistic regression identified that the number of endotracheal suctioning episodes during the 24 h before extubation and underlying respiratory disease or pneumonia occurrence were significantly associated with reintubation (adjusted odds ratio [OR] 1.11, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.05–1.18, p < 0.001; adjusted OR 2.58, 95%CI 1.30–5.13, p = 0.007). The probability of reintubation was increased significantly with the higher frequency of endotracheal suctioning, as indicated by restricted cubic splines. Subgroup analysis showed that these predictors were consistently associated with reintubation regardless of the use of noninvasive respiratory support after extubation.<br> Conclusions Endotracheal suctioning frequency and respiratory complications were identified as independent predictors of reintubation. These readily obtainable predictors may aid in decision-making regarding the extubation of postoperative patients. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Springer Science and Business Media LLC Acta Medica Okayama 0916-7005 2025 Refinement of interval approximations for fully commutative quivers EN Yasuaki Hiraoka Kyoto University Ken Nakashima Shimane University Ippei Obayashi Okayama University Chenguang Xu Kyoto University A central challenge in the theory of multiparameter persistence modules lies in defining effective descriptors for representations of infinite or wild type. In this work, we propose a novel framework for analyzing interval approximations of fully commutative quivers, which offers a tunable trade-off between approximation resolution and computational complexity. Our approach is evaluated on commutative ladder modules of both finite and infinite type. For finite-type cases, we establish an efficient method for computing indecomposable decompositions using solely one-parameter persistent homology. For infinite-type cases, we introduce a new invariant that captures persistence in the second parameter by connecting standard persistence diagrams through interval approximations. Furthermore, we present several models for constructing commutative ladder filtrations, providing new insights into the behavior of random filtrations and demonstrating the utility of our framework in topological analysis of material structures. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Japanese Society for Plant Cell and Molecular Biology Acta Medica Okayama 1342-4580 42 3 2025 Root-exuded sugars as drivers of rhizosphere microbiome assembly 215 227 EN Niarsi Merry Hemelda Department of Biology, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, University of Indonesia Yoshiteru Noutoshi Graduate School of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University Sugars in root exudates play a pivotal role in shaping plant-microbe interactions in the rhizosphere, serving as carbon sources and signaling molecules that orchestrate microbial behavior, community structure, and plant resilience. Recent research has shed light on the dynamics of sugar levels in root exudates, the factors that influence their secretion, and the mechanisms by which these sugars drive microbial colonization and community assembly in the rhizosphere. Microbial communities, in turn, contribute to plant physiological changes that enhance growth and stress tolerance. While well-studied sugars such as glucose, sucrose, and fructose are known to promote chemotaxis, motility, and biofilm formation, emerging evidence suggests that less-studied sugars like arabinose and trehalose may also play significant roles in microbial interactions and stress resilience. Key challenges remain, including the accurate measurement of labile sugars that are rapidly metabolized by microbes, and the elucidation of genetic mechanisms underlying rhizosphere metabolic interactions in both host plants and microbes. Addressing these challenges will advance our understanding of sugar-mediated interactions and inform the development of sustainable agricultural innovations. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Okayama University Medical School Acta Medica Okayama 0386-300X 79 5 2025 Blood Pressure and Heart Rate Patterns Identified by Unsupervised Machine Learning and Their Associations with Subclinical Cerebral and Renal Damage in a Japanese Community: The Masuda Study 369 379 EN Takashi Hisamatsu Department of Public Health, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences Minako Kinuta Department of Public Health, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences Sosuke Munetomo Department of Public Health, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences Mari Fukuda Department of Public Health, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences Katsuhide Kojima Department of Radiology, Okayama University Hospital Kaori Taniguchi Department of Environmental Medicine and Public Health, Izumo, Shimane University Faculty of Medicine Noriko Nakahata Department of Health and Nutrition, The University of Shimane Faculty of Nursing and Nutrition Hideyuki Kanda Department of Public Health, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences Original Article 10.18926/AMO/69438 We applied unsupervised machine learning to analyze blood pressure (BP) and resting heart rate (HR) patterns measured during a 1-year period to assess their cross-sectional relationships with subclinical cerebral and renal target damage. Dimension reduction via uniform manifold approximation and projection, followed by K-means++ clustering, was used to categorize 362 community-dwelling participants (mean age, 56.2 years; 54.9% women) into three groups: Low BP and Low HR (Lo-BP/Lo-HR), High BP and High HR (Hi-BP/Hi-HR), and Low BP and High HR (Lo-BP/Hi-HR). Cerebral vessel lesions were defined as the presence of at least one of the following magnetic resonance imaging findings: lacunar infarcts, white matter hyperintensities, cerebral microbleeds, or intracranial artery stenosis. A high urinary albumin-to-creatinine ratio (UACR) was defined as the top 10% (≥ 12 mg/g) of the mean value from ≥2 measurements. Poisson regression with robust error variance, adjusted for demographics, lifestyle, and medical history, showed that the Hi-BP/Hi-HR group had relative risks of 3.62 (95% confidence interval, 1.75-7.46) for cerebral vessel lesions and 3.58 (1.33-9.67) for high UACR, and the Lo-BP/Hi-HR group had a relative risk of 3.09 (1.12-8.57) for high UACR, compared with the Lo-BP/Lo-HR group. These findings demonstrate the utility of an unsupervised, data-driven approach for identifying physiological patterns associated with subclinical target organ damage. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Springer Science and Business Media LLC Acta Medica Okayama 2041-1723 16 1 2025 Persistent homology elucidates hierarchical structures responsible for mechanical properties in covalent amorphous solids 8226 EN Emi Minamitani SANKEN, The University of Osaka Takenobu Nakamura Department of Materials and Chemistry Materials DX Research Center, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST) Ippei Obayashi Center for Artificial Intelligence and Mathematical Data Science, Okayama University Hideyuki Mizuno Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, The University of Tokyo Understanding how atomic-level structures govern the mechanical properties of amorphous materials remains a fundamental challenge in solid-state physics. Under mechanical loading, amorphous materials exhibit simple affine and spatially inhomogeneous nonaffine displacements that contribute to the elastic modulus through the Born (affine) and nonaffine terms, respectively. The differences between soft local structures characterized by small Born terms or large nonaffine displacements have yet to be elucidated. This challenge is particularly complex in covalent amorphous materials such as silicon, where the medium-range order (MRO) plays a crucial role in the network structure. To address these issues, we combined molecular dynamics simulations with persistent homology analysis. Our results reveal that local structures with small Born terms are governed by short-range characteristics, whereas those with large nonaffine displacements exhibit hierarchical structures in which short-range disorder is embedded within the MRO. These hierarchical structures are also strongly correlated with low-energy localized vibrational excitations. Our findings demonstrate that the mechanical responses and dynamic properties of covalent amorphous materials are intrinsically linked to the MRO, providing a framework for understanding and tailoring their properties. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Universitas Negeri Jakarta Acta Medica Okayama 2614-3984 18 2 2025 Data inventory, processing, and reporting on plant blindness among high school students in three schools in West Java 22 32 EN Puan Helwa Rezha Soraya Biology Education, Faculty of Mathematics and Science Education, Universitas Pendidikan Indonesia Rini Solihat Biology Education, Faculty of Mathematics and Science Education, Universitas Pendidikan Indonesia Yayan Sanjaya Biology Education, Faculty of Mathematics and Science Education, Universitas Pendidikan Indonesia Taro Harada Graduate School of Education, Okayama University Plant blindness is a problem related to a person's inability to realize, recognize, and know the benefits and roles of plants. After some research, there was a shift in the term, from Plant Blindness to Plant Awareness Disparity. This study aims to find out the prevalence of Plant Blindness in three high schools in West Java. The method used in this study is descriptive Cross sectional. The results of this study revealed that there were differences in the level of plant awareness in the three schools studied. One of the schools in the city of Bandung showed the highest plant awareness rate. In addition, it was also found that students who had a high level of plant awareness had a high perception of plant awareness. As a follow-up, further research can be carried out to collect more data so that it becomes a whole population. In addition, researchers can then use additional instruments so that more things can be revealed about plant blindness. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

American Institute of Mathematical Sciences (AIMS) Acta Medica Okayama 2377-9098 12 3 2025 Biophysical regulation of extracellular matrix in systemic lupus erythematosus 412 437 EN Qiwei Li Department of Cardiovascular Physiology, Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University Qiang Li Department of Cardiovascular Physiology, Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University Zhaoyang Xiao Department of Anesthesiology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University Keiji NARUSE Department of Cardiovascular Physiology, Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University Ken Takahashi Department of Cardiovascular Physiology, Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a prototypical autoimmune disease characterized by immune dysregulation and multi-organ damage. Recent advances have underscored the critical involvement of extracellular matrix (ECM) biophysical properties in shaping immune cell behavior and metabolic states that contribute to disease progression. This review systematically delineates the pathological remodeling of ECM biophysics in SLE, with a focus on their roles in mechanotransduction, immune-metabolic interplay, and organ-specific tissue injury. By integrating current evidence, we highlight how ECM-derived mechanical cues orchestrate aberrant immune responses and propose new perspectives for targeting ECM-immune crosstalk in the development of organ-specific, mechanism-based therapies for SLE. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

International Union of Crystallography (IUCr) Acta Medica Okayama 1600-5767 58 3 2025 Enhanced estimation method for partial scattering functions in contrast variation small-angle neutron scattering via Gaussian process regression with prior knowledge of smoothness 976 991 EN Ippei Obayashi Center for Artificial Intelligence and Mathematical Data Science, Okayama University Shinya Miyajima Faculty of Science and Engineering, Iwate University Kazuaki Tanaka Global Center for Science and Engineering, Waseda University Koichi Mayumi Institute for Solid State Physics, University of Tokyo Contrast variation small-angle neutron scattering (CV-SANS) is a powerful tool for evaluating the structure of multi-component systems. In CV-SANS, the scattering intensities I(Q) measured with different scattering contrasts are de­com­posed into partial scattering functions S(Q) of the self- and cross-correlations between components. Since the measurement has a measurement error, S(Q) must be estimated statistically from I(Q). If no prior knowledge about S(Q) is available, the least-squares method is best, and this is the most popular estimation method. However, if prior knowledge is available, the estimation can be improved using Bayesian inference in a statistically authorized way. In this paper, we propose a novel method to improve the estimation of S(Q), based on Gaussian process regression using prior knowledge about the smoothness and flatness of S(Q). We demonstrate the method using synthetic core–shell and experimental polyrotaxane SANS data. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Springer Science and Business Media LLC Acta Medica Okayama 1572-9613 192 5 2025 The Intertwining Property for Laguerre Processes with a Fixed Parameter 58 EN Alexander I. Bufetov Steklov Mathematical Institute of RAS Yosuke Kawamoto Graduate School of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University We investigate the intertwining of Laguerre processes of parameter �� in different dimensions. We introduce a Feller kernel that depends on �� and intertwines the ��-Laguerre process in N + 1 dimensions and that in N dimensions. When �� is a non-negative integer, the new kernel is interpreted in terms of the conditional distribution of the squared singular values: if the singular values of a unitarily invariant random matrix of order (N+��+1)�~(N+1) are fixed, then the those of its (N+��) �~ N truncation matrix are given by the new kernel. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Mathematical Society of Japan (Project Euclid) Acta Medica Okayama 0025-5645 77 2 2025 Period integrals (Givental's I-function) of Calabi–Yau hypersurface in CPN�|1 as generating functions of intersection numbers on the moduli space of quasimaps 449 482 EN Masao JINZENJI Department of Mathematics, Okayama University Kohki MATSUZAKA Faculty of Integrated Media, Ikueikan University In this paper, we derive the generalized hypergeometric functions (period integrals) used in mirror computation of Calabi–Yau hypersurface in CPN�|1 as generating functions of intersection numbers on the moduli space of quasimaps from CP1 with 2+1 marked points to CPN�|1. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Springer Acta Medica Okayama 1029-8479 2024 12 2024 Elliptic virtual structure constants and generalizations of BCOV-Zinger formula to projective Fano hypersurfaces 135 EN Masao Jinzenji Department of Mathematics, Okayama University Ken Kuwata Department of General Education, National Institute of Technology, Kagawa College In this paper, we propose a method for computing genus 1 Gromov-Witten invariants of Calabi-Yau and Fano projective hypersurfaces using the B-model. Our formalism is applicable to both Calabi-Yau and Fano cases. In the Calabi-Yau case, significant cancellation of terms within our formalism occurs, resulting in an alternative representation of the BCOV-Zinger formula for projective Calabi-Yau hypersurfaces. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Department of Mathematics, Faculty of Science, Okayama University Acta Medica Okayama 0030-1566 67 1 2025 Tsetlin library on p-colored permutations and q-analogue 133 147 EN Yuto Nakagawa Mathematical Institute, Tohoku University Fumihiko Nakano Mathematical Institute, Tohoku University K. Brown [1] studied the random to top shuffle (the Tsetlin libary) by semigroup method. In this paper, (i) we extend his results to the colored permutation groups, and (ii) we consider a q-analogue of Tsetlin library which is different from what is studied in [1]. In (i), the results also extends those results for the top to random shuffle [4],[5], [6] to arbitrary distribution of choosing cards, but we still have derangement numbers in the multiplicity of each eigenvalues. In (ii), a version of q-analogue of derangement numbers by Chen-Rota [3] appears in the multiplicity of eigenvalues. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Department of Mathematics, Faculty of Science, Okayama University Acta Medica Okayama 0030-1566 67 1 2025 The characterizations of an alternating sign matrices using a triplet 101 131 EN Toyokazu Ohmoto Department of Mathematics, Faculty of Science, Okayama University An alternating sign matrix (ASM for short) is a square matrix which consists of 0, 1 and �|1. In this paper, we characterize an ASM by showing a bijection between alternating sign matrix and six vertex model, and a bijection between six vertex model and height function. In order to show these bijections, we define a triplet (ai,j , ci,j , ri,j) for each entry of an ASM. We also define a track for each index of height function, and state more properties of height function. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Department of Mathematics, Faculty of Science, Okayama University Acta Medica Okayama 0030-1566 67 1 2025 The best constant of the Sobolev inequality corresponding to a bending problem of a string with a rectangular spring constant 75 99 EN Hiroyuki Yamagishi Tokyo Metropolitan College of Industrial Technology Yoshinori Kametaka Faculty of Engineering Science, Osaka University The Sobolev inequality shows that the supremum of a function defined on a whole line is estimated from the above by constant multiples of the potential energy. Among such constants, the smallest constant is the best constant. If we replace a constant by the best constant in the Sobolev inequality, then the equality holds for the best function. The aim of this paper is to find the best constant and the best function. In the background, there is a bending problem of a string with a rectangular spring constant. The Green function is an important function because the best constant and the best function consist of the Green function. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Department of Mathematics, Faculty of Science, Okayama University Acta Medica Okayama 0030-1566 67 1 2025 Locally serially coalescent classes of Lie algebras 67 74 EN Masanobu Honda Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Niigata University of Pharmacy and Medical and Life Sciences Takanori Sakamoto Department of Mathematics, University of Teacher Education Fukuoka We assume that a basic field k has zero characteristic. We show that any Fitting class is serially coalescent for locally finite Lie algebras. We also show that any class X satisfying N ≤ X ≤ ˆGr (e.g. Ft, B, Z, Gr, lN, rN, `e(◁)ˆA, ˆe(◁)ˆA, `Gr) is locally serially coalescent for locally finite Lie algebras, and, for any locally finite Lie algebra L, the X-ser radical of L is locally nilpotent. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Department of Mathematics, Faculty of Science, Okayama University Acta Medica Okayama 0030-1566 67 1 2025 The irreducibility and monogenicity of power-compositional trinomials 53 65 EN Joshua Harrington Department of Mathematics, Cedar Crest College Lenny Jones Department of Mathematics, Shippensburg University A polynomial f(x) �� Z[x] of degree N is called monogenic if f(x) is irreducible over Q and {1, ��, ��2, . . . , ��N�|1} is a basis for the ring of integers of Q(��), where f(��) = 0. Define F(x) := xm+Axm�|1+B. In this article, we determine sets of conditions on m, A, and B, such that the power-compositional trinomial F(xpn) is monogenic for all integers n ≥ 0 and a given prime p. Furthermore, we prove the actual existence of infinite families of such trinomials F(x). No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Department of Mathematics, Faculty of Science, Okayama University Acta Medica Okayama 0030-1566 67 1 2025 The Quillen model structure on the category of diffeological spaces 29 51 EN Tadayuki Haraguchi Faculty of Education for Human Growth, Nara Gakuen University Kazuhisa Shimakawa Okayama University We construct on the category of diffeological spaces a Quillen model structure having smooth weak homotopy equivalences as the class of weak equivalences. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Department of Mathematics, Faculty of Science, Okayama University Acta Medica Okayama 0030-1566 67 1 2025 Inseparable Gauss maps and dormant opers 1 28 EN Yasuhiro Wakabayashi Graduate School of Information Science and Technology, Osaka University The present paper aims to generalize a result by H. Kaji on Gauss maps in positive characteristic and establish an interaction with the study of dormant opers and Frobenius-projective structures. We prove a correspondence between dormant opers on a smooth projective variety and closed immersions into a projective space with purely inseparable Gauss map. By using this, we determine the subfields of the function field of a smooth curve in positive characteristic induced by Gauss maps. Moreover, this correspondence gives us a Frobenius-projective structure on a Fermat hypersurface. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Springer Science and Business Media LLC Acta Medica Okayama 0003-9527 249 1 2025 Traveling Front Solutions of Dimension n Generate Entire Solutions of Dimension (n-1) in Reaction-Diffusion Equations as the Speeds Go to Infinity 13 EN Hirokazu Ninomiya School of Interdisciplinary Mathematical Sciences, Meiji University Masaharu Taniguchi Research Institute for Interdisciplinary Science, Okayama University Multidimensional traveling front solutions and entire solutions of reaction-diffusion equations have been studied intensively. To study the relationship between multidimensional traveling front solutions and entire solutions, we study the reaction-diffusion equation with a bistable nonlinear term. It is well known that there exist multidimensional traveling front solutions with every speed that is greater than the speed of a one-dimensional traveling front solution connecting two stable equilibria. In this paper, we show that the limit of the n-dimensional multidimensional traveling front solutions as the speeds go to infinity generates an entire solution of the same reaction-diffusion equation in the (n-1)-dimensional space. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

IOP Publishing Acta Medica Okayama 1475-7516 2024 12 2024 Multi-dimensional optimisation of the scanning strategy for the LiteBIRD space mission EN Y. Takase Okayama University, Department of Physics L. Vacher International School for Advanced Studies (SISSA) H. Ishino Okayama University, Department of Physics G. Patanchon ILANCE, CNRS, University of Tokyo International Research Laboratory L. Montier IRAP, Université de Toulouse, CNRS, CNES, UPS S.L. Stever Okayama University, Department of Physics K. Ishizaka Okayama University, Department of Physics Y. Nagano Okayama University, Department of Physics W. Wang Université Paris Cité, CNRS, Astroparticule et Cosmologie J. Aumont IRAP, Université de Toulouse, CNRS, CNES, UPS K. Aizawa The University of Tokyo, Department of Physics A. Anand Dipartimento di Fisica, Università di Roma Tor Vergata C. Baccigalupi International School for Advanced Studies (SISSA) M. Ballardini Dipartimento di Fisica e Scienze della Terra, Università di Ferrara A.J. Banday IRAP, Université de Toulouse, CNRS, CNES, UPS R.B. Barreiro Instituto de Fisica de Cantabria (IFCA, CSIC-UC) N. Bartolo Dipartimento di Fisica e Astronomia "G. Galilei", Università degli Studi di Padova S. Basak School of Physics, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Thiruvananthapuram M. Bersanelli Dipartimento di Fisica, Università degli Studi di Milano M. Bortolami Dipartimento di Fisica e Scienze della Terra, Università di Ferrara T. Brinckmann Dipartimento di Fisica e Scienze della Terra, Università di Ferrara E. Calabrese School of Physics and Astronomy, Cardiff University P. Campeti INFN Sezione di Ferrara E. Carinos IRAP, Université de Toulouse, CNRS, CNES, UPS A. Carones International School for Advanced Studies (SISSA) F.J. Casas Instituto de Fisica de Cantabria (IFCA, CSIC-UC) K. Cheung Jodrell Bank Centre for Astrophysics, Department of Physics and Astronomy, School of Natural Sciences, The University of Manchester L. Clermont Centre Spatial de Liège, Université de Liège F. Columbro Dipartimento di Fisica, Università La Sapienza A. Coppolecchia Dipartimento di Fisica, Università La Sapienza F. Cuttaia INAF, OAS Bologna G. D'Alessandro Dipartimento di Fisica, Università La Sapienza P. de Bernardis Dipartimento di Fisica, Università La Sapienza T. de Haan Institute of Particle and Nuclear Studies (IPNS), High Energy Accelerator Research Organization (KEK) E. de la Hoz CNRS-UCB International Research Laboratory, Centre Pierre Binétruy, UMI2007 S. Della Torre INFN Sezione Milano Bicocca P. Diego-Palazuelos Max Planck Institute for Astrophysics H.K. Eriksen Institute of Theoretical Astrophysics, University of Oslo J. Errard Université Paris Cité, CNRS, Astroparticule et Cosmologie F. Finelli INAF, OAS Bologna U. Fuskeland Institute of Theoretical Astrophysics, University of Oslo G. Galloni Dipartimento di Fisica e Scienze della Terra, Università di Ferrara M. Galloway Institute of Theoretical Astrophysics, University of Oslo M. Gervasi University of Milano Bicocca, Physics Department T. Ghigna International Center for Quantum-field Measurement Systems for Studies of the Universe and Particles (QUP), High Energy Accelerator Research Organization (KEK) S. Giardiello School of Physics and Astronomy, Cardiff University C. Gimeno-Amo Instituto de Fisica de Cantabria (IFCA, CSIC-UC) E. Gjerløw Institute of Theoretical Astrophysics, University of Oslo R. González González Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias A. Gruppuso INAF, OAS Bologna M. Hazumi International Center for Quantum-field Measurement Systems for Studies of the Universe and Particles (QUP), High Energy Accelerator Research Organization (KEK) S. Henrot-Versillé Université Paris-Saclay, CNRS/IN2P3, IJCLab L.T. Hergt Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of British Columbia K. Ikuma Okayama University, Department of Physics K. Kohri Institute of Particle and Nuclear Studies (IPNS), High Energy Accelerator Research Organization (KEK) L. Lamagna Dipartimento di Fisica, Università La Sapienza M. Lattanzi INFN Sezione di Ferrara C. Leloup Kavli Institute for the Physics and Mathematics of the Universe (Kavli IPMU, WPI), UTIAS, The University of Tokyo M. Lembo Dipartimento di Fisica e Scienze della Terra, Università di Ferrara F. Levrier Laboratoire de Physique de l'École Normale Supérieure, ENS, Université PSL, CNRS, Sorbonne Université, Université de Paris A.I. Lonappan University of California, San Diego, Department of Physics M. López-Caniego Aurora Technology for the European Space Agency G. Luzzi Space Science Data Center, Italian Space Agency B. Maffei Université Paris-Saclay, CNRS, Institut d'Astrophysique Spatiale E. Martínez-González Instituto de Fisica de Cantabria (IFCA, CSIC-UC) S. Masi Dipartimento di Fisica, Università La Sapienza S. Matarrese Dipartimento di Fisica e Astronomia "G. Galilei", Università degli Studi di Padova F.T. Matsuda Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), Institute of Space and Astronautical Science (ISAS) T. Matsumura Kavli Institute for the Physics and Mathematics of the Universe (Kavli IPMU, WPI), UTIAS, The University of Tokyo S. Micheli Dipartimento di Fisica, Università La Sapienza M. Migliaccio Dipartimento di Fisica, Università di Roma Tor Vergata M. Monelli Max Planck Institute for Astrophysics G. Morgante INAF, OAS Bologna B. Mot IRAP, Université de Toulouse, CNRS, CNES, UPS R. Nagata Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), Institute of Space and Astronautical Science (ISAS) T. Namikawa Kavli Institute for the Physics and Mathematics of the Universe (Kavli IPMU, WPI), UTIAS, The University of Tokyo A. Novelli Dipartimento di Fisica, Università La Sapienza K. Odagiri Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), Institute of Space and Astronautical Science (ISAS) S. Oguri Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), Institute of Space and Astronautical Science (ISAS) R. Omae Okayama University, Department of Physics L. Pagano Dipartimento di Fisica e Scienze della Terra, Università di Ferrara D. Paoletti INAF, OAS Bologna F. Piacentini Dipartimento di Fisica, Università La Sapienza M. Pinchera INFN Sezione di Pisa G. Polenta Space Science Data Center, Italian Space Agency L. Porcelli Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare-aboratori Nazionali di Frascati (INFN-LNF) N. Raffuzzi Dipartimento di Fisica e Scienze della Terra, Università di Ferrara M. Remazeilles Instituto de Fisica de Cantabria (IFCA, CSIC-UC) A. Ritacco Dipartimento di Fisica, Università di Roma Tor Vergata M. Ruiz-Granda Instituto de Fisica de Cantabria (IFCA, CSIC-UC) Y. Sakurai Suwa University of Science D. Scott Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of British Columbia Y. Sekimoto Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), Institute of Space and Astronautical Science (ISAS) M. Shiraishi Suwa University of Science G. Signorelli Dipartimento di Fisica, Università di Pisa R.M. Sullivan Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of British Columbia H. Takakura Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), Institute of Space and Astronautical Science (ISAS) L. Terenzi INAF, OAS Bologna M. Tomasi Dipartimento di Fisica, Università degli Studi di Milano M. Tristram Université Paris-Saclay, CNRS/IN2P3, IJCLab B. van Tent Université Paris-Saclay, CNRS/IN2P3, IJCLab P. Vielva Instituto de Fisica de Cantabria (IFCA, CSIC-UC) I.K. Wehus Institute of Theoretical Astrophysics, University of Oslo B. Westbrook University of California, Berkeley, Department of Physics, Berkeley G. Weymann-Despres Université Paris-Saclay, CNRS/IN2P3, IJCLab E.J. Wollack NASA Goddard Space Flight Center M. Zannoni University of Milano Bicocca, Physics Department Y. Zhou International Center for Quantum-field Measurement Systems for Studies of the Universe and Particles (QUP), High Energy Accelerator Research Organization (KEK) Large angular scale surveys in the absence of atmosphere are essential for measuring the primordial B-mode power spectrum of the Cosmic Microwave Background (CMB). Since this proposed measurement is about three to four orders of magnitude fainter than the temperature anisotropies of the CMB, in-flight calibration of the instruments and active suppression of systematic effects are crucial. We investigate the effect of changing the parameters of the scanning strategy on the in-flight calibration effectiveness, the suppression of the systematic effects themselves, and the ability to distinguish systematic effects by null-tests. Next-generation missions such as LiteBIRD, modulated by a Half-Wave Plate (HWP), will be able to observe polarisation using a single detector, eliminating the need to combine several detectors to measure polarisation, as done in many previous experiments and hence avoiding the consequent systematic effects. While the HWP is expected to suppress many systematic effects, some of them will remain. We use an analytical approach to comprehensively address the mitigation of these systematic effects and identify the characteristics of scanning strategies that are the most effective for implementing a variety of calibration strategies in the multi-dimensional space of common spacecraft scan parameters. We verify that LiteBIRD's standard configuration yields good performance on the metrics we studied. We also present Falcons.jl, a fast spacecraft scanning simulator that we developed to investigate this scanning parameter space. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Springer Science and Business Media LLC Acta Medica Okayama 1871-4080 18 3 2023 Review: Nicotinic acetylcholine receptors to regulate important brain activity�\what occurs at the molecular level? 769 774 EN Shigetoshi Nara Graduate School of Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University Yutaka Yamaguti Faculty of Information Engineering, Fukuoka Institute of Technology Ichiro Tsuda Chubu University Academy of Emerging Sciences/Center for Mathematical Science and Artificial Intelligence, Chubu University Herein, we briefly review the role of nicotinic acetylcholine receptors in regulating important brain activity by controlled release of acetylcholine from subcortical neuron groups, focusing on a microscopic viewpoint and considering the nonlinear dynamics of biological macromolecules associated with neuron activity and how they give rise to advanced brain functions of brain. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Society of Photo-optical Instrumentation Engineers Acta Medica Okayama 2329-4124 10 1 2024 Design and performance of a gain calibration system for the POLARBEAR-2a receiver system at the Simons Array cosmic microwave background experiment 018003 EN Daisuke Kaneko High Energy Accelerator Research Organization, International Center for Quantum-field Measurement Systems for Studies of the Universe and Particles Sayuri Takatori Okayama University, Research Institute for Interdisciplinary Science Masaya Hasegawa High Energy Accelerator Research Organization, International Center for Quantum-field Measurement Systems for Studies of the Universe and Particles Masashi Hazumi High Energy Accelerator Research Organization, International Center for Quantum-field Measurement Systems for Studies of the Universe and Particles Yuki Inoue National Central University, Center for High Energy and High Field Physics, Department of Physics Oliver Jeong University of California, Department of Physics Nobuhiko Katayama University of Tokyo, Kavli Institute for the Physics and Mathematics of the Universe Adrian T. Lee University of California, Department of Physics Frederick Matsuda Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, Institute of Space and Astronautical Science Haruki Nishino The University of Tokyo, Graduate School of Science, Research Center for the Early Universe Praween Siritanasak National Astronomical Research Institute of Thailand Aritoki Suzuki Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Physics Division Satoru Takakura Kyoto University, Department of Physics, Faculty of Science Takayuki Tomaru National Astronomical Observatory of Japan, Gravitational Wave Project Office We present an advanced system for calibrating the detector gain responsivity with a chopped thermal source for POLARBEAR-2a, which is the first receiver system of a cosmic microwave background (CMB) polarimetry experiment: the Simons Array. Intensity-to-polarization leakage due to calibration errors between detectors can be a significant source of systematic error for a polarization-sensitive experiment. To suppress this systematic uncertainty, POLARBEAR-2a calibrates the detector gain responsivities by observing a chopped thermal source before and after each period of science observations. The system includes a high-temperature ceramic heater that emits blackbody radiation covering a wide frequency range and an optical chopper to modulate the radiation signal. We discuss the experimental requirements of gain calibration and system design to calibrate POLARBEAR-2a. We evaluate the performance of our system during the early commissioning of the receiver system. This calibration system is promising for the future generation of CMB ground-based polarization observations. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Frontiers Media Acta Medica Okayama 1664-3224 15 2024 Vaccine and antiviral drug promise for preventing post-acute sequelae of COVID-19, and their combination for its treatment 1329162 EN Tomonari Sumi Research Institute for Interdisciplinary Science, Okayama University Kouji Harada Department of Computer Science and Engineering, Toyohashi University of Technology Introduction: Most healthy individuals recover from acute SARS-CoV-2 infection, whereas a remarkable number continues to suffer from unexplained symptoms, known as Long COVID or post-acute COVID-19 syndrome (PACS). It is therefore imperative that methods for preventing and treating the onset of PASC be investigated with the utmost urgency.<br> Methods: A mathematical model of the immune response to vaccination and viral infection with SARS-CoV-2, incorporating immune memory cells, was developed.<br> Results and discussion: Similar to our previous model, persistent infection was observed by the residual virus in the host, implying the possibility of chronic inflammation and delayed recovery from tissue injury. Pre-infectious vaccination and antiviral medication administered during onset can reduce the acute viral load; however, they show no beneficial effects in preventing persistent infection. Therefore, the impact of these treatments on the PASC, which has been clinically observed, is mainly attributed to their role in preventing severe tissue damage caused by acute viral infections. For PASC patients with persistent infection, vaccination was observed to cause an immediate rapid increase in viral load, followed by a temporary decrease over approximately one year. The former was effectively suppressed by the coadministration of antiviral medications, indicating that this combination is a promising treatment for PASC. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Tokyo Institute of Technology, Department of Mathematics Acta Medica Okayama 0386-5991 47 2 2024 Generalized hypergeometric functions for degree k hypersurface in CPN-1 and intersection numbers of moduli space of quasimaps from CP1 with two marked points to CPN-1 162 177 EN Masao Jinzenji Department of Mathematics, Okayama University Kohki Matsuzaka Faculty of Integrated Media, Ikueikan University In this paper, we derive the generalized hypergeometric functions used in mirror computation of degree k hypersurface in CPN-1 as generating functions of intersection numbers of the moduli space of quasimaps from CP1 with two marked points to CPN-1. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Okayama University Medical School Acta Medica Okayama 0386-300X 78 3 2024 Effect of Lipopolysaccharide on the Duration of Zolpidem-Induced Loss of Righting Reflex in Mice 227 235 EN Yudai Wada Department of Clinical Pharmacy, Okayama University, Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences Soichiro Ushio Department of Pharmacy, Okayama University Hospital Yoshihisa Kitamura Department of Clinical Pharmacy, Okayama University, Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences Yoshito Zamami Department of Clinical Pharmacy, Okayama University, Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences Toshiaki Sendo Department of Clinical Pharmacy, Okayama University, Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences Original Article 10.18926/AMO/67197 Zolpidem, a non-benzodiazepine hypnotic, is primarily used to treat insomnia. In a previous study, pior treatment with non-benzodiazepine receptor agonists was associated with inflammation. The present study aimed to clarify the association between the effects of zolpidem and inflammation in mice treated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS), a known model of inflammation. We assessed the zolpidem-induced loss of righting reflex (LORR) duration 24 h after LPS treatment in mice. Additionally, the expressions of ��-aminobutyric acid (GABA)A receptor subunit and K+-Cl�| cotransporter isoform 2 (KCC2) mRNA in the hippocampus and frontal cortex were examined in LPS-treated mice. Pretreatment with LPS was associated with significantly prolonged duration of zolpidem-induced LORR compared to control mice. This effect was significantly attenuated by administering bicuculline, a GABAA receptor antagonist, or flumazenil, a benzodiazepine receptor antagonist, in LPS-treated mice. Compared to controls, LPS-treated mice showed no significant change in the expression of GABAA receptor subunits in the hippocampus or frontal cortex. Bumetanide, an Na+-K+-2Cl�| cotransporter isoform 1 blocker, attenuated the extended duration of zolpidem-induced LORR observed in LPS-treated mice. LPS significantly decreased Kcc2 mRNA expression in the hippocampus and the frontal cortex. These findings suggest that inflammation increases zolpidem-induced LORR, possibly through a reduction in KCC2 expression. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

AIP Publishing Acta Medica Okayama 1070-6631 36 3 2024 Effect of non-local near-resonant interactions of Rossby waves on formation of large-scale zonal flows in unforced two-dimensional turbulence on rotating sphere 036617 EN Yusuke Hagimori Graduate School of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University Kiori Obuse Graduate School of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University Michio Yamada Research Institute for Mathematical Sciences, Kyoto University This study investigates the effect of nonlinear interactions of Rossby waves on large-scale zonal flow formation in two-dimensional turbulence on a rotating sphere. The coefficients of nonlinear interactions are first calculated. Then, the non-local, near-resonant, and non-local near-resonant interactions are investigated in detail. The results show that the formation of large-scale westward circumpolar zonal flows is directly caused by non-local energy transfer due to the three-wave near-resonant interactions of Rossby waves. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Springer Science and Business Media LLC Acta Medica Okayama 0179-5376 70 3 2023 Field Choice Problem in Persistent Homology 645 670 EN Ippei Obayashi Center for Artificial Intelligence and Mathematical Data Science, Okayama University Michio Yoshiwaki Present address: Osaka Central Advanced Mathematical Institute This paper tackles the problem of coefficient field choice in persistent homology. When we compute a persistence diagram, we need to select a coefficient field before computation. We should understand the dependence of the diagram on the coefficient field to facilitate computation and interpretation of the diagram. We clarify that the dependence is strongly related to the torsion part of Z relative homology in the filtration. We show the sufficient and necessary conditions of the independence of coefficient field choice. An efficient algorithm is proposed to verify the independence. A slight modification of the standard persistence algorithm gives the verification algorithm. In a numerical experiment with the algorithm, a persistence diagram rarely changes even when the coefficient field changes if we consider a filtration in R3. The experiment suggests that, in practical terms, changes in the field coefficient will not change persistence diagrams when the data are in R3. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) Acta Medica Okayama 2643-6515 5 2023 Deep Learning Enables Instant and Versatile Estimation of Rice Yield Using Ground-Based RGB Images 0073 EN Yu Tanaka Graduate School of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University Tomoya Watanabe Graduate School of Mathematics, Kyushu University Keisuke Katsura Graduate School of Agriculture, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology Yasuhiro Tsujimoto Japan International Research Center for Agricultural Sciences Toshiyuki Takai Japan International Research Center for Agricultural Sciences Takashi Sonam Tashi Tanaka Graduate School of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University Kensuke Kawamura Japan International Research Center for Agricultural Sciences Hiroki Saito Tropical Agriculture Research Front, Japan International Research Center for Agricultural Sciences Koki Homma Graduate School of Agricultural Science, Tohoku University Salifou Goube Mairoua Africa Rice Center (AfricaRice) Kokou Ahouanton Africa Rice Center (AfricaRice) Ali Ibrahim Africa Rice Center (AfricaRice), Regional Station for the Sahel Kalimuthu Senthilkumar Africa Rice Center (AfricaRice) Vimal Kumar Semwal Africa Rice Center (AfricaRice), Nigeria Station Eduardo Jose Graterol Matute Latin American Fund for Irrigated Rice - The Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT Edgar Corredor Latin American Fund for Irrigated Rice - The Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT Raafat El-Namaky Rice Research and Training Center, Field Crops Research Institute, ARC Norvie Manigbas Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice) Eduardo Jimmy P. Quilang Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice) Yu Iwahashi Graduate School of Agriculture, Kyoto University Kota Nakajima Graduate School of Agriculture, Kyoto University Eisuke Takeuchi Graduate School of Agriculture, Kyoto University Kazuki Saito Graduate School of Agriculture, Kyoto University Rice (Oryza sativa L.) is one of the most important cereals, which provides 20% of the world�fs food energy. However, its productivity is poorly assessed especially in the global South. Here, we provide a first study to perform a deep-learning-based approach for instantaneously estimating rice yield using red-green-blue images. During ripening stage and at harvest, over 22,000 digital images were captured vertically downward over the rice canopy from a distance of 0.8 to 0.9 m at 4,820 harvesting plots having the yield of 0.1 to 16.1 t·ha�|1 across 6 countries in Africa and Japan. A convolutional neural network applied to these data at harvest predicted 68% variation in yield with a relative root mean square error of 0.22. The developed model successfully detected genotypic difference and impact of agronomic interventions on yield in the independent dataset. The model also demonstrated robustness against the images acquired at different shooting angles up to 30�� from right angle, diverse light environments, and shooting date during late ripening stage. Even when the resolution of images was reduced (from 0.2 to 3.2 cm·pixel�|1 of ground sampling distance), the model could predict 57% variation in yield, implying that this approach can be scaled by the use of unmanned aerial vehicles. Our work offers low-cost, hands-on, and rapid approach for high-throughput phenotyping and can lead to impact assessment of productivity-enhancing interventions, detection of fields where these are needed to sustainably increase crop production, and yield forecast at several weeks before harvesting. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Department of Mathematics, Faculty of Science, Okayama University Acta Medica Okayama 0030-1566 66 1 2024 Note on smoothness condition on tropical elliptic curves of symmetric truncated cubic forms 171 187 EN Rani Sasmita Tarmidi Department of Mathematics, Graduate School of Science, Osaka University In this work, we provide explicit conditions for the coeffi-cients of a symmetric truncated cubic to give a smooth tropical curve. We also examine non-smooth cases corresponding to some specific sub-division types. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Department of Mathematics, Faculty of Science, Okayama University Acta Medica Okayama 0030-1566 66 1 2024 Duality-reflection formulas of multiple polylogarithms and their ℓ-adic Galois analogues 159 169 EN Densuke Shiraishi Department of Mathematics, Graduate School of Science, Osaka University In this paper, we derive formulas of complex and ℓ-adic multiple polylogarithms, which have two aspects: a duality in terms of indexes and a reflection in terms of variables. We provide an algebraic proof of these formulas by using algebraic relations between associators arising from the S3-symmetry of the projective line minus three points. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Department of Mathematics, Faculty of Science, Okayama University Acta Medica Okayama 0030-1566 66 1 2024 Several homotopy fixed point spectral sequences in telescopically localized algebraic K-theory 135 157 EN Daniel G. Davis Department of Mathematics, University of Louisiana at Lafayette Let n ≥ 1, p a prime, and T(n) any representative of the Bousfield class of the telescope v�|1n F(n) of a finite type n complex. Also, let En be the Lubin-Tate spectrum, K(En) its algebraic K-theory spectrum, and Gn the extended Morava stabilizer group, a profinite group. Motivated by an Ausoni-Rognes conjecture, we show that there are two spectral sequences<br> IEs,t2 �� ��t�|s((LT(n+1)K(En))hGn) ⇐ IIEs,t2<br> with common abutment ��∗(�|) of the continuous homotopy fixed points of LT(n+1)K(En), where IEs,t2 is continuous cohomology with coefficients in a certain tower of discrete Gn-modules. If the tower satisfies the Mittag-Leffler condition, then there are isomorphisms with continuous cochain cohomology groups:<br> IE∗,∗2 ≅ H∗cts(Gn, ��∗(LT(n+1)K(En))) ≅ IIE∗,∗2.<br> We isolate two hypotheses, the first of which is true when (n, p) = (1, 2), that imply (LT(n+1)K(En))hGn ≃ LT(n+1)K(LK(n)S0). Also, we show that there is a spectral sequence<br> Hscts(Gn, ��t(K(En) ⊗ T(n + 1))) �� ��t�|s((K(En) ⊗ T(n + 1))hGn). No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Department of Mathematics, Faculty of Science, Okayama University Acta Medica Okayama 0030-1566 66 1 2024 A subclass of strongly close-to-convex functions associated with Janowski function 125 133 EN Gagandeep Singh Department of Mathematics, Khalsa College Gurcharanjit Singh Department of Mathematics, G.N.D.U. College The aim of this paper is to introduce a new subclass of strongly close-to-convex functions by subordinating to Janowski function. Certain properties such as coefficient estimates, distortion theorem, argument theorem, inclusion relations and radius of convexity are established for this class. The results obtained here will generalize various earlier known results. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Department of Mathematics, Faculty of Science, Okayama University Acta Medica Okayama 0030-1566 66 1 2024 A combinatorial integration on the Cantor dust 115 124 EN Takashi Maruyama Department of Engineering, Stanford University Tatsuki Seto General Education and Research Center, Meiji Pharmaceutical University In this paper, we generalize the Cantor function to 2-dimensional cubes and construct a cyclic 2-cocycle on the Cantor dust. This cocycle is non-trivial on the pullback of the smooth functions on the 2-dimensional torus with the generalized Cantor function while it vanishes on the Lipschitz functions on the Cantor dust. The cocycle is calculated through the integration of 2-forms on the torus by using a combinatorial Fredholm module. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Department of Mathematics, Faculty of Science, Okayama University Acta Medica Okayama 0030-1566 66 1 2024 On G(A)Q of rings of finite representation type 103 113 EN Tony J. Puthenpurakal Department of Mathematics, IIT Bombay Let (A,m) be an excellent Henselian Cohen-Macaulay local ring of finite representation type. If the AR-quiver of A is known then by a result of Auslander and Reiten one can explicity compute G(A) the Grothendieck group of finitely generated A-modules. If the AR-quiver is not known then in this paper we give estimates of G(A)Q = G(A) ⊗Z Q when k = A/m is perfect. As an application we prove that if A is an excellent equi-characteristic Henselian Gornstein local ring of positive even dimension with char A/m �� 2, 3, 5 (and A/m perfect) then G(A)Q ≅ Q. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Department of Mathematics, Faculty of Science, Okayama University Acta Medica Okayama 0030-1566 66 1 2024 Positive solutions to a nonlinear three-point boundary value problem with singularity 85 102 EN Moses B. Akorede Department of Mathematics, Faculty of Science, University of Ibadan Peter O. Arawomo Department of Mathematics, Faculty of Science, University of Ibadan In this paper, we discuss the existence and uniqueness of positive solutions to a singular boundary value problem of fractional differential equations with three-point integral boundary conditions. The nonlinear term f possesses singularity and also depends on the first-order derivative u��. Our approach is based on Leray-Schauder fixed point theorem and Banach contraction principle. Examples are presented to confirm the application of the main results. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Department of Mathematics, Faculty of Science, Okayama University Acta Medica Okayama 0030-1566 66 1 2024 Harmonic partitions of positive integers and bosonic extension of Euler�fs pentagonal number theorem 71 83 EN Masao Jinzenji Department of Mathematics, Okayama University Yu Tajima Division of Mathematics, Graduate School of Science, Hokkaido University In this paper, we first propose a cohomological derivation of the celebrated Euler�fs Pentagonal Number Theorem. Then we prove an identity that corresponds to a bosonic extension of the theorem. The proof corresponds to a cohomological re-derivation of Euler�fs another celebrated identity. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Department of Mathematics, Faculty of Science, Okayama University Acta Medica Okayama 0030-1566 66 1 2024 Construction of families of dihedral quintic polynomials 63 69 EN Yasuhiro Kishi Department of Mathematics, Faculty of Education, Aichi University of Education Mei Yamada Department of Mathematics, Faculty of Education, Aichi University of Education In this article, we give two families of dihedral quintic polynomials by using the Weber sextic resolvent and a certain elliptic curve. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Department of Mathematics, Faculty of Science, Okayama University Acta Medica Okayama 0030-1566 66 1 2024 Dirac pairs on Jacobi algebroids 45 61 EN Tomoya Nakamura Academic Support Center, Kogakuin University We define Dirac pairs on Jacobi algebroids, which is a generalization of Dirac pairs on Lie algebroids introduced by Kosmann-Schwarzbach. We show the relationship between Dirac pairs on Lie and on Jacobi algebroids, and that Dirac pairs on Jacobi algebroids characterize several compatible structures on Jacobi algebroids. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Department of Mathematics, Faculty of Science, Okayama University Acta Medica Okayama 0030-1566 66 1 2024 Game positions of multiple hook removing game 31 44 EN Yuki Motegi Graduate School of Pure and Applied Sciences, University of Tsukuba Multiple Hook Removing Game (MHRG for short) introduced in [1] is an impartial game played in terms of Young diagrams. In this paper, we give a characterization of the set of all game positions in MHRG. As an application, we prove that for t �� Z≥0 and m, n �� N such that t ≤ m ≤ n, and a Young diagram Y contained in the rectangular Young diagram Yt,n of size t �~ n, Y is a game position in MHRG with Ym,n the starting position if and only if Y is a game position in MHRG with Yt,n�|m+t the starting position, and also that the Grundy value of Y in the former MHRG is equal to that in the latter MHRG. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Department of Mathematics, Faculty of Science, Okayama University Acta Medica Okayama 0030-1566 66 1 2024 Equivalence classes of dessins d�fenfants with two vertices 1 30 EN Madoka Horie Graduate School of Science, Tohoku University Let N be a positive integer. For any positive integer L ≤ N and any positive divisor r of N, we enumerate the equivalence classes of dessins d�fenfants with N edges, L faces and two vertices whose representatives have automorphism groups of order r. Further, for any non-negative integer h, we enumerate the equivalence classes of dessins with N edges, h faces of degree 2 with h ≤ N, and two vertices whose representatives have automorphism group of order r. Our arguments are essentially based upon a natural one-to-one correspondence between the equivalence classes of all dessins with N edges and the equivalence classes of all pairs of permutations whose entries generate a transitive subgroup of the symmetric group of degree N. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

American Chemical Society (ACS) Acta Medica Okayama 0022-2623 65 8 2022 Identification of a Vitamin-D Receptor Antagonist, MeTC7, which Inhibits the Growth of Xenograft and Transgenic Tumors In Vivo 6039 6055 EN Negar Khazan Wilmot Cancer Institute and Division of Gynecologic Oncology, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Rochester Medical Center Kyu Kwang Kim Wilmot Cancer Institute and Division of Gynecologic Oncology, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Rochester Medical Center Jeanne N. Hansen Department of Pediatrics, University of Rochester Medical Center Niloy A. Singh Wilmot Cancer Institute and Division of Gynecologic Oncology, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Rochester Medical Center Taylor Moore Wilmot Cancer Institute and Division of Gynecologic Oncology, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Rochester Medical Center Cameron W. A. Snyder Wilmot Cancer Institute and Division of Gynecologic Oncology, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Rochester Medical Center Ravina Pandita Wilmot Cancer Institute and Division of Gynecologic Oncology, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Rochester Medical Center Myla Strawderman Department of Biostatistics and Computational Biology, University of Rochester Medical Center Michiko Fujihara Division of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences Yuta Takamura Division of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences Ye Jian Division of Surgery and of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Rochester Medical Center Nicholas Battaglia Division of Surgery and of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Rochester Medical Center Naohiro Yano Department of Surgery, Division of Surgical Research, Rhode Island Hospital, Alpert Medical School of Brown University Yuki Teramoto Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Rochester Medical Center Leggy A. Arnold Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Wisconsin Milwaukee Russell Hopson Department of Chemistry, Brown University Keshav Kishor Department of Chemistry, Birla Institute of Technology Sneha Nayak Department of Chemistry, Birla Institute of Technology Debasmita Ojha Department of Chemistry, Birla Institute of Technology Ashoke Sharon Department of Chemistry, Birla Institute of Technology John M. Ashton Genomics Core Facility, Wilmot Cancer Center, University of Rochester Medical Center Jian Wang Department of Pharmacology and Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Penn State College of Medicine, Penn State University Michael T. Milano Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Rochester Medical Center Hiroshi Miyamoto Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Rochester Medical Center David C. Linehan Division of Surgery and of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Rochester Medical Center Scott A. Gerber Division of Surgery and of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Rochester Medical Center Nada Kawar Center for Breast Health and Gynecologic Oncology, Mercy Medical Center Ajay P. Singh Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey Erdem D. Tabdanov CytoMechanobiology Laboratory, Department of Pharmacology, Penn State College of Medicine, Pennsylvania State University Nikolay V. Dokholyan Department of Pharmacology and Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Penn State College of Medicine, Penn State University Hiroki Kakuta Division of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences Peter W. Jurutka School of Mathematical and Natural Sciences, Arizona State University, Health Futures Center Nina F. Schor Departments of Pediatrics, Neurology, and Neuroscience, University of Rochester Medical Center Rachael B. Rowswell-Turner Wilmot Cancer Institute and Division of Gynecologic Oncology, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Rochester Medical Center Rakesh K. Singh Wilmot Cancer Institute and Division of Gynecologic Oncology, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Rochester Medical Center Richard G. Moore Wilmot Cancer Institute and Division of Gynecologic Oncology, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Rochester Medical Center Vitamin-D receptor (VDR) mRNA is overexpressed in neuroblastoma and carcinomas of lung, pancreas, and ovaries and predicts poor prognoses. VDR antagonists may be able to inhibit tumors that overexpress VDR. However, the current antagonists are arduous to synthesize and are only partial antagonists, limiting their use. Here, we show that the VDR antagonist MeTC7 (5), which can be synthesized from 7-dehydrocholesterol (6) in two steps, inhibits VDR selectively, suppresses the viability of cancer cell-lines, and reduces the growth of the spontaneous transgenic TH-MYCN neuroblastoma and xenografts in vivo. The VDR selectivity of 5 against RXR�� and PPAR-�� was confirmed, and docking studies using VDR-LBD indicated that 5 induces major changes in the binding motifs, which potentially result in VDR antagonistic effects. These data highlight the therapeutic benefits of targeting VDR for the treatment of malignancies and demonstrate the creation of selective VDR antagonists that are easy to synthesize. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Institute of Mathematics, Polish Academy of Sciences Acta Medica Okayama 0016-2736 263 2023 The universal factorial Hall–Littlewood P- and Q-functions 133 166 EN Masaki Nakagawa Graduate School of Education Okayama University Hiroshi Naruse Graduate School of Education University of Yamanashi We introduce factorial analogues of the ordinary Hall–Littlewood P- and Q-polynomials, which we call the factorial Hall–Littlewood P- and Q-polynomials. Using the universal formal group law, we further generalize these polynomials to the universal factorial Hall–Littlewood P- and Q-functions. We show that these functions satisfy the vanishing property which the ordinary factorial Schur S-, P-, and Q-polynomials have. By the vanishing property, we derive the Pieri-type formula and a certain generalization of the classical hook formula. We then characterize our functions in terms of Gysin maps from flag bundles in complex cobordism theory. Using this characterization and Gysin formulas for flag bundles, we obtain generating functions for the universal factorial Hall–Littlewood P- and Q-functions. Using our generating functions, we show that our factorial Hall–Littlewood P- and Q-polynomials have a certain cancellation property. Further applications such as Pfaffian formulas for K-theoretic factorial Q-polynomials are also given. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC) Acta Medica Okayama 2050-7488 10 37 2022 Effects of the rigid and sterically bulky structure of non-fused nonfullerene acceptors on transient photon-to-current dynamics 20035 20047 EN Seihou Jinnai The Institute of Scientific and Industrial Research (SANKEN), Osaka University Kasumi Murayama Department of Chemistry, Graduate School of Science, Kobe University Keisuke Nagai The Institute of Scientific and Industrial Research (SANKEN), Osaka University Megumi Mineshita Department of Mathematics, Physics and Computer Science, Japan Women's University Kosaku Kato Graduate School of Natural Science & Technology, Okayama University Azusa Muraoka Department of Mathematics, Physics and Computer Science, Japan Women's University Akira Yamakata Graduate School of Natural Science & Technology, Okayama University Akinori Saeki Department of Applied Chemistry, Graduate School of Engineering, Osaka University Yasuhiro Kobori Department of Chemistry, Graduate School of Science, Kobe University Yutaka Ie The Institute of Scientific and Industrial Research (SANKEN), Osaka University Non-fused electron-accepting ��-conjugated compounds have been investigated recently for application to nonfullerene acceptors (NFAs) in organic solar cells (OSCs). However, the establishment of rational molecular design for non-fused NFAs is still lagging because the influence of flexible non-fused structures on the dynamics of electron–hole pairs in OSCs is not entirely understood. In this study, we utilized cyclopentene-annelated thiophene with spiro-substituted 2,7-bis(2-ethylhexyl)fluorene (FT) as a rigid and sterically bulky linker unit and developed a non-fused NFA (TT–FT–DCI) containing FT units. Photophysical measurements indicated that the introduction of the FT unit leads to the formation of rigid molecular structure. OSCs based on donor polymer (PBDB-T) and TT–FT–DCI showed an improved power conversion efficiency of 7.13% due to the increase in the short-circuit current density and fill factor. Time-resolved optical and microwave spectroscopies showed that the FT unit contributes to the long lifetimes of excited state and charge-separated state in the PBDBT:TT–FT–DCI blend films. Time-resolved electron paramagnetic resonance measurements showed that the distant charge-separated states of the face-to-face PBDB-T:TT–FT–DCI structure, which is derived by avoiding over-crystallization by the steric bulkiness of TT–FT–DCI, can interact with the cathodes for preferential electron injection following charge generations. This study highlights that by using the rigid ��-conjugated framework and suppressed self-aggregation of the non-fused acceptor, effective molecular design for the appropriate dynamics of photocurrent generation is possible. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

IOP Publishing Ltd Acta Medica Okayama 2041-8205 951 2 2023 Search for Astrophysical Electron Antineutrinos in Super-Kamiokande with 0.01% Gadolinium-loaded Water L27 EN M. Harada Department of Physics, Okayama University We report the first search result for the flux of astrophysical electron antineutrinos for energies O(10) MeV in the gadolinium-loaded Super-Kamiokande (SK) detector. In 2020 June, gadolinium was introduced to the ultrapure water of the SK detector in order to detect neutrons more efficiently. In this new experimental phase, SK-Gd, we can search for electron antineutrinos via inverse beta decay with efficient background rejection thanks to the high efficiency of the neutron tagging technique. In this paper, we report the result for the initial stage of SK-Gd, during 2020 August 26, and 2022 June 1 with a 22.5 x 552 kton center dot day exposure at 0.01% Gd mass concentration. No significant excess over the expected background in the observed events is found for the neutrino energies below 31.3 MeV. Thus, the flux upper limits are placed at the 90% confidence level. The limits and sensitivities are already comparable with the previous SK result with pure water (22.5 x 2970 kton center dot day) owing to the enhanced neutron tagging. Operation with Gd increased to 0.03% started in 2022 June. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

MDPI Acta Medica Okayama 1996-1073 16 15 2023 Features and Evolution of Global Energy Trade Patterns from the Perspective of Complex Networks 5677 EN Yingnan Cong Business School, China University of Political Science and Law Yufei Hou Business School, China University of Political Science and Law Jiaming Jiang Center for Artificial Intelligence and Mathematical Data Science, Okayama University Shuangzi Chen School of Economics, Hebei University Xiaojing Cai Graduate School of Humanities and Social Sciences, Okayama University As an integral part of economic trade, energy trade is crucial to international dynamics and national interests. In this study, an international energy trade network is constructed by abstracting countries as nodes and representing energy trade relations as edges. A variety of indicators are designed in terms of networks, nodes, bilaterals, and communities to analyze the temporal and spatial evolution of the global energy trade network from 2001 to 2020. The results indicate that network density and strength have been steadily increasing since the beginning of the 21st century. It is observed that the position of the United States as the core of the international energy market is being impacted by emerging developing countries, thus affecting the existing trade balance based on topological analysis. The weighted analysis of bilateral relations demonstrates that emerging countries such as China, Brazil, and Saudi Arabia are pursuing closer cooperation. The community analysis reveals that an increasing number of countries possess strong energy trade capabilities, resulting in a corresponding increase in energy trade volumes. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Nature Portfolio Acta Medica Okayama 2045-2322 13 1 2023 Social aspects of collision avoidance: a detailed analysis of two-person groups and individual pedestrians 5756 EN Adrien Gregorj Okayama University Zeynep Yucel Okayama University Francesco Zanlungo Okayama University Claudio Feliciani The University of Tokyo Takayuki Kanda ATR International Pedestrian groups are commonly found in crowds but research on their social aspects is comparatively lacking. To fill that void in literature, we study the dynamics of collision avoidance between pedestrian groups (in particular dyads) and individual pedestrians in an ecological environment, focusing in particular on (i) how such avoidance depends on the group's social relation (e.g. colleagues, couples, friends or families) and (ii) its intensity of social interaction (indicated by conversation, gaze exchange, gestures etc). By analyzing relative collision avoidance in the "center of mass" frame, we were able to quantify how much groups and individuals avoid each other with respect to the aforementioned properties of the group. A mathematical representation using a potential energy function is proposed to model avoidance and it is shown to provide a fair approximation to the empirical observations. We also studied the probability that the individuals disrupt the group by "passing through it" (termed as intrusion). We analyzed the dependence of the parameters of the avoidance model and of the probability of intrusion on groups' social relation and intensity of interaction. We confirmed that the stronger social bonding or interaction intensity is, the more prominent collision avoidance turns out. We also confirmed that the probability of intrusion is a decreasing function of interaction intensity and strength of social bonding. Our results suggest that such variability should be accounted for in models and crowd management in general. Namely, public spaces with strongly bonded groups (e.g. a family-oriented amusement park) may require a different approach compared to public spaces with loosely bonded groups (e.g. a business-oriented trade fair). No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Elsevier BV Acta Medica Okayama 0893-6080 164 2023 Design of continuous-time recurrent neural networks with piecewise-linear activation function for generation of prescribed sequences of bipolar vectors 588 605 EN Norikazu Takahashi Okayama University Tsuyoshi Yamakawa Kyushu University Yasuhiro Minetoma Kyushu University Tetsuo Nishi Kyushu University Tsuyoshi Migita Okayama University A recurrent neural network (RNN) can generate a sequence of patterns as the temporal evolution of the output vector. This paper focuses on a continuous-time RNN model with a piecewise-linear activation function that has neither external inputs nor hidden neurons, and studies the problem of finding the parameters of the model so that it generates a given sequence of bipolar vectors. First, a sufficient condition for the model to generate the desired sequence is derived, which is expressed as a system of linear inequalities in the parameters. Next, three approaches to finding solutions of the system of linear inequalities are proposed: One is formulated as a convex quadratic programming problem and others are linear programming problems. Then, two types of sequences of bipolar vectors that can be generated by the model are presented. Finally, the case where the model generates a periodic sequence of bipolar vectors is considered, and a sufficient condition for the trajectory of the state vector to converge to a limit cycle is provided. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

MDPI Acta Medica Okayama 2071-1050 15 9 2023 Integrating Perspectives from Education for Sustainable Development to Foster Plant Awareness among Trainee Science Teachers: A Mixed Methods Study 7395 EN Khalifatulloh Fiel'ardh Graduate School of Education, Okayama University Indra Fardhani Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Science, Universitas Negeri Malang Hiroki Fujii Graduate School of Education, Okayama University This mixed-method study aimed to investigate the efficacy of an intervention unit that integrates perspectives from Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) to foster plant awareness, within the context of botanical lessons for trainee science teachers. Third-year undergraduate students (n = 91) studying to become lower secondary school (grade 7-9) science teachers from a public university in East Java, Indonesia, participated in this study. Data were collected through a self-reported questionnaire, reflective journal entries, and focus group interviews. The findings revealed a statistically significant increase in the participants' attention and attitude towards plants, relative interest in plants, and self-efficacy in teaching plant-related topics. The triangulation of the analysis results from the reflective journals and focus group interviews demonstrated that through transformative learning, the participants' experiences, perceptions, and learning evolved throughout the intervention unit, leading to their more comprehensive understanding of plant-related issues and their connection to broader sustainability concerns. These findings imply that the integration of ESD perspectives into botanical education positively affects plant awareness. Future research could further investigate the long-term impact of integrating ESD perspectives on teacher training programs. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

American Physical Society (APS) Acta Medica Okayama 2469-9926 107 4 2023 Measurement of Doppler effects in a cryogenic buffer-gas cell 043114 EN Ayami Hiramoto Research Institute for Interdisciplinary Science, Okayama University Masaaki Baba Department of Chemistry, Graduate School of Science, Kyoto University Katsunari Enomoto Department of Physics, University of Toyama Kana Iwakuni Institute for Laser Science, University of Electro-Communications Susumu Kuma Atomic, Molecular and Optical Physics Laboratory, RIKEN Yuiki Takahashi Division of Physics, Mathematics, and Astronomy, California Institute of Technology Reo Tobaru Research Institute for Interdisciplinary Science, Okayama University Yuki Miyamoto Research Institute for Interdisciplinary Science, Okayama University Buffer-gas cooling is a universal cooling technique for molecules and used for various purposes. One of its ap- plications is using molecules inside a buffer-gas cell for low-temperature spectroscopy. Although a high-intensity signal is expected in the cell, complex molecular dynamics is a drawback for precise spectroscopy. In this study, we performed high-resolution absorption spectroscopy of low -J transitions in the &Atilde;&sup2;��(0, 0, 0)-˜X&sup2;��⁺(0, 0, 0) band of calcium monohydroxide (CaOH). CaOH molecules were produced by laser ablation in a copper cell and cooled to ∼5 K using helium buffer gas. We probed the Doppler effects in a buffer-gas cell by injecting counterpropagating lasers inside the cell. The time evolutions of the Doppler width and shift were simulated using a dedicated Monte Carlo simulation and compared with data. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

MDPI Acta Medica Okayama 1996-1073 16 5 2023 Technology Trend Analysis of Japanese Green Vehicle Powertrains Technology Using Patent Citation Data 2221 EN Jiaming Jiang Center for Artificial Intelligence and Mathematical Data Science, Okayama University Yu Zhao School of Management, Department of Management, Tokyo University of Science As automobiles are major contributors to greenhouse gas emissions, the technological shift towards vehicle powertrain systems is an attempt to lower problems such as emissions of carbon dioxide and nitrogen oxides. Patent data are the most reliable measure of business performance for applied research and development activities when investigating knowledge domains or technology evolution. This is the first study on Japanese patent citation data of the green vehicle powertrains technology industry, using the social network analysis method, which emphasizes centrality estimates and community detection. This study not only elucidates the knowledge by visualizing flow patterns but also provides a precious and congregative method for verifying important patents under the International Patent Classification system and grasping the trend of the new technology industry. This study detects leading companies, not only in terms of the number of patents but also the importance of the patents. The empirical result shows that the International Patent Classification (IPC) class that starts with "B60K", which includes hybrid electric vehicle (HEV) and battery electric vehicle (BEV), is more likely to be the technology trend in the green vehicle powertrains industry. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

World Scientific Pub Co Pte Ltd Acta Medica Okayama 0129-167X 34 02 2023 Geometrical proof of generalized mirror transformation of projective hypersurfaces 2350006 EN Masao Jinzenji Department of Mathematics, Okayama University In this paper, we propose a geometrical proof of the generalized mirror transformation of genus 0 Gromov–Witten invariants of degree k hypersurface in CP^N-1 No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Nature Portfolio Acta Medica Okayama 2399-3669 5 1 2022 High-resolution spectroscopy of buffer-gas-cooled phthalocyanine 161 EN Yuki Miyamoto Research Institute for Interdisciplinary Science, Okayama University Reo Tobaru Research Institute for Interdisciplinary Science, Okayama University Yuiki Takahashi Division of Physics, Mathematics, and Astronomy, California Institute of Technology Ayami Hiramoto Research Institute for Interdisciplinary Science, Okayama University Kana Iwakuni Institute for Laser Science, University of Electro-Communications Susumu Kuma Atomic, Molecular and Optical Physics Laboratory, RIKEN Katsunari Enomoto 5Department of Physics, University of Toyama Masaaki Baba Molecular Photoscience Research Center, Kobe University For over five decades, studies in the field of chemical physics and physical chemistry have primarily aimed to understand the quantum properties of molecules. However, high-resolution rovibronic spectroscopy has been limited to relatively small and simple systems because translationally and rotationally cold samples have not been prepared in sufficiently large quantities for large and complex systems. In this study, we present high-resolution rovibronic spectroscopy results for large gas-phase molecules, namely, free-base phthalocya-nine (FBPc). The findings suggest that buffer-gas cooling may be effective for large molecules introduced via laser ablation. High-resolution electronic spectroscopy, combined with other experimental and theoretical studies, will be useful in understanding the quantum properties of molecules. These findings also serve as a guide for quantum chemical calculations of large molecules. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Okayama University Medical School Acta Medica Okayama 0386-300X 76 6 2022 Fetal Cerebellar Growth Curves Based on Biomathematics in Normally Developing Japanese Fetuses and Fetuses with Trisomy 18 645 650 EN Katsuhiko Tada Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, National Hospital Organization, Okayama Medical Center Yasunari Miyagi Medical Data Labo Reina Komatsu Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Showa University Koto Toyosu Hospital Naoki Okimoto Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, National Hospital Organization, Okayama Medical Center Saya Tsukahara Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, National Hospital Organization, Okayama Medical Center Yoko Tateishi Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, National Hospital Organization, Okayama Medical Center Naomi Ooka Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, National Hospital Organization, Okayama Medical Center Mizuho Yoshida Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, National Hospital Organization, Okayama Medical Center Kazumasa Kumazawa Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, National Hospital Organization, Okayama Medical Center Original Article 10.18926/AMO/64114 We used biomathematics to describe and compare cerebellar growth in normally developing and trisomy 18 Japanese fetuses. This retrospective study included 407 singleton pregnancies with fetuses at 14-39 weeks of gestation and 33 fetuses with trisomy 18 at 17-35 weeks. We used ultrasonography to measure fetal transverse cerebellar diameter (TCD) and anteroposterior cerebellar diameter (APCD). We hypothesized that cerebellar growth is proportional to cerebellar length at any given time point. We determined the formula L(t) ��Keat+r, where e is Napier�fs number, t is time, L is cerebellar length, and a, K, and r are constants. We then obtained regression functions for each TCD and APCD in all fetuses. The regression equations for TCD and APCD values in normal fetuses, expressed as exponential functions, were TCD(t)=27.85e0.02788t�|28.62 (mm) (adjusted R2=0.997), and APCD(t)=324.29e0.00286t�|322.62 (mm) (adjusted R2=0.995). These functions indicated that TCD and APCD grew at constant rates of 2.788%/week and 0.286%/week, respectively, throughout gestation. TCD (0.0153%/week) and APCD (0.000430%/week) grew more slowly in trisomy 18 fetuses. This study demonstrates the potential of biomathematics in clinical research and may aid in biological understanding of fetal cerebellar growth. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Department of Mathematics, Faculty of Science, Okayama University Acta Medica Okayama 0030-1566 65 1 2023 Positivity and Hierarchical Structure of four Green Functions Corresponding to a Bending Problem of a Beam on a half line 145 173 EN Yoshinori Kametaka Faculty of Engineering Science, Osaka University Kohtaro Watanabe Department of Computer Science, National Defense Academy Atsushi Nagai Department of Computer Sciences, College of Liberal Arts, Tsuda University Kazuo Takemura College of Science and Technology, Nihon University Hiroyuki Yamagishi Tokyo Metropolitan College of Industrial Technology We consider the boundary value problem for fourth order linear ordinary differential equation in a half line (0,��), which represents bending of a beam on an elastic foundation under a tension. A tension is relatively stronger than a spring constant of elastic foundation. We here treat four self-adjoint boundary conditions, clamped, Dirichlet, Neumann and free edges, at x = 0. We show the positivity and the hierarchical structure of four Green functions. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Department of Mathematics, Faculty of Science, Okayama University Acta Medica Okayama 0030-1566 65 1 2023 Traveling front solutions for perturbed reaction-diffusion equations 125 143 EN Wah Wah Research Institute for Interdisciplinary Science, Okayama University Masaharu TANIGUCHI Research Institute for Interdisciplinary Science, Okayama University Traveling front solutions have been studied for reaction-diffusion equations with various kinds of nonlinear terms. One of the interesting subjects is the existence and non-existence of them. In this paper, we prove that, if a traveling front solution exists for a reaction-diffusion equation with a nonlinear term, it also exists for a reaction-diffusion equation with a perturbed nonlinear term. In other words, a traveling front is robust under perturbation on a nonlinear term. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Department of Mathematics, Faculty of Science, Okayama University Acta Medica Okayama 0030-1566 65 1 2023 A Note on Fields Generated by Jacobi Sums 117 123 EN Yuichiro Hoshi Research Institute for Mathematical Sciences, Kyoto University In the present paper, we study fields generated by Jacobi sums. In particular, we completely determine the field obtained by adjoining, to the field of rational numbers, all of the Jacobi sums �gof two variables�h with respect to a fixed maximal ideal of the ring of integers of a fixed prime-power cyclotomic field. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Department of Mathematics, Faculty of Science, Okayama University Acta Medica Okayama 0030-1566 65 1 2023 An improvement of the integrability of the state space of the ��43-process and the support of the ��43-measure constructed by the limit of stationary processes of approximating stochastic quantization equations 97 116 EN Seiichiro Kusuoka Department of Mathematics, Graduate School of Science, Kyoto University This is a remark paper for the ��⁴₃ -measure and the associated flow on the torus which are constructed in [1] by the limit of the stationary processes of the stochastic quantization equations of approximation measures. We improve the integrability of the state space of the ��⁴₃ -process and the support of the ��⁴₃ -measure. For the improvement, we improve the estimates of the H&#246;lder continuity in time of the solutions to approximation equations. In the present paper, we only discuss the estimates different from those in [1]. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Department of Mathematics, Faculty of Science, Okayama University Acta Medica Okayama 0030-1566 65 1 2023 Non-Modular Solution of the Kaneko-Zagier Equations with respect to Fricke Groups of Low Levels 83 96 EN Toshiteru Kinjo Graduate School of Mathematics, Kyushu University Pavel Guerzhoy show that the Kaneko-Zagier equation for SL2(Z) has mixed mock mock modular solutions in certain weights. In this paper, we show that the Kaneko-Zagier equations for the Fricke groups of level 2 and 3 also have mixed mock modular solutions in certain weights. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Department of Mathematics, Faculty of Science, Okayama University Acta Medica Okayama 0030-1566 65 1 2023 Affine Kac-Moody Groups as Twisted Loop Groups obtained by Galois Descent Considerations 35 81 EN Jun Morita Institute of Mathematics, University of Tsukuba Arturo Pianzola Department of Mathematical and Statistical Sciences, University of Alberta Taiki Shibata Department of Applied Mathematics, Okayama University of Science We provide explicit generators and relations for the affine Kac-Moody groups, as well as a realization of them as (twisted) loop groups by means of Galois descent considerations. As a consequence, we show that the affine Kac-Moody group of type X(r) N is isomorphic to the fixed-point subgroup of the affine Kac-Moody group of type X(1) N under an action of the Galois group. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Department of Mathematics, Faculty of Science, Okayama University Acta Medica Okayama 0030-1566 65 1 2023 E(2)-local Picard graded beta elements at the prime three 23 34 EN Ryo Kato Faculty of Fundamental Science National Institute of Technology, Niihama college Let E(2) be the second Johnson-Wilson spectrum at the prime 3. In this paper, we show that some beta elements exist in the homotopy groups of the E(2)-localized sphere spectrum with a grading over the Picard group of the stable homotopy category of E(2)-local spectra. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Department of Mathematics, Faculty of Science, Okayama University Acta Medica Okayama 0030-1566 65 1 2023 A characterization of the class of Harada rings 1 22 EN Kazutoshi Koike National Institute of Technology, Okinawa College There are many characterizations of Harada rings. In this paper, we characterize right co-Harada rings by giving a characterization of the class of basic right co-Harada rings. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

MDPI Acta Medica Okayama 2076-3417 12 19 2022 Machine Learning and Inverse Optimization for Estimation of Weighting Factors in Multi-Objective Production Scheduling Problems 9472 EN Hidetoshi Togo Graduate School of Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University Kohei Asanuma Graduate School of Engineering Science, Osaka University Tatsushi Nishi Graduate School of Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University Ziang Liu Graduate School of Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University In recent years, scheduling optimization has been utilized in production systems. To construct a suitable mathematical model of a production scheduling problem, modeling techniques that can automatically select an appropriate objective function from historical data are necessary. This paper presents two methods to estimate weighting factors of the objective function in the scheduling problem from historical data, given the information of operation time and setup costs. We propose a machine learning-based method, and an inverse optimization-based method using the input/output data of the scheduling problems when the weighting factors of the objective function are unknown. These two methods are applied to a multi-objective parallel machine scheduling problem and a real-world chemical batch plant scheduling problem. The results of the estimation accuracy evaluation show that the proposed methods for estimating the weighting factors of the objective function are effective. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

American Astronomical Society Acta Medica Okayama 0004-637X 936 2 2022 Low-J Transitions in A˜2��(0,0,0)�|X˜2��+(0,0,0) Band of Buffer-gas-cooled CaOH EN Yuiki Takahashi Division of Physics, Mathematics, and Astronomy, California Institute of Technology Masaaki Baba Department of Chemistry, Graduate School of Science, Kyoto University Katsunari Enomoto Department of Physics, University of Toyama Ayami Hiramoto Research Institute for Interdisciplinary Science, Okayama University Kana Iwakuni Institute for Laser Science, University of Electro-Communications Susumu Kuma Atomic, Molecular and Optical Physics Laboratory, RIKEN Reo Tobaru Research Institute for Interdisciplinary Science, Okayama University Yuki Miyamoto Research Institute for Interdisciplinary Science, Okayama University Calcium monohydroxide radical (CaOH) is receiving an increasing amount of attention from the astrophysics community as it is expected to be present in the atmospheres of hot rocky super-Earth exoplanets as well as interstellar and circumstellar environments. Here, we report the high-resolution laboratory absorption spectroscopy on low-<jats:italic>J</jats:italic> transitions in <jats:inline-formula><jats:tex-math><?CDATA ${\tilde{A}}^{2}{\rm{\Pi }}(0,0,0)-{\tilde{X}}^{2}{{\rm{\Sigma }}}^{+}(0,0,0)$?></jats:tex-math><mml:math xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" overflow="scroll"> <mml:msup> <mml:mrow> <mml:mover accent="true"> <mml:mrow> <mml:mi>A</mml:mi> </mml:mrow> <mml:mrow> <mml:mo>˜</mml:mo> </mml:mrow> </mml:mover> </mml:mrow> <mml:mrow> <mml:mn>2</mml:mn> </mml:mrow> </mml:msup> <mml:mi mathvariant="normal">��</mml:mi> <mml:mo stretchy="false">(</mml:mo> <mml:mn>0</mml:mn> <mml:mo>,</mml:mo> <mml:mn>0</mml:mn> <mml:mo>,</mml:mo> <mml:mn>0</mml:mn> <mml:mo stretchy="false">)</mml:mo> <mml:mo>�|</mml:mo> <mml:msup> <mml:mrow> <mml:mover accent="true"> <mml:mrow> <mml:mi>X</mml:mi> </mml:mrow> <mml:mrow> <mml:mo>˜</mml:mo> </mml:mrow> </mml:mover> </mml:mrow> <mml:mrow> <mml:mn>2</mml:mn> </mml:mrow> </mml:msup> <mml:msup> <mml:mrow> <mml:mi mathvariant="normal">��</mml:mi> </mml:mrow> <mml:mrow> <mml:mo>+</mml:mo> </mml:mrow> </mml:msup> <mml:mo stretchy="false">(</mml:mo> <mml:mn>0</mml:mn> <mml:mo>,</mml:mo> <mml:mn>0</mml:mn> <mml:mo>,</mml:mo> <mml:mn>0</mml:mn> <mml:mo stretchy="false">)</mml:mo> </mml:math> <jats:inline-graphic xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" xlink:href="apjac87fbieqn3.gif" xlink:type="simple" /> </jats:inline-formula> band of buffer-gas-cooled CaOH. In total, 40 transitions out of the low-<jats:italic>J</jats:italic> states were assigned, including 27 transitions that have not been reported in previous literature. The determined rotational constants for both ground and excited states are in excellent agreement with previous literature, and the measurement uncertainty for the absolute transition frequencies was improved by more than a factor of 3. This will aid future interstellar, circumstellar, and atmospheric identifications of CaOH. The buffer-gas-cooling method employed here is a particularly powerful method to probe low-<jats:italic>J</jats:italic> transitions and is easily applicable to other astrophysical molecules.</jats:p> No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

CELL PRESS Acta Medica Okayama 2589-0042 25 8 2022 Immune response to SARS-CoV-2 in severe disease and long COVID-19 104723 EN Tomonari Sumi Research Institute for Interdisciplinary Science, Okayama University Kouji Harada Department of Computer Science and Engineering, Toyohashi University of Technology COVID-19 is mild to moderate in otherwise healthy individuals but may nonetheless cause life-threatening disease and/or a wide range of persistent symptoms. The general determinant of disease severity is age mainly because the immune response declines in aging patients. Here, we developed a mathematical model of the immune response to SARS-CoV-2 and revealed that typical age-related risk factors such as only a several 10% decrease in innate immune cell activity and inhibition of type-I interferon signaling by autoantibodies drastil ally increased the viral load. It was reported that the numbers of certain dendritic cell subsets remained less than half those in healthy donors even seven months after infection. Hence, the inflammatory response was ongoing. Our model predicted the persistent DC reduction and showed that certain patients with severe and even mild symptoms could not effectively eliminate the virus and could potentially develop long COVID. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

American Institute of Mathematical Sciences Acta Medica Okayama 1547-1063 19 11 2022 Global stability of an age-structured infection model in vivo with two compartments and two routes 11047 11070 EN Tsuyoshi Kajiwara Graduate School of Environmental and Life Sciences, Okayama University Toru Sasaki Faculty of Environmental and Life Science, Okayama University Yoji Otani School of Engineering, Okayama University In this paper, for an infection age model with two routes, virus-to-cell and cell-to-cell, and with two compartments, we show that the basic reproduction ratio R-0 gives the threshold of the stability. If R-0 > 1, the interior equilibrium is unique and globally stable, and if R-0 <= 1, the disease free equilibrium is globally stable. Some stability results are obtained in previous research, but, for example, a complete proof of the global stability of the disease equilibrium was not shown. We give the proof for all the cases, and show that we can use a type reproduction number for this model. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Nature Portfolio Acta Medica Okayama 2045-2322 12 1 2022 Visual hallucinations in dementia with Lewy bodies originate from necrosis of characteristic neurons and connections in three-module perception model 14172 EN Shigetoshi Nara Graduate School of Natural Science & Technology, Okayama University Hiroshi Fujii Faculty of Information Science and Engineering, Kyoto Sangyo University Hiromichi Tsukada Center for Mathematical Science and Artifcial Intelligence/Chubu University Academy of Emerging Sciences, Chubu University Ichiro Tsuda Chubu University Academy of Emerging Sciences/Center for Mathematical Science and Artifcial Intelligence, Chubu University Mathematical and computational approaches were used to investigate dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB), in which recurrent complex visual hallucinations (RCVH) is a very characteristic symptom. Beginning with interpretative analyses of pathological symptoms of patients with RCVH-DLB in comparison with the veridical perceptions of normal subjects, we constructed a three-module scenario concerning function giving rise to perception. The three modules were the visual input module, the memory module, and the perceiving module. Each module interacts with the others, and veridical perceptions were regarded as a certain convergence to one of the perceiving attractors sustained by self-consistent collective fields among the modules. Once a rather large but inhomogeneously distributed area of necrotic neurons and dysfunctional synaptic connections developed due to network disease, causing irreversible damage, then bottom-up information from the input module to both the memory and perceiving modules were severely impaired. These changes made the collective fields unstable and caused transient emergence of mismatched perceiving attractors. This may account for the reason why DLB patients see things that are not there. With the use of our computational model and experiments, the scenario was recreated with complex bifurcation phenomena associated with the destabilization of collective field dynamics in very high-dimensional state space. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Elsevier BV Acta Medica Okayama 0393-0440 180 2022 Evaluation of Euler number of complex Grassmann manifold G(k,N) via Mathai-Quillen formalism 104623 EN Shoichiro Imanishi Division of Mathematics, Graduate School of Science, Hokkaido University Masao Jinzenji Department of Mathematics, Okayama University Ken Kuwata Department of General Education, National Institute of Technology, Kagawa College In this paper, we provide a recipe for computing Euler number of Grassmann manifold G(k, N) by using Mathai-Quillen formalism (MQ formalism) [9] and Atiyah-Jeffrey construc-tion [1]. Especially, we construct path-integral representation of Euler number of G(k, N). Our model corresponds to a finite dimensional toy-model of topological Yang-Mills theory which motivated Atiyah-Jeffrey construction. As a by-product, we construct free fermion realization of cohomology ring of G(k, N). No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Mathematical Society of Japan (Project Euclid) Acta Medica Okayama 0025-5645 74 2 2022 Approximations of Lipschitz maps via Ehresmann fibrations and Reeb's sphere theorem for Lipschitz functions 521 548 EN Kei Kondo Department of Mathematics, Faculty of Science, Okayama University We show, as our main theorem, that if a Lipschitz map from a compact Riemannian manifold M to a connected compact Riemannian manifold N, where dim M ≥ dim N, has no singular points on M in the sense of Clarke, then the map admits a smooth approximation via Ehresmann fibrations. We also show the Reeb sphere theorem for Lipschitz functions, i.e., if a closed Riemannian manifold admits a Lipschitz function with exactly two singular points in the sense of Clarke, then the manifold is homeomorphic to the sphere. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Elsevier BV Acta Medica Okayama 0022-4049 226 8 2022 Indecomposable integrally closed modules of arbitrary rank over a two-dimensional regular local ring 107026 EN Futoshi Hayasaka Department of Environmental and Mathematical Sciences, Okayama University In this paper, we construct indecomposable integrally closed modules of arbitrary rank over a two-dimensional regular local ring. The modules are quite explicitly constructed from a given complete monomial ideal. We also give structural and numerical results on integrally closed modules. These are used in the proof of indecomposability of the modules. As a consequence, we have a large class of indecomposable integrally closed modules of arbitrary rank whose ideal is not necessarily simple. This extends the original result on the existence of indecomposable integrally closed modules and strengthens the non-triviality of the theory developed by Kodiyalam. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Elsevier BV Acta Medica Okayama 0732-3123 66 2022 Cultural relevance of validation during mathematical modeling and word problem-solving: Reconceptualizing validation as an integration of possible fictional worlds 100934 EN Ippo Ishibashi Okayama University Yusuke Uegatani Hiroshima University High School This study proposes a theoretical view for bridging mathematical modeling and word problem-solving activities. We introduce and elaborate on two theoretical ideas of the fictionality of word problems and the creation of possible fictional worlds. A world described by a word problem exists only fictionally (or potentially). A fictional world includes any imaginable world, any model for the real world, and any mathematical model. We developed a semi-open problem based on these theoretical ideas and observed Japanese eighth-grade students�f activity when solving it in an experimental lesson. Consequently, we identified a theoretically overlooked type of validation: considering the cultural relevance of solutions. The most important implication we draw from our observation is that the current definition of validation as a comparison between two stages in modeling should be extended to consider the integration of a target into a base possible fictional world. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Mathematical Society of Japan (Project Euclid) Acta Medica Okayama 0025-5645 73 4 2021 Moduli space of quasimaps from P-1 with two marked points to P(1,1,1,3) and j-invariant 995 1018 EN Masao JINZENJI Department of Mathematics, Okayama University Hayato SAITO Prime Link Co., Ltd. In this paper, we construct toric data of moduli space of quasimaps of degree d from P¹ with two marked points to weighted projective space P(1; 1; 1; 3). With this result, we prove that the moduli space is a�@compact toric orbifold. We also determine its Chow ring. Moreover, we give a proof of the conjecture proposed by Jinzenji that a series of intersection numbers of the moduli spaces coincides with expansion coefficients of inverse function of �|log(j(T)). No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Department of Mathematics, Faculty of Science, Okayama University Acta Medica Okayama 0030-1566 64 1 2022 A note on a Hecke ring associated with the Heisenberg Lie algebra 215 225 EN Fumitake Hyodo Department of Health Informatics Faculty of Health and Welfare Services Administration Kawasaki University of Medical Welfare This paper focuses on the theory of the Hecke rings associated with the general linear groups originally studied by Hecke and Shimura et al., and moreover generalizes its notions to Hecke rings associated with the automorphism groups of certain algebras. Then, in the case of the Heisenberg Lie algebra, we show an analog of the classical theory. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Department of Mathematics, Faculty of Science, Okayama University Acta Medica Okayama 0030-1566 64 1 2022 On Hook Formulas for Cylindric Skew Diagrams 191 213 EN Takeshi Suzuki Department of Mathematics, Faculty of Science, Okayama University Yoshitaka Toyosawa Graduate School of Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University We present a conjectural hook formula concerning the number of the standard tableaux on "cylindric" skew diagrams. Our formula can be seen as an extension of Naruse's hook formula for skew diagrams. Moreover, we prove our conjecture in some special cases. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Department of Mathematics, Faculty of Science, Okayama University Acta Medica Okayama 0030-1566 64 1 2022 Symbolic powers of monomial ideals 187 190 EN Tony J. Puthenpurakal Let K be a field and consider the standard grading on A = K[X₁, ... ,X_d]. Let I, J be monomial ideals in A. Let I_n(J) = (Iⁿ : J^&infin;) be the n^th symbolic power of I with respect to J. It is easy to see that the function f^I _J (n) = e₀(I_n(J)/Iⁿ) is of quasi-polynomial type, say of period g and degree c. For n �� 0 say<br> <br> f^I_J (n) = a_c(n)n^c + a_c�|1(n)n^c�|1 + lower terms,<br> <br> where for i = 0, ... , c, a_i : N �� Q are periodic functions of period g and a_c &ne;0. In [4, 2.4] we (together with Herzog and Verma) proved that dim I_n(J)/Iⁿ is constant for n �� 0 and a_c(�|) is a constant. In this paper we prove that if I is generated by some elements of the same degree and height I ≥ 2 then a_c�|1(�|) is also a constant. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Department of Mathematics, Faculty of Science, Okayama University Acta Medica Okayama 0030-1566 64 1 2022 Bijective proofs of the identities on the values of inner products of the Macdonald polynomials 153 186 EN Yuta Nishiyama Graduate School of Science and Technology, Kumamoto University In this article, we introduce some identities obtained from the inner products of some symmetric polynomials including the Macdonald polynomials. These identities are obtained not only from the inner products, but also by constructing certain bijections. The bijections are constructed through transforming the Young diagrams of partitions. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Department of Mathematics, Faculty of Science, Okayama University Acta Medica Okayama 0030-1566 64 1 2022 Quantum Sylvester-Franke Theorem 143 151 EN Kazuya Aokage Department of Mathematics, National Institute of Technology, Ariake College Sumitaka Tabata Department of Mathematics, Kumamoto University Hiro-Fumi Yamada Department of Mathematics, Kumamoto University A quantum version of classical Sylvester-Franke theorem is presented. After reviewing some representation theory of the quantum group GL_q (n, C), the commutation relations of the matrix elements are verified. Once quantum determinant of the representation matrix is defined, the theorem follows naturally No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Department of Mathematics, Faculty of Science, Okayama University Acta Medica Okayama 0030-1566 64 1 2022 ��-tilting finiteness of two-point algebras I 117 141 EN Qi Wang Department of Pure and Applied Mathematics, Graduate School of Information Science and Technology, Osaka University As the first attempt to classify ��-tilting finite two-point algebras, we have determined the ��-tilting finiteness for minimal wild two-point algebras and some tame two-point algebras. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Department of Mathematics, Faculty of Science, Okayama University Acta Medica Okayama 0030-1566 64 1 2022 Notes on the filtration of the K-theory for abelian p-groups 109 116 EN Nobuaki Yagita Department of Mathematics Faculty of Education Ibaraki University Let p be a prime number. For a given finite group G, let gr^*_&gamma;(BG) be the associated ring of the gamma filtration of the topological K-theory for the classifying space BG. In this paper, we study gr^*_&gamma;(BG) when G are abelian p-groups which are not elementary. In particular, we extend related Chetard�fs results for such 2-groups to p-groups for odd p. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Department of Mathematics, Faculty of Science, Okayama University Acta Medica Okayama 0030-1566 64 1 2022 Criteria for good reduction of hyperbolic polycurves 75 107 EN Ippei Nagamachi Research Institute for Mathematical Sciences, Kyoto University We give good reduction criteria for hyperbolic polycurves, i.e., successive extensions of families of curves, under some assumptions. These criteria are higher dimensional versions of the good reduction criterion for hyperbolic curves given by Oda and Tamagawa. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Department of Mathematics, Faculty of Science, Okayama University Acta Medica Okayama 0030-1566 64 1 2022 Note on totally odd multiple zeta values 63 73 EN Koji Tasaka A partial answer to a conjecture about the rank of the matrix C_N,_r introduced by Francis Brown in the study of totally odd multiple zeta values is given. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Department of Mathematics, Faculty of Science, Okayama University Acta Medica Okayama 0030-1566 64 1 2022 On Weakly Separable Polynomials in skew polynomial rings 47 61 EN Satoshi Yamanaka Department of Integrated Science and Technology National Institute of Technology, Tsuyama College The notion of weakly separable extensions was introduced by N. Hamaguchi and A. Nakajima as a generalization of separable extensions. The purpose of this article is to give a characterization of weakly separable polynomials in skew polynomial rings. Moreover, we shall show the relation between separability and weak separability in skew polynomial rings of derivation type. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Department of Mathematics, Faculty of Science, Okayama University Acta Medica Okayama 0030-1566 64 1 2022 The best constant of the discrete Sobolev inequalities on the complete bipartite graph 31 45 EN Hiroyuki Yamagishi Tokyo Metropolitan College of Industrial Technology We have the best constants of three kinds of discrete Sobolev inequalities on the complete bipartite graph with 2N vertices, that is, K_N,_N. We introduce a discrete Laplacian A on K_N,_N. A is a 2N �~2N real symmetric positive-semidefinite matrix whose eigenvector corresponding to zero eigenvalue is 1 = ^t(1, 1, �c , 1)&isin; C^2N. A discrete heat kernel, a Green�fs matrix and a pseudo Green�fs matrix play important roles in giving the best constants. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Department of Mathematics, Faculty of Science, Okayama University Acta Medica Okayama 0030-1566 64 1 2022 The d-Smith sets of Cartesian products of the alternating groups and finite elementary abelian 2-groups 13 29 EN Kohei Seita Department of Mathematics, Graduate School of Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University Let G be a finite group. In 1970s, T. Petrie defined the Smith equivalence of real G-modules. The Smith set of G is the subset of the real representation ring consisting of elements obtained as differences of Smith equivalent real G-modules. Various results of the topic have been obtained. The d-Smith set of G is the set of all elements [V ]�|[W] in the Smith set of G such that the H-fixed point sets of V and W have the same dimension for all subgroups H of G. The results of the Smith sets of the alternating groups and the symmetric groups are obtained by E. Laitinen, K. Pawa lowski and R. Solomon. In this paper, we give the calculation results of the d-Smith sets of the alternating groups and the symmetric groups. In addition, we give the calculation results of the d-Smith sets of Cartesian products of the alternating groups and finite elementary abelian 2-groups. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Department of Mathematics, Faculty of Science, Okayama University Acta Medica Okayama 0030-1566 64 1 2022 A Note on Torsion Points on Ample Divisors on Abelian Varieties 1 11 EN Yuichiro Hoshi Research Institute for Mathematical Sciences, Kyoto University In the present paper, we consider torsion points on ample divisors on abelian varieties. We prove that, for each integer n &le; 2, an effective divisor of level n on an abelian variety does not contain the subgroup of n-torsion points. Moreover, we also discuss an application of this result to the study of the p-rank of cyclic coverings of curves in positive characteristic. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Okayama University Medical School Acta Medica Okayama 0386-300X 75 5 2021 The Effect of Peer Instruction Lectures on Learning Attitudes in Epidemiology Education 601 609 EN Toshiharu Mitsuhashi Center for Innovative Clinical Medicine, Okayama University Hospital Original Article 10.18926/AMO/62773 Research suggests that the fundamental concepts of epidemiology cannot be sufficiently learned in traditional lectures, and interactive learning is necessary. However, few studies have investigated interactive epidemiology education in general, or peer instruction (PI) in particular. This study investigated the effect of PI. Study par-ticipants were fourth-year medical students. The attitude of participants in regard to PI learning was examined in a non-PI and a PI group. The Survey of Attitudes Toward Statistics (SATS) (containing six sub-categories) was conducted as a learning-attitudes index. The pre- and post-lecture scores were compared between the non-PI and PI groups using double robust (DR) estimation. The non-PI and PI groups consisted of 20 and 121 student participants, respectively. In DR estimation, affect exhibited the lowest SATS score changes, at �|0.51 (95% confidence interval �|0.78 to �|0.24; p-value < 0.001), whereas effort exhibited the highest score changes of 0.01 (95% confidence interval �|0.30 to 0.32; p-value = 0.952). The epidemiology lecture with PI did not increase the SATS scores. This might be due to issues related to the experimental design. Further research investigating the effects of interactive epidemiology education, it will be necessary to develop tools for assessing the learning of epidemiological concepts and to improve the research design. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Wiley Acta Medica Okayama 0022-0477 109 11 2021 The eco�]evolutionary dynamics of prior selfing rates promote coexistence without niche partitioning under conditions of reproductive interference 3916 3928 EN Koki Katsuhara Graduate School of Human Development and Environment, Kobe University Kobe Yuuya Tachiki Department of Biological Sciences Tokyo Metropolitan University Tokyo Japan Ryosuke Iritani Interdisciplinary Theoretical and Mathematical Sciences Program (iTHEMS) RIKEN Wako Saitama Japan Atushi Ushimaru Graduate School of Human Development and Environment Kobe University Kobe Japan 1. Pollinator-mediated reproductive interference can occur when two or more plant species share the same pollinators. Recent studies have suggested that prior autonomous selfing mitigates reproductive interference, potentially facilitating coexistence even in the absence of pollination niche partitioning (i.e. the pre-emptive selfing hypothesis). However, whether the evolution of prior selfing promotes coexistence, in the context of the eco-evolutionary dynamics of population size, selfing rates and inbreeding depression, remains poorly understood.<br> 2. We constructed an individual-based model to examine the conditions under which the evolution of prior selfing promotes coexistence in the context of mutual reproductive interference. In the model, two plant species compete by way of mutual reproductive interference, and both have the potential to evolve the capacity for prior autonomous selfing. We expected that purging of deleterious mutations might result in evolutionary rescue, assuming that the strength of inbreeding depression declines as the population selfing rate increases; this would enable inferior competitors to maintain population density through the evolution of prior selfing.<br> 3. Our simulation demonstrated that evolution of prior selfing may promote coexistence, whereas reproductive interference in the absence of such evolution results in competitive exclusion. We found that lower pollinator availability is likely to favour rapid evolutionary shifts to higher prior selfing rates, thereby neutralising the negative effects of reproductive interference in both species. When the strength of inbreeding depression decreased with an increase in the population-level selfing rate, moderate pollinator availability resulted in long-term coexistence in which relative abundance-dependent selection on the prior selfing rate served to intermittently maintain the population density of the inferior competitor.<br> 4. Synthesis. We demonstrate that the evolution of prior selfing may increase population growth rates of inferior competitors and may consequently promote long-term coexistence via an evolutionary rescue. This constitutes a novel mechanism explaining the co-evolutionary coexistence of closely related plant species without niche partitioning, and is consistent with recent studies reporting that closely related species with mixed mating systems can co-occur sympatrically, even under conditions of mutual reproductive interference. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Optical Soc Amer Acta Medica Okayama 1094-4087 29 11 2021 Suppression of the optical crosstalk in a multi-channel silicon photomultiplier array 16914 16926 EN Takahiko Masuda Research Institute for Interdisciplinary Science, Okayama University Daniel G. Ang Department of Physics, Harvard University Nicholas R. Hutzler Division of Physics, Mathematics, and Astronomy, California Institute of Technology Cole Meisenhelder Department of Physics, Harvard University Noboru Sasao Research Institute for Interdisciplinary Science, Okayama University Satoshi Uetake Research Institute for Interdisciplinary Science, Okayama University Xing Wu Department of Physics, Harvard University David DeMille James Franck Institute and Department of Physics, University of Chicago Gerald Gabrielse Center for Fundamental Physics, Northwestern University John M. Doyle Research Institute for Interdisciplinary Science, Okayama University Koji Yoshimura Research Institute for Interdisciplinary Science, Okayama University We propose and study a method of optical crosstalk suppression for silicon photomultipliers (SiPMs) using optical filters. We demonstrate that attaching absorptive visible bandpass filters to the SiPM can substantially reduce the optical crosstalk. Measurements suggest that the absorption of near infrared light is important to achieve this suppression. The proposed technique can be easily applied to suppress the optical crosstalk in SiPMs in cases where filtering near infrared light is compatible with the application. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Oxford Univ Press Acta Medica Okayama 2631-9268 2 3 2020 Parental legacy and regulatory novelty in Brachypodium diurnal transcriptomes accompanying their polyploidy lqaa067 EN Komaki Inoue RIKEN Center for Sustainable Resource Science Kotaro Takahagi RIKEN Center for Sustainable Resource Science Yusuke Kouzai RIKEN Center for Sustainable Resource Science Satoru Koda Graduate School of Mathematics, Kyushu University Minami Shimizu RIKEN Center for Sustainable Resource Science Yukiko Uehara-Yamaguchi RIKEN Center for Sustainable Resource Science Risa Nakayama RIKEN Center for Sustainable Resource Science Toshie Kita RIKEN Center for Sustainable Resource Science Yoshihiko Onda RIKEN Center for Sustainable Resource Science Toshihisa Nomura RIKEN Center for Sustainable Resource Science Hidetoshi Matsui Faculty of Data Science, Shiga University Kiyotaka Nagaki Institute of Plant Science and Resources, Okayama University Ryuei Nishii School of Information and Data Science, Nagasaki University Keiichi Mochida Institute of Plant Science and Resources, Okayama University Polyploidy is a widespread phenomenon in eukaryotes that can lead to phenotypic novelty and has important implications for evolution and diversification. The modification of phenotypes in polyploids relative to their diploid progenitors may be associated with altered gene expression. However, it is largely unknown how interactions between duplicated genes affect their diurnal expression in allopolyploid species. In this study, we explored parental legacy and hybrid novelty in the transcriptomes of an allopolyploid species and its diploid progenitors. We compared the diurnal transcriptomes of representative Brachypodium cytotypes, including the allotetraploid Brachypodium hybridum and its diploid progenitors Brachypodium distachyon and Brachypodium stacei. We also artificially induced an autotetraploid B. distachyon. We identified patterns of homoeolog expression bias (HEB) across Brachypodium cytotypes and time-dependent gain and loss of HEB in B. hybridum. Furthermore, we established that many genes with diurnal expression experienced HEB, while their expression patterns and peak times were correlated between homoeologs in B. hybridum relative to B. distachyon and B. stacei, suggesting diurnal synchronization of homoeolog expression in B. hybridum. Our findings provide insight into the parental legacy and hybrid novelty associated with polyploidy in Brachypodium, and highlight the evolutionary consequences of diurnal transcriptional regulation that accompanied allopolyploidy. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

IOP Publishing Acta Medica Okayama 1367-2630 21 2019 Superconductivity in a new layered triangular-lattice system Li2IrSi2 093056 EN K Horigane Research Institute for Interdisciplinary Science, Okayama University, K Takeuchi Graduate School of natural science and technology, Okayama University D Hyakumura Department of Physics and Mathematics, Aoyama Gakuin University R Horie Research Institute for Interdisciplinary Science, Okayama University T Sato Institute for Materials Research, Tohoku University T Muranaka Department of Engineering Science, University of Electro-Communications K Kawashima Department of Physics and Mathematics, Aoyama Gakuin University H Ishii National Synchrotron Radiation Research Center Y Kubozono Research Institute for Interdisciplinary Science, Okayama University S Orimo Institute for Materials Research, Tohoku University M Isobe National Institute for Materials Science (NIMS) J Akimitsu Research Institute for Interdisciplinary Science, Okayama University We report on the crystal structure and superconducting properties of a novel iridium-silicide, namely Li2IrSi2. It has a Ag2NiO2-type structure (space group R-3m) with the lattice parameters a = 4.028 30(6) Å and c = 13.161 80(15) Å. The crystal structure comprises IrSi2 and double Li layers stacked alternately along the c-axis. The IrSi2 layer includes a two-dimensional Ir equilateral-triangular lattice. Electrical resistivity and static magnetic measurements revealed that Li2IrSi2 is a type-II superconductor with critical temperature (Tc) of 3.3 K. We estimated the following superconducting parameters: lower critical field Hc1(0) ~ 42 Oe, upper critical field Hc2(0) ~ 1.7 kOe, penetration depth ��0 ~ 265 nm, coherence length ��0 ~ 44 nm, and Ginzburg–Landau parameter ��GL ~ 6.02. The specific-heat data suggested that superconductivity in Li2IrSi2 could be attributed to weak-coupling Cooper pairs. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Okayama University Medical School Acta Medica Okayama 0386-300X 75 1 2021 The Thickness of the Medial Wall of the Acetabulum Prevents Acetabular Fracture during the Insertion of a Cementless Cup in Total Hip Arthroplasty: A Biomechanical Study 71 77 EN Tomoaki Sanki Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences Tomonori Tetsunaga Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences Takayuki Furumatsu Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences Kazuki Yamada Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences Yoshi Kawamura Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences Toshifumi Ozaki Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences Original Article 10.18926/AMO/61437 Intra-operative acetabular fracture is a total hip arthroplasty complication that can occur during cementless cup insertion, especially in osteoporotic patients. We conducted this biomechanical study to investigate the impact resistance of the acetabulum with simulated bones of different density by drop-weight impact testing. Low- and high-density polyurethane foam blocks were used as osteoporotic and healthy bone models, respectively. Polyurethane blocks were used as the acetabular cancellous bone. Composite sheets were used as the acetabu-lum�fs medial cortex. The testing revealed that the osteoporotic bone model�fs impact resistance was significantly lower than that the healthy bone model�f. In the healthy bone model, even thin acetabular cancellous bone with ≥ 1 mm acetabulum medial cortex was less likely to fracture. In the osteoporotic bone model, fracture was pos-sible without ≥ 1 mm medial cortex of the acetabulum and thick acetabular cancellous bone. Although impac-tion resistance differs due to bone quality, the impaction resistance in this osteoporotic bone model was equiv-alent to that healthy bone model�fs when a thick medial wall was present. To avoid intra-operative acetabulum fracture, surgeons should consider both the bone quality and the thicknesses of the medial cortex and acetabu-lar cancellous bone. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Okayama University Medical School Acta Medica Okayama 0386-300X 75 1 2021 The Optimal Prepregnancy Body Mass Index for Lactation in Japanese Women with Neonatal Separation as Analyzed by a Differential Equation 63 69 EN Katsuhiko Tada Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, National Hospital Organization, Okayama Medical Center Yasunari Miyagi Miyake Ofuku Clinic Kazue Nakamura Department of Neonatology, National Hospital Organization, Okayama Medical Center Moe Yorozu Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, National Hospital Organization, Okayama Medical Center Emi Fukushima Department of Nursing, National Hospital Organization, Okayama Medical Center Kazumasa Kumazawa Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, National Hospital Organization, Okayama Medical Center Makoto Nakamura Department of Neonatology, National Hospital Organization, Okayama Medical Center Misao Kageyama Department of Neonatology, National Hospital Organization, Okayama Medical Center Original Article 10.18926/ATM/61436 We used a differential equation to identify the biological relationship between the maternal prepregnancy body mass index (BMI) and lactation on postpartum day 4 in Japanese women with neonatal separation. This retro-spective observational study included 252 mothers (135 primiparas, 117 multiparas) whose singleton neonates were admitted to a neonatal ICU. We formulated hypotheses based on breast anatomy to analyze the relation-ship between the expressed milk obtained on postpartum day 4 and the maternal prepregnancy BMI with the following differential equation: y�f(x) = k y(x)/x, where k is the constant, x is the prepregnancy BMI, and y is the expressed milk volume. The formula was then obtained as y(x) = axk, where a is the constant. The Akaike information criterion (AIC) was used to estimate the regression equation with the maximum likelihood for primiparas and multiparas. The best criteria for BMI determined by the AIC were 20.89 kg/m2 in primiparas and 20.19 kg/m2 in multiparas. These were the optimal BMI values for lactation, coinciding with the median prepregnancy BMI in the study population (20.78 kg/m2 in primiparas and 20.06 kg/m2 in multiparas). The formula based on biomathematics might help establish the biological relationship between prepregnancy BMI and breastmilk volume. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

MDPI Acta Medica Okayama 2076-3417 11 1 2021 Multi-Period Maximal Covering Location Problem with Capacitated Facilities and Modules for Natural Disaster Relief Services 397 EN Roghayyeh Alizadeh Division of Mathematical Science for Social Systems, Department of Systems Innovation, Graduate School of Engineering Science, Osaka University Tatsushi Nishi Graduate School of Natural Sciences, Department of Industrial Innovation Engineering, Okayama University Jafar Bagherinejad Department of Industrial Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Alzahra University Mahdi Bashiri School of Strategy and Leadership, Faculty of Business and Law, Coventry University The paper aims to study a multi-period maximal covering location problem with the configuration of different types of facilities, as an extension of the classical maximal covering location problem (MCLP). The proposed model can have applications such as locating disaster relief facilities, hospitals, and chain supermarkets. The facilities are supposed to be comprised of various units, called the modules. The modules have different sizes and can transfer between facilities during the planning horizon according to demand variation. Both the facilities and modules are capacitated as a real-life fact. To solve the problem, two upper bounds-(LR1) and (LR2)-and Lagrangian decomposition (LD) are developed. Two lower bounds are computed from feasible solutions obtained from (LR1), (LR2), and (LD) and a novel heuristic algorithm. The results demonstrate that the LD method combined with the lower bound obtained from the developed heuristic method (LD-HLB) shows better performance and is preferred to solve both small- and large-scale problems in terms of bound tightness and efficiency especially for solving large-scale problems. The upper bounds and lower bounds generated by the solution procedures can be used as the profit approximation by the managerial executives in their decision-making process. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Department of Mathematics, Faculty of Science, Okayama University Acta Medica Okayama 0030-1566 8 2 1958 Galois theory of simple rings IV 189 194 EN Takasi Nagahara Nobuo Nobusawa Hisao Tominaga No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Department of Mathematics, Faculty of Science, Okayama University Acta Medica Okayama 0030-1566 8 2 1958 On generating elements of Galois extensions of division rings IV 181 188 EN Takashi Nagahara No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Department of Mathematics, Faculty of Science, Okayama University Acta Medica Okayama 0030-1566 8 2 1958 Tangent bundles of order 2 and general connections 143 179 EN Tominosuke Otsuki No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Department of Mathematics, Faculty of Science, Okayama University Acta Medica Okayama 0030-1566 8 2 1958 On normal basis theorems and strictly Galois extensions 133 142 EN Takasi Nagahara Takesi Onodera Hisao Tominaga No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Department of Mathematics, Faculty of Science, Okayama University Acta Medica Okayama 0030-1566 8 2 1958 Some remarks on homotopy equivalences and H-spaces 125 131 EN Masahiro Sugawara No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Department of Mathematics, Faculty of Science, Okayama University Acta Medica Okayama 0030-1566 8 2 1958 A note on Galois theory of primary rings 117 123 EN Hisao Tominaga No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Department of Mathematics, Faculty of Science, Okayama University Acta Medica Okayama 0030-1566 8 2 1958 Note on curvature of Finsler manifolds 107 116 EN Tominosuke Ōtsuki No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Department of Mathematics, Faculty of Science, Okayama University Acta Medica Okayama 0030-1566 8 1 1958 Poincarésche Vermutung in Topologie 1 106 EN Ken'iti Koseki No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Public Library of Science Acta Medica Okayama 1932-6203 15 10 2020 Fgf10-CRISPR mosaic mutants demonstrate the gene dose-related loss of the accessory lobe and decrease in the number of alveolar type 2 epithelial cells in mouse lung e0240333 EN Munenori Habuta Department of Cytology and Histology, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences Akihiro Yasue Department of Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Tokushima University Graduate School Ken-Ichi T. Suzuki Department of Mathematical and Life Sciences, Hiroshima University Hirofumi Fujita Department of Cytology and Histology, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences Keita Sato Department of Cytology and Histology, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences Hitomi Kono Department of Cytology and Histology, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences Ayuko Takayama Center for the Development of New Model Organisms, National Institute for Basic Biology Tetsuya Bando Department of Cytology and Histology, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences Satoru Miyaishi Department of Legal Medicine, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences Seiichi Oyadomari Division of Molecular Biology, Institute of Advanced Medical Sciences, Tokushima University Eiji Tanaka Department of Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Tokushima University Graduate School Hideyo Ohuchi Department of Cytology and Histology, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences CRISPR/Cas9-mediated gene editing often generates founder generation (F0) mice that exhibit somatic mosaicism in the targeted gene(s). It has been known thatFibroblast growth factor 10(Fgf10)-null mice exhibit limbless and lungless phenotypes, while intermediate limb phenotypes (variable defective limbs) are observed in theFgf10-CRISPR F0 mice. However, how the lung phenotype in theFgf10-mosaic mutants is related to the limb phenotype and genotype has not been investigated. In this study, we examined variable lung phenotypes in theFgf10-targeted F0 mice to determine if the lung phenotype was correlated with percentage of functionalFgf10genotypes. Firstly, according to a previous report,Fgf10-CRISPR F0 embryos on embryonic day 16.5 (E16.5) were classified into three types: type I, no limb; type II, limb defect; and type III, normal limbs. Cartilage and bone staining showed that limb truncations were observed in the girdle, (type I), stylopodial, or zeugopodial region (type II). Deep sequencing of theFgf10-mutant genomes revealed that the mean proportion of codons that encode putative functional FGF10 was 8.3 +/- 6.2% in type I, 25.3 +/- 2.7% in type II, and 54.3 +/- 9.5% in type III (mean +/- standard error of the mean) mutants at E16.5. Histological studies showed that almost all lung lobes were absent in type I embryos. The accessory lung lobe was often absent in type II embryos with other lobes dysplastic. All lung lobes formed in type III embryos. The number of terminal tubules was significantly lower in type I and II embryos, but unchanged in type III embryos. To identify alveolar type 2 epithelial (AECII) cells, known to be reduced in theFgf10-heterozygous mutant, immunostaining using anti-surfactant protein C (SPC) antibody was performed: In the E18.5 lungs, the number of AECII was correlated to the percentage of functionalFgf10genotypes. These data suggest theFgf10gene dose-related loss of the accessory lobe and decrease in the number of alveolar type 2 epithelial cells in mouse lung. Since dysfunction of AECII cells has been implicated in the pathogenesis of parenchymal lung diseases, theFgf10-CRISPR F0 mouse would present an ideal experimental system to explore it. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

MDPI Acta Medica Okayama 2076-3417 10 20 2020 Hybrid Set Covering and Dynamic Modular Covering Location Problem: Application to an Emergency Humanitarian Logistics Problem 7110 EN Roghayyeh Alizadeh Division of Mathematical Science for Social Systems, Department of Systems Innovation, Graduate School of Engineering Science, Osaka University Tatsushi Nishi Graduate School of Natural Sciences, Department of Industrial Innovation Engineering, Okayama University This paper presents an extension of the covering location problem as a hybrid covering model that utilizes the set covering and maximal covering location problems. The developed model is a multi-period model that considers strategic and tactical planning decisions. Hybrid covering location problem (HCLP) determines the location of the capacitated facilities by using dynamic set covering location problem as strategic decisions and assigns the constructive units of facilities and allocates the demand points by using dynamic modular capacitated maximal covering location problem as tactical decisions. One of the applications of the proposed model is locating first aid centers in humanitarian logistic services that have been addressed by studying a threat case study in Japan. In addition to validating the developed model, it has been compared to other possible combined problems, and several randomly generated examples have been solved. The results of the case study and model validation tests approve that the main hybrid developed model (HCLP) is capable of providing better coverage percentage compared to conventional covering models and other hybrid variants. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Department of Mathematics, Faculty of Science, Okayama University Acta Medica Okayama 0030-1566 63 1 2021 Linear stability of radially symmetric equilibrium solutions to the singular limit problem of three-component activator-inhibitor model 201 217 EN Takuya Kojima Graduate school of Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University Yoshihito Oshita Department of Mathematics, Okayama University We show linear stability or instability for radially symmet-ric equilibrium solutions to the system of interface equation and two parabolic equations arising in the singular limit of three-component activator-inhibitor models. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Department of Mathematics, Faculty of Science, Okayama University Acta Medica Okayama 0030-1566 63 1 2021 On H-epimorphisms and co-H-sequences in two-sided Harada rings 183 199 EN Yoshitomo Baba Department of Mathematics Education Osaka Kyoiku University In [8] M. Harada studied a left artinian ring R such that every non-small left R-module contains a non-zero injective submodule. And in [13] K. Oshiro called the ring a left Harada ring (abbreviated left H-ring). We can see many results on left Harada rings in [6] and many equivalent conditions in [4, Theorem B]. In this paper, to characterize two-sided Harada rings, we intruduce new concepts �gco-H-sequence�h and �gH-epimorphism�h and study them. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Department of Mathematics, Faculty of Science, Okayama University Acta Medica Okayama 0030-1566 63 1 2021 On some families of invariant polynomials divisible by three and their zeta functions 175 182 EN Koji Chinen Department of Mathematics, School of Science and Engineering, Kindai University In this note, we establish an analog of the Mallows-Sloane bound for Type III formal weight enumerators. This completes the bounds for all types (Types I through IV) in synthesis of our previous results. Next we show by using the binomial moments that there exists a family of polynomials divisible by three, which are not related to linear codes but are invariant under the MacWilliams transform for the value 3/2. We also discuss some properties of the zeta functions for such polynomials. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Department of Mathematics, Faculty of Science, Okayama University Acta Medica Okayama 0030-1566 63 1 2021 On pg-ideals 167 173 EN Tony J. Puthenpurakal Department of Mathematics, IIT Bombay Let (A, m) be an excellent normal domain of dimension two. We define an m-primary ideal I to be a pg -ideal if the Rees algebra A[It] is a Cohen-Macaulay normal domain. If A has infinite residue field then it follows from a result of Rees that the product of two pg ideals is pg . When A contains an algebraically closed field k ∼= A/m then Okuma, Watanabe and Yoshida proved that A has pg -ideals and furthermore product of two pg -ideals is a pg ideal. In this article we show that if A is an excellent normal domain of dimension two containing a field k ∼= A/m of characteristic zero then also A has pg -ideals. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Department of Mathematics, Faculty of Science, Okayama University Acta Medica Okayama 0030-1566 63 1 2021 The d-Smith sets of direct products of dihedral groups 153 165 EN Kohei Seita Department of Mathematics, Graduate School of Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University Let G be a finite group and let V and W be real G-modules. We call V and W dim-equivalent if for each subgroup H of G, the H-fixed point sets of V and W have the same dimension. We call V and W are Smith equivalent if there is a smooth G-action on a homotopy sphere �� with exactly two G-fixed points, say a and b, such that the tangential G-representations at a and b of �� are respectively isomorphic to V and W . Moreover, We call V and W are d-Smith equivalent if they are dim-equivalent and Smith equivalent. The differences of d-Smith equivalent real G-modules make up a subset, called the d-Smith set, of the real representation ring RO(G). We call V and W P(G)-matched if they are isomorphic whenever the actions are restricted to subgroups with prime power order of G. Let N be a normal subgroup. For a subset F of G, we say that a real G-module is F-free if the H-fixed point set of the G-module is trivial for all elements H of F. We study the d-Smith set by means of the submodule of RO(G) consisting of the differences of dim-equivalent, P(G)-matched, {N}-free real G-modules. In particular, we give a rank formula for the submodule in order to see how the d-Smith set is large. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Department of Mathematics, Faculty of Science, Okayama University Acta Medica Okayama 0030-1566 63 1 2021 Rectangular Hall-Littlewood symmetric functions and a specific spin character 133 151 EN Kazuya Aokage Department of Mathematics, National Institute of Technology, Ariake College We derive the Schur function identities coming from the tensor products of the spin representations of the symmetric group Sn. We deal with the tensor products of the basic spin representation V (n) and any spin representation V �� (�� �� SP (n)). The characteristic map of the tensor product ��n ⊗ �ă� is described by Stembridge[4] for the case of odd n. We consider the case n is even. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Department of Mathematics, Faculty of Science, Okayama University Acta Medica Okayama 0030-1566 63 1 2021 Differential operators on modular forms associated to Jacobi forms 123 131 EN Min Ho Lee Department of Mathematics, University of Northern Iowa Given Jacobi forms, we determine associated Jacobi-like forms, whose coefficients are quasimodular forms. We then use these quasimodular forms to construct differential operators on modular forms, which are expressed in terms of the Fourier coefficients of the given Jacobi forms. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Department of Mathematics, Faculty of Science, Okayama University Acta Medica Okayama 0030-1566 63 1 2021 A note on products in stable homotopy groups of spheres via the classical Adams spectral sequence 107 122 EN Ryo Kato Faculty of Fundamental Science, National Institute of Technology, Niihama College katsumi Shimomura Department of Mathematics, faculty of Science and Technology, Kochi University In recent years, Liu and his collaborators found many non-trivial products of generators in the homotopy groups of the sphere spectrum. In this paper, we show a result which not only implies most of their results, but also extends a result of theirs. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Department of Mathematics, Faculty of Science, Okayama University Acta Medica Okayama 0030-1566 63 1 2021 A weak Euler formula for l-adic Galois double zeta values 87 105 EN Wojtkowiak Zdzisław Université de Nice-Sophia Antipolis, Déartement de Math ématiques Laboratoire Jean Alexandre Dieudonné The fact that the double zeta values ��(n, m) can be written in terms of zeta values, whenever n+m is odd is attributed to Euler. We shall show the weak version of this result for the l-adic Galois realization. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Department of Mathematics, Faculty of Science, Okayama University Acta Medica Okayama 0030-1566 63 1 2021 Defining relations of 3-dimensional quadratic AS-regular algebras 61 86 EN Ayako Itaba Department of Mathematics, faculty of Science, Tokyo University of Science Masaki Matsuno Graduate School of Science and Technology, Shizuoka University Classification of AS-regular algebras is one of the main interests in non-commutative algebraic geometry. Recently, a complete list of superpotentials (defining relations) of all 3-dimensional AS-regular algebras which are Calabi-Yau was given by Mori-Smith (the quadratic case) and Mori-Ueyama (the cubic case), however, no complete list of defining relations of all 3-dimensional AS-regular algebras has not appeared in the literature. In this paper, we give all possible defining relations of 3-dimensional quadratic AS-regular algebras. Moreover, we classify them up to isomorphism and up to graded Morita equivalence in terms of their defining relations in the case that their point schemes are not elliptic curves. In the case that their point schemes are elliptic curves, we give conditions for isomorphism and graded Morita equivalence in terms of geometric data. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Department of Mathematics, Faculty of Science, Okayama University Acta Medica Okayama 0030-1566 63 1 2021 Remark on a Paper by Izadi and Baghalaghdam about Cubes and Fifth Powers Sums 53 60 EN Gaku Iokibe Department of Mathematics, Graduate School of Science, Osaka University In this paper, we refine the method introduced by Izadi and Baghalaghdam to search integer solutions to the Diophantine equation<img src="http://www.lib.okayama-u.ac.jp/www/mjou/mjou_63_53.png">. We show that the Diophantine equation has infinitely many positive solutions. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Department of Mathematics, Faculty of Science, Okayama University Acta Medica Okayama 0030-1566 63 1 2021 Differential geometry of invariant surfaces in simply isotropic and pseudo-isotropic spaces 15 52 EN Luiz C. B. da Silva Department of Physics of Complex Systems, Weizmann Institute of Science We study invariant surfaces generated by one-parameter subgroups of simply and pseudo isotropic rigid motions. Basically, the simply and pseudo isotropic geometries are the study of a three-dimensional space equipped with a rank 2 metric of index zero and one, respectively. We show that the one-parameter subgroups of isotropic rigid motions lead to seven types of invariant surfaces, which then generalizes the study of revolution and helicoidal surfaces in Euclidean and Lorentzian spaces to the context of singular metrics. After computing the two fundamental forms of these surfaces and their Gaussian and mean curvatures, we solve the corresponding problem of prescribed curvature for invariant surfaces whose generating curves lie on a plane containing the degenerated direction. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Department of Mathematics, Faculty of Science, Okayama University Acta Medica Okayama 0030-1566 63 1 2021 On the stability, boundedness, and square integrability of solutions of third order neutral delay differential equations 1 14 EN John R. Graef Department of Mathematics, University of Tennessee at Chattanooga Djamila Beldjerd Oran�fs High School of Electrical Engineering and Energetics Moussadek Remili Department of Mathematics, University of Oran 1 Ahmed Ben Bella In this paper, sufficient conditions are established for the stability, boundedness and square integrability of solutions for some non-linear neutral delay differential equations of third order. Lyapunov�fs direct method is used to obtain the results. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

MDPI Acta Medica Okayama 2073-8994 12 8 2020 Pseudo Random Binary Sequence Based on Cyclic Difference Set 1202 EN Md. Selim Al Mamun Department of Computer Science and Engineering, Jatiya Kabi Kazi Nazrul Islam University Fatema Akhter Graduate School of Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University With the increasing reliance on technology, it has become crucial to secure every aspect of online information where pseudo random binary sequences (PRBS) can play an important role in today's world of Internet. PRBS work in the fundamental mathematics behind the security of different protocols and cryptographic applications. This paper proposes a new PRBS namely MK (Mamun, Kumu) sequence for security applications. Proposed sequence is generated by primitive polynomial, cyclic difference set in elements of the field and binarized by quadratic residue (QR) and quadratic nonresidue (QNR). Introduction of cyclic difference set makes a special contribution to randomness of proposed sequence while QR/QNR-based binarization ensures uniformity of zeros and ones in sequence. Besides, proposed sequence has maximum cycle length and high linear complexity which are required properties for sequences to be used in security applications. Several experiments are conducted to verify randomness and results are presented in support of robustness of the proposed MK sequence. The randomness of proposed sequence is evaluated by popular statistical test suite, i.e., NIST STS 800-22 package. The test results confirmed that the proposed sequence is not affected by approximations of any kind and successfully passed all statistical tests defined in NIST STS 800-22 suite. Finally, the efficiency of proposed MK sequence is verified by comparing with some popular sequences in terms of uniformity in bit pattern distribution and linear complexity for sequences of different length. The experimental results validate that the proposed sequence has superior cryptographic properties than existing ones. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Elsevier Acta Medica Okayama 0005-2728 1861 7 2020 Spectral tuning of light-harvesting complex II in the siphonous alga Bryopsis corticulans and its effect on energy transfer dynamics 148191 EN Parveen Akhtar Biological Research Centre Paweł J. Nowakowski ivision of Chemistry and Biological Chemistry, School of Physical and Mathematical Sciences, Nanyang Technological University Wenda Wang Photosynthesis Research Centre, Chinese Academy of Sciences Thanh Nhut Do Division of Chemistry and Biological Chemistry, School of Physical and Mathematical Sciences, Nanyang Technological University Songhao Zhao Photosynthesis Research Centre, Chinese Academy of Sciences Giuliano Siligardi Diamond Light Source Ltd., Harwell Science and Innovation Campus Győző Garab Biological Research Centre Jian-Ren Shen Research Institute for Interdisciplinary Science, Graduate School of Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University Howe-Siang Tan Division of Chemistry and Biological Chemistry, School of Physical and Mathematical Sciences, Nanyang Technological University Petar H. Lambrev Biological Research Centre Light-harvesting complex II (LHCII) from the marine green macroalga Bryopsis corticulans is spectroscopically characterized to understand the structural and functional changes resulting from adaptation to intertidal environment. LHCII is homologous to its counterpart in land plants but has a different carotenoid and chlorophyll (Chl) composition. This is reflected in the steady-state absorption, fluorescence, linear dichroism, circular dichroism and anisotropic circular dichroism spectra. Time-resolved fluorescence and two-dimensional electronic spectroscopy were used to investigate the consequences of this adaptive change in the pigment composition on the excited-state dynamics. The complex contains additional Chl b spectral forms – absorbing at around 650 nm and 658 nm – and lacks the red-most Chl a forms compared with higher-plant LHCII. Similar to plant LHCII, energy transfer between Chls occurs on timescales from under hundred fs (mainly from Chl b to Chl a) to several picoseconds (mainly between Chl a pools). However, the presence of long-lived, weakly coupled Chl b and Chl a states leads to slower exciton equilibration in LHCII from B. corticulans. The finding demonstrates a trade-off between the enhanced absorption of blue-green light and the excitation migration time. However, the adaptive change does not result in a significant drop in the overall photochemical efficiency of Photosystem II. These results show that LHCII is a robust adaptable system whose spectral properties can be tuned to the environment for optimal light harvesting. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Physical Society of Japan Acta Medica Okayama 0031-9015 89 6 2020 Energy Transfer to Resonant Zonal Rossby Modes in Two-Dimensional Turbulence on a Rotating Sphere 064401 EN Kiori Obuse Graduate School of Environmental and Life Science, Okayama University Michio Yamada Research Institute for Mathematical Sciences, Kyoto University The transfer of energy by the nonlinear interaction of Rossby waves in two-dimensional turbulence on a rotating sphere was investigated in this study. Although it has been suggested that three-wave resonant interaction dominates nonlinear interactions when the rotation rate of the sphere is sufficiently high, resonant interactions do not transfer energy to zonal Rossby waves, resulting in the nonresonant interaction of Rossby waves being responsible for the generation of zonal flows [Reznik, Piterbarg, and Kartashova, Dyn. Atmos. Oceans 18, 235 (1993); Obuse and Yamada, Phys. Rev. Fluids 4, 024601 (2019)]. The resonant and nonresonant interactions of Rossby waves were investigated in this study, and it was found that although energy is transferred to the zonal Rossby modes by the nonresonant three-wave interaction of Rossby waves, the target of this nonresonant energy transfer is only the resonant zonal Rossby waves. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Acta Medica Okayama 0288-4534 36 2019 Direct Measurement of Interaction Forces between Surfaces in Liquids Using Atomic Force Microscopy 187 200 EN Naoyuki Ishida Graduate School of Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University Vincent S. J. Craig Department of Applied Mathematics, RSPE, Australian National University The stability of particle suspensions, which is important in numerous industrial processes, is generally dominated by the interaction forces between the suspended particles. Understanding the interaction forces between surfaces in liquids is therefore fundamentally important in order to evaluate and control how particulates, including fluid droplets in emulsions and air bubbles in foams, behave in various systems. The invention of the surface force apparatus (SFA) enabled the direct measurement of interaction forces in liquids with molecular level resolution and it has led to remarkable progress in understanding surface forces in detail. Following the SFA, the application of atomic force microscopy (AFM) to force measurement has further extended the possibility of force measurements to a broad field of research, mainly due to the range of materials that can be employed. This review provides an overview of developments in the investigation of interaction forces between surfaces using AFM. The properties of various interaction forces, important in particle technology, revealed by the studies using AFM are described in detail. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Elsevier Acta Medica Okayama 09492658 2020 Reference values for the locomotive syndrome risk test quantifying mobility of 8681 adults aged 20–89 years: A cross-sectional nationwide study in Japan EN Keiko Yamada Departments of Sensory & Motor System Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, The University of Tokyo Yoichi M. Ito Department of Statistical Data Science, The Institute of Statistical Mathematics Masao Akagi Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Kindai University Hospital Etsuo Chosa Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Miyazaki Takeshi Fuji �gLocomo Challenge!�h Promotion Council Kenichi Hirano Hirano Orthopaedics Clinic Shinichi Ikeda Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Oita University, Hideaki Ishibashi �gLocomo Challenge!�h Promotion Council Yasuyuki Ishibashi Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Hirosaki University Graduate School of Medicine Muneaki Ishijima �gLocomo Challenge!�h Promotion Council Eiji Itoi Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine Norimasa Iwasaki �gLocomo Challenge!�h Promotion Council Ryoichi Izumida �gLocomo Challenge!�h Promotion Council Ken Kadoya Department of Advanced Medicine for Locomotor System, Faculty of Medicine and Graduate School of Medicine, Hokkaido University Masayuki Kamimura Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine Arihiko Kanaji �gLocomo Challenge!�h Promotion Council Hiroyuki Kato Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Shinshu University School of Medicine Shunji Kishida �gLocomo Challenge!�h Promotion Council Naohiko Mashima Department of Bone and Joint Surgery, Ehime University Graduate School of Medicine Shuichi Matsuda Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine Yasumoto Matsui Center for Frailty and Locomotive Syndrome, National Center for Geriatrics and Gerontology Toshiki Matsunaga Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Akita University Hospital Naohisa Miyakoshi Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Akita University Graduate School of Medicine Hiroshi Mizuta Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Faculty of Life Sciences, Kumamoto University Yutaka Nakamura Saiseikai Shonan Hiratsuka Hospital Ken Nakata Medicine for Sports and Performing Arts, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine Go Omori Department of Sports and Health, Faculty of Health and Science, Niigata University of Health and Welfare Koji Osuka Osuka Clinic Yuji Uchio Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Shimane University Kazuteru Ryu Kanai Hospital Nobuyuki Sasaki Sasaki Orthopedic and Anesthesiology Clinic Kimihito Sato �gLocomo Challenge!�h Promotion Council Masuo Senda Okayama University Hospital, Division of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Akihiro Sudo Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Mie University Graduate School of Medicine Naonobu Takahira Department of Rehabilitation, Kitasato University School of Allied Health Sciences Hiroshi Tsumura Department of Orthopaedic Surgery Satoshi Yamaguchi �gLocomo Challenge!�h Promotion Council Noriaki Yamamoto Nigata Rehabilitation Hospital Kozo Nakamura �gLocomo Challenge!�h Promotion Council Ohe Takashi �gLocomo Challenge!�h Promotion Council, T Background<br/> The locomotive syndrome risk test was developed to quantify the decrease in mobility among adults, which could eventually lead to disability. The purpose of this study was to establish reference values for the locomotive syndrome risk test for adults and investigate the influence of age and sex.<br/> Methods<br/> We analyzed 8681 independent community dwellers (3607 men, 5074 women). Data pertaining to locomotive syndrome risk test (the two-step test, the stand-up test, and the 25-question geriatric locomotive function scale [GLFS-25]) scores were collected from seven administrative areas of Japan.<br/> Results<br/> The reference values of the three test scores were generated and all three test scores gradually decreased among young-to-middle-aged individuals and rapidly decreased in individuals aged over 60 years. The stand-up test score began decreasing significantly from the age of 30 years. The trajectories of decrease in the two-step test score with age was slightly different between men and women especially among the middle-aged individuals. The two physical test scores were more sensitive to aging than the self-reported test score.<br/> Conclusion<br/> The reference values generated in this study could be employed to determine whether an individual has mobility comparable to independent community dwellers of the same age and sex. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Elsevier Acta Medica Okayama 01689002 959 2020 Evaluation of gadolinium�fs action on water Cherenkov detector systems with EGADS 163549 EN Ll. Marti Kamioka Observatory, Institute for Cosmic Ray Research, University of Tokyo M. Ikeda Kamioka Observatory, Institute for Cosmic Ray Research, University of Tokyo Y. Kato Kamioka Observatory, Institute for Cosmic Ray Research, University of Tokyo Y. Kishimoto Kamioka Observatory, Institute for Cosmic Ray Research, University of Tokyo M. Nakahata Kamioka Observatory, Institute for Cosmic Ray Research, University of Tokyo Y. Nakajima Kamioka Observatory, Institute for Cosmic Ray Research, University of Tokyo Y. Nakano Kamioka Observatory, Institute for Cosmic Ray Research, University of Tokyo S. Nakayama Kamioka Observatory, Institute for Cosmic Ray Research, University of Tokyo Y. Okajima Kamioka Observatory, Institute for Cosmic Ray Research, University of Tokyo A. Orii Kamioka Observatory, Institute for Cosmic Ray Research, University of Tokyo G. Pronost Kamioka Observatory, Institute for Cosmic Ray Research, University of Tokyo H. Sekiya Kamioka Observatory, Institute for Cosmic Ray Research, University of Tokyo M. Shiozawa Kamioka Observatory, Institute for Cosmic Ray Research, University of Tokyo H. Tanaka Kamioka Observatory, Institute for Cosmic Ray Research, University of Tokyo K. Ueno Kamioka Observatory, Institute for Cosmic Ray Research, University of Tokyo S. Yamada Kamioka Observatory, Institute for Cosmic Ray Research, University of Tokyo T. Yano Kamioka Observatory, Institute for Cosmic Ray Research, University of Tokyo T. Yokozawa Kamioka Observatory, Institute for Cosmic Ray Research, University of Tokyo M. Murdoch Kavli Institute for the Physics and Mathematics of the Universe (WPI), The University of Tokyo Institutes for Advanced Study J. Schuemann Kavli Institute for the Physics and Mathematics of the Universe (WPI), The University of Tokyo Institutes for Advanced Study M.R. Vagins Kavli Institute for the Physics and Mathematics of the Universe (WPI), The University of Tokyo Institutes for Advanced Study K. Bays Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of California G. Carminati Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of California N.J. Griskevich Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of California W.R. Kropp Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of California S. Locke Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of California A. Renshaw Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of California M.B. Smy Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of California P. Weatherly Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of California S. Ito Department of Physics, Okayama University H. Ishino Department of Physics, Okayama University A. Kibayashi Department of Physics, Okayama University Y. Koshio Department of Physics, Okayama University T. Mori Department of Physics, Okayama University M. Sakuda Department of Physics, Okayama University R. Yamaguchi Department of Physics, Okayama University P. Fernandez Department of Theoretical Physics, University Autonoma Madrid L. Labarga Department of Theoretical Physics, University Autonoma Madrid I. Bandac Laboratorio Subterraneo de Canfranc J. Perez Laboratorio Subterraneo de Canfranc J. Amey Department of Physics, Imperial College London R.P. Litchfield Department of Physics, Imperial College London A. Sztuc Department of Physics, Imperial College London Y. Uchida Department of Physics, Imperial College London W.Y. Ma Department of Physics, Imperial College London A. Goldsack Department of Physics, Oxford University C. Simpson Department of Physics, Oxford University D. Wark Department of Physics, Oxford University L.H.V. Anthony Department of Physics, University of Liverpool N. McCauley Department of Physics, University of Liverpool A. Pritchard Department of Physics, University of Liverpool F. Di Lodovico Department of Physics, King�fs College London B. Richards Department of Physics, King�fs College London A. Cole Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Sheffield M. Thiesse Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Sheffield L. Thompson Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Sheffield J. Imber Ecole Polytechnique, IN2P3-CNRS, Laboratoire Leprince-Ringuet S.V. Cao High Energy Accelerator Research Organization (KEK) K. Ito Department of Physics, Tokai University Y. Takeuchi Department of Physics, Kobe University R. Akutsu Research Center for Cosmic Neutrinos, Institute for Cosmic Ray Research, University of Tokyo Y. Nishimura Research Center for Cosmic Neutrinos, Institute for Cosmic Ray Research, University of Tokyo K. Okumura Research Center for Cosmic Neutrinos, Institute for Cosmic Ray Research, University of Tokyo S. Hirota Department of Physics, Kyoto University F. Muto Institute for Space-Earth Environmental Research, Nagoya University M. Yokoyama Department of Physics, University of Tokyo Y. Suda Department of Physics, University of Tokyo H. Zhang Department of Engineering Physics, Tsinghua University Used for both proton decay searches and neutrino physics, large water Cherenkov (WC) detectors have been very successful tools in particle physics. They are notable for their large masses and charged particle detection capabilities. While current WC detectors reconstruct charged particle tracks over a wide energy range, they cannot efficiently detect neutrons. Gadolinium (Gd) has the largest thermal neutron capture cross section of all stable nuclei and produces an 8 MeV gamma cascade that can be detected with high efficiency. Because of the many new physics opportunities that neutron tagging with a Gd salt dissolved in water would open up, a large-scale R&D program called EGADS was established to demonstrate this technique�fs feasibility. EGADS features all the components of a WC detector, chiefly a 200-ton stainless steel water tank furnished with 240 photo-detectors, DAQ, and a water system that removes all impurities from water while keeping Gd in solution. In this paper we discuss the milestones towards demonstrating the feasibility of this novel technique, and the features of EGADS in detail. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

American Institute of Mathematical Sciences Acta Medica Okayama 1078-0947 40 6 2020 Axisymmetric traveling fronts in balanced bistable reaction-diffusion equations 3981 3995 EN Masaharu Taniguchi Research Institute for Interdisciplinary Science, Okayama University For a balanced bistable reaction-diffusion equation, the existence of axisymmetric traveling fronts has been studied by Chen, Guo, Ninomiya, Hamel and Roquejoffre [4]. This paper gives another proof of the existence of axisymmetric traveling fronts. Our method is as follows. We use pyramidal traveling fronts for unbalanced reaction-diffusion equations, and take the balanced limit. Then we obtain axisymmetric traveling fronts in a balanced bistable reaction-diffusion equation. Since pyramidal traveling fronts have been studied in many equations or systems, our method might be applicable to study axisymmetric traveling fronts in these equations or systems. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Academic Press Acta Medica Okayama 00218693 556 2020 Constructing indecomposable integrally closed modules over a two-dimensional regular local ring 879 907 EN Futoshi Hayasaka Department of Environmental and Mathematical Sciences, Okayama University In this article, we construct integrally closed modules of rank two over a two-dimensional regular local ring. The modules are explicitly constructed from a given complete monomial ideal with respect to a regular system of parameters. Then we investigate their indecomposability. As a consequence, we have a large class of indecomposable integrally closed modules whose Fitting ideal is not simple. This gives an answer to Kodiyalam's question. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Elsevier Acta Medica Okayama 00224049 224 1 2020 Automorphism groups of rational surfaces 411 422 EN Takato Uehara Department of Mathematics, Okayama University In this paper, we consider automorphism groups of rational surfaces which admit cuspidal anticanonical curves and have certain nontrivial automorphisms. By applying Coxeter theory, we show that the automorphism groups of the surfaces are isomorphic to the infinite cyclic group. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Department of Mathematics, Faculty of Science, Okayama University Acta Medica Okayama 0030-1566 62 1 2020 Existence and stability of stationary solutions to the Allen-Cahn equation discretized in space and time 197 210 EN Amy Poh Ai Ling Division of Mathematics and Physics, Graduate School of Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University Masaharu Taniguchi Research Institute for Interdisciplinary Science, Okayama University The existence and stability of the Allen–Cahn equation discretized in space and time are studied in a finite spatial interval. If a parameter is less than or equals to a critical value, the zero solution is the only stationary solution. If the parameter is larger than the critical value, one has a positive stationary solution and this positive stationary solution is asymptotically stable. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Department of Mathematics, Faculty of Science, Okayama University Acta Medica Okayama 0030-1566 62 1 2020 Analytic extension of exceptional constant mean curvature one catenoids in de Sitter 3-space 179 195 EN Shoichi Fujimori Department of Mathematics, Hiroshima University Yu Kawakami Graduate School of Natural Science and Technology, Kanazawa University Masatoshi Kokubu Department of Mathematics, School of Engineering, Tokyo Denki University Wayne Rossman Department of Mathematics, Faculty of Science, Kobe University Masaaki Umehara Department of Mathematical and Computing Sciences, Tokyo Institute of Technology Kotaro Yamada Department of Mathematics, Tokyo Institute of Technology Catenoids in de Sitter 3-space S³₁ belong to a certain class of space-like constant mean curvature one surfaces. In a previous work, the authors classified such catenoids, and found that two different classes of countably many exceptional elliptic catenoids are not realized as closed subsets in S³₁ . Here we show that such exceptional catenoids have closed analytic extensions in S³₁ with interesting properties. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Department of Mathematics, Faculty of Science, Okayama University Acta Medica Okayama 0030-1566 62 1 2020 Crystal interpretation of a formula on the branching rule of types Bn, Cn, and Dn 87 178 EN Toya Hiroshima Department of Pure and Applied Mathematics, Graduate School of Information Science and Technology, Osaka University The branching coefficients of the tensor product of finite-dimensional irreducible Uq(g)-modules, where g is so(2n + 1, C) (Bn-type), sp(2n,C) (Cn-type), and so(2n,C) (Dn-type), are expressed in terms of Littlewood-Richardson (LR) coefficients in the stable region. We give an interpretation of this relation by Kashiwara�fs crystal theory by providing an explicit surjection from the LR crystal of type Cn to the disjoint union of Cartesian product of LR crystals of An�|1-type and by proving that LR crystals of types Bn and Dn are identical to the corresponding LR crystal of type Cn in the stable region. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Department of Mathematics, Faculty of Science, Okayama University Acta Medica Okayama 0030-1566 62 1 2020 Unstable higher Toda brackets 27 86 EN Hideaki Oshima Ibaraki University Katsumi Oshima No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Department of Mathematics, Faculty of Science, Okayama University Acta Medica Okayama 0030-1566 62 1 2020 A representation for algebraic K-theory of quasi-coherent modules over affine spectral schemes 1 25 EN Mariko Ohara Department of Mathematical Sciences Shinshu University In this paper, we study K-theory of spectral schemes by using locally free sheaves. Let us regard the K-theory as a functor K on affine spectral schemes. Then, we prove that the group completion ΩB^G(B^GGL) represents the sheafification of K with respect to Zariski (resp. Nisnevich) topology G, where B^GGL is a classifying space of a colimit of affine spectral schemes GLn. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Wiley Acta Medica Okayama 0024-6107 100 3 2019 Signatures of surface bundles and scl of a Dehn twist 957 986 EN Naoyuki Monden Department of Mathematics, Faculty of Science, Okayama University The first aim of this paper is to give four types of examples of surface bundles over surfaces with non-zero signature. The first example is with base genus 2, a prescribed signature, a 0-section and the fiber genus greater than a certain number which depends on the signature. This provides a new upper bound on the minimal base genus for fixed signature and fiber genus. The second example gives a new asymptotic upper bound for this number in the case that fiber genus is odd. The third example has a small Euler characteristic. The last is a non-holomorphic example. The second aim is to improve upper bounds for stable commutator lengths of Dehn twists by giving factorizations of powers of Dehn twists as products of commutators. One of the factorizations is used to construct the second examples of surface bundles. As a corollary, we see that there is a gap between the stable commutator length of the Dehn twist along a non-separating curve in the mapping class group and that in the hyperelliptic mapping class group if the genus of the surface is greater than or equal to 8. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

American Physical Society Acta Medica Okayama 2469990X 4 2 2019 Three-wave resonant interactions and zonal flows in two-dimensional Rossby-Haurwitz wave turbulence on a rotating sphere 024601 EN Kiori Obuse 1Graduate School of Environmental and Life Science, Okayama University Michio Yamada Research Institute for Mathematical Sciences, Kyoto University This paper addresses three-wave resonant interactions of Rossby-Haurwitz waves in two-dimensional turbulence on a rotating sphere. Zonal modes are often omitted from the "resonant wave set" even when they satisfy the conditions for three-wave resonant interactions, as they do not transfer any energy to other modes in a resonant manner. However, the presence of zonal flows induces phase shifts in other modes, and it is not at all clear that their influence is negligible. Since it is expected that three-wave resonant interactions govern the entire dynamics of turbulence if the rotation rate of the sphere is sufficiently high, by analogy with the theorem regarding three-wave resonant interactions of Rossby waves on a beta plane with sufficiently large beta previously proven by Yamada and Yoneda [Physica D 245, 1 (2013)], an appropriate definition of the resonant wave set was determined by comparing the time evolution of several wave sets on a rapidly rotating sphere. It was found that zonal waves of the form Y-l(m=0) exp(i omega t) with odd l, where Y(l)(m )are the spherical harmonics, should be considered for inclusion in the resonant wave set to ensure that the dynamics of the resonant wave set determine the overall dynamics of the turbulence on a rapidly rotating sphere. Consequently, it is suggested that the minimal resonant wave set that must be considered in the discussion of the three-wave interaction of Rossby-Haurwitz waves is the set consisting of nonzonal resonant waves and zonal waves of the form Y-l(0) exp(icot) with odd l. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Academic Press Acta Medica Okayama 00220396 260 5 2016 Convex compact sets in RN-1 give traveling fronts of cooperation-diffusion systems in R-N 4301 4338 EN Masaharu Taniguchi This paper studies traveling fronts to cooperation diffusion systems in R-N for N >= 3. We consider (N - 2)-dimensional smooth surfaces as boundaries of strictly convex compact sets in RN-1, and define an equivalence relation between them. We prove that there exists a traveling front associated with a given surface and show its stability. The associated traveling fronts coincide up to phase transition if and only if the given surfaces satisfy the equivalence relation. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Scientific Research Publishing Acta Medica Okayama 2162-1993 9 2019 Functional Analysis of Telajakan Plants and Space in Northern Denpasar, Bali, Indonesia 15 24 EN Sadahisa Kato Institute of Global Human Resource Development, Okayama University Kosuke Hishiyama Faculty of Applied Sociology, Kindai University Anak Agung Ketut Darmadi Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, University of Udayana Ngakan Ketut Acwin Dwijendra Faculty of Engineering, University of Udayana Faculty of Agriculture, University of Udayana Bali Island, Indonesia, is undergoing rapid land use changes owing to tourism-related development and urbanization. Consequently, urban green spaces, which provide a myriad of benefits to residents, are disappearing and deteriorating. Focusing on telajakan, a strip of traditional green space between the frontal wall of a housing compound and a ditch/pedestrian path in a roadside, the study aims: 1) to investigate and document the changes that are occurring with regards to telajakan in Denpasar, Bali and 2) to evaluate the functions of the plantings in telajakan. The research methods include literature review on traditional green spaces in Bali, vegetation survey at a lot scale, and homeowner interviews with the help of local experts. The study found that: 1) aesthetics, economics, and rituals are the top three functions provided by the telajakan plants with aesthetic function being by far the most provided function; 2) species diversity does not correspond with functional diversity; and 3) telajakan space itself is often minimized or sometimes lost completely for more inner, privatized space or for vehicle parking lot for shop owners. Since telajakan is an important component of traditional Balinese architecture, its loss, degradation, and marginalization necessarily lead to the loss of Balinese culture and identity. This study hints, however, a new form of social interaction through aesthetically-pleasing telajakan. Also, functional diversity, which is arguably as important as species diversity, can be maintained by carefully selecting indigenous species with multiple functions. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Department of Mathematics, Faculty of Science, Okayama University Acta Medica Okayama 0030-1566 61 1 2019 Terwilliger Algebras of Some Group Association Schemes 199 204 EN Nur Hamid Faculty of Mathematics and Physics, Kanazawa University Manabu Oura Faculty of Mathematics and Physics, Kanazawa University The Terwilliger algebra plays an important role in the theory of association schemes. The present paper gives the explicit structures of the Terwilliger algebras of the group association schemes of the finite groups PSL(2, 7), A6, and S6. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Department of Mathematics, Faculty of Science, Okayama University Acta Medica Okayama 0030-1566 61 1 2019 Passage of property (Bw) from two operators to their tensor product 187 198 EN M.H.M. Rashid Department of Mathematics& Statistics Faculty of Science P.O.Box(7) Mu�ftah University A Banach space operator satisfies property (Bw) if the complement of its B-Weyl spectrum in its the spectrum is the set of finite multiplicity isolated eigenvalues of the operator. Property (Bw) does not transfer from operators T and S to their tensor product T ⊗ S. We give necessary and /or sufficient conditions ensuring the passage of property (Bw) from T and S to T ⊗ S. Perturbations by Riesz operators are considered. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Department of Mathematics, Faculty of Science, Okayama University Acta Medica Okayama 0030-1566 61 1 2019 On the classification of ruled minimal surfaces in pseudo-Euclidean space 173 186 EN Yuichiro Sato Department of Mathematical Sciences Tokyo Metropolitan University This paper gives, in generic situations, a complete classification of ruled minimal surfaces in pseudo-Euclidean space with arbitrary index. In addition, we discuss the condition for ruled minimal surfaces to exist, and give a counter-example on the problem of Bernstein type. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Department of Mathematics, Faculty of Science, Okayama University Acta Medica Okayama 0030-1566 61 1 2019 The Factorization of 2 and 3 in Cyclic Quartic Fields 167 172 EN Stephen C. Brown Department of Computer Science, Mathematics, Physics and Statistics I.K. Barber School of Arts and Sciences University of British Columbia Chad T. Davis Department of Computer Science, Mathematics, Physics and Statistics I.K. Barber School of Arts and Sciences University of British Columbia Due to a theorem of Dedekind, factoring ideals generated by prime numbers in number fields is easily done given that said prime number does not divide the index of the field. In this paper, we determine the prime ideal factorizations of both 2 and 3 in cyclic quartic fields whose index is divisible by one of or both of these primes. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Department of Mathematics, Faculty of Science, Okayama University Acta Medica Okayama 0030-1566 61 1 2019 The number of simple modules in a block with Klein four hyperfocal subgroup 159 166 EN Fuminori Tasaka National Institute of Technology Tsuruoka College A 2-block of a finite group having a Klein four hyperfocal subgroup has the same number of irreducible Brauer characters as the corresponding 2-block of the normalizer of the hyperfocal subgroup. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Department of Mathematics, Faculty of Science, Okayama University Acta Medica Okayama 0030-1566 61 1 2019 Cesaro Orlicz sequence spaces and their Kothe-Toeplitz duals 141 158 EN Kuldip Raj School of Mathematics Shri Mata Vaishno Devi University Renu Anand School of Mathematics Shri Mata Vaishno Devi University Suruchi Pandoh School of Mathematics Shri Mata Vaishno Devi University The present paper focus on introducing certain classes of Cesàro Orlicz sequences over n-normed spaces. We study some topological and algebraic properties of these spaces. Further, we examine relevant relations among the classes of these sequences. We show that these spaces are made n-BK-spaces under certain conditions. Finally, we compute the Köthe-Toeplitz duals of these spaces. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Department of Mathematics, Faculty of Science, Okayama University Acta Medica Okayama 0030-1566 61 1 2019 A limit transition from the Heckman-Opdam hypergeometric functions to the Whittaker functions associated with root systems 129 139 EN Nobukazu Shimeno School of Science and Technology Kwansei Gakuin University We prove that the radial part of the class one Whittaker function on a split semisimple Lie group can be obtained as an appropriate limit of the Heckman-Opdam hypergeometric function. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Department of Mathematics, Faculty of Science, Okayama University Acta Medica Okayama 0030-1566 61 1 2019 Complex interpolation of smoothness Triebel-Lizorkin-Morrey spaces 99 128 EN Denny Ivanal Hakim Department of Mathematics and Information Sciences, Tokyo Metropolitan University Toru Nogayama Department of Mathematics and Information Sciences, Tokyo Metropolitan University Yoshihiro Sawano Department of Mathematics and Information Sciences, Tokyo Metropolitan University This paper extends the result in [8] to Triebel-Lizorkin-Morrey spaces which contains 4 parameters p, q, r, s. This paper reinforces our earlier paper [8] by Nakamura, the first and the third authors in two different directions. First, we include the smoothness parameter s and the second smoothness parameter r. In [8] we assumed s = 0 and r = 2. Here we relax the conditions on s and r to s �� R and 1 < r ≤ ��. Second, we apply a formula obtained by Bergh in 1978 to prove our main theorem without using the underlying sequence spaces. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Department of Mathematics, Faculty of Science, Okayama University Acta Medica Okayama 0030-1566 61 1 2019 On the structure of the profile of finite connected quandles 85 98 EN Taisuke Watanabe We verify some cases of a conjecture by C. Hayashi on the structure of the profile of a finite connected quandle. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Department of Mathematics, Faculty of Science, Okayama University Acta Medica Okayama 0030-1566 61 1 2019 On the Diophantine equation in the form that a sum of cubes equals a sum of quintics 75 84 EN Farzali Izadi Mehdi Baghalaghdam Department of Mathematics Faculty of Science Azarbaijan Shahid Madani University Mehdi Baghalaghdam Mehdi Baghalaghdam Department of Mathematics Faculty of Science Azarbaijan Shahid Madani University No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Department of Mathematics, Faculty of Science, Okayama University Acta Medica Okayama 0030-1566 61 1 2019 Reconstruction of inertia groups associated to log divisors from a configuration space group equipped with its collection of log-full subgroups 37 73 EN Kazumi Higashiyama Research Institute for Mathematical Sciences Kyoto University In the present paper, we study configuration space groups. The goal of this paper is to reconstruct group-theoretically the inertia groups associated to various types of log divisors of a log configuration space of a smooth log curve from the associated configuration space group equipped with its collection of log-full subgroups. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Department of Mathematics, Faculty of Science, Okayama University Acta Medica Okayama 0030-1566 61 1 2019 Berezin-Weyl quantization of Heisenberg motion groups 19 35 EN Benjamin Cahen D�Lepartement de math�Lematiques Universit�Le de Lorraine We introduce a Schr�Nodinger model for the generic representations of a Heisenberg motion group and we construct adapted Weyl correspondences for these representations by adapting the method introduced in [ B. Cahen, Weyl quantization for semidirect products, Differential Geom. Appl. 25 (2007), 177-190]. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Department of Mathematics, Faculty of Science, Okayama University Acta Medica Okayama 0030-1566 61 1 2019 On the existence of non-finite coverings of stable curves over complete discrete valuation rings 1 18 EN Yu Yang Research Institute for Mathematical Sciences Kyoto University Let R be a complete discrete valuation ring with algebraically residue field of characteristic p > 0 and X a stable curve over R. In the present paper, we study the geometry of coverings of X. Under certain assumptions, we prove that, by replacing R by a finite extension of R, there exists a morphism of stable curves f : Y �� X over R such that the morphism f�� : Y�� �� X�� induced by f on generic fibers is finite étale and the morphism fs : Ys �� Xs induced by f on special fibers is non-finite. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Department of Mathematics, Faculty of Science, Okayama University Acta Medica Okayama 0030-1566 60 1 2018 On the profinite abelian Beckmann-Black problem 233 240 EN Nour Ghazi University of Damascus, Faculty of Sciences, Department of Mathematics The main topic of this paper is to generalize the problem of Beckmann-Black for pro�nite groups. We introduce the Beckmann-Black problem for complete systems of �finite groups and for unramified extensions. We prove that every Galois extension of profi�nite abelian group over a ��-free fi�eld is the specialization of some tower of regular Galois extensions of the same group. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Department of Mathematics, Faculty of Science, Okayama University Acta Medica Okayama 0030-1566 60 1 2018 A binomial-coefficient identity arising from the middle discrete series of SU(2,2) 221 231 EN Takahiro Hayata Graduate School of Science and Engineering, Yamagata University Masao Ishikawa Graduate School of Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University The aim of this paper is to answer the question in Remark 8.2 of Takahiro Hayata, Harutaka Koseki, and Takayuki Oda, Matrix coefficients of the middle discrete series of SU(2; 2), J. Funct. Anal. 185 (2001), 297{341, by giving an elementary proof of certain identities on binomials. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Department of Mathematics, Faculty of Science, Okayama University Acta Medica Okayama 0030-1566 60 1 2018 Necessary and sufficient Tauberian conditions for the A^r method of summability 209 219 EN Özer Talo Department of Mathematics Faculty of Science and Letters Manisa Celal Bayar University Feyzi Bas̨ar İnönü University Móricz and Rhoades determined the necessary and sufficient Tauberian conditions for certain weighted mean methods of summability in [Acta. Math. Hungar. 102(4) (2004), 279{285]. In the present paper, we deal with the necessary and sufficient Tauberian conditions for the Ar method which was introduced by Bas̨ar in [Fırat Üniv. Fen & Müh. Bil. Dergisi 5(1)(1993), 113{117]. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Department of Mathematics, Faculty of Science, Okayama University Acta Medica Okayama 0030-1566 60 1 2018 Indecomposability of various profinite groups arising from hyperbolic curves 175 208 EN Arata Minamide Research Institute for Mathematical Sciences Kyoto University In this paper, we prove that the etale fundamental group of a hyperbolic curve over an arithmetic field [e.g., a finite extension field of Q or Qp] or an algebraically closed field is indecomposable [i.e., cannot be decomposed into the direct product of nontrivial profinite groups]. Moreover, in the case of characteristic zero, we also prove that the etale fundamental group of the configuration space of a curve of the above type is indecomposable. Finally, we consider the topic of indecomposability in the context of the comparison of the absolute Galois group of Q with the Grothendieck-Teichmuller group GT and pose the question: Is GT indecomposable? We give an affirmative answer to a pro-l version of this question No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Department of Mathematics, Faculty of Science, Okayama University Acta Medica Okayama 0030-1566 60 1 2018 An alternative proof of some results on the framed bordism classes of low rank simple Lie groups 165 173 EN Haruo Minami Nara University of Education We present a uni�ed proof of some known results on the framed bordism classes of low rank simple Lie groups. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Department of Mathematics, Faculty of Science, Okayama University Acta Medica Okayama 0030-1566 60 1 2018 Arithmetic of positive integers having prime sums of complementary divisors 155 164 EN Kenichi Shimizu We study a class of integers called SP numbers (Sum Prime numbers). An SP number is by de�nition a positive integer d that gives rise to a prime number (a + b)=gcd(4; 1 + d) from every factorization d = ab. We also discuss properties of SP numbers in relations with arithmetic of imaginary quadratic �elds (least split primes, exponents of ideal class groups). Further we point out that special cases of SP numbers provide the problems of distribution of prime numbers (twin primes, Sophi-Germain primes, quadratic progressions). Finally, we consider the problem whether there exist in�nitely many SP numbers. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Department of Mathematics, Faculty of Science, Okayama University Acta Medica Okayama 0030-1566 60 1 2018 A non-symmetric diffusion process on the Wiener space 137 153 EN Ichiro Shigekawa Department of Mathematics Graduate School of Science Kyoto University We discuss a non-symmetric diffusion process on the Wiener space. The process we consider is generated by A = L + b, L being the Ornstein-Uhlenbeck operator and b being a vector �eld. Under suitable integrability condition for b, we show the existence of associated diffusion process. We also investigate the domain of the generator. Further we consider a similar problem in the �nite dimensional Euclidean space. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Department of Mathematics, Faculty of Science, Okayama University Acta Medica Okayama 0030-1566 60 1 2018 A remark on a central limit theorem for non-symmetric random walks on crystal lattices 109 135 EN Ryuya Namba Graduate School of Natural Sciences, Okayama University Recently, Ishiwata, Kawabi and Kotani [4] proved two kinds of central limit theorems for non-symmetric random walks on crystal lattices from the view point of discrete geometric analysis developed by Kotani and Sunada. In the present paper, we establish yet another kind of the central limit theorem for them. Our argument is based on a measure-change technique due to Alexopoulos [1]. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Department of Mathematics, Faculty of Science, Okayama University Acta Medica Okayama 0030-1566 60 1 2018 Primary decompositions in abelian R-categories 91 108 EN Kenichi Sato Graduate School of Natural Science and Technology Okayama University Yuji Yoshino Graduate School of Natural Science and Technology Okayama University We shall generalize the theory of primary decomposition and associated prime ideals of �nitely generated modules over a noetherian ring to general objects in an abelian R-category where R is a noetherian commutative ring. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Department of Mathematics, Faculty of Science, Okayama University Acta Medica Okayama 0030-1566 60 1 2018 Stable splittings of the complex connective K-theory of BSO(2n+1) 73 89 EN Tsung-Hsuan Wu Department of Mathematics National Tsing Hua University We give the stable splittings of the complex connective K-theory of the classifying space BSO(2n + 1), n≥1. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Department of Mathematics, Faculty of Science, Okayama University Acta Medica Okayama 0030-1566 60 1 2018 Absolute continuity of the representing measures of the transmutation operators attached to the root system of type BC2 59 72 EN Khalifa Trimẻche Department of Mathematics Faculty of sciences of Tunis University We prove in this paper the absolute continuity of the representing measures of the transmutation operators Vk, tVk and VkW, tVkW associated respectively to the Cherednik operators and the Heckman-Opdam theory attached to the root system of type BC2. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Department of Mathematics, Faculty of Science, Okayama University Acta Medica Okayama 0030-1566 60 1 2018 Tomita-Takesaki theory and its application to the structure theory of factors of type III 37 58 EN Toshihiko Masuda Graduate School of Mathematics, Kyushu University We give a survey of Tomita-Takesaki theory and the development of analysis of structure of type III factors, which started from Tomita-Takesaki theory. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Department of Mathematics, Faculty of Science, Okayama University Acta Medica Okayama 0030-1566 60 1 2018 Review on higher homotopies in the theory of H-spaces 1 36 EN Yutaka Hemmi Department of Mathematics Faculty of Science and Technology Kochi University Higher homotopy in the theory of H-spaces started from the works by Sugawara in the 1950th. In this paper we review the development of the theory of H-spaces associated with it. Mainly there are two types of higher homotopies, homotopy associativity and homotopy commutativity. We give explanations of the polytopes used as the parameter spaces of those higher forms. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Elsevier Acta Medica Okayama 0021-8693 484 2017 F-rationality of the ring of modular invariants 207 223 EN Mitsuyasu Hashimoto Department of Mathematics, Okayama University Using the description of the Frobenius limit of modules over the ring of invariants under an action of a finite group on a polynomial ring over a field of characteristic p>0 developed by Symonds and the author, we give a characterization of the ring of invariants with a positive dual F-signature. Combining this result and Kemper's result on depths of the ring of invariants under an action of a permutation group, we give an example of an F-rational, but non-F-regular ring of invariants under the action of a finite group. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Cambridge University Press Acta Medica Okayama 0027-7630 226 2017 Canonical and n-canonical modules of a Noetherian algebra 165 203 EN Mitsuyasu Hashimoto Department of Mathematics, Okayama University We define canonical and -canonical modules of a module-finite algebra over a Noether commutative ring and study their basic properties. Using -canonical modules, we generalize a theorem on -syzygy by Araya and Iima which generalize a well-known theorem on syzygies by Evans and Griffith. Among others, we prove a noncommutative version of Aoyama�fs theorem which states that a canonical module descends with respect to a flat local homomorphism. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Elsevier Acta Medica Okayama 0001-8708 305 2017 The asymptotic behavior of Frobenius direct images of rings of invariants 144 164 EN Mitsuyasu Hashimoto Department of Mathematics, Okayama University Peter Symondsb University of Manchester We define the Frobenius limit of a module over a ring of prime characteristic to be the limit of the normalized Frobenius direct images in a certain Grothendieck group. When a finite group acts on a polynomial ring, we calculate this limit for all the modules over the twisted group algebra that are free over the polynomial ring; we also calculate the Frobenius limit for the restriction of these to the ring of invariants. As an application, we generalize the description of the generalized F-signature of a ring of invariants by the second author and Nakajima to the modular case. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Taylor & Francis Acta Medica Okayama 0092-7872 45 4 2016 Equivariant class group. II. Enriched descent theorem 1509 1532 EN Mitsuyasu Hashimoto Department of Mathematics, Okayama University We prove a version of Grothendieck�fs descent theorem on an �eenriched�f principal fiber bundle, a principal fiber bundle with an action of a larger group scheme. Using this, we prove the isomorphisms of the equivariant Picard and the class groups arising from such a principal fiber bundle. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Pergamon Press Acta Medica Okayama 0079-6107 115 2-3 2014 Load dependency in force-length relations in isolated single cardiomyocytes 103 114 EN Gentaro Iribe Department of Cardiovascular Physiology, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences Toshiyuki Kaneko Department of Cardiovascular Physiology, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences Yohei Yamaguchi Department of Cardiovascular Physiology, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences Keiji Naruse Department of Cardiovascular Physiology, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences The previously reported pressure-volume (PV) relationship in frog hearts shows that end-systolic PV relation (ESPVR) is load dependent, whereas ESPVR in canine hearts is load independent. To study intrinsic cardiac mechanics in detail, it is desirable to study mechanics in a single isolated cardiomyocyte that is free from interstitial connective tissue. Previous single cell mechanics studies used a pair of carbon fibers (CF) attached to the upper surface of opposite cell ends to stretch cells. These studies showed that end-systolic force-length (FL) relation (ESFLR) is load independent. However, the range of applicable mechanical load using the conventional technique is limited because of weak cell-CF attachment. Therefore, the behavior of ESFLR in single cells under physiologically possible conditions of greater load is not yet well known. To cover wider loading range, we contrived a new method to hold cell-ends more firmly using two pairs of CF attached to both upper and bottom surfaces of cells. The new method allowed stretching cells to 2.2 ��m or more in end-diastolic sarcomere length. ESFLR virtually behaves in a load independent manner only with end-diastolic sarcomere length less than 1.95 ��m. It exhibited clear load dependency with higher preload, especially with low afterload conditions. Instantaneous cellular elastance curves showed that decreasing afterload enhanced relaxation and slowed time to peak elastance, as previously reported. A simulation study of a mathematical model with detailed description of thin filament activation suggested that velocity dependent thin filament inactivation is crucial for the observed load dependent behaviors and previously reported afterload dependent change in Ca(2+) transient shape. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Department of Mathematics, Faculty of Science, Okayama University Acta Medica Okayama 0030-1566 59 1 2017 Blowup and global existence of a solution to a semilinear reaction-diffusion system with the fractional Laplacian 175 218 EN Tomoyuki Kakehi Department of Mathematics, Okayama University Yoshihito Oshita Department of Mathematics, Okayama University 10.18926/mjou/54723 In this paper, we deal with the semilinear reaction diffusion system with the fractional Laplacian.<br> <img src="http://www.lib.okayama-u.ac.jp/www/mjou/mjou_59_175.png"><br> where <i>p,q</i> &gt; 1 and 0 &lt; <i>&alpha;</i> &lt; 1. We study the existence of a global in time solution, the blowup of a solution, and the life span of the blowup solution to the above reaction-diffusion system for sufficiently small initial data. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Department of Mathematics, Faculty of Science, Okayama University Acta Medica Okayama 0030-1566 59 1 2017 Scattering and semi-classical asymptotics for periodic Schr&ouml;dinger operators with oscillating decaying potential 149 174 EN Mouez Dimassi Universit�Le Bordeaux I, Institut de Math�Lematiques de Bordeaux Anh Tuan Duong Department of Mathematics, Hanoi National University of Education 10.18926/mjou/54721 In the semi-classical regime (i.e., <i>h</i> &searr; 0), we study the effect of an oscillating decaying potential <i>V</i> (<i>hy, y</i>) on the periodic Schr&ouml;dinger operator <i>H</i>. The potential <i>V</i> (<i>x, y</i>) is assumed to be smooth, periodic with respect to <i>y</i> and tends to zero as |<i>x</i>| &rarr; &infin;. We prove the existence of <i>O</i>(<i>h^�|n</i>) eigenvalues in each gap of the operator <i>H</i> + <i>V</i> (<i>hy, y</i>). We also establish a Weyl type asymptotics formula of the counting function of eigenvalues with optimal remainder estimate. We give a weak and pointwise asymptotic expansions in powers of <i>h</i> of the spectral shift function corresponding to the pair (<i>H</i> + <i>V</i> (<i>hy, y</i>),<i>H</i>). Finally, under some analytic assumption on the potential V we prove the existence of shape resonances, and we give their asymptotic expansions in powers of <i>h^1/2</i>. All our results depend on the Floquet eigenvalues corresponding to the periodic Schr&ouml;dinger operator <i>H</i> +<i>V</i> (<i>x, y</i>), (here <i>x</i> is a parameter). No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Department of Mathematics, Faculty of Science, Okayama University Acta Medica Okayama 0030-1566 59 1 2017 On the (1 �| C₂) condition 141 147 EN Le Van An Department of Natural Education, Ha Tinh University Nguyen Thi Hai Anh Department of Natural Education, Ha Tinh University Ngo Sy Tung Department of Mathematics, Vinh University 10.18926/mjou/54720 In this paper, we give some results on (1 �| C₂)�|modules and 1�|continuous modules. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Department of Mathematics, Faculty of Science, Okayama University Acta Medica Okayama 0030-1566 59 1 2017 Higher-dimensional absolute versions of symmetric, Frobenius, and quasi-Frobenius algebras 131 140 EN Mitsuyasu Hashimoto Department of Mathematics Faculty of Science, Okayama University 10.18926/mjou/54719 In this paper, we define and discuss higher-dimensional and absolute versions of symmetric, Frobenius, and quasi-Frobenius algebras. In particular, we compare these with the relative notions defined by Scheja and Storch. We also prove the validity of codimension two-argument for modules over a coherent sheaf of algebras with a 2-canonical module, generalizing a result of the author. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Department of Mathematics, Faculty of Science, Okayama University Acta Medica Okayama 0030-1566 59 1 2017 A note on balance equations for doubly periodic minimal surfaces 117 130 EN Peter Connor Department of Mathematical Sciences, Indiana University South Bend 10.18926/mjou/54718 Most known examples of doubly periodic minimal surfaces in R³ with parallel ends limit as a foliation of R³ by horizontal noded planes, with the location of the nodes satisfying a set of balance equations. Conversely, for each set of points providing a balanced configuration, there is a corresponding three-parameter family of doubly periodic minimal surfaces. In this note we derive a differential equation that is equivalent to the balance equations for doubly periodic minimal surfaces. This allows for the generation of many more solutions to the balance equations, enabling the construction of increasingly complicated surfaces. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Department of Mathematics, Faculty of Science, Okayama University Acta Medica Okayama 0030-1566 59 1 2017 A remark on the Lavallee-Spearman-Williams-Yang family of quadratic fields 113 116 EN Kwang-Seob Kim School of Mathematics, Korea Institute for Advanced Study Yasuhiro Kishi Department of Mathematics, Aichi University of Education 10.18926/mjou/54717 In [4], M. J. Lavallee, B. K. Spearman, K. S. Williams and Q. Yang introduced a certain parametric D5-quintic polynomial and studied its splitting field. The present paper gives an infinite family of quadratic fields with class number divisible by 5 by using properties of its polynomial. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Department of Mathematics, Faculty of Science, Okayama University Acta Medica Okayama 0030-1566 59 1 2017 Gauss maps of cuspidal edges in hyperbolic 3-space, with application to flat fronts 93 111 EN Yuta Ogata Department of Mathematics, Graduate School of Science, Kobe University Keisuke Teramoto Department of Mathematics, Graduate School of Science, Kobe University 10.18926/mjou/54716 We study singularities of de Sitter Gauss map images of cuspidal edges in hyperbolic 3-space. We show relations between singularities of de Sitter Gauss map images and differential geometric properties of cuspidal edges. Moreover, we apply this result to flat fronts in hyperbolic 3-space. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Department of Mathematics, Faculty of Science, Okayama University Acta Medica Okayama 0030-1566 59 1 2017 An arithmetic function arising from the Dedekind &psi; function 81 92 EN Colin Defant Department of Mathematics, University of Florida 10.18926/mjou/54715 We define &psi;&oline; to be the multiplicative arithmetic function that satisfies<br> <img src="http://www.lib.okayama-u.ac.jp/www/mjou/mjou_59_81.png"><br> for all primes <i>p</i> and positive integers &alpha;. Let <i>&lambda;(n)</i> be the number of iterations of the function <i>&psi;&oline;</i> needed for <i>n</i> to reach 2. It follows from a theorem due to White that <i>&lambda;</i> is additive. Following Shapiro's work on the iterated <i>&phi;</i> function, we determine bounds for <i>&lambda;</i>. We also use the function <i>&lambda;</i> to partition the set of positive integers into three sets <i>S₁, S₂, S₃</i> and determine some properties of these sets. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Department of Mathematics, Faculty of Science, Okayama University Acta Medica Okayama 0030-1566 59 1 2017 Evaluation of convolution sums and some remarks on cusp forms of weight 4 and level 12 71 79 EN B. Ramakrishhan Harish-Chandra Research Institute Brundaban Sahu School of Mathematical Sciences National Institute of Science Education and Research 10.18926/mjou/54714 In this note, we evaluate certain convolution sums and make some remarks about the Fourier coefficients of cusp forms of weight 4 for &Gamma;₀(12). We express the normalized newform of weight 4 on &Gamma;₀(12) as a linear combination of the (quasimodular) Eisenstein series (of weight 2) <i>E₂(dz)</i>, <i>d</i>|12 and their derivatives. Now, by comparing the work of Alaca-Alaca-Williams [1] with our results, as a consequence, we express the coefficients <i>c_1,12(n)</i> and <i>c_3,4(n)</i> that appear in [1, Eqs.(2.7) and (2.12)] in terms of linear combination of the Fourier coefficients of newforms of weight 4 on &Gamma;₀(6) and &Gamma;₀(12). The properties of <i>c_1,12(n)</i> and <i>c_3,4(n)</i> that are derived in [1] now follow from the properties of the Fourier coefficients of the newforms mentioned above. We also express the newforms as a linear combination of certain eta-quotients and obtain an identity involving eta-quotients. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Department of Mathematics, Faculty of Science, Okayama University Acta Medica Okayama 0030-1566 59 1 2017 On a non-abelian generalization of the Bloch–Kato exponential map 41 70 EN Kenji Sakugawa Department of Mathematics Graduate School of Science, Osaka University 10.18926/mjou/54713 The present paper establishes a non-abelian generalization of the Bloch–Kato exponential map. Then, we relate p-adic polylogarithms introduced by Coleman to `-adic polylogarithms introduced by Wojtkowiak. This formula is another analog of the Coleman–Ihara formula obtained by Nakamura, Wojtkowiak, and the author. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Department of Mathematics, Faculty of Science, Okayama University Acta Medica Okayama 0030-1566 59 1 2017 The degree of set-valued mappings from ANR spaces to homology spheres 27 40 EN Yoshimi Shitanda School of political science and economics, Meiji University 10.18926/mjou/54712 An admissible mapping is a set-valued mapping which has a selected pair of continuous mappings. In this paper, we study the degree of admissible mappings from ANR spaces to homology spheres and prove the uniqueness of the degree under some conditions. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Department of Mathematics, Faculty of Science, Okayama University Acta Medica Okayama 0030-1566 59 1 2017 Some examples of non-tidy spaces 21 25 EN Takahiro Matsushita Graduate School of Mathematical Sciences, The University of Tokyo 10.18926/mjou/54711 We construct a free Z₂-space <i>X_n</i> for a positive integer <i>n</i> such that <i>w₁(X_n)ⁿ</i> &ne; 0 but there is no Z₂-map from <i>S</i>² to <i>X_n</i>. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Department of Mathematics, Faculty of Science, Okayama University Acta Medica Okayama 0030-1566 59 1 2017 Categorical characterization of strict morphisms of fs log schemes 1 19 EN Yuichiro Hoshi Research Institute for Mathematical Sciences, Kyoto University Chikara Nakayama Department of Economics, Hitotsubashi University 10.18926/mjou/54710 In the present paper, we study a categorical characterization of strict morphisms of fs log schemes. In particular, we prove that strictness of morphisms of fs log schemes is preserved by an arbitrary equivalence of categories between suitable categories of fs log schemes. The main result of the present paper leads us to a relatively simple alternative proof of a result on a categorical representation of fs log schemes proved by S. Mochizuki. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Springer Singapore Acta Medica Okayama 0251-4184 40 3 2015 Classification of the Linearly Reductive Finite Subgroup Schemes of SL2 527 534 EN Mitsuyasu Hashimoto Department of Mathematics, Okayama University We classify the linearly reductive finite subgroup schemes G of SL2=SL(V) over an algebraically closed field k of positive characteristic, up to conjugation. As a corollary, we prove that such G is in one-to-one correspondence with an isomorphism class of two-dimensional F-rational Gorenstein complete local rings with the coefficient field k by the correspondence G↦((SymV)G) ˆ. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

PUBLIC LIBRARY SCIENCE Acta Medica Okayama 1932-6203 7 7 2012 High-Throughput Identification and Screening of Novel Methylobacterium Species Using Whole-Cell MALDI-TOF/MS Analysis e40784 EN Akio Tani Sahin Nurettin Yumiko Matsuyama Takashi Enomoto Naoki Nishimura Akira Yokota Kazuhide Kimbara Methylobacterium species are ubiquitous ��-proteobacteria that reside in the phyllosphere and are fed by methanol that is emitted from plants. In this study, we applied whole-cell matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry analysis (WC-MS) to evaluate the diversity of Methylobacterium species collected from a variety of plants. The WC-MS spectrum was reproducible through two weeks of cultivation on different media. WC-MS spectrum peaks of M. extorquens strain AM1 cells were attributed to ribosomal proteins, but those were not were also found. We developed a simple method for rapid identification based on spectra similarity. Using all available type strains of Methylobacterium species, the method provided a certain threshold similarity value for species-level discrimination, although the genus contains some type strains that could not be easily discriminated solely by 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity. Next, we evaluated the WC-MS data of approximately 200 methylotrophs isolated from various plants with MALDI Biotyper software (Bruker Daltonics). Isolates representing each cluster were further identified by 16S rRNA gene sequencing. In most cases, the identification by WC-MS matched that by sequencing, and isolates with unique spectra represented possible novel species. The strains belonging to M. extorquens, M. adhaesivum, M. marchantiae, M. komagatae, M. brachiatum, M. radiotolerans, and novel lineages close to M. adhaesivum, many of which were isolated from bryophytes, were found to be the most frequent phyllospheric colonizers. The WC-MS technique provides emerging high-throughputness in the identification of known/novel species of bacteria, enabling the selection of novel species in a library and identification without 16S rRNA gene sequencing. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Department of Mathematics, Faculty of Science, Okayama University Acta Medica Okayama 0030-1566 58 1 2016 The positivity of the transmutation operators associated to the Cherednik operators for the root system $BC_2$ 183 198 EN Khalifa TRIMÈCHE 10.18926/mjou/53925 We consider the transmutation operators V_k, ^tV_k and V ^W _k , ^tV ^W _k associated respectively with the Cherednik operators and the Heckman-Opdam theory attached to the root system BC2, called also in [8, 9, 10] the trigonometric Dunkl intertwining operators, and their dual. In this paper we prove that the operators V_k, ^tV_k and V^W_k , ^tV^W_k are positivity preserving and allows positive integral representations. In particular we deduce that the Opdam-Cherednik and the Heckman-Opdam kernels are positive definite. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Department of Mathematics, Faculty of Science, Okayama University Acta Medica Okayama 0030-1566 58 1 2016 On weakly separable polynomials and weakly quasi-separable polynomials over rings 169 182 EN Satoshi Yamanaka 10.18926/mjou/53924 Separable extensions of noncommutative rings have already been studied extensively. Recently, N. Hamaguchi and A. Nakajima introduced the notions of weakly separable extensions and weakly quasiseparable extensions. They studied weakly separable polynomials and weakly quasi-separable polynomials in the case that the coefficient ring is commutative. The purpose of this paper is to give some improvements and generalizations of Hamaguchi and Nakajima's results. We shall characterize a weakly separable polynomial f(X) over a commutative ring by using its derivative f��(X) and its discriminant ��(f(X)). Further, we shall try to give necessary and sufficient conditions for weakly separable polynomials in skew polynomial rings in the case that the coefficient ring is noncommutative. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Department of Mathematics, Faculty of Science, Okayama University Acta Medica Okayama 0030-1566 58 1 2016 Restriction on Galois groups by prime inert condition 159 167 EN Toru Komatsu 10.18926/mjou/53923 In this paper, we study number fields K with the property that every prime factor of the degree of K remains prime in K. We determine all types of Galois groups of such K up to degree nine and find that Wang's non-existence in cyclic octic case is exceptionally undetermined by our group-theoretic criterion. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Department of Mathematics, Faculty of Science, Okayama University Acta Medica Okayama 0030-1566 58 1 2016 Alternative approach for Siegel's lemma 141 158 EN Makoto Nagata 10.18926/mjou/53922 In this article, we present an alternative approach to show a generalization of Siegel's lemma which is an essential tool in Diophantine problems. Our main statement contains the so-called analytic Siegel's lemma as well as the Bombieri-Vaaler lemma. Our proof avoids relying on the ordinary geometry of numbers. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Department of Mathematics, Faculty of Science, Okayama University Acta Medica Okayama 0030-1566 58 1 2016 On finite rings over which every free codes is splitting 133 140 EN Yasuyuki Hirano 10.18926/mjou/53921 In this paper, we study the structure of finite rings over which all free codes are splitting. In particular, we show that over the matrix rings over finite local rings all free codes are splitting. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Department of Mathematics, Faculty of Science, Okayama University Acta Medica Okayama 0030-1566 58 1 2016 On a duality of Gras between totally positive and primary cyclotomic units 125 132 EN Humio Ichimura 10.18926/mjou/53920 Let K be a real abelian field of odd degree over Q, and C the group of cyclotomic units of K. We denote by C+ and C0 the totally positive and primary elements of C, respectively. G. Gras found a duality between the Galois modules C+/C2 and C0/C2 by some ingenious calculation on cyclotomic units. We give an alternative proof using a consequence (=�gGras conjecture�h) of the Iwasawa main conjecture and the standard reflection argument. We also give some related topics. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Department of Mathematics, Faculty of Science, Okayama University Acta Medica Okayama 0030-1566 58 1 2016 Another description of quasi tertiary composition 109 123 EN Hideaki Ōshima Katsumi Ōshima 10.18926/mjou/53919 We give another description of quasi tertiary composition in terms of horizontal and vertical compositions. As an application of the description and a modified result of Hardie-Kamps-Marcum-Oda, we see that any quasi tertiary composition has an indeterminacy. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Department of Mathematics, Faculty of Science, Okayama University Acta Medica Okayama 0030-1566 58 1 2016 Aharonov--Bohm effect in resonances of magnetic Schrödinger operators in two dimensions III 79 108 EN Hideo Tamura 10.18926/mjou/53918 We study the Aharonov–Bohm effect (AB effect) in quantum resonances for magnetic scattering in two dimensions. The system consists of four scatters, two obstacles and two scalar potentials with compact support, which are largely separated from one another. The obstacles by which the magnetic fields are completely shielded are vertically placed between the supports of the two potentials. The system yields a two dimensional model of a toroidal scattering system in three dimensions. The resonances are shown to be generated near the real axis by the trajectories trapped between two supports of the scalar potentials as the distances between the scatterers go to infinity. We analyze how the AB effect influences the location of resonances. The result heavily depends on the width between the two obstacles as well as on the magnetic fluxes. The critical case is that the width is comparable to the square root of the distance between the supports of the two potentials. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Department of Mathematics, Faculty of Science, Okayama University Acta Medica Okayama 0030-1566 58 1 2016 Aharonov--Bohm effect in resonances of magnetic Schrödinger operators in two dimensions II 41 78 EN Hideo Tamura 10.18926/mjou/53917 We study the Aharonov–Bohm effect (AB effect) in quantum resonances for magnetic scattering in two dimensions. The system consists of four scatters, two obstacles and two scalar potentials with compact support, which are largely separated from one another. The obstacles by which the magnetic fields are completely shielded are horizontally placed between the supports of the two potentials. The fields do not influence particles from a classical mechanical point of view, but quantum particles are influenced by the corresponding vector potential which does not necessarily vanish outside the obstacle. This quantum phenomenon is called the AB effect. The resonances are shown to be generated near the real axis by the trajectories trapped between two supports of the scalar potentials as the distances between the scatterers go to infinity. We analyze how the AB effect influences the location of resonances. The result is described in terms of the backward amplitudes for scattering by each of the scalar potentials, and it depends heavily on the ratios of the distances between the four scatterers as well as on the magnetic fluxes of the fields. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Department of Mathematics, Faculty of Science, Okayama University Acta Medica Okayama 0030-1566 58 1 2016 Asymptotic properties in forward directions of resolvent kernels of magnetic Schrödinger operators in two dimensions 1 39 EN Hideo Tamura 10.18926/mjou/53916 We study the asymptotic properties in forward directions of resolvent kernels with spectral parameters in the lower half plane (unphysical sheet) of the complex plane for magnetic Schrödinger operators in two dimensions. The asymptotic formula obtained has an application to the problem of quantum resonances in magnetic scattering, and it is especially helpful in studying how the Aharonov–Bohm effect influences the location of resonances. Here we mention only the results without proofs. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Department of Mathematics, Faculty of Science, Okayama University Acta Medica Okayama 0030-1566 57 1 2015 ZERO MEAN CURVATURE SURFACES IN LORENTZ-MINKOWSKI 3-SPACE AND 2-DIMENSIONAL FLUID MECHANICS 173 200 EN Shoichi Fujimori Young Wook Kim Sung-Eun Koh Wayne Rossman Heayong Shin Masaaki Umehara Kotaro Yamada Seong-Deog Yang 10.18926/mjou/53048 Space-like maximal surfaces and time-like minimal surfaces in Lorentz-Minkowski 3-space R³₁ are both characterized as zero mean curvature surfaces. We are interested in the case where the zero mean curvature surface changes type from space-like to time-like at a given non-degenerate null curve. We consider this phenomenon and its interesting connection to 2-dimensional fluid mechanics in this expository article. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Department of Mathematics, Faculty of Science, Okayama University Acta Medica Okayama 0030-1566 57 1 2015 ENUMERATIVE COMBINATORICS ON DETERMINANTS AND SIGNED BIGRASSMANNIAN POLYNOMIALS 159 172 EN Masato Kobayashi 10.18926/mjou/53047 As an application of linear algebra for enumerative combinatorics, we introduce two new ideas, signed bigrassmannian polynomials and bigrassmannian determinant. First, a signed bigrassmannian polynomial is a variant of the statistic given by the number of bigrassmannian permutations below a permutation in Bruhat order as Reading suggested (2002) and afterward the author developed (2011). Second, bigrassmannian determinant is a q-analog of the determinant with respect to our statistic. It plays a key role for a determinantal expression of those polynomials. We further show that bigrassmannian determinant satisfies weighted condensation as a generalization of Dodgson, Jacobi-Desnanot and Robbins-Rumsey (1986). No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Department of Mathematics, Faculty of Science, Okayama University Acta Medica Okayama 0030-1566 57 1 2015 ON &empty;-RECURRENT CONTACT METRIC MANIFOLDS 149 158 EN Esmaeil Peyghan Hassan Nasrabadi Akbar Tayebi 10.18926/mjou/53046 In this paper, we prove that evry 3-dimensional manifold M is a &empty;-recurrent N(k)-contact metric manifold if and only if it is flat. Then we classify the &empty;-recurrent contact metric manifolds of constant curvature. This implies that there exists no &empty;-recurrent N(k)-contact metric manifold, which is neither symmetric nor locally &empty;-symmetric. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Department of Mathematics, Faculty of Science, Okayama University Acta Medica Okayama 0030-1566 57 1 2015 AN EXPLICIT EFFECT OF NON-SYMMETRY OF RANDOM WALKS ON THE TRIANGULAR LATTICE 129 148 EN Satoshi Ishiwata Hiroshi Kawabi Tsubasa Teruya 10.18926/mjou/53045 In the present paper, we study an explicit effect of non-symmetry on asymptotics of the n-step transition probability as n �� &infin; for a class of non-symmetric random walks on the triangular lattice. Realizing the triangular lattice into R² appropriately, we observe that the Euclidean distance in R² naturally appears in the asymptotics. We characterize this realization from a geometric view point of Kotani-Sunada�fs standard realization of crystal lattices. As a corollary of the main theorem, we obtain that the transition semigroup generated by the non-symmetric random walk approximates the heat semigroup generated by the usual Brownian motion on R². No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Department of Mathematics, Faculty of Science, Okayama University Acta Medica Okayama 0030-1566 57 1 2015 THE EQUIVARIANT SIMPLICIAL DE RHAM COMPLEX AND THE CLASSIFYING SPACE OF A SEMI-DIRECT PRODUCT GROUP 123 128 EN Naoya Suzuki 10.18926/mjou/53044 We show that the cohomology group of the total complex of the equivariant simplicial de Rham complex is isomorphic to the cohomology group of the classifying space of a semi-direct product group. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.