To explore the possibility of conducting online experiments on audiovisual crossmodal interaction, we investigated the temporal accuracy and precision of stimulus presentation in Lab.js. We measured ...the presentation time as well as the onset and offset timings of audiovisual stimuli in two experiments; we used three operating systems (Windows10, macOS, and iOS), three browsers (Chrome, Firefox, and OS native), and three network environments (external network, internal network, and local host). Results showed that most software environments—with the exception of iOS—provide reasonable precision, irrespective of the network environment. In contrast, the accuracy almost systematically varied depending on the combination of the operating system and the browser. These results suggest that Lab.js is suitable for audiovisual experiments to some extent if audiovisual synchronization lag is corrected based on the information provided by the Lab.js default plug-in, which can detect the user’s OS and browser. However, considering that typical user hardware/software environments are far more complex and diverse than that of this study, effective ways to control users’ experimental environments should be investigated in future studies to obtain reliable data in online experiments.
Superstrate-type Cu(In,Ga)Se₂ (CIGS) thin film solar cells were fabricated using Zn₁₋ₓMgₓO buffer layers. Due to the diffusion of Cd into CIGS during the growth of the CIGS layer, the conventional ...buffer material of CdS is not suitable. ZnO is a good candidate because of higher thermal tolerance but the conduction band offset (CBO) of ZnO/CIGS is not appropriate. In this study, the Zn₁₋ₓMgₓO buffer layers were used to fulfill both the requirements. The superstrate-type solar cells with a soda-lime glass/In₂O₃:Sn/Zn₁₋ₓMgₓO/CIGS/Au structure were fabricated with different band gap energies of the Zn₁₋ₓMgₓO layer. The CIGS layers Ga/(In + Ga)∼0.25 were deposited by co-evaporation method. The substrate temperature during the CIGS deposition of 450 °C did not cause the intermixing of the Zn₁₋ₓMgₓO and CIGS layers. The conversion efficiency of the cell with Zn₁₋ₓMgₓO was higher than that with ZnO due to the improvement of open-circuit voltage and shunt resistance. The results well corresponded to the behavior of the adjustment of CBO, demonstrating that the usefulness of the Zn₁₋ₓMgₓO layer for the CBO control in the superstrate-type CIGS solar cells.
Appreciation of exhibits in a museum can be equated to a virtual experience of lives in the contexts originally surrounding the exhibits. Here we focus on the importance of weight information, and ...hence tested whether experiencing a weight during museum exhibit appreciation affects the beholders' satisfaction and recognition memory for the exhibits. An experiment was performed at a museum exhibiting skeletal preparations of animals. We used nine preparations and prepared four weight stimuli as weight cues in accordance with the actual weight of four of the preparations: Remaining five preparations was displayed without weight stimuli. In the cued condition, participants were asked to lift up the weight stimuli during their observation of the four exhibits. In the uncued condition, participants observed the exhibits without touching the weight stimuli. After observation of the exhibits, the participants responded to a questionnaire that measured their impressions of the exhibits and the museum, and performed a recognition test on the exhibits. Results showed that memory performance was better and viewing duration was longer with weight lifting instruction than without instruction. A factor analysis on the questionnaires revealed four factors (likeability, contentment, value, and quality). A path analysis showed indirect effects of viewing duration on memory performance and willingness-to-pay (WTP) for the museum appreciation through the impression factors. Our findings provide insight into a new interactive exhibition that enables long appreciation producing positive effects on visitors' impression, memory, and value estimation for exhibits.
Hasse–Weil zeta functions of SL2-character varieties of arithmetic two-bridge link groups are determined. Special values of the zeta functions at s=0,1,2 are also investigated.
The KEK digital accelerator (DA) is an alternative to high-voltage electrostatic accelerators and conventional cyclotrons and synchrotrons, which are commonly used as swift heavy ion beam drivers. ...Compared with conventional accelerators, KEK-DA is capable of delivering a wider variety of ion species with various energies, as a result of its intrinsic properties. It is expected to serve as a heavy ion beam factory for research in materials science. Plans for its utilization include unique application programs, such as laboratory-based space science using virtual cosmic rays, heavy-ion mutagenesis in microorganisms, deep ion implantation, and modification of materials, which may be categorized into systematic studies of the spatial and temporal evolution of the locally and highly excited states of materials.
Weil-type zeta functions defined by the numbers of absolutely irreducible SL₂-representations of the figure 8 knot group over finite fields are computed explicitly. They are expressed in terms of the ...congruence zeta functions of reductions of a certain elliptic curve defined over the rational number field. Then the Hasse-Weil type zeta function of the figure 8 knot group is also studied. Its central value is written in terms of the Mahler measures of the Alexander polynomial of the figure 8 knot and a certain family of elliptic curves.
Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) accounts for the majority of all lung cancers. A 69-year-old female with postoperatively recurrent NSCLC was treated weekly with nanoparticle-albumin-bound ...paclitaxel (nab-paclitaxel) monotherapy every 4 weeks as a tenth line chemotherapy, and stable disease was achieved by seven cycles of this regimen. The patient developed grade 4 neutropenia and grade 3 leukopenia, but none of the other toxicities, including febrile neutropenia and peripheral neuropathy, were severe, and thus she was able to tolerate this salvage chemotherapy. To our knowledge this is the first report of the efficacy of nab-paclitaxel monotherapy in a heavily treated NSCLC patient.
Necrotizing pneumonia caused by Panton-Valentine leukocidin (PVL)-positive community-acquired methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (CA-MRSA) has high mortality, and is currently a serious ...clinical issue. PVL is a two-component toxin consisting of LukS-PV and LukF-PV. PVL was shown to cause necrosis in target cells by forming pores consisting of an octamer comprised of LukS-PV and LukF-PV. However, because of the specificity of PVL toward several target cells and species, the detailed action of PVL remains controversial. Therefore, we focused on necrotizing pneumonia caused by PVL-positive Staphylococcus aureus and clarified the effects of PVL on alveolar macrophages, which play a central role in innate immunity in the alveolar space. We constructed recombinant PVL (rPVL) components and stimulated alveolar macrophages isolated from rabbits, and then evaluated the cytotoxicity and pro-inflammatory cytokine release. Recombinant LukS-PV (rLukS-PV), but not recombinant LukF-PV (rLukF-PV), induced pro-inflammatory cytokine release. Especially, TNF-α release was mediated via the C5a receptor (C5aR) expressed in rabbit alveolar macrophages and rPVL, consisting of rLukS-PV and rLukF-PV, was highly toxic to rabbit alveolar macrophages via the same receptor. Our results, which reveal the action of PVL via C5aR on alveolar macrophages, may be useful for understanding the mechanism of necrotizing pneumonia caused by PVL.
The smallness is proved of étale fundamental groups for arithmetic schemes. This is a higher dimensional analogue of the Hermite–Minkowski theorem. We also refer to the case of varieties over finite ...fields. As an application, we prove certain finiteness results of representations of the fundamental groups over algebraically closed fields.
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