Recent publications
Without a low-cost, highly efficient power conversion circuit system, the current achievements in information and communication technology would not have been possible. The integration of power conversion circuit systems began with data writing for nonvolatile semiconductor memories.
It is well known that faces with large eyes are generally perceived as more attractive. However, it remains unclear whether individuals with high levels of dissatisfaction with their faces assess them in the same way. This study investigated whether the eye size at which the face is perceived the most attractive in one's face and others’ faces differs based on the degree of self-face dissatisfaction one has. Thirty-one Japanese university students completed the Face Dissatisfaction Scale and rated the attractiveness of self-face and other-face photos with 11 different eye magnifications (0%, ± 10%, ± 20%, ± 30%, ± 40%, and ±50%). A two-way analysis of variance showed that individuals with a high degree of self-face dissatisfaction perceive faces with larger eyes as more attractive than individuals with a low degree of self-face dissatisfaction. The finding suggests that high dissatisfaction with self-face may be associated with a large cognitive gap between the actual and the ideal eye size.
The antiaging effects of caloric restriction, which involves reducing the food given to experimental animals by about 30% and keeping them on this diet for a long period, have been confirmed across various species, from nematodes and fruit flies to mice and monkeys. Therefore, it is considered to be one of the traits that organisms have acquired during the process of evolution. Organisms sense their nutritional status and choose whether to produce the necessary energy using the nutrients they have ingested or to store them for future energy shortages. This is thought to have maximized both the chance of survival of the organism itself and the chance of survival of the species through reproduction. The antiaging effects of caloric restriction are suggested to be closely related to this nutrient-sensing function of organisms, and the center that controls this is thought to be a group of neurons in the arcuate nucleus in the hypothalamus of the brain. Neurons expressing neuropeptide Y (NPY) are known to be important for the antiaging effects of caloric restriction. Activation of NPY enhances feeding behavior and suppresses energy consumption. Caloric restriction enhances the expression of NPY in the arcuate nucleus. On the other hand, it has been reported that when caloric restriction is applied to NPY knockout mice, their lifespan does not extend, and the antiaging effects of caloric restriction, such as enhanced oxidative stress resistance and reduced tumor incidence, disappear or weaken [1]. Insulin, leptin, and ghrelin are known to be important factors in the regulation of NPY expression. Insulin is a hormone-like factor secreted from pancreatic β cells, leptin from fat cells, and ghrelin from the stomach. Insulin and leptin negatively regulate the expression of NPY, while ghrelin positively regulates it. It has been reported that animals subjected to caloric restriction have decreased body weight and blood glucose levels, along with decreased blood insulin and leptin concentrations and increased ghrelin concentration.
The amount of physical activity is related to the onset of lifestyle diseases, premature death, and also to physical strength and life functions [1, 2]. Therefore, it is important to understand the state of physical activity when promoting health and anti-aging. Physical activity refers to “the activity of skeletal muscles that increases energy consumption,” in simpler terms, it refers to all actions that move the body. Based on the concept of METs (metabolic equivalents for tasks), which is an index of how many times the energy consumption is when the state of being still is set to 1, actions of 1.5 METs or more correspond to physical activity. Actions less than 1.5 METs are not included in physical activity and are called rest, most of which are sedentary behaviors such as sleep and sitting down. Physical activity can be classified into two categories according to its purpose. One is exercise, which refers to activities performed with a purpose during leisure time. Specifically, it includes enjoying sports, working out at the gym, etc. The other is daily activities, which refer to activities necessary for daily life. Specifically, it includes housework, physical labor, movement, etc. Also, physical activity is classified by the difference in intensity (hardness). 1.5–2.9 METs are classified as low intensity, 3.0–5.9 METs as medium intensity, and 6 METs or more as high intensity. Low-intensity activities include stretching and standing, medium-intensity activities include table tennis, weight training, walking, vacuuming, etc., and high-intensity activities include running, carrying heavy loads, etc.
We obtain new estimates for subsolutions to fully nonlinear equations. Based on our estimates, we further study several topics such as the third and fourth order derivative estimates for concave fully nonlinear equations, critical exponents of estimates and maximum principles, and the existence and uniqueness of solutions to fully nonlinear equations on the torus with free terms in the spaces or in the space of Radon measures.
This study investigates the efficacy of 3D pose estimation technology in Ba Duan Jin interventions for sarcopenic older individuals. Participants were categorized into three groups: face-to-face traditional training (FFG), general remote training (GRG), and AI-based remote training (AIGRG). Significant enhancements were observed in appendicular skeletal muscle mass index, grip strength, 6-meter walking speed, timed-up-and-go test, and quality of life across all groups. Remarkably, the AI-based group exhibited comparable outcomes to traditional and general online methods. These findings suggest that AI-based telerehabilitation utilizing 3D pose estimation technology, such as Blazepose, presents a viable and effective alternative for remote exercise interventions, offering precise guidance and improving the quality of rehabilitation training.
This survey reviews the phenomenon of rumor propagation in social networks, defining rumors and their manifestations, and highlighting the societal confusion, panic, and harm they cause. It explores the psychological, social, and technical factors contributing to rumors and their impact on reputation, panic, and decision-making. The review covers theoretical frameworks of rumor propagation, analyzing progressive and non-progressive diffusion models in social networks. It also introduces the metaverse, discussing its impact on information spread and the new challenges it poses for rumor dissemination. Detection and intervention methods using AI, network analysis, and multimodal representation are highlighted, alongside policy and public education strategies. Additionally, the survey addresses challenges such as fake news, deepfakes, and the role of social bots and automated accounts. Future research directions are discussed, including the development of sophisticated detection algorithms, real-time monitoring, cross-platform and cross-cultural rumor detection, privacy protection, and automated coping mechanisms. The survey advocates for integrated strategies combining technological, social, and legal approaches to manage rumor propagation complexities and maintain information authenticity and social stability.
This manuscript delves into the complexities of imagined hua-ch’iao identity and its interplay with the Taiwanese education policies for overseas Chinese in Malaysia from the 1990s to the 2000s. By examining the shift in Taiwan’s stance toward Chinese in diaspora, the study underscores the devolution of hua-ch’iao education within the broader context of Taiwan’s quest for a distinct national identity from China. We explore the historical underpinnings and the ideological shifts that informed the policies under the Kuomintang ( kmt ) and the Democratic Progressive Party ( dpp ), highlighting the contentious debate over “Chineseness” and its implications for overseas Chinese communities. By tracing the changes in educational policy, the study reflects on the broader questions of identity, nationalism, and the politics of belonging in the era of globalization. It raises critical inquiries about Taiwan’s engagement with overseas Chinese communities and the conceptual challenges of defining “Chineseness” since the twenty-first century.
Pilgrimages have occurred for thousands of years, with pilgrims journeying to places that hold special significance to them as believers of a particular religion. Each year, millions of pilgrims embark on these special journeys. For example, pilgrimages to Mecca in Saudi Arabia. Nishikado Misaki is a Special Research Fellow based within the Graduate School of Letters at Waseda University in Japan who is interested in what happens during pilgrimages, travellers’ stories and how they behave and interact with one another. In her most recent research project, she is comparing mediaeval Russian travelogues from the perspective of human relationships and faith. Her main sources for this work are travelogues and academic papers and, alongside reading these, she is also immersing herself in seminars and other activities to absorb a range of ways of academic thinking. Misaki’s goal is to acquire an interdisciplinary perspective that spans history, literature, anthropology and other fields. By taking the unique approach of encompassing historical and contemporary perspectives, Misaki is working to deepen and connect the analysis of past and present, generating beneficial knowledge. She is poring over travel records from mediaeval Russia to investigate the relationship between the social background of travellers and the characteristics of their journeys. She is examining these historical sources and comparing them with content gathered from previous research in the fields of history and literature.
In the 19th century, the Luddites protested against the introduction of new technology into the wool and cotton industries, concerned that this would mean a reduction in the quality of their work, less need for their skill and a lower pay. Nowadays, luddite is used to refer to someone who dislikes technology. In modern society, there are similar concerns regarding artificial intelligence (AI) and what its introduction and evolution means for the human workforce. Despite these fears of past and present society, there is no doubt that there are significant benefits associated with the introduction of new technologies. For example, industrial robots play an important role in reducing workplace injury and mortality risk. Associate Professor Masahiro Yoshida, Department of Political Science and Economics, Waseda University, Japan has a background in economics and is interested in the socio-economic drivers and impacts of injuries in the workplace. While the nationwide injury rate improved before the Great Recession, it subsequently began to stagnate. Given accelerated investment in industrial robots, Yoshida found this puzzling and, through his work in this area, found that most industrial robots are utilised in innately safe sectors rather than in more risky sectors, suggesting a profit-seeking reasoning behind investment in robots rather than the prioritisation of workplace safety. He also found that these sectors tend to have a higher dependency on immigrants. This led Yoshida to explore the relationship between the dependency on immigration and the progress of robot adoption across industries.
Background
Drug rehabilitation is a challenging process that impacts both the physical and mental health of individuals. Traditional martial arts, such as Health Qigong, and closed motor exercises, such as power cycling, have shown potential benefits in improving health outcomes. This study aims to compare the effects of Health Qigong, closed motor exercises, and their combination on the physical and mental health of female drug rehabilitation participants.
Methods
In this randomized controlled trial, female participants from the Jilin Province Women’s Compulsory Isolation Drug Rehabilitation Center were randomly assigned to three groups: Health Qigong (QigongG), Closed Motor Exercise (ClosedG), and Combined Health Qigong and Closed Motor Exercise (CombinedG). Measurements were taken at baseline, mid-intervention, and post-intervention and included resting heart rate, vital capacity, choice reaction time, sleep quality, and relapse tendency.
Results
At the study’s conclusion, the ClosedG group showed significant improvements in relapse tendency, vital capacity, and sleep quality compared to baseline. The QigongG showed significant improvements in relapse tendency, sleep quality, and choice reaction compared to baseline. The CombinedG group demonstrated significant improvements in relapse tendency, vital capacity, sleep quality, and choice reaction time, outperforming the ClosedG groups in reaction time, and outperforming QigongG groups in vital capacity. The CombinedG group exhibited the most notable overall improvements.
Conclusion
The combined intervention of Health Qigong and closed motor exercises is more effective in improving physical and mental health metrics among female drug rehabilitation participants than either intervention alone. These findings suggest that incorporating a combination of traditional martial arts and closed motor exercises could enhance rehabilitation programs for drug rehabilitation.
Trial registration
ClinicalTrials.gov NCT06454565. The date of registration is 2024.07.11 (Retrospectively registered).
Plain Language Summary
The biological carbon pump (BCP) transfers carbon dioxide from the atmosphere into the deep ocean through sinking organic particles, helping sequester carbon for long periods. Temperature is thought to strongly control how efficiently this particulate organic carbon is transferred into the ocean's interior. However, this presumed temperature control, with its large‐scale geographic latitudinal variability, remains contested. Studies disagree on whether temperature enhances or reduces the efficiency of the transfer of organic particles from the surface to the deep ocean. Differences in particle collection and statistical analysis methods across research projects create significant uncertainties in assessing BCP transfer efficiency across oceanic regions. To explore these uncertainties, we analyzed BCP transfer efficiency data from six data‐rich locations representing different biomes, applying a consistent error analysis approach. We found that local uncertainties are so large that they obscure expected larger‐scale geographic latitudinal patterns driven by temperature, raising questions about whether such patterns exist. Our findings suggest that current observational data do not support the presence of latitudinal patterns in BCP metrics. If these patterns do exist, sustained POC flux observations, standardised data collection and processing protocols, and intercalibration of observational technologies will be essential to identify them accurately.
This paper provides a semiotic reading of the relationship between the text and the diagram in Theodosios’ Spherics, focusing on Sph. II.4 and II.5. This analysis provides a detailed explanation of what the inferences in the text imply for the mathematical objects and for the diagram, and argues that these are independent. It argues that the objects, and in particular the letters that name them, function in semiotically different ways in the text and in the diagram, but that the role of the objects in the text is meant to be mathematically and logically prior. It then argues that many places in which the diagram seems to contain information that is not included in the text are best explained by errors of the editing process or of the transmission; but that there do remain a few places that require direct inferences from the diagram.
The site‐selective C−H amination of azines is a critical challenge due to the broad applications of amino azines in biologically important compounds. In this work, we report a conceptually novel approach to the electrophilic C2‐selective C−H amination of azines using O‐benzoylhydroxylamines, catalyzed by a benzyl–palladium complex. A key feature of this transformation is the formation of the distal C−N bond via a benzyl–Pd intermediate, facilitated by a malonate substituent on the azine as a remote directing group. This strategy effectively overrides the inherent polarity mismatch typically observed in electrophilic C2‐C−H aminations. The reaction exhibits high site‐selectivity and demonstrates towards amine‐sensitive functional group, highlighting its synthetic utility.
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