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Although standing plantar perception training (SPPT) may improve standing postural stability, the underlying neural mechanisms remain unclear. The authors investigated the relationship between regional cortical responses to SPPT using a balance pad and training outcomes in 32 older participants (mean ± SD:72.2 ± 6.0, range:60–87). Regional cortical activity was measured in the bilateral supplementary motor area, primary sensorimotor area, and parietal association area using near-infrared spectroscopy. Postural sway changes were compared before and after SPPT. Changes in two-point plantar discrimination and regional cortical activity during SPPT, associated with standing postural stability improvements, were examined using multiple regression and indicated improved standing postural stability after SPPT (p

Mass transfer in rocks provides a direct record of fluid–rock interaction within the Earth, including metamorphism, metasomatism, and hydrothermal alteration. However, mass transfer analyses are usually limited to local reaction zones where the protoliths are evident in outcrops (1–100 m in scale), from which regional mass transfer can be only loosely constrained due to uncertainty in protolith compositions. In this study, we developed protolith reconstruction models (PRMs) for metabasalt based on a machine learning approach. We constructed PRMs through learning multi-element correlations among basalt compositional datasets, including mid-ocean ridge, ocean island, and island arc basalts. The PRMs were designed to estimate trace-element compositions from inputs of 2–9 selected trace elements, and basalt trace-element compositions (e.g., Rb, Ba, U, K, Pb, Sr, and rare earth elements) were estimated from only four inputs with a reproducibility of ~0.1 log10 units (i.e., ±25%). Using Th, Nb, Zr, and Ti, which are typically immobile during metamorphism, as input elements, the PRM was verified by applying it to seafloor altered basalt with known protoliths. When suitable immobile elements are incorporated, a PRM can yield unbiased and accurate mass transfer analysis of any metabasalt with unknown protolith.

To study the glaciological processes controlling the mass budget of Greenland’s peripheral glaciers and ice caps, field measurements were carried out on Qaanaaq ice cap, a 20 km long ice cap in northwestern Greenland. In the summer of 2012, we measured surface melt rate, ice flow velocity and ice thickness along a survey route spanning the ice margin (200m a.s.l.) to the ice-cap summit (1110m a.s.l.). Melt rates in the ablation area were clearly influenced by dark materials covering the ice surface, where degree-day factors varied from 5.44 mm w.e. K–1 d–1 on a clean surface to 8.26 mm w.e. K–1 d–1 in the dark regions. Ice velocity showed diurnal variations, indicating the presence of surface-meltwater induced basal sliding. Mean ice thickness along the survey route was 120 m, with a maximum thickness of 165 m. Ice velocity and temperature fields were computed using a thermomechanically coupled numerical glacier model. Modelled ice temperature, obtained by imposing estimated annual mean air temperature as the surface boundary condition, was substantially lower than implied by the observed ice velocity. This result suggests that the ice dynamics and thermodynamics of the ice cap are significantly influenced by heat transfer from meltwater and changing ice geometry.

We investigate the influence of deposition pressure in the range 0.25–1.0 Pa on the photoresponsivity of 200 nm thick BaSi2 films grown by sputtering at 600 °C. BaSi2 films formed at 0.8 Pa exhibit a high photoresponsivity. The deposited Ba-to-Si atomic ratio depends significantly on the sputtering pressure. That's why the pressure influences the photoresponsivity. BaSi2 films grown by a two-step growth technique show much higher photoresponsivity almost equivalent to those grown by molecular beam epitaxy. The photoresponsivity reaches 0.75 A W−1 at 2.0 eV at a bias voltage of 0.5 V applied between the top and bottom electrode.

We fabricated approximately 200-nm-thick BaSi2 films on Si(111) substrates at 600 °C. The formation of BaSi2 was demonstrated by X-ray diffraction and Raman spectroscopy. A reduction in the electron concentration (n = 2 × 1016 cm−3) by 3 orders of magnitude compared to that previously reported (n = 7 × 1019 cm−3) and resultant photoresponsivity enhancement by more than two orders of magnitude were achieved. The photoresponsivity increased with the bias voltage V bias applied between the top and bottom electrodes, and reached approximately 0.19 A/W at 2.0 eV, room temperature, and |V bias| = 0.5 V.

Ashi (elasticity) of kamaboko from white croaker Argyrosomus argentatus containing 1.5%NaCl in final concentration was weak as known already, but it was strengthened remarkably when the fish paste was set (or preheated) at 40°C for 30min. The ashi of thus obtained kamaboko closely resembled that of high grade kamaboko on the market, and the structure seemed to crowd when observed by electron microscope. The reinforcement effect of ashi by the setting at 40°C for 30min was hardly observed with Alaska pollack paste. However, when white croker paste was mixed to it, the effect appeared with the increase in the amount of white croker paste added. As above, it was elucidated that even if the amount of added NaCl is lowered to 1.5% (1.0% if salty taste is ignored), kamaboko from white croaker or containing its meat can make strong ashi if the salted paste is set at 40°C for 30min.

Polycarbonates [OCOO-R-OCOO-R'] n (R= (CH 2 ) 4 , CH 2 ) 6 , C 6 H 10 , CH(CH 3 )(CH 2 ) 2 CH(CH 3 ); R'= CH 2 PhCH 2 , (CH 2 ) 4 ) were synthesized by polycondensation of diol and dihalides in an aprotic polar solvent containing K 2 CO 3 under an atmosphere of CO 2