Nara Women's University

Abstract We have performed 1–12 keV spectral analyses of the recombining plasma associated with the supernova remnant (SNR) W49B using the Suzaku archive data. The analysis results for the whole SNR spectrum indicate that the recombination timescale varies within (5–7) × 10 11 cm −3 s among elements from Mg to Fe and Ni of the RP or that the initial ionization temperatures of the elements vary between 1.6 and 2.7 keV. This paper reports on the results of a more detailed investigation using the latter approach, the multicomponent ionization temperature model. In the overall spectrum, the initial ionization temperatures is estimated to be 2 keV for the lighter elements (Mg, Si) and 5 keV for the heavier elements (Ar and Fe group). For electron cooling scenarios, plasma ionization must proceed at once during a period of high density within about 500 yr after the explosion. The initial ionization temperatures tend to be higher in the east, which would be due to difference of density in circumstellar medium in the early period. On the other hand, current ionization temperatures are found to be spatially uniform, which would be explained by the ionization enhancement scenario by low-energy cosmic rays.

The cold pressor test (CPT) is a clinical stress test commonly used to evoke acute pressor and respiratory responses, accompanied by increased sympathetic nerve activity. Cerebral blood flow (CBF) is well-preserved during CPT despite elevated arterial blood pressure (ABP), but the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. We hypothesized that dynamic cerebral autoregulation (dCA) contributes to this CBF preservation, preventing overperfusion under stress-induced hypertension. Thirty-seven healthy volunteers performed CPT for 3 min, while ABP, middle cerebral artery mean velocity (MCA Vmean), and end-tidal carbon dioxide partial pressure (PETCO2) were measured. CPT significantly increased ABP (p < 0.001) and decreased PETCO2 (p = 0.032), whereas MCA Vmean remained unchanged (p = 0.976), resulting in a significant decrease in cerebrovascular conductance index (CVCi) (p < 0.001). The CPT-induced relative change in CVCi was significantly associated with the low-frequency (LF) phase (p < 0.001). Notably, the CPT-induced decrease in PETCO2 was significantly associated with the decreases in MCA Vmean (p < 0.001) and in %CVCi (p = 0.009). These findings suggest that dynamic cerebral autoregulation, as well as the respiratory response (change in PETCO2), plays a key role in maintaining CBF during CPT-induced elevations in ABP. Furthermore, individual differences in dCA and respiratory responses may account for variability in cerebrovascular responses to acute pressor stimuli.

Abstract Flexible and printable memristors are emerging as transformative platforms at the intersection of materials science, electronics, and neuromorphic computing. By integrating mechanical flexibility with resistive-switching functionality, these devices open new opportunities for low-power, flexible, and next-generation wearable electronics. This review provides a comprehensive overview of recent advances in flexible memristors, highlighting progress in flexible substrates, scalable fabrication techniques, novel functional materials, and their diverse application domains. Key materials include polymer dielectrics, two-dimensional (2D) materials, metal oxides on flexible substrates, and organic–inorganic hybrids, engineered into thin films, nanosheets, nanorods, and nanocrystals through vapour deposition and solution-based routes. We discuss how material composition, deposition methodology, interface engineering, and nanostructuring approaches govern key performance metrics, including&amp;#xD;2&amp;#xD;endurance, retention, switching speed, and mechanical robustness under bending or stretching. The evolution of switching mechanisms, from filamentary conduction to interface-mediated processes and ion migration, is contextualized with the emerging applications, including neuromorphic computing, flexible memory arrays, logic circuits, and bio-interfaced electronics, such as artificial skin and wearable health monitors. Further, we address the challenges associated with the practical applications of the flexible memristive devices and discuss the future directions of research that can be pivotal in shaping the future of intelligent, responsive electronics.

Abstract We present high-resolution X-ray spectroscopy of the merging cluster Abell 754 using XRISM/Resolve. In GO1 phase, XRISM/Resolve observed Abell 754 in two deep pointings, targeting the eastern primary core (114 ks) and the middle of the X-ray filamentary structure (190 ks). Spectral fits to full field-of-view data reveal a line-of-sight velocity difference of $656 \pm 35$ km s$^{-1}$ between the two pointing, corresponding to a bulk Mach number of 0.45$\pm$0.03. Velocity dispersions are measured to be $220^{+26}_{-29}$ km s$^{-1}$ and $279^{+24}_{-23}$ km s$^{-1}$ in the eastern and middle pointing, respectively. Within the eastern core, the velocity dispersion shows spatial variation, reaching $497^{+144}_{-117}$ km s$^{-1}$ in the southern core with high temperature—among the largest values yet reported in galaxy clusters to date. Narrow-band analysis of the Fe–K complex in this region reveals systematically higher temperatures derived from He-like and H-like Fe line ratio compared to those obtained via broadband fits, indicating multi-phase structures. Two-temperature modeling further separates a cooler core phase from a hotter, shock or turbulence-heated phase whose velocity is blueshifted, similar to that of the middle pointing. These results point to a mixing interface where post-shock gas from the south overlaps, in projection, with cooler core gas, inflating the observed line widths in this region. Weak-lensing analysis with Subaru/HSC and Suprime-cam confirms that the eastern component is about twice as massive as the western one, consistent with disruption and gas stripping of the latter. The curved morphology of the eastern X-ray core, together with the measured kinematics, is naturally explained by an off-axis, post–core-passage merger that imparts angular momentum and drives large-scale rotational and fallback flows.

BackgroundMore research is needed to clarify the health effects of dietary carotenoid intakes, and this requires the use of high-quality assessments of habitual dietary intake. Cohort studies from the Tohoku Medical Megabank Organization included a self-administered food frequency questionnaire (TMM-FFQ) for community-dwelling adults. This study evaluated the validity of carotenoid intakes derived from the TMM-FFQ using serum carotenoid concentrations as the gold standard.MethodsIn Miyagi Prefecture, 88 men and 124 women aged ≥20 years voluntarily agreed to participate in the study and provided completed TMM-FFQs and blood samples in 2019 and 2021. Carotenoids examined included α-carotene, β-carotene, β-cryptoxanthin, and lycopene. Intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs) were calculated to assess correlations between serum concentrations in 2019 and 2021. Spearman’s rank correlation coefficients were calculated to evaluate the correlations between energy-adjusted dietary carotenoid intakes from the TMM-FFQ in 2021 and the average serum carotenoid concentrations in 2019 and 2021, with correction for the attenuating effect of random within-individual variation.ResultsThe ICCs between serum concentrations over the 2 years were >0.50 for all carotenoids. Among men, correlation coefficients were 0.33 for α-carotene, 0.42 for β-carotene, 0.50 for β-cryptoxanthin, and −0.09 for lycopene. Among women, the coefficients were lower than those for men, except for lycopene: 0.11 for α-carotene, 0.23 for β-carotene, 0.21 for β-cryptoxanthin, and 0.28 for lycopene.ConclusionThe TMM-FFQ demonstrated reasonable validity for assessing intakes of α-carotene, β-carotene, and β-cryptoxanthin among men, but not among women, in the TMM cohort studies when using serum concentrations as the gold standard.

ABSTRACT Asuka village in Nara prefecture has been designated as one of the special preservation areas for historic landscape since 1960s and is well‐known for its richness in historic remains originated from Asuka period. This paper focuses on rural house compounds from six different village sections. Village sections located within the plain area are classified into three groups in terms of village layout, i.e., group 1: clustered village (Okuyama, Kawahara and Noguchi), group 2: street village along the east–west axis (Asuka), group 3: street village along the north–south axis (Oka and Shimasho). The composition of rural house compounds in Asuka village and Nara basin consists of a main building, extensions directly attached to the main building ( tsunoya ) and outbuildings (huzokuya, hanare). We first set up the hypothetical model for the building layout development pattern of house compounds which includes every possible extendable pattern of the main building, extensions and outbuildings. The model was examined by the result of our field research which revealed the fact that dominant development patterns follow the basic rule of traditional Japanese idea of the divination of the auspices of a house regarding its position and orientation.

We have previously reported the chiral photomechanical behavior of azobenzene-based photochromic molecular glass particles fixed in agar gel. That is, when their particles were irradiated with polarized 488 nm laser beam, they elongated in the direction parallel to the polarization direction of the incident laser beam accompanied with undulatory motion. And the resulting photo-elongated particles took on a left-handed rather than right-handed helical structure at the ends of the particles. In the present study, such chiral photomechanical behavior was also found in hydroxypropyl cellulose hydrogel, suggesting that the chiral photomechanical behaviors were the general phenomena of the azobenzene-based molecular glasses observed in chiral natural polymer-based hydrogels. Asymmetric viscoelasticity of the surrounding chiral hydrogels seems to play a role in causing such chiral photomechanical behaviors.

BackgroundPreference for an image is often associated with the perceived ease of use of the depicted object.AimThis study investigated the impact of visual stimuli on taste expectations, focusing on the presentation of food in images. Specifically, it explored how the presence of a pull-tab—perceived by participants as a tool that makes the product easy to use or open—influences these expectations.MethodsA sample of 42 right-handed university students (30 women, 12 men; mean age = 20.4 years) evaluated perceived taste expectations of food presented under different conditions using a 9-point Likert scale. The conditions included images of canned food (“Can condition”) with varying pull-tab positions (0°, 90°, 180°, 270°, and Down), as well as images of actual food (“Pineapple condition”). Each participant was shown 12 images per trial in a randomized order and rated their taste expectations immediately after viewing each image. Statistical analyses were conducted using linear mixed models and ANOVA using the Kenward-Roger method.ResultsTaste expectations were significantly lower in the Can condition compared with the Pineapple condition (mean difference = 3.14, SE = 0.23, p < 0.001). Within the Can condition, pull-tab positions had a significant effect on taste expectation ratings (F = 116.94, p < 0.001). The 0° position (pull-tab facing the viewer) received the highest rating (M = 4.87, SD = 1.86), while the 180° position (pull-tab facing away) received the lowest (M = 3.95, SD = 1.73).ConclusionThese findings underscore the complex relationship between visual presentation and taste expectations, providing valuable insights for optimizing product presentation in marketing strategies.