Wakayama University

Japan is a super-aged society where community group multicomponent exercise is widely implemented, yet the age at which a fixed, low-frequency exercise dose no longer offsets functional decline is unclear. We examined 6-year trainability and explored “zero-change” ages in frail older women. Twenty community-dwelling frail women (80–86 years) participated in a once-weekly 90 min multicomponent exercise program for 6 years. Nine physical tests were assessed at baseline (Pre), 6 months, and annually. Overall time effects were tested using repeated-measures ANOVA and generalized estimating equations, with planned paired t-tests versus Pre. Age-specific annual percent changes (%/year) from Pre to each follow-up were annualized, grouped by age at follow-up (81–91 years), and tested against 0%/year. Separately, regression analyses related age to annual percent change across seven consecutive intervals to estimate “zero-change age” (predicted change = 0%). Time effects were significant for all nine measures (all p ≤ 0.032). Chair stand, 10 m fast/zigzag walk, supine-to-stand, maximal 5-step length, and 10-times knee lift generally improved in the early follow-up, whereas handgrip strength and sit-and-reach declined over time. In 6/9 tests, annual percent change diminished with advancing age; estimated zero-change ages ranged from ≈82 years (maximal 5-step length) to ≈88 years (chair stand and one-leg stance). Attendance remained high (≈90%). In this single-arm community program, several mobility-related functions improved or were maintained in frail women in their early 80s, whereas reduced trainability beyond the mid-80s may limit further protection. Threshold ages are exploratory statistical estimates; controlled trials are warranted.

Design philosophy by Steven Holl shows his interest in the spatial experience aspect of architecture in the way people perceive space. This study focuses on the composition of spatial connections in 18 residential projects. The objective is to clarify the continuity of the living room through floor plan classification and matrix analysis, which is highly relevant in that it helps bridge the gap in understanding the functional and structural mechanisms inherent in architectural design theory, particularly in the projects. As a result, the residential projects can be classified into four categories in terms of continuity of living room, and it has a unique type of expression in their residential projects. This study is limited to analyzing only the first-floor plan and does not examine other drawings, such as sectional or elevation views, nor does it consider other residential projects. Therefore, the analysis has limitations. This study classified and discussed the continuity and spatial connections within the living room, thereby contributing to the discourse on design methodology in relation to architectural theory and phenomenology.

Diffusive motion is a fundamental transport mechanism in physical and biological systems, governing dynamics across a wide range of scales-from molecular transport to animal foraging. In many complex systems, however, diffusion deviates from classical Brownian behaviour, exhibiting striking phenomena such as Brownian yet non-Gaussian diffusion (BYNGD) and anomalous diffusion. BYNGD describes a frequently observed statistical feature characterised by the coexistence of linear mean-square displacement (MSD) and non-Gaussian displacement distributions. Anomalous diffusion, in contrast, involves a nonlinear time dependence of the MSD and often reflects mechanisms such as trapping, viscoelasticity, heterogeneity, or active processes. Both phenomena challenge the conventional framework based on constant diffusivity and Gaussian statistics. This review focuses on the theoretical modelling of such behaviour via the Langevin equation with fluctuating diffusivity (LEFD)-a flexible stochastic framework that captures essential features of diffusion in heterogeneous media. LEFD not only accounts for BYNGD but also naturally encompasses a wide range of anomalous transport phenomena, including subdiffusion, ageing, and weak ergodicity breaking. Ergodicity is discussed in terms of the correspondence between time and ensemble averages, as well as the trajectory-to-trajectory variability of time-averaged observables. The review further highlights the empirical relevance of LEFD and related models in explaining diverse experimental observations and underscores their value to uncovering the physical mechanisms governing transport in complex systems.

Gallium oxide (Ga2O3) is known to be an ultrawide-gap semiconductor material and is expected to have applications in power semiconductor devices and optical devices for deep ultraviolet (UV) light. In this study, as a continuation of our paper published in this journal in FY2024, we report experimental results of Ga2O3 thin films grown by mist chemical vapor deposition (CVD) method on quartz substrates whose surfaces are made hydrophilic by UV irradiation. For the equipment used in this study, the optimum UV irradiation time for the quartz substrate was 60 minutes. Amorphous Ga2O3 thin films were grown on the quartz substrates at substrate temperatures of 450°C and 500°C, while a mixture of β-Ga2O3 and amorphous Ga2O3 thin film was obtained when grown at 550°C. The surface roughness of the amorphous Ga2O3 thin films were low, but the surface roughness deteriorated when β-Ga2O3 was intermixed. The optical absorption properties showed high transmittance of more than 85% for all samples in visible region. The optical absorption edges were like that of β-Ga2O3 at growth temperatures of 450°C and 500°C, but became shorter at 550°C. It was found that amorphous Ga2O3 was deposited without hydrophilization, but the surface roughness deteriorated compared to that with hydrophilization. In the previous report, hydrophilization was performed with hydrofluoric acid, but the method using UV irradiation was found to provide better crystal growth with less variation in results, especially at a growth temperature of 500°C.

A holographic display is a promising visual technology that provides intuitive and natural image observation. Particularly, a binary phase-only holographic display has the capability of high-speed switching, enabling the realization of a high-frame-rate holographic display. However, the reconstructed image quality is extremely low due to noise caused by the lack of amplitude information, hologram binarization, and speckle. To solve the problem of the image quality, temporal multiplexing of multiple reconstructed images due to the persistence of vision can be used. In this paper, an intensity compensation method based on temporal multiplexing is proposed, which efficiently reduces the noise in the reconstructed images. To achieve this reduction, multiple holograms are generated according to the residuals between the reconstructed images and the desired object. Numerical simulations and optical experiments confirm that the accumulated image quality efficiently improves by the proposed method.

This study aims to clarify the situation of resident’s change and moving on Saikazaki area through interview survey. There used to be more houses where the resident changes into children or relatives, however currently increasing into non-relatives. And now resident’s change realizes through not only the approaches of themselves or relatives, but also real estate agent. There are five main reasons for moving, and moving to “improve the living environment” is particularly common after 2010, regardless of occupation or age. While the convenience of accessibility is important for residents, this condition is not so important for new residents.

This study aimed to identify awareness, user experience and needs for visitor centers. The survey was conducted using Surveroid, an online research tool provided by Marketing Applications, Inc. A stratified sampling method was used to select respondents, with the number of responses allocated in a way that corresponded to the population by sex and age group in the Japanese census. Responses were obtained from 475 respondents, from which 343 were valid responses. The results are as follows: 1) Awareness of ‘visitor centers’ was 44%, with only 14% of respondents able to give examples of specific visitor center facilities, and 48% of respondents had never heard of them or did not know of them; 2) Only 24% of the respondents had used the facilities and 76% of the respondents hadn’t used them; 3) Both in the “having awareness” and “having used” categories, the need for historical and cultural exhibits, botanical exhibits, highlights exhibits, and topographic and geological exhibits was relatively reinforced.