Analytical studies of the complex Langevin equation with a Gaussian Ansatz and multiple solutions in the unstable region

We investigate a simple model using the numerical simulation in the complex Langevin equation (CLE) and the analytical approximation with the Gaussian Ansatz. We find that the Gaussian Ansatz captures the essential and even quantitative features of the CLE results quite well including unwanted behavior in the unstable region where the CLE converges to a wrong answer. The Gaussian Ansatz is therefore useful for looking into this convergence problem and we find that the exact answer in the unstable region is nicely reproduced by another solution that is naively excluded from the stability condition. We consider the Gaussian probability distributions corresponding to multiple solutions along the Lefschetz thimble to discuss the stability and the locality. Our results suggest a prescription to improve the convergence of the CLE simulation to the exact answer.Comment: 10 pages, 10 figure

Synthesis and photochemical reactivity of caged glutamates with a π-​extended coumarin chromophore as a photolabile protecting group

International audience'Caging' and 'uncaging' bioactive substrates are key techniques in studying a wide variety of biological processes. In the present study, two-types of novel caged glutamates with a two-photon absorption (TPA) core, that is, π-extended coumarin, were synthesized and their photochemical release of glutamate was analyzed. The high yields of glutamate (>92%) were observed in the photolysis of compounds 1 and 10, respectively

Tracheal Stenosis Caused by Unnoticed Foreign Bodies

We describe an extremely rare case of tracheal stenosis caused by unnoticed microscopic fiber-like foreign bodies. A 66-year-old woman complained of dyspnea with inspiratory stridor. Magnifying electroendoscopy and computed tomography revealed stenosis involving the entire circumference of the tracheal lumen. Tracheotomy and biopsy were performed. Histologically, the lesion showed chronic inflammation with a deposition of fiber-like foreign bodies. The patient had no history of trauma or inhalation injury, but had undergone intratracheal intubation on 4 occasions. The lesion was incised using semiconductor laser photoresection, and the postoperative course was good. To the best of our knowledge, this represents the first report in the English literature of tracheal stenosis caused by unnoticed foreign bodies. The origin of these fiber-like foreign bodies remains unclear but might be related to chronic inflammation resulting from intratracheal intubations

pH-resistant Inhibitor of Mitochondrial ADP/ATP Carrier

Bongkrekic acid (BKA), isolated from Burkholderia cocovenenans, is known to specifically inhibit the mitochondrial ADP/ATP carrier. However, the manner of its interaction with the carrier remains elusive. In the present study, we tested the inhibitory effects of 17 bongkrekic acid analogues, derived from the intermediates obtained during its total synthesis, on the mitochondrial ATP/ATP carrier. Rough screening of these chemicals, done by measuring their inhibitory effects on the mitochondrial ATP synthesis, revealed that 4 of them, KH-1, 7, 16, and 17, had moderate inhibitory effects. Further characterization of the actions of these 4 analogues on mitochondrial function showed that KH-16 had moderate; KH-1 and KH-17, weak; and KH-7, negligible side effects of both permeabilization of the mitochondrial inner membrane and inhibition of the electron transport, indicating that only KH-7 had a specific inhibitory effect on the mitochondrial ADP/ATP carrier. Although the parental bongkrekic acid showed a strong pH dependency of its action, the inhibitory effect of KH-7 was almost insensitive to the pH of the reaction medium, indicating the importance of the 3 carboxyl groups of BKA for its pH- dependent action. A direct inhibitory effect of KH-7 on the mitochondrial ADP/ATP carrier was also clearly demonstrated

Scalable and template-free production of mesoporous calcium carbonate and its potential to formaldehyde adsorbent

Here we report a scalable and template-free production strategy 1 in the synthesis of a mesoporous calcium carbonate, which undergoes self-assembled nanostructure formation through a temperature-induced aggregation and polymorphic transformation of the colloids. The specific surface area and pore size distribution of resulting mesoporous calcium carbonate are clearly different depending on the aging temperature. The specific surface area and average pore size for aging temperature of 293 K are 207.3 ± 9.8 m2/g and 8.8±0.6 nm, respectively, and 65.1 ± 10.1 m2/g and 19.9±2.6 nm at 473 K. Additionally, we apply the mesoporous calcium carbonate powder to formaldehyde vapor adsorbent. We measure the adsorbed amount of gaseous formaldehyde and find that the vaterite-rich powder has larger adsorption per unit area than the calcite-rich one

Do abstraction and power increase moral hypocrisy?

Lammers (2012) reported that participants taking an abstract (vs. concrete) view tended to judge the immoral behavior of others more severely than the same behavior performed by themselves (i.e., moral hypocrisy). In the current study, we examined the effects of construal level (i.e., abstract vs. concrete mindset) on moral judgments in a sample of Japanese university students. In addition, we examined the effect of the individuals’ sense of power, which was previously found to influence moral hypocrisy (Lammers et al., 2010); people in powerful roles were found to be more strict in moral judgments of others’ behavior than their own behavior. However, in Experiment 1, we did not observe moral hypocrisy. Instead, regardless of the actors in scenarios, we found that participants in the abstract condition (vs. concrete condition) judged immoral behavior less severely. Moreover, participants with a greater sense of power were more likely to judge immoral behavior severely. The discrepancy between the current findings and those of previous studies might be related to the scenario used in the current study (stealing a bike in a public bicycle parking area). Participants may have been influenced by the concern of being watched by a third party. We conducted Experiment 2 to investigate the effects of the presence of a third party, but found no significant effects. The results are discussed in terms of the construal level manipulations and immoral behavior in the experimental scenarios.本論文は，2017年度に広島大学教育学部で開講された心理学課題演習において，第1著者の指導により第2著者から第7著者までが実施した研究をもとに執筆したものである。研究の一部は第2著者から第7著者により中国四国心理学会第73回大会学部生研究発表会において報告された

Distribution of Air Temperature in Tajimi City in Summer

To research the distribution of air temperature in the city of Tajimi, Gifu prefecture, a total of 15 thermometers were placed at the schools and parks in the city of Tajimi, and the city of Kasugai, Aichi prefecture in August 2010. From the distribution of monthly average air temperature, air temperature at the center of Tajimi city was higher than the suburbs. Also, the days of daily minimum air temperature more than or equal to 25°C and daily maximum air temperature more than or equal to 35°C at the elementary school near the center of Tajimi city was more than those at other schools. This tendency appeared more clearly on the days of daily minimum air temperature more than or equal to 25°C. Also, the air temperature near the center of the city was higher than that ofthe suburbs in the early morning. Thus, it was indicated that the air temperature was hard to decrease as the bottom of the basin. From these results, the influence of urbanization to the formation of the daily minimum temperature in Tajimi city was indicated

Observational Study and Numerical Prediction Experiments on Wet-Bulb Globe Temperature in Tajimi, Gifu Prefecture: Consideration of Uncertainty with a Physics Parameterization Scheme and Horizontal Resolution of the Weather Research and Forecasting Model

As part of research on the actual conditions of the thermal environment surrounding the city of Tajimi, Gifu prefecture, and the city of Kasugai, Aichi prefecture, the surface air temperature and wet-bulb globe temperature (WBGT) were investigated by observation at these locations on clear-sky days in August 2010. Numerical prediction experiments on the WBGT were performed to confirm the utility of the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model. Sensitivity experiments utilizing physics parameterization schemes and horizontal resolution of the WRF model were conducted to confirm the predicted WBGT. The resultsshowed that the maximum sensitivity with the parameterization scheme was 8.4°C for the daytime average, and especially, the simple thermal diffusion surface (SLAB) scheme caused an over/estimation of 6.8°C. On the other hand, the maximum sensitivity with horizontal resolution was 0.5°C, which is much less than that with the parameterization scheme