Josephson effect in a multi-orbital model for Sr2_{2}RuO4_{4}

We study Josephson current between s-wave/spin-triplet superconductor junctions by taking into account details of band structures in Sr$_{2}$RuO$_{4}$ such as three conduction bands, spin-orbit interaction in the bulk and that at the interface. We assume five superconducting order parameters in Sr$_{2}$RuO$_{4}$: a chiral p-wave symmetry and four helical p-wave symmetries. We calculate current-phase relationship $I(\varphi)$ in these junctions, where $\varphi$ is the macroscopic phase difference between two superconductors. The results for a chiral p-wave pairing symmetry show that $\cos(\varphi)$ term appears in the current-phase relation due to time-reversal symmetry (TRS) breaking. On the other hand, $\cos(\varphi)$ term is absent in the helical pairing states which preserve the TRS. We also study the dependence of maximum Josephson current $I_c$ on an external magnetic flux $\Phi$ in a corner junction. The calculated results of $I_c(\Phi)$ show a relation $I_{c}(\Phi) \neq I_{c}(-\Phi)$ in a chiral state and $I_{c}(\Phi)=I_{c}(-\Phi)$ in a helical state. We calculate $I_c(\Phi)$ in a corner and a symmetric SQUIDs geometry. In a symmetric SQUID geometry, the relation $I_{c}(\Phi)=I_{c}(-\Phi)$ is satisfied for all the pairing states and it is impossible to distinguish chiral state from helical one. On the other hand, results for a corner SQUID always show $I_{c}(\Phi) \neq I_{c}(-\Phi)$ and $I_{c}(\Phi)=I_{c}(-\Phi)$ for a chiral and a helical states, respectively. Experimental tests of these relations in a corner junctions and SQUIDs may serve as a tool for unambiguous determination of the pairing symmetry in Sr$_{2}$RuO$_{4}$

Comparison of Protein and Energy Intake, Passage Rate and Roughage Value Index of a Common Reed (\u3cem\u3ePhragmites communis\u3c/em\u3e Trin.) Silage-Based Diet with Those of a Hay-Based Diet in Ewes at Maintenance

The international demand for hay has increased due to the rising needs of newly industrializing countries and the unstable production of feed caused by abnormal weather all over the world. The price of imported hay has thus risen sharply, resulting in problems at beef and dairy farms in Japan. The use of domestic hay has the potential to solve these issues. The common reed (Phragmites communis Trin.) is a wild grass distributed widely in abandoned paddy fields and riverside sites throughout Japan. Common reed has an annual dry matter (DM) yield of 10t ha–1 and is approx. 20% crude protein (CP) and 50% total digestible nutrients (TDN) on a DM basis (Asano et al., 2015). Common reed could be made into high-quality silage with the use of acemonium cellulase and lactic acid bacteria at ensiling (Asano et al., 2013). In the present experiment, we compared the protein and energy intake, passage rate and roughage value index (RVI) of a common reed silage-based diet with those of a hay-based diet to examine the potential of common reed silage as a diet for maintenance ewes

Effect of Adding Functional Lactic Acid Bacteria at Ensiling on the Fermentation Quality and Nutritive Value of Oat Silage

Livestock are exposed to stressors from the environment such as temperature, humidity and intensive feeding. Strong stress can cause animals to perform an atypical behavior and/or result in lower productivity, and livestock weanlings, which do not have as strong a body as the adult livestock, are more severely affected by stress. Functional silage that increases the stress tolerance of livestock may thus be beneficial. Some lactic acid bacteria (LAB) in human food were found to have a probiotic effect to ease stress, but it has not been established whether these LAB can affect the qualities of silage fermentation. Here we used a small-scale system of silage fermentation to examine the effects of adding functional LAB at ensiling on the fermentation quality and nutritive value of oat silage

Effect of Using Additives at Ensiling on the Fermentation Quality of Common Reed (\u3cem\u3ePhragmites communis\u3c/em\u3e Trin.) Silage

The common reed (Phragmites communis Trin.) is a wild grass species widely distributed throughout Japan and the world, growing in thousands of abandoned paddy fields and riverside sites. Most of the common reed in Japan is burned or left to become a weed that grows thickly in canals and reclaimed lands, becoming breeding places for diseases and pests (Holm et al. 1977). The biodiversity of plants can be disrupted by an expanding community of common reed whose sward height is 1.5–4.0 m (Ailstock et al. 2001). The common reed should be controlled and made use of if possible, and a role for common reed as feed may solve a number of issues regarding this species. The common reed grown in marsh can be harvested as round baled silage using a chopping whole crop harvester (WB1030DX, Takakita Co., Mie, Japan) and a self-propelled bale wrapper (SW1110W, Takakita Co., Mie, Japan). However, few studies have been conducted on methods of preparing high-quality silage out of common reed. Here we conducted several trials using a small-scale system to determine the effects of adding glucose, lactic acid bacteria (LAB) and acremonium cellulase at ensiling on the fermentation quality of common reed silage

Predictors of cognitive function in patients with hypothalamic hamartoma following stereotactic radiofrequency thermocoagulation surgery

Peer Reviewedhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/138275/1/epi13838.pdfhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/138275/2/epi13838_am.pd

The Nutritional Status of Japanese Black Breeding Cows Grazed in a Larger Abandoned Paddy Field

Because rice consumption has decreased in Japan, the number of abandoned paddy fields has increased. Some of the abandoned paddy fields are being used for livestock grazing, effectively using the abandoned fields and reducing the production costs on livestock farms. Such grazing may use an integrated grazing system of scattered small pastures where each of the small abandoned paddy fields scattered in a given agriculture area is defined as one grazing yard, and a herd consisting of two or three head of cattle is moved from one grazing yard to another. However, because the number of abandoned paddy fields has increased, it may be possible to have cattle grazing in larger fields made by combining multiple abandoned paddy fields (Shindo and Tejima 2006). Here we examined the nutritional status of Japanese Black breeding cows that stayed in larger-sized abandoned paddy fields to graze from spring to autumn

Musical instrument training program improves verbal memory and neural efficiency in novice older adults

楽器訓練で高齢者の認知機能が向上することを確認 --訓練による脳活動の変化を高齢者で初報告--. 京都大学プレスリリース. 2020-12-24.Previous studies indicate that musical instrument training may improve the cognitive function of older adults. However, little is known about the neural origins of training‐related improvement in cognitive function. Here, we assessed the effects of instrumental training program on cognitive functions and neural efficiency in musically naïve older adults (61–85 years old). Participants were assigned to either the intervention group, which received a 4‐month instrumental training program using keyboard harmonica, or a control group without any alternative training. Cognitive measurements and functional magnetic resonance imaging during visual working memory (VWM) task were administered before and after the intervention in both groups. Behavioral data revealed that the intervention group significantly improved memory performance on the test that measures verbal recall compared to the control group. Neuroimaging data revealed that brain activation in the right supplementary motor area, left precuneus, and bilateral posterior cingulate gyrus (PCgG) during the VWM task decreased after instrumental training only in the intervention group. Task‐related functional connectivity (FC) analysis revealed that the intervention group showed decreased FC between the right PCgG and left middle temporal gyrus, and between the left putamen and right superior temporal gyrus (lPu‐rSTG) during a VWM task after the intervention. Furthermore, a greater improvement in memory performance in the intervention group was associated with a larger reduction in lPu‐rSTG FC, which might be interpreted as improved neural efficiency. Our results indicate that the musical instrument training program may contribute to improvements in verbal memory and neural efficiency in novice older adults