Probing Physical Reasoning with Counter-Commonsense Context

In this study, we create a CConS (Counter-commonsense Contextual Size comparison) dataset to investigate how physical commonsense affects the contextualized size comparison task; the proposed dataset consists of both contexts that fit physical commonsense and those that do not. This dataset tests the ability of language models to predict the size relationship between objects under various contexts generated from our curated noun list and templates. We measure the ability of several masked language models and generative models. The results show that while large language models can use prepositions such as ``in'' and ``into'' in the provided context to infer size relationships, they fail to use verbs and thus make incorrect judgments led by their prior physical commonsense.Comment: Accepted to ACL 2023(Short Paper

An Investigation on Computer Usages in School Music Education : on Questionnaires for Music Teachers using computer in teaching and Studnets

コンピュータは、1990年代に飛躍的に性能が向上し、小型化・低価格化と共に一般へ普及、学校教育においても情報教育でコンピュータが扱われるようになり需要が増加した。しかし、最近ではコンピュータ音楽実践報告などもほとんどない。原因把握のための実態調査が必要とされる。そこで、本稿では、各学校段階の音楽教員及び高等学校と大学のコンピュータ音楽授業受講生を対象に意識調査を行った。 調査の結果、問題点としてコンピュータ周辺機器のコスト、メンテナンスできる技術者の不足、教員がコンピュータ音楽ソフトの勉強などに割く時間がない、音楽ソフトの選択が困難であることが判明した。問題の解決のためにはコンピュータメンテナンスサポートの充実、および音楽とコンピュータソフトをつなぐコーディネータの育成と情報発信共有化が望まれる

Dual-comb spectroscopy for rapid characterization of complex optical properties of solids

We demonstrate rapid characterization of complex optical properties of solids via dual-comb spectroscopy (DCS) in the near-infrared region. The fine spectral structures in the complex refractive index of an Er:YAG are successfully deduced using the developed system and Fourier analysis. Moreover, simultaneous determination of the refractive index and the thickness is demonstrated for a silicon semiconductor wafer through the use of multireflected echo signals. The results indicate the potential of DCS as a powerful measurement tool for the rapid and full characterization of solid materials

The impact of uncertainty in society on the use of traditional, complementary and alternative medicine: a comparative study on visits to alternative/traditional/folk health care practitioners

Background: While traditional, complementary and alternative medicine (TCAM) is gaining increased interest worldwide, the structural factors associated with the usage of TCAM at the social level have not been sufficiently explored. We aim to understand the social structure of uncertainty in society that affects the TCAM usage for men and women. Methods: We studied 32 countries using data from the International Social Survey Programme and the World Bank. In this study, we defined TCAM usage as visits to an alternative/traditional/folk health care practitioner during the past 12 months. We performed a correlation analysis and used a generalized linear model . Results: The prevalence of TCAM usage in terms of visits to practitioners was 26.1% globally, while usage varied across the 32 countries. Generalized linear models showed that unemployment rate was associated with the prevalence of TCAM usage in terms of visits to practitioners. Conclusions: At the social-structural level TCAM usage involving visits to practitioners was related to job insecurity. Job insecurity led to a decrease in TCAM usage regarding visits to practitioners. These findings suggest that it is necessary to consider the social-structural factors of uncertainty in society when designing health policies related to TCAM

Transforming growth factor-β1 stimulates collagen matrix remodeling through increased adhesive and contractive potential by human renal fibroblasts

AbstractRenal tubulointerstitial fibrosis is the common final pathway leading to end-stage renal failure. Tubulointerstitial fibrosis is characterized by fibroblast proliferation and excessive matrix accumulation. Transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) has been implicated in the development of renal fibrosis accompanied by α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) expression in renal fibroblasts. To investigate the molecular and cellular mechanisms involved in tubulointerstitial fibrosis, we examined the effect of TGF-β1 on collagen type I (collagen) gel contraction, an in vitro model of scar collagen remodeling. TGF-β1 enhanced collagen gel contraction by human renal fibroblasts in a dose- and time-dependent manner. Function-blocking anti-α1 or anti-α2 integrin subunit antibodies significantly suppressed TGF-β1-stimulated collagen gel contraction. Scanning electron microscopy showed that TGF-β1 enhanced the formation of the collagen fibrils by cell attachment to collagen via α1β1 and α2β1 integrins. Flow cytometry and cell adhesion analyses revealed that the stimulation of renal fibroblasts with TGF-β1 enhanced cell adhesion to collagen via the increased expression of α1 and α2 integrin subunits within collagen gels. Fibroblast migration to collagen was not up-regulated by TGF-β1. Furthermore, TGF-β1 increased the expression of a putative contractile protein, α-SMA, by human renal fibroblasts in collagen gels. These results suggest that TGF-β1 stimulates fibroblast–collagen matrix remodeling by increasing both integrin-mediated cell attachment to collagen and α-SMA expression, thereby contributing to pathological tubulointerstitial collagen matrix reorganization in renal fibrosis

Delayed enhancement on cardiac magnetic resonance imaging is a poor prognostic factor in patients with cardiac sarcoidosis

AbstractBackgroundPredictors of ventricular arrhythmias (VA) in patients with cardiac sarcoidosis (CS) remain unclear.Methods and resultsWe examined 61 consecutive CS patients who were admitted to our hospital from April 2002 to March 2012 with a mean follow-up period of 45±31 months for the relationship between delayed enhancement on cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (DE-MRI) and VA or a composite endpoint, including VA, heart failure hospitalization, and cardiovascular mortality. Although there was no significant difference in baseline clinical characteristics between patients with VA and those without it, the former group was characterized as compared with the latter by lower left ventricular (LV) ejection fraction (p<0.05), larger LV systolic/diastolic dimensions (both p<0.05), and a significant association with DE-MRI (p<0.05). Furthermore, the patients with DE-MRI (n=26), as compared with those without it (n=11), had a significantly higher composite endpoint event rate (41% vs. 0%, p<0.05) and a trend toward higher VA (29% vs. 0%, p=0.12). Univariate analysis also showed that impaired LV systolic function was significantly associated with composite events on follow-up.ConclusionsThese results indicate that the presence of DE-MRI is a significant predictor of VA events and poor outcome in CS patients

The Crystal Structure, Absolute Configuration and Circular Dichroism of (-)CD630 - and (+ )CD630 -cis-Bis[2-(2-benzoxazolyl)phenol-N]dichloroplatinum(II) . Ethanol

The crystals of the title complex resolve spontaneously, They are orthorhombic, space group P212121, a = 1034.6(4), b = 3120(6), c = 835.3(4) pm and Z = 4. The final R values of the enantiomers are 0.036 and 0.047 for 2873 and 3622 unique reflections, respectively. This is a square-planar complex with 2 Cl atoms in cispositions. The Iigand molecule acts as a unidentate and is coordinated to the Pt atom with its N atom. The average Pt-Cl and Pt-N distances are 228.9(3) and 200.9(8) pm, respectively. The two benzoxazolyl moieties are approximately related by a twofold rotation axis through the central Pt atom and the midpoint of the two N atoms. The optical activity arises from the dissymmetric disposition of the two ligand molecules with respect to the coordination plane. The CD spectra in the range 13,000-40,000 cm-1 were measured in KBr matrix. The CD patterns were correlated with the absolute configuration as well as the crystal habit