Bifurcations in a forced Wilson-Cowan neuron pair

We investigate bifurcations of periodic solutions observed in the forced Wilson-Cowan neuron pair by both the brute-force computation and the shooting method. By superimposing the results given by both methods, a detailed topological classification of periodic solutions is achieved that includes tori and chaos attractors in the parameter space is achieved. We thoroughly explore the parameter space composed of threshold values, amplitude, and angular velocity of an external forcing term. Many bifurcation curves that are invisible when using brute-force method are solved by the shooting method. We find out a typical bifurcation structure including Arnold tongue in the angular velocity and the amplitude of the external force parameter plane, and confirm its fractal structure. In addition, the emergence of periodic bursting responses depending on these patterns is explained

Production Capacity Change in Industrial Sectors of Hachinohe City due to the 2011 Tohoku Tsunami

In this study, production capacity change was assessed for an inundation area due to the 2011 Tohoku tsunami. The study area was the coastal area of Hachinohe city, which was damaged and inundated by the earthquake and tsunami. Data for the activities of 10 industrial sectors were assembled from published information, newspaper articles, and public announcements. The results showed that the estimated amount of economic damage was approximately 101.9 billion yen because of the production capacity change in the industrial sectors of the area due to the earthquake and tsunami. The estimated amount was equivalent to approximately 84 % of the amount of the stock damage in the city. Time-series of production capacity rate in tsunami inundated area showed differences and showed slower recovery of production capacity rate from that of the earthquake affected area

Demonstration of a bosonic quantum classifier with data re-uploading

In a single qubit system, a universal quantum classifier can be realised using the data-reuploading technique. In this study, we propose a new quantum classifier applying this technique to bosonic systems and successfully demonstrated it using silicon optical integrated quantum circuits. We established a theory of quantum machine learning algorithm applicable to bosonic systems and implemented a programmable optical circuit combined with an interferometer. Learning and classification using part of the implemented optical quantum circuit with uncorrelated two-photons resulted in a classification with a reproduction rate of approximately 94\% in the proof of principle experiment. As this method can be applied to arbitrary two-mod N-photon system, further development of optical quantum classifiers, such as extensions to quantum entangled and multi-photon states, is expected in the future.Comment: 9 pages, 4 figure

Parotid salivary secretion induced by stimulation of periodontal regions with toothbrush in humans

The act of brushing teeth induces salivary secretion (1). However, there is no evidence to show which particular regions of the teeth and oral cavity in brushing induces the most effective salivary secretion. We investigated the effects of tooth brushing in different oral regions on parotid salivary secretion in humans. Saliva was collected using a modified Lashley cup. Brushing of the gingival margin was performed according to the Bass method, which may stimulate periodontal mechanoreceptors. The occulsal surface of the molars, gingiva, tongue, and palatal rugae were also brushed with a toothbrush. Compared to the flow rate of saliva from the unstimulated parotid gland, the salivary flow rates were enhanced when every oral region was brushed. The flow rate produced by brushing the palatal gingival margin of the ipsilateral maxillary molars was greater than that produced by brushing the occlusal surface of ipsilateral maxillary molars and palatal gingiva beside the molars. The flow was also significantly greater than that produced by brushing the palatal gingival margins of the contralateral maxillary molars, the maxillary/mandibular incisors, the dorsum of tongue and the palatal rugae. No significant difference was observed between brushing the gingival margins of the ipsilateral maxillary versus mandibular molars. These data indicate that brushing the gingival margin of molars is the most effective region to stimulate parotid saliva secretion. This likely activates periodontal mechanoreceptors, and this technique may be a simple way to improve salivary secretion in oral rehabilitation. The degree of salivary secretion caused by brushing the teeth is specific to particular oral regions. Brushing of the gingival margins is the most effective location to induce parotid salivary secretion

Effects of pilocarpine and cevimeline on Ca2+ mobilization in rat parotid acini and ducts

Previous reports suggested that there is no significant difference in the binding affinity of pilocarpine and cevimeline on muscarinic receptors (1). However, in vivo studies from our laboratory suggested that pilocarpine-induced salivation from the parotid gland is greater than that induced by cevimeline in rats (2, 3). Therefore, in the present study, sialogogue-induced intracellular Ca2+ mobilization was investigated in isolated parotid gland cells in vitro. Pilocarpine and cevimeline increased the intracellular Ca2+ concentration of parotid gland acinar and duct cells over 1 μM in a dose-dependent manner. Pilocarpine-induced responses were higher than cevimeline-induced responses. Ca2+ responses to both agents were completely blocked by 1 μM 4-DAMP, an M3 muscarinic receptor antagonist. In the absence of extracellular Ca2+, both sialogogues induced transient Ca2+ increase in parotid gland acinar cells. These results suggest that the sialogogues stimulate some common routes via the Ca2+ signaling in parotid gland acinar cells. We also report a significant difference of Ca2+ responses in concentration between pilocarpine and cevimeline in parotid gland acinar cells. The different Ca2+ responses between the sialogogues would explain the different saliva volumes from the parotid gland between them that we have observed in previous in vivo studies (2, 3)

Ca2+ mobilization by nicotine through synaptic activation in rat parotid acini

Nicotine has been reported to increase the intracellular Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]i) in sublingual acini due to neurotransmitter release from nerve terminals associated with the cell preparation (1). However, it is unclear whether or not the same reaction exists in parotid cells. Therefore, we investigated effect of nicotine on Ca2+ mobilization in digested parotid acini from rats. After removing the parotid gland from Wistar rats, the tissues were minced and digested with collagenase. Then, the intracellular Ca2+ indicator fura-2 was added to the preparation, and the change in [Ca2+]i was monitored using fluorescent microscope. In many but not all parotid acini, K+ stimulation induced transient increases in [Ca2+]i. The K+-induced Ca2+ response in parotid acini was completely blocked by Cd2+-containing solution. These results suggest that the parotid cell preparation has nerve terminals. In all high-K+-sensitive parotid acini, over 3μM of nicotine increased [Ca2+]i, and the response was blocked by a Cd2+-containing solution and nicotinic receptor antagonists. All high-K+-insensitive acinar cells were resistant to the effect of nicotine on Ca2+ mobilization. These results suggest that nicotine induces increases in [Ca2+]i in parotid acini due to neurotransmitter release from associated nerve terminals

学業不振児童の学力向上を意識した教科算数における指導方法の一考察 ―神戸市立Ｋ小学校第6学年の1学期の実践授業および朝の特別学習を通して―

我々は，公立小学校における児童の理数離れや理数科目の学力低下に対応するために，デジタル教材（FLASH教材）や動画などのICT（情報技術）を授業に取り入れ，指導方法の幅を広げる試みを継続している。現在は，教科算数の授業でICTを導入して，授業構成や指導方法を検討している。 これまでには，授業後に児童の意識を調査すると，「楽しかった」「わかった気になった」という回答が多く得られ，算数を苦手とする児童に楽しく取り組ませるという点で一定の効果はあることが示唆された。しかしながら，ICTの効果と児童の基礎学力とを関係づける検討には至っていない状況にある。 そこで，児童の実際の算数の基礎学力がどの程度なのか，また，算数の基礎学力を向上させるためにどのようなことができるのかに焦点を当て，調査を実施したので報告する