Effects of the distant population density on spatial patterns of demographic dynamics

Spatiotemporal patterns of population changes within and across countries have various implications. Different geographical, demographic and econo-societal factors seem to contribute to migratory decisions made by individual inhabitants. Focussing on internal (i.e., domestic) migration, we ask whether individuals may take into account the information on the population density in distant locations to make migratory decisions. We analyse population census data in Japan recorded with a high spatial resolution (i.e., cells of size 500 m $\times$ 500 m) for the entirety of the country and simulate demographic dynamics induced by the gravity model and its variants. We show that, in the census data, the population growth rate in a cell is positively correlated with the population density in nearby cells up to a radius of 20 km as well as that of the focal cell. The ordinary gravity model does not capture this empirical observation. We then show that the empirical observation is better accounted for by extensions of the gravity model such that individuals are assumed to perceive the attractiveness, approximated by the population density, of the source or destination cell of migration as the spatial average over a radius of $\approx 1$ km.Comment: 22 figures, 2 tables, fixed an incorrect publication yea

Win-stay lose-shift strategy in formation changes in football

Managerial decision making is likely to be a dominant determinant of performance of teams in team sports. Here we use Japanese and German football data to investigate correlates between temporal patterns of formation changes across matches and match results. We found that individual teams and managers both showed win-stay lose-shift behavior, a type of reinforcement learning. In other words, they tended to stick to the current formation after a win and switch to a different formation after a loss. In addition, formation changes did not statistically improve the results of succeeding matches.The results indicate that a swift implementation of a new formation in the win-stay lose-shift manner may not be a successful managerial rule of thumb.Comment: 7 figures, 11 table

Population changes in residential clusters in Japan

Population dynamics in urban and rural areas are different. Understanding factors that contribute to local population changes has various socioeconomic and political implications. In the present study, we use population census data in Japan to examine contributors to the population growth of residential clusters between years 2005 and 2010. The data set covers the entirety of Japan and has a high spatial resolution of 500$\times$500$\textrm{m}^2$, enabling us to examine population dynamics in various parts of the country (urban and rural) using statistical analysis. We found that, in addition to the area, population density, and age, the shape of the cluster and the spatial distribution of inhabitants within the cluster are significantly related to the population growth rate of a residential cluster. Specifically, the population tends to grow if the cluster is "round" shaped (given the area) and the population is concentrate near the center rather than periphery of the cluster.Comment: 3 figures, 4 table

Double-q\it q Order in a Frustrated Random Spin System

We use the three-dimensional Heisenberg model with site randomness as an effective model of the compound Sr(Fe$_{1-x}$Mn$_x$)O$_2$. The model consists of two types of ions that correspond to Fe and Mn ions. The nearest-neighbor interactions in the ab-plane are antiferromagnetic. The nearest-neighbor interactions along the c-axis between Fe ions are assumed to be antiferromagnetic, whereas other interactions are assumed to be ferromagnetic. From Monte Carlo simulations, we confirm the existence of the double-$\boldsymbol{q}$ ordered phase characterized by two wave numbers, $(\pi\pi\pi)$ and $(\pi\pi0)$. We also identify the spin ordering pattern in the double-$\boldsymbol{q}$ ordered phase.Comment: 5pages, 3figure

Tracer-encapsulated solid pellet injection system

he method of tracer-encapsulated solid pellet (TESPEL) is now flourishing in various fields. The original purpose to study impurity transport without giving substantial perturbation on the plasma is implemented successfully for years. In addition to this, TESPEL is being intensively applied to study thermal (especially non-local) transport, high energy particles with the use of TESPEL ablation cloud, and spectroscopy from the viewpoint of atomic data. It is now further growing up to the utilization of multiple tracer methods which was not planned at the initial phase of the project. The proof-of-principle experiment using triple tracers has been successfully implemented. This opens a way to compare the Z dependence or mass dependence of impurity transport. In this article, as TESPEL is used in a variety of fields, the TESPEL injection system is summarized together with the method of TESPEL production, TESPEL storage disk, TESPEL guide system, and the differential pumping system. Also, the observation system for TESPEL flight and TESPEL ablation is explained

Personal customizing exercise with a wearable measurement and control unit

BACKGROUND: Recently, wearable technology has been used in various health-related fields to develop advanced monitoring solutions. However, the monitoring function alone cannot meet all the requirements of customizing machine-based exercise on an individual basis by relying on biosignal-based controls. We propose a new wearable unit design equipped with measurement and control functions to support the customization process. METHODS: The wearable unit can measure the heart rate and electromyogram signals during exercise performance and output workload control commands to the exercise machines. The workload is continuously tracked with exercise programs set according to personally customized workload patterns and estimation results from the measured biosignals by a fuzzy control method. Exercise programs are adapted by relying on a computer workstation, which communicates with the wearable unit via wireless connections. A prototype of the wearable unit was tested together with an Internet-based cycle ergometer system to demonstrate that it is possible to customize exercise on an individual basis. RESULTS: We tested the wearable unit in nine people to assess its suitability to control cycle ergometer exercise. The results confirmed that the unit could successfully control the ergometer workload and continuously support gradual changes in physical activities. CONCLUSION: The design of wearable units equipped with measurement and control functions is an important step towards establishing a convenient and continuously supported wellness environment

Repositioning the Story Concept in Marketing Studies : A New Perspective of Consumption Desire Analysis

The purpose of this paper is to discuss the revisit of story concept in the Marketing studies. First, we point out the question of the story function in marketing activities such as advertising to emerge a specific consumer desire. Second, we reconfirm some points that our previous studies discussed in the advertising study. Third, as our perspective, we introduce the concept of "text" to understand the story function. Fourth, we describe that Softbank TV CM creates a specific consumer desire by using story functions. Fifth, we will discuss about the concept of Textualized Me and Desire Shape those are key concepts to describe the mechanism of consumer desire emerging.As a conclusion, we emphasize that the dichotomy of Following Model and Differentiation is overridden. It means we revisit the traditional perspective of the Marketing studies in this paper

Study support for an elementary school child with learning difficulties

This paper is a case report for a child with Learning Disabilities by cognitive counseling. The first author instructed elementary school children of fourth grade. He calculated with finger counting. We conducted cognitive counseling (Ichikawa, 1993) sessions weekly for him. There were 13 sessions for 4 month. These sessions include the training of calculation without finger counting. He calculated many times. As a result of this counseling session, he can calculate quickly without finger counting