Normal-state properties of the antiperovskite oxide Sr3−x_{3-x}SnO revealed by 119^{119}Sn-NMR

We have performed $^{119}$Sn-NMR measurements on the antiperovskite oxide superconductor Sr$_{3-x}$SnO to investigate how its normal state changes with the Sr deficiency. A two-peak structure was observed in the NMR spectra of all the measured samples. This suggests that the phase separation tends to occur between the nearly stoichiometric and heavily Sr-deficient Sr$_{3-x}$SnO phases. The measurement of the nuclear spin-lattice relaxation rate $1/T_1$ indicates that the Sr-deficient phase shows a conventional metallic behavior due to the heavy hole doping. In contrast, the nearly stoichiometric phase exhibits unusual temperature dependence of $1/T_1$, attributable to the presence of a Dirac-electron band.Comment: 5 pages, 4 figure

Perceptual Continuity and Naturalness of Expressive Strength in Singing Voices Based on Speech Morphing

This paper experimentally shows the importance of perceptual continuity of the expressive strength in vocal timbre for natural change in vocal expression. In order to synthesize various and continuous expressive strengths with vocal timbre, we investigated gradually changing expressions by applying the STRAIGHT speech morphing algorithm to singing voices. Here, a singing voice without expression is used as the base of morphing, and singing voices with three different expressions are used as the target. Through statistical analyses of perceptual evaluations, we confirmed that the proposed morphing algorithm provides perceptual continuity of vocal timbre. Our results showed the following: (i) gradual strengths in absolute evaluations, and (ii) a perceptually linear strength provided by the calculation of corrected intervals of the morph ratio by the inverse (reciprocal) function of an equation that approximates the perceptual strength. Finally, we concluded that applying continuity was highly effective for achieving perceptual naturalness, judging from the results showing that (iii) our gradual transformation method can perform well for perceived naturalness

Development of Practical Seminar for the Teaching Profession for Quality Assurance of Teacher Education (I) : Based on the Results of a Questionnaire Survey to Faculty and Staff

The purpose of this study is to develop a practical seminar for the teaching profession for assuring quality in teacher education. This paper reports on the status quo of professional portfolios, teacher education standards, and practical seminars for the teaching profession. Data from 83 faculty members and 57 staff members of colleges & departments for training elementary teachers who answered questionnaires were analyzed. As a result of our examination, we reached the following three conclusions: 1) Many colleges & departments developed custom teacher education standards based on the 4 matters indicated by the MEXT Central Education Council report (2006). 2) Regarding professional portfolios, using paper media is more popular than using digital media. The data accumulated in the professional portfolio included records of self-evaluation by students, their academic performance, records of volunteering, and the like. 3) Faculty and staff recognized the practical seminar for the teaching profession as a compilation of the undergraduate’s learning in teacher training programs.本研究は，JSPS科学研究費補助金基盤研究C（一般）「教員養成の質保証に向けた教職実践演習のモデル開発に関する研究」（課題番号：26381032，研究代表者：米沢崇）の助成を受けたものである。なお本稿は，日本教師教育学会第25回大会において発表した内容を加筆・修正して執筆している

Development of Practical Seminar for the Teaching Profession for Quality Assurance of Teacher Education (Ⅱ): Based on the Results of the Interview Survey to Undergraduate

This research will clarify the facts regarding professional portfolios and practical seminars for the teaching profession, as well as what students learn through such opportunities, based on the results of interviews with students who participated in practical seminars for the teaching profession. First, students recognized the considerations made to maintain balance between lecture-focused and exercise-focused classes, and creative approaches to lessons such as group work. Second, regarding professional portfolios, reflection upon the knowledge accumulated beyond the four years of study at university may be useful in helping students to recognize their own achievements and future challenges. Third, the qualifications and abilities that were formed through practical seminars for the teaching profession included a sense of mission, affection for education, interpersonal skills, and a sense of responsibility. It is also important to clearly indicate standards and make students aware of the qualifications and abilities that the university wants them to acquire. Based on the above, the authors believe that practical seminars for the teaching profession (including professional portfolios) are also meaningful in terms of performing a key role for assuring quality.本研究は，JSPS 科学研究費補助金基盤研究（C）（一般）「教員養成の質保証に向けた教職実践演習のモデル開発に関する研究」（研究代表者：米沢崇）（JP 26381032）の助成を受けたものです。 なお，表2，表3，表4 では，紙幅の関係でストーリーライン，理論記述，課題や追究すべき点を除く，テクスト等については一部抜粋する形で掲載している（詳細な情報が必要な場合は研究代表者に問合せのこと）

S-wave Superconductivity in the Dirac Line-nodal Material CaSb2

We performed 121/123Sb-nuclear quadrupole resonance (NQR) measurements on the superconducting (SC) line-nodal material CaSb2 in order to investigate electronic properties in the normal and SC states from a microscopic point of view. In the normal state, the nuclear spin-lattice relaxation rate 1/T1 for the Sb(1) site, which is responsible for the line-nodal parts, is approximately proportional to temperature, indicating the conventional Fermi liquid state. From comparison with band structure calculations, it is considered that the NQR properties related to the line-nodal character are hidden because the conventional behavior originating from Fermi-surface parts away from the nodes is dominant. In the SC state, a clear coherence peak just below the transition temperature and an exponential decrease at lower temperatures were observed in 1/T1. These results strongly suggest that conventional s-wave superconductivity with a full gap is realized in CaSb2.Comment: 6 pages, 5 figure

Development of the Novice Teachers Training Program in Collaboration between University and Education Board

In this study, we reported about the novice teachers training program in collaboration between Hiroshima University and Hiroshima prefectural education board. In the grouped education practical research of this program, the teachers from university and consultants from education board gave theoretical & practical lectures for the novice teachers. The research is one of the novice teachers training in place by Hiroshima prefectural education center, where the novice teachers are grouped, create lesson from study on teaching materials to trial lessons and discuss about them. We had a questionnaire in free description style to the participants for feedback as to this program in order to make sure its outcomes. The results showed that this program could fulfill some roles in encouraging the novices to deepen their thought and understanding of various issues and findings regarding teaching method, to reflect their own lessons, which improves their own practical teaching competencies, especially their teaching method.本研究は，平成25-26年度独立行政法人教員研修センター委嘱事業「教員研修モデルカリキュラム開発プログラム」の成果の一部である。なお，本稿は広島大学(2015a) および広島大学(2015b)の一部を修正するとともに平成27年度の取り組み内容を加筆したものである

Pharmacist-physician collaborative care for outpatients with left ventricular assist devices using a cloud-based home medical management information-sharing system: a case report

[Background] The standard anticoagulation therapy for patients implanted with left ventricular assist devices (LVADs) includes warfarin therapy. We developed a cloud-based home medical management information-sharing system named as LVAD@home. The LVAD@home system is an application designed to be used on iPad tablet computers. This system enables the sharing of daily information between a patient and care providers in real time. In this study, we reported cases of outpatients with LVADs using this system to manage anticoagulation therapy. [Case presentation] The patient, a man in his 40s with end-stage heart failure owing to non-ischemic dilated cardiomyopathy, underwent LVAD implantation and warfarin was started on postoperative day 1. He started to use LVAD@home to manage warfarin therapy after discharge (postoperative day 47). He sent his data to care providers daily. By using this system, the pharmacist observed his signs of reduced dietary intake 179 days after discharge, and after consulting the physician, told the patient to change the timing of the next measurement earlier than usual. On the next day, the prothrombin time-international normalized ratio increased from 2.0 to 3.0, and thus the dose was decreased by 0.5 mg. Four patients used this system to monitor warfarin therapy from October 2015 to March 2018. In these patients, the time in therapeutic range was 90.1 ± 1.3, which was higher than that observed in previous studies. Additionally, there were no thromboembolic events or bleeding events. [Conclusions] The cloud-based home management system can be applied to share real-time patient information of factors, including dietary intake that interact with warfarin. It can help to improve long-term anticoagulation outcomes in patients implanted with LVAD