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This post-hoc analysis investigated the long-term effects of safinamide on the course of dyskinesia and efficacy outcomes using data from a phase III, open-label 52-week study of safinamide 50 or 100 mg/day in Japanese patients with Parkinson’s disease (PD) with wearing-off. Patients (N = 194) were grouped using the UPDRS Part IV item 32: with and without pre-existing dyskinesia (pre-D subgroup; item 32 > 0 at baseline [n = 81], without pre-D subgroup; item 32 = 0 at baseline [n = 113]). ON-time with troublesome dyskinesia (ON-TD) increased significantly from baseline to Week 4 in the pre-D subgroup (+ 0.25 ± 0.11 h [mean ± SE], p = 0.0355) but gradually decreased up to Week 52 (change from baseline: − 0.08 ± 0.17 h, p = 0.6224); ON-TD did not change significantly in the Without pre-D subgroup. UPDRS Part IV item 32 score increased significantly at Week 52 compared with baseline in the Without pre-D subgroup, but no UPDRS Part IV dyskinesia related-domains changed in the pre-D subgroup. Both subgroups improved in ON-time without TD, UPDRS Part III, and Part II [OFF-phase] scores. The cumulative incidence of new or worsening dyskinesia (adverse drug reaction) at Week 52 was 32.5 and 5.0% in the pre-D and Without pre-D subgroups, respectively. This study suggested that safinamide led to short-term increasing dyskinesia but may be not associated with marked dyskinesia at 1-year follow-up in patients with pre-existing dyskinesia, and that it improved motor symptoms regardless of the presence or absence of dyskinesia at baseline. Further studies are warranted to investigate this association in more details.Trial registration: JapicCTI-153057 (Registered: 2015/11/02).

106 Background: E7386 is a novel oral anticancer agent that inhibits the binding of β-catenin to its transcriptional co-activator, CBP, thereby modulating Wnt/β-catenin signaling. In preclinical studies, E7386 showed promising activity (eg, modulation of tumor angiogenesis, alteration of the immune microenvironment, and inhibition of tumor growth). At a prior cutoff point for the dose-escalation part of a phase 1 study of E7386 in pts with advanced solid tumors, we reported 2 dose-limiting toxicities (DLTs; both grade 3 decreased appetite) with E7386 160 mg twice daily (BID). Here we describe an update of the dose-escalation part of this phase 1 study—we mainly report updated safety, tolerability, and preliminary efficacy and biomarker results, which led to the inclusion of an additional dose level for investigation in the expansion part of this study. Methods: E7386 was administered orally in escalating doses on a BID continuous schedule in 28-day cycles. Adverse events (AEs) were graded using CTCAE v5.0. Tolerability was judged by DLTs during cycle 1 (C1). Tumor response was assessed every 8 weeks from C1 day (D) 1, or sooner if clinically indicated, and at the end of treatment by investigators using RECIST v1.1. Samples for pharmacokinetic analyses were collected on C1D1 and C1D8; samples for biomarker analyses were collected at protocol-defined time points. To determine the appropriate dose(s) for the expansion part of this study, additional investigation of the dose-escalation part was conducted. Results: As of the data cutoff (DCO) date (30 June 2022), 36 pts (24 men, 12 women; median age, 61.5 y) were enrolled in E7386 dose cohorts (10 to 160 mg BID). Doses were tolerable up to 120 mg BID. The most common treatment-related AEs (all grades; > 10%) were nausea (80.6%), vomiting (58.3%), aspartate aminotransferase increased (16.7%), and alanine aminotransferase increased, decreased appetite, and diarrhea (13.9% each). Nausea and vomiting were well-controlled with antiemetics such as 5HT3 antagonists, except in the 160 mg BID cohort. Two pts with a Wnt-related adenomatous polyposis coli (APC)- mutation (small bowel adenocarcinoma and desmoid tumor) showed a partial response. As of the DCO date, 2 pts (who continued on-treatment as of that date) had received over 1.5 y of E7386 treatment. The preliminary PK analysis showed plasma exposure of E7386 generally increased with an increasing dose over the assessed dose range. FGF21 levels in plasma increased following E7386 administration. Conclusions: E7386 120 mg BID was tolerated and determined as the recommended dose for the expansion part. Based on additional analyses of the dose-escalation part of this study, further investigation of safety, preliminary efficacy, PK, and biomarker analyses of E7386 is ongoing using 2 dose levels (100 and 120 mg BID) in the expansion part. Clinical trial information: NCT03833700 .

Freezing of gait (FOG) is a common symptom in the late stages of Parkinson’s disease and related disorders. Videos are the gold standard method to conduct FOG scoring; however, the measurement accuracy of FOG scoring based on videos has not been formally assessed, despite its use in previous studies. This study aimed to calculate the measurement accuracy of video-based FOG scoring. Three evaluators scored the FOG based on 157 video data points collected from 21 patients using an annotation tool. One evaluator measured the intra-rater reliability of the retest. The total duration of observed FOG, percentage of the time spent with FOG during the walking task (%FOG), and FOG phenotypes (shuffling, trembling, and complete akinesia) were evaluated. Intraclass correlation coefficients were used to determine the intra- and inter-rater reliabilities. The duration of FOG and %FOG showed good measurement accuracy for both intra-rater and inter-rater reliabilities. However, the FOG phenotypes showed poor measurement accuracy in inter-rater reliability. These results indicate that the temporal characteristics of FOG can be scored with a high degree of measurement accuracy, even with different evaluators; conversely, the FOG phenotypes need to be scored by several evaluators.

Neuropsychiatric symptoms in Parkinson's disease (PD) have been shown to significantly affect quality of life (QOL). We investigated the impact of safinamide on depression and apathy when administered as an adjunct to levodopa in Japanese patients with PD.This was aCompared with placebo, safinamide (both doses) significantly improved UPDRS Part I item 3 scores in the overall analysis population, and the 100-mg dose improved UPDRS Part I item 4 scores in the population with apathy at baseline. Changes in the PDQ-39 "emotional well-being" score showed numerical, but not significant, dose-related improvements. Notable reductions in depression were associated with a change in daily ON-time ≥1 h, pain during OFF-time at baseline, and female sex.The results from this

Proper determination of the amount of selenium (Se) in infant formula is important to maintain the health of non-breastfed babies. A simple dilute-and-shoot method using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) to determine Se in liquid infant formula was developed and validated in single- and cross-laboratory validations. Samples were diluted in an aqueous solution containing a surfactant and acetic acid and then directly introduced to ICP-MS without microwave digestion. For ICP-MS detection modes, the no-gas mode was preferable to the helium mode. In the single-laboratory validation, the developed method indicated excellent linearity (R2 = 0.998), satisfactory limit of quantification (instrumental 0.03 ng/mL, method 0.075 μg/100 mL), and acceptable accuracy (relative standard deviation = 1.8–6.6%, recovery = 87–101%) in a recovery test at three spike levels. Furthermore, the result of a certified standard reference material (SRM 1849a) suggested good trueness (115%). In the cross-laboratory validation between two laboratories, the reproducibility of the dilute-and-shoot method was comparable with the authentic microwave digestion method based on the AOAC official method. The ratios of observed Se by the dilute-and-shoot method to that of the microwave digestion method ranged from 81 to 113%. These data suggest that the method presented here is a reliable method to determine Se content in liquid infant formula.

Carbon is the essential segregant to achieve the nanogranular structure of FePt-based heat-assisted magnetic recording media. However, a fundamental understanding of its effect on the microstructure and magnetic properties of the medium is yet to be elucidated. Here, a systematic investigation of FePt-C nanogranular films deposited on the single-crystalline MgO substrate with various C concentrations was performed. While the averaged FePt grain size can be successfully reduced to 5.8 nm, introducing excess C significantly degrades the degree of L10 ordering, the magnetic anisotropy, and the effective total magnetic moments of FePt films. Such degradation is mainly due to the finite size effects. Besides, the possible contribution form the dissolution of C atoms in the interstitial sites of the FePt lattice for the resulting magnetic properties was also studied via the first-principles calculations. More interestingly, fully in-plane c-axis-oriented FePt grains were observed even for growth on the MgO (001) substrate with a C concentration beyond 34.6 vol.%. Their formation is attributed to the reduced epitaxial strain energy due to the suppressed contact area at the FePt/MgO interface with excess C. Such grains were then identified as the main source of the in-plane component of the medium through micromagnetic simulation.

Introduction The non-dopaminergic and dopaminergic actions of safinamide may alleviate pain in patients with Parkinson's disease (PD). We investigated the efficacy of safinamide for pain when administered as an adjunct to levodopa in Japanese patients with PD. Methods This was a post hoc analysis of a phase 2/3 clinical study of safinamide in Japanese patients with PD who were experiencing wearing-off. Pain was assessed using the Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS) Part II ‘sensory symptoms’ item 17, on a scale of 0–4, and the 39-item Parkinson's Disease Questionnaire (PDQ-39) ‘bodily discomfort’ domain score. Subgroup analyses, according to baseline symptoms and concomitant medications, were also performed. Results Least square (LS) mean changes in the UPDRS item 17 score from baseline to Week 24 in the placebo, safinamide 50-mg and safinamide 100-mg groups during the OFF phase were 0.08, −0.15 (p = 0.0133 vs placebo) and −0.18 (p = 0.0054), respectively, and during the ON phase were 0.04, −0.08 (p = 0.0529) and −0.08 (p = 0.0505), respectively. Changes from baseline to Week 24 in PDQ-39 ‘bodily discomfort’ scores were not significantly different in safinamide groups vs placebo. The presence of moderate-to-severe bradykinesia or early-morning dystonia at baseline resulted in numerically greater effect sizes in UPDRS item 17 scores during the OFF phase. Conclusions Safinamide 50 mg and 100 mg reduced the UPDRS item 17 score in patients with PD, especially during the OFF phase. Patients with moderate-to-severe bradykinesia and early-morning dystonia may benefit from safinamide treatment.

Patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) experience various motor and non-motor symptoms. We conducted a post hoc analysis of a Japanese phase 2/3 study of safinamide (50 or 100 mg/day) in patients with Parkinson's disease and wearing-off to evaluate response according to background factors. Safinamide efficacy against major motor symptoms was also assessed.Multiple regression analyses in safinamide-treated patients (50 or 100 mg/day) assessed changes in daily ON-time without troublesome dyskinesia (hereafter referred to as ON-time) according to baseline clinical variables. Subgroup analyses by baseline Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS) part III score were also conducted. We evaluated cardinal motor symptoms using the UPDRS.In the multiple regression analysis, changes in ON-time were related to baseline non-motor symptoms (UPDRS part I score) and ON-time in the 50-mg group, but no relationships with non-motor symptoms were observed in the 100-mg group. Additionally, in the subgroup analysis of patients with more severe motor symptoms (UPDRS part III score 20), a significant improvement in ON-time was observed only with 100 mg/day (p = 0.01). At both doses, safinamide significantly improved cardinal motor symptom scores (bradykinesia, rigidity, tremor, axial symptoms, and gait disturbances).The observed response profile to the 50-mg/day dose may be related to baseline non-motor symptoms, but this was not true for the 100-mg/day dose. Both safinamide doses improved major motor symptoms in levodopa-treated patients with PD.

Distortions of observed images have been a long-standing problem in near-eye displays. Although many correction methods for optical system-dependent aberrations have been proposed, the image distortions caused by eye aberrations have not been studied thoroughly. In addition to the problem, eye aberrations are individual specific. Therefore, a system capable of correcting the aberration irrespective of the individual is necessary. In this study, we propose an aberration-correctable holographic near-eye display (HNED) that can be used to interactively compensate for image distortions caused by eye aberrations. We formulate a propagation equation that includes eye aberrations in the HNED and developed a GUI that enables a user to correct eye aberrations on their own. In this system, the image displayed on the HNED is updated based on the correction coefficients specified by the user. We performed experiments on human subjects to verify the effectiveness of the proposed method. Our results indicate that the minimum identifiable size in our HNED can be reduced by the aberration correction using our interface, and especially our aberration correction method is useful for the visibility of low visual-acuity users.

Real-time captioning is a useful technique for deaf and hard-of-hearing (DHH) people to talk to hearing people. With the improvement in device performance and the accuracy of automatic speech recognition (ASR), real-time captioning is becoming an important tool for helping DHH people in their daily lives. To realize higher-quality communication and overcome the limitations of mobile and augmented-reality devices, real-time captioning that can be used comfortably while maintaining nonverbal communication and preventing incorrect recognition is required. Therefore, we propose a real-time captioning system that uses a transparent display. In this system, the captions are presented on both sides of the display to address the problem of incorrect ASR results, and the highly transparent display makes it possible to see both the body language and the captions.

Introduction The spread of coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) is a serious problem all over the world. Several immunochromatography kits of the antibody for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) have been developed, but it is still unclear which kits have high diagnostic value. This study aims to evaluate the accuracy rate for antibody detection of each immunochromatography kit and reveal which kit has a high diagnostic value for antibody detection. Methods This study was carried out between 1 August 2020 and 14 October 2020 at the Association of EISEIKAI Medical and Healthcare Corporation Minamitama Hospital. Patients diagnosed with COVID-19 and approximately 30 days after symptom onset were included as the positive group. The serum SARS-CoV-2 antibodies were analysed using seven immunochromatography kits. Results Twenty samples (Positive group: 10 patients, Negative group: 10 healthy medical workers) were included in this study. The median age of the patients was 44 years, and the median duration from symptom onset was 30.5 days in the positive group. The accuracy rates for IgM/IgG detection were: 90.0%/100% in Kit A; 50.0%/95.0% in Kit B; 55.0%/65.0% in Kit C; 60.0%/55.0% in Kit D; 50.0%/80.0% in Kit E; 80.0%/90.0% in Kit F; and 90.0%/100% in Kit G. Conclusions Our study showed that there is a variation of accuracy rates between immunochromatography kits for antibodies of SARS-CoV-2. COVID-19 IgG/IgM RAPID TEST CASSETTE (Hangzhou Biotest Biotech Co., Ltd., China) and Nadal COVID-19 IgG/IgM Rapid Test (BioServUK Ltd., UK: United Kingdom) have high accuracy rates for both IgM and IgG detection. Evidence from large population studies of immunochromatography kits is needed to clarify the details of diagnostic value for SARS-CoV-2.

This study proposes a telepresence system controlled by mobile devices consisting of a conference side and a remote side. The conference side of this system consists of a puppet-type robot that enhances the co-telepresence. The remote side includes a web application that can be accessed by a mobile device that can operate the robot by using a motion sensor. The effectiveness of the robot-based telepresence techniques in the teleconference applications is analyzed by conducting user surveys of the participants in remote and real-world situations. It is observed from the experimental results that the proposed telepresence system enhances the coexistence of remote participants and allows them to attend the conference enjoyably.

Specialty Grand Challenge Article. Publisher PDF

This study proposes the design of a communication technique that uses graphical icons, including emojis, as an alternative to facial expressions in video calls. Using graphical icons instead of complex and hard-to-read video expressions simplifies and reduces the amount of information in a video conference. The aim was to facilitate communication by preventing quick and incorrect emotional delivery. In this study, we developed EmojiCam, a system that encodes the emotions of the sender with facial expression recognition or user input and presents graphical icons of the encoded emotions to the receiver. User studies and existing emoji cultures were applied to examine the communication flow and discuss the possibility of using emoji in video calls. Finally, we discuss the new value that this model will bring and how it will change the style of video calling.

It's not always possible to obtain samples from dead male pinnipeds that are fresh enough to determine the histological characteristics of spermatogenesis and their stage of sexual maturity. We propose that the morphometrics of genital organs of northern fur seals, Callorhinus ursinus, can be used as a new indicator of sexual maturity. We analyzed data from collected records of male fur seals around Hokkaido during 2011–2017 to examine morphometrics of genital organs and their stage in histological characteristics of spermatogenesis. First, we investigated ontogenetic and seasonal variation in three genital organs: testes, epididymides, and bacula. Second, we classified the stages of histological characteristics of spermatogenesis into three groups (Stage A–C) using non-linear discriminant analysis, based on the stage in histological characteristics of spermatogenesis determined by histological observation of seminiferous tubules. Testicular size, testicular mass, and epididymal mass showed seasonal variation associated with spermatogenesis. From our analysis, the stage in histological characteristics of spermatogenesis could be estimated using testicular mass with high accuracy of predicting spermatogenesis. And measurement of baculum was suggested to be an indicator of predicting sexual maturity. We conclude that this simple estimation may be used to determine sexual maturity based on individual growth patterns.

This paper deals with proficiency testing schemes for food nutrition analysis in Japan. In schemes in 2017 and 2018, 65 and 73 organizations participated, respectively, and more than 70% of the participants were public organizations responsible for a nutrition-labeling compliance test. The food matrices were pork and chicken sausages, and analytes were protein, fat, ash, moisture, carbohydrate, energy, sodium, salt equivalent, calcium (2018 only), and iron (2018 only). The organizations reporting inadequate laboratory values in one or more nutrients for mandatory declaration (energy, protein, fat, carbohydrate, or salt equivalent) were 11 and 15% of all organizations and 9 and 13% of public organizations in the 2017 and 2018 schemes, respectively. The approximate relative standard deviations for proficiency assessment (RSDr) were as follows: protein, 2%; fat, 3%; ash, 2%; moisture, 0.5%; carbohydrate, 9%; energy, 1%; sodium (salt equivalent), 4%; calcium, 7%; and iron, 7%. Notably, the large RSDr value for carbohydrate may cause inconsistency among laboratories in compliance tests for foods containing several grams or less of carbohydrate per 100 grams.

Vitamins are essential nutrients for human beings. Therefore, accurate determination of vitamin levels in foodstuffs is vital to confirm the proper intake of vitamins. The microbiological assay (MBA), which is used worldwide for the determination of several vitamins in foodstuffs, is very sensitive and can determine ng/mL levels of vitamins. However, the correlation between vitamin concentrations in a sample solution and the plotted growth is usually shown as a sigmoid curve. Therefore, a calibration curve derived from a linear regression may lead to error. In this study, we evaluated the effects of various models (linear, quadratic, and cubic regression models and a four-parameter logistic model (4PLM)) for calibration curve construction on the determination of vitamin B6 in infant formula. Among the four models, the calibration curve constructed with 4PLM was the most reliable for vitamin B6 determination. Moreover, the calibration curve based on 4PLM showed robustness for extrapolation; even if the vitamin concentration in the sample solution deviated from the range of the standard solution, a reasonable result could be obtained. Similarly, the 4PLM calibration curve was the most reliable for niacin determination. We conclude that 4PLM should be used for calibration curve construction to improve the reliability of vitamin determination in foodstuffs using MBA.

Citric-acid-stabilized copper (Cu) nanoparticles (NPs) were deposited on indium tin oxide (ITO) substrates using aqueous electrophoretic deposition (EPD). Usually, Cu NPs are unstable in aqueous solution because they oxidize and aggregate easily, which is why aqueous EPD has not been used before to deposit them on substrates. However, we showed that treating Cu NPs using citric acid in aqueous solution removed surface oxides and stabilized the surfaces sufficiently. After the treatment, the Cu NPs remained highly stable in aqueous solution even after one week, and this stability was sustained under an electric field in aqueous solution. The Cu NPs were deposited rapidly on ITO substrates by aqueous EPD at a deposition rate that increased with current density (0.25, 0.46, and 0.96 mg/cm2/min at 0.10, 0.20, and 0.30 mA/cm2, respectively). The Cu NP films obtained by the rapid deposition at 0.30 mA/cm2 contained too much water, leading to cracked and low density films. Instead, we demonstrated that a current density of 0.20 mA/cm2 resulted in uniform and high density Cu NP films.

Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (EDS) is a group of hereditary diseases caused by mutation of extracellular matrix-related genes. Recently, spondylodysplastic EDS-Zip13 (spEDS-Zip13: OMIM 612350) was recognized as a new EDS type. This current study could reveal various morphometric differences of collagenous population in the proper substance of cornea between the wild type and spEDS-Zip13-knockout (Zip13-KO) mice. Blockade of Smad-signaling pathway might initiate these alterations. Predilected dissimilarity in level of transcriptional activity probably dictated morphology of keratocyte and shape and electron density of its nucleus. In addition, the imbalance of proteoglycans and glycosaminoglycans would also affect the diameter and arrangement of collagen fibrils. These findings would be considered as vulnerable characteristics of corneal stroma of the Zip13-KO mice.

In HPLC analyses of soluble dietary fiber, desalting processes using open, mixed-bed ion-exchange columns are time-consuming and labor-intensive. We developed and validated a simple desalting method using tandem cation/anion exchange SPE cartridges. We found that combining Bond Elut Jr SCX (upstream) and Bond Elut PSA (downstream) cartridges provided adequate desalting of test solutions. The developed method was then validated in an inter-laboratory study. Five test samples were prepared by mixing food matrixes with purified soluble dietary fiber and treated to generate solutions to test the desalting process. These solutions were then analyzed by eight different laboratories. The results demonstrated that the developed method is simple and reliable for desalting samples containing 140 to 945 mg/100 mL of soluble dietary fiber in preparation for HPLC analysis of soluble dietary fiber.

Virtual reality (VR) games are currently becoming part of the public-space entertainment (e.g., VR amusement parks). Therefore, VR games should be attractive for players, as well as for bystanders. Current VR systems are still mostly focused on enhancing the experience of the head-mounted display (HMD) users; thus, bystanders without an HMD cannot enjoy the experience together with the HMD users. We propose the "ReverseCAVE": a proof-of-concept prototype for public VR visualization using CAVE-based projection with translucent screens for bystanders toward a shareable VR experience. The screens surround the HMD user and the VR environment is projected onto the screens. This enables the bystanders to see the HMD user and the VR environment simultaneously. We designed and implemented the ReverseCAVE, and evaluated it in terms of the degree of attention, attractiveness, enjoyment, and shareability, assuming that it is used in a public space. Thus, we can make the VR world more accessible and enhance the public VR experience of the bystanders via the ReverseCAVE.

Background: Pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) is a cornerstone of catheter ablation in patients with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation, and balloon-based ablation has been recently performed worldwide. The second-generation cryoballoon (CB2) ablation has proven to be highly effective in achieving freedom from paroxysmal atrial fibrillation. However, there are some debatable questions, including the ideal number of freeze cycles. Methods: The AD-Balloon study (Multicenter Study of the Validity of Additional Freeze Cycles for Cryoballoon Ablation) was designed as a prospective, multicenter, and randomized clinical trial for investigation of the optimal strategy of freeze cycles for the CB2 ablation. One hundred and ten consecutive patients (aged 64±11 years) were randomly assigned to 2 groups after achieving a PVI by the CB2 ablation: 3-minute freeze cycles were added to each pulmonary vein (AD group: n=55) or not (non-AD group: n=55). Delayed-enhancement magnetic resonance imaging was also performed 1 to 2 months after the PVI to assess the ablation lesions. Results: The patient characteristics did not differ between the 2 groups. A complete PVI was achieved in all patients. The total number of freeze cycles and durations for all pulmonary veins were significantly shorter in the non-AD group than in the AD group (5.7±1.6 versus 9.1±1.6 cycles, P P P =0.78). There was no significant difference in the frequency of gaps on the PVI lines in the delayed-enhancement magnetic resonance imaging (46% in the AD group versus 36% in the non-AD group; P =0.38). Conclusions: No benefit was found in the patients receiving additional 3-minute freeze cycles after the complete PVI with the CB2 ablation, suggesting that an insurance freeze after achieving a PVI with the CB2 may be unnecessary and time consuming.

The ACM Symposium on User Interface Software and Technology (UIST) is the premier forum for innovations in human-computer interfaces. The Symposium brings together people from diverse areas including tangible and ubiquitous computing, virtual and augmented reality, graphical and Web user interfaces, new input and output devices, and many other aspects of interactive systems. The intimate size and intensive program make UIST an ideal opportunity to exchange research results and ideas. We've selected four demos that we feel best exemplify the spirit of creativity and technology at UIST. Chris Harrison and Yuta Sugiura, UIST 2016 Demo Committee Chairs

In-plane ferroelectric polarization in BaTiO3 (BTO) epitaxial thin films on MgAl2O4(001) (MAO) is reported. The directional dependence of both in-plane polarization curves and Raman spectroscopy shows that the films have an orthorhombic structure at room temperature, in contrast to the tetragonal structure of the corresponding bulk. The largest in-plane polarization value among BTO-based tensile-strained films is obtained. The temperature dependence of the lattice constants shows that the Curie temperature of the thin films is as high as 220 °C, which is higher than that of the bulk by 100 °C. The significant enhancement of the Curie temperature is attributed to high-quality coherent epitaxial growth due to perfect matching between the lattice parameter of the c-axis of BTO and that of MAO.

Herein, we report a systematic study on the microstructure evolution of FePt-C granular films grown on MgO(0 0 1) single-crystalline substrates, especially during the initial growth stage. The number density of the grains during the nucleation stage is strongly affected by the growth temperature, reaching 40 Tgrain/in2 at

Retinal projection is required for xR applications that can deliver immersive visual experience throughout the day. If general-purpose retinal projection methods can be realized at a low cost, not only could the image be displayed on the retina using less energy, but there is also a possibility of cutting off the weight of projection unit itself from the AR goggles. Several retinal projection methods have been previously proposed. Maxwellian optics based retinal projection was proposed in 1990s [Kollin 1993]. Laser scanning [Liao and Tsai 2009], laser projection using spatial light modulator (SLM) or holographic optical elements were also explored [Jang et al. 2017]. In the commercial field, QD Laser1 with a viewing angle of 26 degrees is available. However, as the lenses and iris of an eyeball are in front of the retina, which is a limitation of a human eyeball, the proposal of retinal projection is generally fraught with narrow viewing angles and small eyebox problems. Due to these problems, retinal projection displays are still a rare commodity because of their difficulty in optical schematics design.

In recent times, many public spaces have virtual reality (VR) games for entertainment (e.g., VR amusement parks). Therefore, VR games should be attractive not only for players but also for bystanders. Current VR systems still focus primarily on enhancing the experience of head mounted display (HMD) users; thus, bystanders without an HMD cannot enjoy the experience to the same extent as HMD users. We propose "ReverseCAVE" towards a shareable VR experience [1]. This is a proof-of-concept prototype for public VR visualization using CAVE-based projection with translucent screens for bystanders. The screen surrounds the HMD user, and the VR environment is projected onto the screens. Bystanders can see the HMD user and VR environment simultaneously, and capture photographs to share with others. Thus, ReverseCAVE can enhance the bystanders' public VR experience considerably and expand the utility of VR.

VR games are currently becoming part of the public-space entertainment (e.g., VR amusement parks). Therefore, VR games should be attractive for not only players but also observers. However, VR with HMD is a closed experience among those who are wearing HMD, and can only be individually experienced by the specific person. We call this "perspective gap." These perspective gaps exist in many situations. To address these problems, we present "ReverseCAVE", a system for sharing the experiences of people in VR with others (observers). As another application, it is possible to visually recognize the actual appearance of the person performing the act at the motion capture studio and the superimposed character at the same time. ReverseCAVE has four translucent screens surrounding the player. The VR environment is projected onto the screens. By this, the observer can see both the physical player and the VR environment experienced by the player simultaneously. Also, in the motion capture system, when viewing the actor from the observer outside of ReverseCAVE, the character is superimposed to the actor. This makes it look as if the actor is the actual character from the observer. We enhance the observers' experience by ReverseCAVE.

We present demonstration of a telepresence system [Suzuki et al. 2017] that is able to provide care from a remote location by implementing functions such as object recognition on a wheelchair. In conventional remote control method for wheelchair, the operator controls the system while receiving feedback from cameras mounted on the robot [Gundersen et al. 1996]. However, this operating method cannot capture the full environment around the system, even if we use wide FOV cameras, such as omnidirectional cameras. In order to utilize the telepresence system safely, it is necessary to solve the problem of the blind spot of the user. Further, human operators are limited by their attention span. The reaction time of the computer is greater than that of humans.

Digital fabrication has evolved over time with the development of various methods such as three-dimensional (3D) printing and laser cutting. Three-dimensional printers are capable of easily producing output from complicated models designed in a computer. In addition, bio technologies are applying for fabrication [Yao et al. 2015]. How can 3D printers be made to output computationally-designed models of 3D sheets? Typically, the production of objects made of silk threads requires several steps (Figure 2): (1) silkworms form cocoons, (2) cocoons are made into threads, and (3) threads are transformed into clothes or other products. In the past, silkworms have been considered primarily as organisms that create silk threads, rather than as being capable of providing a method of silk production. Silk Pavillion [Oxman et al. 2014] was the first example where silkworms were regarded as providing a viable production method. However, this study only focused on making large but simple structures. In this study, we propose a new method to construct arbitrary three-dimensional silk sheets using silkworms (Figure 1). Our method can be applied to small objects printed with 3D printers. First, we print a 3D model in several parts to prevent silkworms from forming cocoons. When designing the model, we ensure that the silkworms have sufficient space to create silk sheets. Second, we print the portions of the model with a 3D printer. Third, we place silkworms on these portions, allowing them to spit silk threads. Finally, we peel off the produced sheets and connect them. This approach depends on the fact that when silkworms are placed on the surface of a three-dimensional object, they create silk sheets matched to the shape of the surface.

In this analysis, to classify the customer from the marketing of purchasing data and survey respondents of data. And, what kind of difference in the survey responses of each customer, to analyze what they are buying.

We propose an immersive telepresence system for puppetry that transmits a human performer's body and facial movements into a puppet with audiovisual feedback to the performer. The cameras carried in place of puppet's eyes stream live video to the HMD worn by the performer, so that performers can see the images from the puppet's eyes with their own eyes and have a visual understanding of the puppet's ambience. In conventional methods to manipulate a puppet (a hand-puppet, a string-puppet, and a rod-puppet), there is a need to practice manipulating puppets, and there is difficulty carrying out interactions with the audience. Moreover, puppeteers must be positioned exactly where the puppet is. The proposed system addresses these issues by enabling a human performer to manipulate the puppet remotely using his or her body and facial movements. We conducted several user studies with both beginners and professional puppeteers. The results show that, unlike the conventional method, the proposed system facilitates the manipulation of puppets especially for beginners. Moreover, this system allows performers to enjoy puppetry and fascinate audiences.

Virtual reality (VR) with HMD is closed experience among those who are experiencing the VR, and can only be individually experienced by the specific person. We call this "perspective gap." These perspective gaps exist in many situations. To address these problems, we present "ReverseCAVE", a system for sharing the experiences of people in VR with others (observer). As another application, it is possible to visually recognize the actual appearance of the person performing the act at the motion capture studio and the superimposed character at the same time. ReverseCAVE has four translucent screens surrounding the player. VR environment that the player is experiencing is projected onto the screens. By this, the observer can see both the physical player and the VR environment experienced by the player simultaneously. Also, in the motion capture system, when viewing the actor from the observer outside of ReverseCAVE, the character is superimposed to the actor. This makes it look as if the actor is the actual character from the observer. ReverseCAVE enhances the observers' experience.

We present a new method to protect projected content from secret photography using high-speed projection. Protection techniques for digital copies have been discussed over many years from the viewpoint of data protection. However, content displayed by general display techniques is not only visible to the human eye but also can be captured by cameras. Therefore, projected content is, at times, secretly taken by malicious small cameras even when protection techniques for digital copies are adopted. In this study, we aim to realize a protectable projection method that allows people to observe content with their eyes but not record content with camera devices.

We present a video showcase of our aerosol-based fog display. Our system employs aerosol distribution from off-the-shelf sprays as a fog screen that can resist the wind and has high portability. We present some application examples; wearable applications, multi-viewpoint display, a display embedded in the environment, and aerial imaging with a drone or radio-controlled model car. This study will contribute to the exploration of new application areas for fog displays, and expand expressions of entertainments and interactivity.

We present a new method to render aerial images using aerosol-based fog screens. Conventional fog screens are easily affected by air flow, and their fog generators occupy large areas. In this study, we propose to add new tradeoffs between the display time and the payloads. We employ aerosol distribution from off-the-shelf sprays as a fog screen that can resist wind and has high portability. Results showed that the minimum weight of the entire system is approximately 600 g including all components, the screen raise time is approximately 0.5 s, the disappearance time is approximately 0.4 s, and the maximum wind speed at which we can project images is approximately 10 m/s. We conducted user studies on wearable applications, aerial imaging with a drone or radio-controlled model car, multi-viewpoint display, and a display embedded in the environment. This study will contribute to the exploration of new application areas for fog displays, and will augment expressions of entertainment and interactivity.

Swimming at an optimal speed is critical for breath-hold divers seeking to maximize the time they can spend foraging underwater. Theoretical studies have predicted that the optimal swim speed for an animal while transiting to and from depth is independent of buoyancy, but is dependent on drag and metabolic rate. However, this prediction has never been experimentally tested. Our study assessed the effects of buoyancy and drag on the swim speed of three captive Steller sea lions (Eumetopias jubatus) that made 186 dives. Our study animals were trained to dive to feed at fixed depths (10–50 m) under artificially controlled buoyancy and drag conditions. Buoyancy and drag were manipulated using a pair of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) tubes attached to harnesses worn by the sea lions, and buoyancy conditions were designed to fall within the natural range of wild animals (∼12–26% subcutaneous fat). Drag conditions were changed with and without the PVC tubes, and swim speeds were recorded and compared during descent and ascent phases using an accelerometer attached to the harnesses. Generalized linear mixed-effect models with the animal as the random variable and five explanatory variables (body mass, buoyancy, dive depth, dive phase, and drag) showed that swim speed was best predicted by two variables, drag and dive phase (AIC = −139). Consistent with a previous theoretical prediction, the results of our study suggest that the optimal swim speed of Steller sea lions is a function of drag, and is independent of dive depth and buoyancy.

Refinement of the FePt grain size for heat-assisted magnetic recording (HAMR) media was explored by utilizing high melting point metals Pt and W as seed layers. Unlike the W, the Pt seed layer promotes a good epitaxial growth and leads to a higher degree of L10-ordering in FePt films. It also substantially refines the FePt grains from big islands into smaller particles. For the FePt-C nanogranular film, the Pt seed layer improves the wettability and favors a single-columnar growth. Thus, the Pt seed layer provides a new valid approach to optimize the microstructure and magnetic properties for next-generation FePt-based HAMR media.

A rapid, sensitive, and specific analytical method for the determination of 1-hydroxyethylidene-1,1-diphosphonic acid (HEDP) on uncooked foods after treatment with a peracetic acid-based sanitizer (PAS) was developed. The method involves simple sample preparation steps and analysis using ion chromatography (IC) coupled with tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS). The quantification limits of HEDP on uncooked foods are 0.007 mg/kg for vegetables and fruits and 0.2 mg/kg for meats. The recovery and relative standard deviation (RSD) of HEDP analyses of uncooked foods ranged from 73.9 to 103.8% and 1.9 to 12.6%, respectively. The method's accuracy and precision were evaluated by inter-day recovery tests. The recovery for all samples ranged from 93.6 to 101.2%, and the within-laboratory repeatability and reproducibility were evaluated based on RSD values, which were less than 6.9 and 11.5%, respectively. Analyses of PAS-treated fruits and vegetables using the developed method indicated levels of HEDP ranging from 0.008 to 0.351 mg/kg. Therefore, the results of the present study suggest that the proposed method is an accurate, precise, and reliable way to determine residual HEDP levels on PAS-treated uncooked foods.

We present a new method to render aerial images by aerosol-based fog screens. Conventional fog screens are easily affected by the air flow and their generator occupy large areas. In this study, we propose to add new tradeoffs between limited display time and payloads. We employ aerosol distribution from off-the-shelf spray as a fog screen that can resist the wind, and has high portability. We present some application example; wearable application, multi-viewpoint display, display embedded in the environment, and aerial imaging with drone or radio-controlled model car. This study will contribute to the exploration of new application areas for fog displays and expand expressions of entertainments and interactivity.