Investigation of Water Impacts on Surface Properties and Performance of Air-Electrode in Reversible Protonic Ceramic Cells.

Water, being abundant and readily accessible, gains widespread usage as proton source in many catalysis and energy conversion technologies, including applications like reversible protonic ceramic cells (R-PCCs). Revealing the influence of water on the electrode surface and reaction kinetics is critical for further improving their electrochemical performance. Herein, a hydrophilic air-electrode PrBa0.875Cs0.125Co2O5+δ is developed for R-PCC, which demonstrates a remarkable peak power density of 1058 mW cm-2 in fuel cell mode and a current density of 1354 mA cm-2 under 1.3 V in electrolyzing steam at 650 °C. For the first time on R-PCC, surface protons' behavior in response to external voltages is captured using in situ FTIR characterizations. Further, it is shown that contrary to the bulk proton uptake process that is thought to follow hydrogenation reactions and lead to cation reductions. The air-electrode presents enriched surface protons occurring through oxidizing surface cations, as confirmed by depth-profiling XPS results. H/D isotope exchange experiments and subsequent electrochemical characterization analyses reveal that the presence of protons enhances surface reactions. This study fills the knowledge gap between water-containing atmospheres and electrochemical performance by providing insights into the surface properties of the material. These new findings provide guidance for future electrode design and optimization.

Theory and data analysis of player and team ball possession time in football.

In this study, the stochastic properties of player and team ball possession times in professional football matches are examined. Data analysis shows that player possession time follows a gamma distribution and the player count of a team possession event follows a mixture of two geometric distributions. We propose a formula for expressing team possession time in terms of player possession time and player count in a team's possession, verifying its validity through data analysis. Furthermore, we calculate an approximate form of the distribution of team possession time and study its asymptotic property.

Dynamic mode decomposition for Koopman spectral analysis of elementary cellular automata.

We apply dynamic mode decomposition (DMD) to elementary cellular automata (ECA). Three types of DMD methods are considered, and the reproducibility of the system dynamics and Koopman eigenvalues from observed time series is investigated. While standard DMD fails to reproduce the system dynamics and Koopman eigenvalues associated with a given periodic orbit in some cases, Hankel DMD with delay-embedded time series improves reproducibility. However, Hankel DMD can still fail to reproduce all the Koopman eigenvalues in specific cases. We propose an extended DMD method for ECA that uses nonlinearly transformed time series with discretized Walsh functions and show that it can completely reproduce the dynamics and Koopman eigenvalues. Linear-algebraic backgrounds for the reproducibility of the system dynamics and Koopman eigenvalues are also discussed.

Validation of a motion model for soccer players' sprint by means of tracking data.

In soccer game analysis, the widespread availability of play-by-play and tracking data has made it possible to test mathematical models that have been discussed mainly theoretically. One of the essential models in soccer game analysis is a motion model that predicts the arrival point of a player in t s. Although many space evaluation and pass prediction methods rely on motion models, the validity of each has not been fully clarified. This study focuses on the motion model proposed by Fujimura and Sugihara (Fujimura-Sugihara model) under sprint conditions based on the equation of motion. A previous study indicated that the Fujimura-Sugihara model is ineffective for soccer games because it generates a circular arrival region. This study aims to examine the validity of the Fujimura-Sugihara model using soccer tracking data. Specifically, we quantitatively compare the arrival regions of players between the model and real data. We show that the boundary of the player's arrival region is circular rather than elliptical, which is consistent with the model. We also show that the initial speed dependence of the arrival region satisfies the solution of the model. Furthermore, we propose a method for estimating valid kinetic parameters in the model directly from tracking data and discuss the limitations of the model for soccer games based on the estimated parameters.

Koopman spectral analysis of elementary cellular automata.

We perform a Koopman spectral analysis of elementary cellular automata (ECA). By lifting the system dynamics using a one-hot representation of the system state, we derive a matrix representation of the Koopman operator as the transpose of the adjacency matrix of the state-transition network. The Koopman eigenvalues are either zero or on the unit circle in the complex plane, and the associated Koopman eigenfunctions can be explicitly constructed. From the Koopman eigenvalues, we can judge the reversibility, determine the number of connected components in the state-transition network, evaluate the period of asymptotic orbits, and derive the conserved quantities for each system. We numerically calculate the Koopman eigenvalues of all rules of ECA on a one-dimensional lattice of 13 cells with periodic boundary conditions. It is shown that the spectral properties of the Koopman operator reflect Wolfram's classification of ECA.

Space evaluation in football games via field weighting based on tracking data.

In football game analysis, space evaluation is an important issue because it is directly related to the quality of ball passing or player formations. Previous studies have primarily focused on a field division approach wherein a field is divided into dominant regions in which a certain player can arrive prior to any other players. However, the field division approach is oversimplified because all locations within a region are regarded as uniform herein. The objective of the current study is to propose a fundamental framework for space evaluation based on field weighting. In particular, we employed the motion model and calculated a minimum arrival time [Formula: see text] for each player to all locations on the football field. Our main contribution is that two variables [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] corresponding to the minimum arrival time for offense and defense teams are considered; using [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text], new orthogonal variables [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] are defined. In particular, based on real datasets comprising of data from 45 football games of the J1 League in 2018, we provide a detailed characterization of [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] in terms of ball passing. By using our method, we found that [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] represent the degree of safety for a pass made to [Formula: see text] at t and degree of sparsity of [Formula: see text] at t, respectively; the success probability of passes could be well-fitted using a sigmoid function. Moreover, a new type of field division approach and evaluation of ball passing just before shots using real game data are discussed.

Lifetime distributions for adjacency relationships in a Vicsek model.

We investigate the statistical properties of adjacency relationships in a two-dimensional Vicsek model. We define adjacent edges for all particles at every time step by (a) Delaunay triangulation and (b) Euclidean distance, and obtain cumulative distributions P(τ) of lifetime τ of the edges. We find that the shape of P(τ) changes from an exponential to a power law depending on the interaction radius, which is a parameter of the Vicsek model. We discuss the emergence of the power-law distribution from the viewpoint of first passage time problem for a fractional Brownian motion.

Free-energy model of phase inversion dynamics in binary phase separation.

We propose here an alternative way to understand the characteristic pattern formation found in the so-called viscoelastic phase separations. Since the viscoelastic phase separations have been observed in systems with strong viscoelastic nature such as polymer solutions, numerical modelings for them have been conducted so far by introducing dynamic properties such as concentration-dependent mobility or elastic relaxation moduli to a usual scheme of phase separations. In contrast to these approaches, we propose the introduction of a small change, a bump, in the local free-energy function, keeping a parameter representing dynamic properties constant. We show that the bump in the local free-energy function successfully induces desired pattern formations in a controlled way, while it does not change equilibrium states. The mechanisms by which this free-energy approach reproduces experimentally observed pattern formations are discussed.

Clustering algorithm for formations in football games.

In competitive team sports, players maintain a certain formation during a game to achieve effective attacks and defenses. For the quantitative game analysis and assessment of team styles, we need a general framework that can characterize such formation structures dynamically. This paper develops a clustering algorithm for formations of multiple football (soccer) games based on the Delaunay method, which defines the formation of a team as an adjacency matrix of Delaunay triangulation. We first show that heat maps of entire football games can be clustered into several average formations: "442", "4141", "433", "541", and "343". Then, using hierarchical clustering, each average formation is further divided into more specific patterns (clusters) in which the configurations of players are different. Our method enables the visualization, quantitative comparison, and time-series analysis for formations in different time scales by focusing on transitions between clusters at each hierarchy. In particular, we can extract team styles from multiple games regarding the positional exchange of players within the formations. Applying our algorithm to the datasets comprising football games, we extract typical transition patterns of the formation for a particular team.

Dynamic Nuclear Polarization NMR of Low-γ Nuclei: Structural Insights into Hydrated Yttrium-Doped BaZrO3.

We demonstrate that solid-state NMR spectra of challenging nuclei with a low gyromagnetic ratio such as yttrium-89 can be acquired quickly with indirect dynamic nuclear polarization (DNP) methods. Proton to (89)Y cross polarization (CP) magic angle spinning (MAS) spectra of Y(3+) in a frozen aqueous solution were acquired in minutes using the AMUPol biradical as a polarizing agent. Subsequently, the detection of the (89)Y and (1)H NMR signals from technologically important hydrated yttrium-doped zirconate ceramics, in combination with DFT calculations, allows the local yttrium and proton environments present in these protonic conductors to be detected and assigned to different hydrogen-bonded environments.

Proton trapping in yttrium-doped barium zirconate.

The environmental benefits of fuel cells have been increasingly appreciated in recent years. Among candidate electrolytes for solid-oxide fuel cells, yttrium-doped barium zirconate has garnered attention because of its high proton conductivity, particularly in the intermediate-temperature region targeted for cost-effective solid-oxide fuel cell operation, and its excellent chemical stability. However, fundamental questions surrounding the defect chemistry and macroscopic proton transport mechanism of this material remain, especially in regard to the possible role of proton trapping. Here we show, through a combined thermogravimetric and a.c. impedance study, that macroscopic proton transport in yttrium-doped barium zirconate is limited by proton-dopant association (proton trapping). Protons must overcome the association energy, 29 kJ mol(-1), as well as the general activation energy, 16 kJ mol(-1), to achieve long-range transport. Proton nuclear magnetic resonance studies show the presence of two types of proton environment above room temperature, reflecting differences in proton-dopant configurations. This insight motivates efforts to identify suitable alternative dopants with reduced association energies as a route to higher conductivities.

Power-law behavior in a cascade process with stopping events: a solvable model.

The present paper proposes a stochastic model to be solved analytically, and a power-law-like distribution is derived. This model is formulated based on a cascade fracture with the additional effect that each fragment at each stage of a cascade ceases fracture with a certain probability. When the probability is constant, the exponent of the power-law cumulative distribution lies between -1 and 0, depending not only on the probability but the distribution of fracture points. Whereas, when the probability depends on the size of a fragment, the exponent is less than -1, irrespective of the distribution of fracture points. The applicability of our model is also discussed.

The cathepsin L gene is a direct target of FOXO1 in skeletal muscle.

FOXO1 (forkhead box O1), a forkhead-type transcription factor whose gene expression is up-regulated in the skeletal muscle during starvation, appears to be a key molecule of energy metabolism and skeletal muscle atrophy. Cathepsin L, a lysosomal proteinase whose expression is also up-regulated in the skeletal muscle during starvation, is induced in transgenic mice overexpressing FOXO1 relative to wild-type littermates. In the present study, we conducted in vivo and in vitro experiments focusing on FOXO1 regulation of Ctsl (cathepsin L gene; CTSL1 in humans) expression in the skeletal muscle. During fasting and refeeding of C57BL/6 mice, Ctsl was regulated in parallel with FOXO1 in the skeletal muscle. Fasting-induced Ctsl expression was attenuated in transgenic mice overexpressing a dominant-negative form of FOXO1 or in skeletal-muscle-specific Foxo1-knockout mice relative to respective wild-type controls. Using C2C12 mouse myoblasts overexpressing a constitutively active form of FOXO1, we showed that FOXO1 induces Ctsl expression. Moreover, we found FOXO1-binding sites in both the mouse Ctsl and human CTSL1 promoters. The luciferase reporter analysis revealed that the mouse Ctsl and human CTSL1 promoters are activated by FOXO1, which is abolished by mutations in the consensus FOXO1-binding sites. Gel mobility-shift and chromatin immunoprecipiation assays showed that FOXO1 is recruited and binds to the Ctsl promoter. The present study provides in vivo and in vitro evidence that Ctsl is a direct target of FOXO1 in the skeletal muscle, thereby suggesting a role for the FOXO1/cathepsin L pathway in fasting-induced skeletal muscle metabolic change and atrophy.

Formulation and asymptotic properties of the bifurcation ratio in Horton's law for the equiprobable binary tree model.

The bifurcation ratio for the equiprobable binary tree model is formulated. We obtain the exact expression of the kth moment of the second-order streams. We also obtain a recursive equation between rth and (r+1)th order streams. Horton's law is confirmed numerically by calculating this recursive equation and asymptotic properties of the bifurcation ratio are discussed.

[A new method to obtain right-to-left shunt index of the lung using 99mTc-MAA pulmonary perfusion scintigraphy and first-pass dynamic data acquisition].

Generally a right-to-left shunt index in pulmonary area was calculated from total body and pulmonary area by scintillations count using 9mTc-MAA pulmonary perfusion scintigraphy. In this study, we devised a newly calculation method for right-to-left shunt index in pulmonary area from 9mTc-MAA pulmonary perfusion scintigraphy by first-pass dynamic data. We compared the proposed method with the conventional method in 26 patients (9 men and 17 women; 3-26 years old): 23 patients with congenital biliary atresia (CBA) post operation and the other 3 patients with right-to-left shunt from hepatopulmonary syndrome. As a result, there was a positive correlation of the index values between the proposed method and the conventional method (r = 0.929). Thus, the present method should be clinically useful.

How accurately can we discriminate G-protein-coupled receptors as 7-tms TM protein sequences from other sequences?

The group of 2502 transmembrane (TM) protein sequences with seven TM segments (7-tms) registered in SWISS-PROT 46.0 contains 2200 G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs), indicating that GPCR candidates can be detected with a reliability of 87.9% in the eukaryotic genomes merely by correctly predicting the number of TM segments as 7-tms. The predictive accuracies of TM topology-prediction methods proposed so far are not as high as expected; even the best method, HMMTOP 2.0, can only achieve a capture rate of 7-tms sequences of 77.6%. It is necessary to improve this performance as much as possible, even if by only a few percentage points, in order to identify as many novel GPCR candidate genes as possible among the increasing number of newly sequenced genomes. In this study, we propose a simple but useful prediction method for detecting as many 7-tms TM protein sequences as GPCR candidates in eukaryotic genomes as possible. This is achieved by employing a two-step prediction procedure. The first step involves collecting 7-tms sequences by the best prediction method (HMMTOP 2.0), and the second involves picking up the remaining 7-tms sequences by the second-best method (TMHMM 2.0). By this procedure, the capture rate of 7-tms TM protein sequences in SWISS-PROT can be improved considerably from 77.6% to 84.5%, and the number of GPCR candidate sequences predicted as 7-tms in the human genome (Build 35) is increased from 790 (by HMMTOP 2.0) to 903. These 790 and 903 candidate sequences include, respectively, 587 and 636 of the known human GPCRs of the 717 registered in SWISS-PROT 46.0, demonstrating that the proposed combinatorial method is effective in detecting GPCR candidate genes in eukaryotic genomes.

Directional crack propagation of granular water systems.

Pattern dynamics of directional crack propagation phenomena observed in drying process of starch-water mixture is investigated. To visualize the three-dimensional structure of the drying-fracture process two kinds of experiments are performed, i.e., resin solidification planing method and real-time measurement of water content distribution with MR instruments. A cross section with polygonal structure is visualized in both experiments. The depth dependency of cell size is measured. The phenomenological model for water transportation is also discussed.