Structural Analysis for Replicating Japanese Cultural Property Braids

ABSTRACT

Historic Japanese textiles from over 1000 years ago generally show marked deterioration and only very rare examples show their original forms and much information about textile reproduction has been lost. The replication of textile braids lacks systematic methodology and is still being practiced by only few individual braiding experts. The recreation of original braids as close as possible to original braids is a part of Japan’s intangible cultural heritage. The aim of this study is to clarify the decision-making procedure through which the braiding experts can decipher the original braiding structures. As a preliminary study of this project, interviews of a braid researcher and a replicating expert, Makiko Tada were performed regarding her working practices. It is important to clarify the braiding parameters for structural analysis such as the number of transits and the balance of ridges, and it became clear that the orientation of multiple colored threads plays an important role. The expert’s replicate works were also analyzed using a text-mining statistical technique to clarify the relationship of braiding parameters. The relationship between each braiding parameter and production method such as loop manipulation and Taka-dai became clear. As a result, the process of deciphering the original braid structure has been compiled in simplified workflows, which could contribute to the standardization and improvement in efficiency of replication of cultural property braids.     

Technology and economic growth: He case of Japan

This paper provides a general background of the characteristics of the Japanese economy that relate to its use of technology to promote economic growth. We do not consider the common view that Japan just catching up with the technological level of other industrialized countries explains its remarkable rate of post-war economic growth. Rather we argue that the effective importation of technology requires complementary resources of management, skilled labor, capital, and domestic R&D as well as public to facilitate the transfer of technology. Japan has such complementary resources and public policies. The first part of the paper describes the process of technology importation and current concerns in Japan about dependence on imported technology. The second part of the paper describes Japan's domestic R&D effort and its major reliance on private sector R&D, supplemented, however, with government intervention in selected industries. The third part of the paper examines the institutional settings that had the significant impacts on Japan's introduction of new technology. These institutional factors include 1) post-war economic growth and changes in industry structure, 2) the character of competition, 3) the business group and 4) characteristics and organization in the supply of labor.     

日本《图书馆员伦理纲领》的核心理念与实施现状

详述20世纪60年代-80年代初日本《图书馆员伦理纲领》的制订经过、历史背景;从专门职业制度与伦理纲领之间 的关系、获知自由与伦理纲领之间的关系、现代专门职业理论与伦理纲领之间的关系等3个方面,论述日本《图书馆员伦理纲 领》的核心理念、性质、局限和实施现状。     

Acceleration patterns in the lower and upper trunk during running

Abstract

The purpose of the present study was to relate 3D acceleration patterns of the lower and upper trunk during running to running gait cycle, assess the validity of stride duration estimated from acceleration patterns, investigate speed-dependent changes in acceleration, and examine the test–retest reliability of these parameters. Thirteen healthy young men performed two running trials each on a treadmill and on land at three speeds (slow, preferred, and fast). The 3D accelerations were measured at the L3 spinous process (lower trunk) and the ensiform process (upper trunk) and synchronised with digital video data. The amplitude and root mean square of acceleration and stride duration were calculated and then analysed by three-way analysis of variance to test effects of running conditions, device location, and running speed. Bland-Altman analysis was used to evaluate the test–retest reliability. Marked changes in acceleration were observed in relation to foot strike during running. Stride durations calculated from the vertical accelerations were nearly equal to those estimated from video data. There were significant speed effects on all parameters, and the low test–retest reliability was confirmed in the anterior–posterior acceleration during treadmill running and the anterior–posterior acceleration at slow speed during treadmill and overground running.     

Learning through Teaching: Challenges and Opportunities in Facilitating Student Learning in Food Science and Nutrition by Using the Interteaching Approach

ABSTRACT: Interteaching is a new pedagogical strategy for classroom instruction that demonstrates great effective student learning outcomes in the field of psychology. It is a 20 to 30 min student‐to‐student discussion addressing the main points in a specified body of reading materials. Interteaching includes elements such as reciprocal peer tutoring, cooperative learning, and problem‐based learning. These elements have been well theorized and their effectiveness has been empirically documented. To date, little is known about the effects of interteaching on students' perceived learning outcomes in food science and nutrition. This case study describes how the interteach method was employed in an undergraduate nutrition and food science course with specific examples of the tools used, such as interteach preparation guides, the interteach record form, and the peer assessment form. Based on the continuous feedback provided by the students during the course work, several specific modifications were made from the conventional interteaching methods, including 4‐person interteaching instead of one‐on‐one interteaching, as well as the use of in‐class thought‐provoking “synthesis” questions. At the end of the course, we assessed the students' perceptions of interteaching, as well as the students' perceived learning outcomes. The method generally fostered critical thinking and enhanced their motivation, which led to their perceived learning. On the other hand, some of the students expressed challenges in learning from peers due to their peers' varied preparation levels, as well as tackling complex scientific concepts prior to lectures. Further investigation is needed to develop possible strategies for accommodating the challenges among students with different learning styles.     

The effects of signal intensity upon conditioned suppression: Effects upon responding during signals and intersignal intervals

Two rat experiments were run to study the effects of a wide range of signal (CS) intensities on the suppression of licking. In Experiment 1, a light CS was varied over five levels, including zero intensity. Conditioned suppression was found to vary directly with CS intensity, but basal lick rates were not different among groups. In Experiment 2, an attempt was made to disturb the basal rate of licking, while a tone CS was varied over four levels, including zero intensity. Here the suppression of the CS rates was found to be directly related and basal rates inversely related to CS intensity. The results as a whole were consistent with the Perkins-Logan hypothesis regarding the effects of CS intensity upon conditioning, but not with the Rescorla-Wagner model of classical conditioning.     

Role of public research institutes in national innovation systems in industrialized countries: The cases of Fraunhofer,NIST, CSIRO,AIST, and ITRI

Public Research Institutes (PRIs) were established for many reasons, such as to promote defence related research and health related research. Helping domestic industries remains one of the important missions for public research institutes even when the countries have industrialized and firms’ technological capabilities are high. PRIs aim to upgrade existing industries, especially SMEs, as well as spearheading new ones. They can conduct research to solve today’s problems of existing industries and those of next generation technologies which might lead to creation of new industries. Moreover, relationship between PRIs and firms and non-firm actors like universities became more intense, open, horizontal, international, and longer term. To reduce risk and uncertainty inherent in research mentioned above, intermediary roles of PRIs are increasingly important. The emphasis and the ways PRIs help industry change over time and vary across countries as they are integral part of national innovation systems. This makes generalization difficult, but the experiences of five leading PRIs in Germany, Taiwan, Japan, Australia, and the US shows that, the balances between contract research vs. longer term research with own initiative, mobility of researchers vs. retaining core researchers, and competitive grants and funds from industry vs. block grants from government are important to keep PRIs relevant to industry needs and maintain research standards. The governance of PRIs is of particular importance to maintain proper balances.     

A CROSS-CURRICULAR INTEGRATED LEARNING EXPERIENCE IN MATHEMATICS AND PHYSICS

Since April, 1996, Kanazawa Technical College has offered a cross-curricular course for first-year and second-year students using a TI-83 (Graphing Calculator) and a Computer Based Laboratory (CBL). The goal of the course is for students to learn about the connection between mathematics and physics through hands-on activities. Students conduct experiments on the motion of a person walking, the dropping of an object, the cooling rate of water, the motion of a swinging pendulum, and sound waves. This is the first time that the TI-83 calculator and the CBL have been used in Japan to explore physical phenomena in a classroom situation based on the Japanese curriculum for mathematics and physics. The following findings were obtained: Most students (a) replaced their naive assumptions regarding the laws of physics with scientific concepts; (b) independently made connections between the results of experiments and their previous mathematical knowledge; (c) reported that their level of interest in physical phenomena and science had either not decreased or had improved, (d) valued mathematics more, and (e) realized the importance of cooperative work. The use of CBLs and TI-83s changed not only the authors teaching style but also students attitudes. Students had ownership of their experiments, and they engaged in higher-order thinking skills such as making predictions, analyzing data, and modeling data with equations. As a result, students became more interested in learning mathematics and science.