Active learning and historical research on educational methods in fluid pressure in 150th anniversary of the Japanese school systems

Reconstructions of historically valuable teaching materials in Meiji Era We have been collecting students' physics notes and educational materials by nationwide searches to capture and record the real situation of Japanese education and to elucidate the characteristic formation process since the Meiji Era. Commemorating the 150th anniversary of the Japanese school system, we report what we have accumulated so far. In our recent exploratory research, we have been able to decipher physics lessons based on old textbooks in upper elementary schools, upper secondary schools, junior high schools, teacher’s schools, and preparatory departments. We have deciphered collections of teaching materials and students’ lecture notes based on the types of textbooks of A. Ganot’s used by Ogawa Masataka (Shizuoka Junior High School) and Sakai Sukeyasu (Mito Junior High School), and types of physics textbooks by B. Stewart, given by Sakurai Fusaki (Fifth Senior High School). Furthermore, we have analyzed Active Learning (AL) type physics education recorded by Matuoka’s physics-note (Saitama upper elementary school) based on the textbooks written by Gage. The innovative content of Japanese science education is deeply influenced by Europe and the United States, in particular those developed by Parker’s and G. P. Quackenbos’ and Stewart’s physics, and those that are deeply referring to Ganot’s Physics textbooks. We have attempted modern reconstruction of historically valuable materials using ICT-and AL in Fluid Dynamics. For example, we present case studies for improvement of a hands-on experiment on Pascal’s Principle, Figure 1, using home-made suction-cup & vacuum-pump and wireless pressure sensors. AL on Pascal’s Principle by using Suction Cup and wireless ICT sensors We present on how to create simple experimental tools made at home by inexpensive goods from one-dollar stores, even during the COVID-19 pandemic. Modern reconstruction of AL on Pascal's Principle by using suitable experimental devises such as suction cup and vacuum pump, Figure 1. We show non-buoyancy-upward fluid forces for near-vacuum pressures in suction cup, based on the important boundary conditions, which will produce a simple experimental clarification of the Graf‘s “buoyance paradox” (Graf, 2004) in fluid pressure.  Here, the same pressure is achieved by a small hole which connects a suction cup to barometer and wireless sensor zone. The same is done with a thin silicon tube connecting the suction cup to the device zone. ACKNOWLEDGEMENT This work was supported by Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research 21K02947, 21K02890 and 19H01711. REFERENCE Graf, F. H. (2004). Just What Did Archimedes Say About Buoyancy the Physics. Teacher, 42, 296

Effectiveness of using video analysis software in Introductory Physics

With the rapid development of science and technology, various IT-based teaching materials and effective teaching methods have been developed. One such method is to analyze physical phenomena by capturing video of experiments and analyzing the video. The authors have developed teaching materials to analyze various physical phenomena that are difficult to realize with conventional experimental methods using moving images. For example, the authors have developed teaching materials in which the collision of two objects is filmed from above and analyzed to learn about the law of conservation of momentum. Video analysis is considered useful in that it enables learners to understand physical phenomena by connecting the phenomena to graphs and equations while actually operating the video. In addition, it is also considered to promote exploration activities by allowing learners to take videos of physical phenomena of interest to them and analyze them. The teaching materials we have developed have been used in university classes and teacher training, but they were intended for a relatively small group of about 30 students, and were mainly used in situations where learners could immediately respond to any inadequacies in operation or content. On the other hand, with the trend to online learning due to COVID-19 starting in 2020, there are more and more opportunities for university students to take online classes, using computers at home or other locations, and the introduction of Computer-Based-Test as a new way of testing has been seriously considered in recent years. Under these circumstances, even if learners are stumped by operational problems, teachers are often unable to provide immediate support. It is also necessary to examine the extent to which the use of video analysis software is useful for understanding the content. Therefore, the purpose of the study that we are presenting, is to examine the effectiveness and challenges of a motion analysis assignment outside of class, for approximately 480 students taking calculus-based introductory physics in their first year of university, for two years in 2021 and 2022. After viewing the video analysis shown by the professor several times during the class, the students installed the video analysis software themselves and worked on the video analysis task. In 2021, 53% of the students reported that understanding the concepts just by watching the video analysis was very helpful and helpful on a 5-point Likert scale, while 63% reported that understanding the concepts was very helpful and helpful when they tried to do the video analysis on their own. The results will be presented along with the 2022 results. ACKNOWLEDGMENT This work was supported by JSPS KAKENHI Grant Numbers JP21K02890. REFERENCES Kobayashi, A. & Okiharu, F. (2010). Active learning approaches by visualizing ICT devices with milliseconds resolution for deeper understanding in physics, AIP Conference Proceedings, 1263, 134-138. Laws, P. & Pfister, H. (1998). Using digital video analysis in introductory mechanics projects, The Physics Teacher, 36,282-287. Logger Pro, https://www.vernier.com/

Recombinant gamma T305A fibrinogen indicates severely impaired fibrin polymerization due to the aberrant function of hole 'a' and calcium binding sites

Introduction: We examined a 6-month-old girl with inherited fibrinogen abnormality and no history of bleeding or thrombosis. Routine coagulation screening tests showed a markedly low level of plasma fibrinogen determined by functional measurement and also a low level by antigenic measurement (functional/antigenic ratio = 0.295), suggesting hypodysfibrinogenemia. Materials and methods: DNA sequence analysis was performed, and gamma T305A fibrinogen was synthesized in Chinese hamster ovary cells based on the results. We then functionally analyzed and compared with that of nearby recombinant gamma N308K fibrinogen. Results: DNA sequence analysis revealed a heterozygous gamma T305A substitution (mature protein residue number). The gamma T305A fibrinogen indicated markedly impaired thrombin-catalyzed fibrin polymerization both in the presence or absence of 1 mM calcium ion compared with that of gamma N308K fibrinogen. Protection of plasmin degradation in the presence of calcium ion or Gly-Pro-Arg-Pro peptide (analogue for so-called knob 'A') and factor XIIIa-catalyzed fibrinogen crosslinking demonstrated that the calcium binding sites, hole 'a' and D:D interaction sites were all markedly impaired, whereas gamma N308K was impaired at the latter two sites. Molecular modeling demonstrated that gamma T305 is localized at a shorter distance than gamma N308 from the high affinity calcium binding site and hole 'a'. Conclusion: Our findings suggest that gamma T305 might be important for construction of the overall structure of the. module of fibrinogen. Substitution of gamma T305A leads to both dysfibrinogenemic and hypofibrinogenemic characterization, namely hypodysfibrinogenemia. We have already reported that recombinant gamma T305A fibrinogen was synthesized normally and secreted slightly, but was significantly reduced.ArticleTHROMBOSIS RESEARCH. 134(2):518-525 (2014)journal articl

gamma 375W fibrinogen-synthesizing CHO cells indicate the accumulation of variant fibrinogen within endoplasmic reticulum

Background: Hepatic endoplasmic reticulum (ER) storage disease (HERSD) associated with hypofibrinogenemia has been reported in patients with four types of heterozygous gamma-chain variant fibrinogen in the C terminal region. Of interest, substitution of gamma R375W induced hypofibrinogenemia and HERSD, whereas gamma R375G induced dysfibrinogenemia. Objectives: To analyze the synthesis of variant fibrinogen and morphological characteristics, we established variant fibrinogen-producing cells and compared them with wild-type fibrinogen-synthesizing cells. Methods: The fibrinogen gamma-chain expression vectors coding gamma 375W and gamma 375G were altered by oligonucleotide-directed mutagenesis and transfected into Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells. Synthesis of fibrinogen (media and cell lysates) was measured by ELISA for each cloned cell line and morphological characteristics were observed by immunofluorescence and transmission electron microscopy. Results: The medium/cell lysate fibrinogen ratio of gamma 375W-CHO cells was markedly lower than that of the normal cells and gamma 375G-CHO cells. Immunostaining with anti-fibrinogen antibody showed only gamma 375W-CHO cells, but revealed two types of cells containing cytoplasmic inclusion bodies, scattered large-granular bodies and fibrous forms. Observation by confocal microscopy indicated that both inclusion bodies were colocalized with fibrinogen and ER-membrane protein; furthermore, transmission electron microscopic observation demonstrated dilatation of the ER by large-granular inclusion bodies and fibrous forms filled with regularly structured fibular materials within the dilated ER. Conclusion: These results demonstrated that assembled and non-secreted gamma 375W fibrinogen was accumulated in the dilated ER and aggregated variant fibrinogen was seen as regularly structured fibular materials, which was similar to the fingerprint-like pattern observed at inclusion bodies in patients' hepatocytes affected with HERSD.ArticleTHROMBOSIS RESEARCH. 133(1):101-107 (2014)journal articl

Three-dimensional alignment of cellulose II microcrystals under a strong magnetic field

In this study, enzymatic synthesis was conducted using cellodextrin phosphorylase (CDP), sucrose phosphorylase (SP), and sucrose with 1-azido-1-deoxy-β-glucoside (β-glucosyl azide) as the acceptor in phosphate buffer at pH 7.0. This yielded cellulose oligomers (degree of polymerization, DP ≈ 10) with azido groups at the reducing end as a white precipitate. A suspension of cellulose microcrystals with exposed azido groups on the surface was obtained via dissolution and recrystallization of the synthetic products dispersed in water by heating. The flat, ribbon-like cellulose microcrystals were a crystalline form of cellulose II and were several micrometers in length and several hundred nanometers in width. The microcrystals were 5.1–5.2 nm thick, which is equivalent to the chain length of cellulose oligomers with DP ≈ 10. When the cellulose II microcrystal suspensions were dried under a horizontal static magnetic field of 8 T, oriented films were obtained, wherein the microcrystals were aligned three-dimensionally. Synchrotron X-ray diffraction studies of the films revealed that the easy and intermediate axes (χ₁ and χ₂, respectively) of the cellulose II crystals corresponded approximately to the [1 1 0] and [1 ̅₁ 0] directions, respectively