Experimental Evaluation of Learning Effect of Problem-Simplification for Self-overcoming of Failures: The Case of Music Rhythm Exercises

音楽リズム演奏課題を対象とした演習システムのために設計・開発した単純化方略による誤り克服支援機能の有効性を，この支援機能を用いた演習を受ける実験群と支援機能を用いない演習を受ける統制群を設け，実験的に調べたので報告する

Support for Self-Overcoming by Simplification in Rhythm Exercise and Its Experimental Evaluation

音楽演奏を対象とした学習支援システムの研究は，学習者が自身の誤りを自身で克服することを支援しているものが多く，その支援手法は演奏上の誤りを指摘し反復練習させるものが主であった．このような手法は，誤り箇所の指摘から自ら誤りを克服できるような学習者にしか有効でないと考えられる．そこで本研究では，課題の派生的成立モデルに基づき，基本的な音楽リズム課題を対象とした課題の単純化方略による誤りの自己克服支援システムを実現した．単純化方略では，学習者が解ける段階まで課題を単純化することで解ける課題と解けない課題の差分が誤りの原因として特定され，その差分を解ける課題に加えることで誤りの自己克服を促すような支援している．開発したシステムを用いて，単純化方略の効果を検証するための実験を行った．その結果，単純化方略による自己克服支援がリズム学習の演習法として有用であることを示唆する結果が得られた

Effect of the Rotational Speed of a Long Jump Rope in a Person Turning the Rope on Heart Rate and Oxygen Uptake

The purpose of this study was to clarify the effect of different rotational speeds on the heart rate (HR) and oxygen uptake of a person turning a long jump rope. The subjects consisted of six healthy Japanese males who volunteered to participate in the study. They were asked to turn a long jump rope. The measurement was set at three rotational speed conditions: 70, 90 and 110 rpm. The measurement indexes were HR, oxygen uptake, rating of perceived exertion and blood pressure. The 90 and 110 rpm conditions demonstrated significant HR increases from the first to the third minute of the 3-minute exercise compared with the 70 rpm condition. The 110 rpm condition showed significant HR increases from the first to the third minute compared with the 90 rpm condition. The 90 and 110 rpm conditions demonstrated significant oxygen uptake increases from the first to the third minute compared with the 70 rpm condition. The 110 rpm condition showed significant oxygen uptake increases from the first to the third minute compared with the 90 rpm condition. The changes in the HR and oxygen uptake of the rope turner were dependent on the rotational speed of the long jump rope

Nationwide retrospective observational study of idiopathic dendriform pulmonary ossification : clinical features with a progressive phenotype

Background: Diffuse pulmonary ossification is a specific lung condition that is accompanied by underlying diseases. However, idiopathic dendriform pulmonary ossification (IDPO) is extremely rare, and the clinical features remain unclear. In this study, we aimed to report the clinical characteristics of IDPO. Methods: We conducted a nationwide survey of patients with IDPO from 2017 to 2019 in Japan and evaluated the clinical, radiological, and histopathological findings of patients diagnosed with IDPO. Results: Twenty-two cases of IDPO were identified. Most subjects (82%) were male, aged 22-56 years (mean (SD), 37.9 (9.1)) at diagnosis. Nearly 80% of the subjects were asymptomatic, and the condition was discovered during a medical check-up. However, 36% of the subjects showed a decline in forced vital capacity (%FVC) predicted <80% at diagnosis. The typical radiological features of high-resolution CT (HRCT) are calcified branching structures that are predominantly distributed in the lower lung fields without any other conspicuous finding. Histopathological analysis also showed dendriform ossified lesions from the intraluminal areas to interstitial areas. Notably, during the follow-up period of 20 years, disease progression was found in 88% on HRCT and more than 50% on pulmonary function tests (FVC and/or forced expiratory volume in 1s). Two cases with rapid decline of 10% /year in %FVC predicted were observed.)) at diagnosis. Nearly 80% of the subjects were asymptomatic, and the condition was discovered during a medical check-up. However, 36% of the subjects showed a decline in forced vital capacity (%FVC) predicted <80% at diagnosis. The typical radiological features of high-resolution CT (HRCT) are calcified branching structures that are predominantly distributed in the lower lung fields without any other conspicuous finding. Histopathological analysis also showed dendriform ossified lesions from the intraluminal areas to interstitial areas. Notably, during the follow-up period of 20 years, disease progression was found in 88% on HRCT and more than 50% on pulmonary function tests (FVC and/or forced expiratory volume in 1s). Two cases with rapid decline of 10% /year in %FVC predicted were observed. )) at diagnosis. Nearly 80% of the subjects wereasymptomatic, and the condition was discovered during a medical check-up. However, 36% of the subjects showed a decline in forced vital capacity (%FVC) predicted <80% at diagnosis. The typical radiological features of high-resolution CT (HRCT) are calcified branching structures that are predominantly distributed in the lower lung fields without any other conspicuous finding. Histopathological analysis also showed dendriform ossified lesions from the intraluminal areas to interstitial areas. Notably, during the follow-up period of 20 years, disease progression was found in 88% on HRCT and more than 50% on pulmonary function tests (FVC and/or forced expiratory volume in 1s). Two cases with rapid decline of 10% /year in %FVC predicted were observed. Conclusions: IDPO develops at a young age with gradually progressive phenotype. Further research and long-term (>20 years) follow-up are required to clarify the pathogenesis and clinical findings in IDPO

The tremendous potential of deep-sea mud as a source of rare-earth elements

金沢大学理工研究域地球社会基盤学系Potential risks of supply shortages for critical metals including rare-earth elements and yttrium (REY) have spurred great interest in commercial mining of deep-sea mineral resources. Deep-sea mud containing over 5,000 ppm total REY content was discovered in the western North Pacific Ocean near Minamitorishima Island, Japan, in 2013. This REY-rich mud has great potential as a rare-earth metal resource because of the enormous amount available and its advantageous mineralogical features. Here, we estimated the resource amount in REY-rich mud with Geographical Information System software and established a mineral processing procedure to greatly enhance its economic value. The resource amount was estimated to be 1.2 Mt of rare-earth oxide for the most promising area (105 km2 × 0-10 mbsf), which accounts for 62, 47, 32, and 56 years of annual global demand for Y, Eu, Tb, and Dy, respectively. Moreover, using a hydrocyclone separator enabled us to recover selectively biogenic calcium phosphate grains, which have high REY content (up to 22,000 ppm) and constitute the coarser domain in the grain-size distribution. The enormous resource amount and the effectiveness of the mineral processing are strong indicators that this new REY resource could be exploited in the near future. © 2018 The Author(s)