Scale Model Experiments of Toxic Gas Production from the Combustion of Polymers when Applied with Different Droplet Sizes of Water Mist

This research experimentally investigated the combustion of polymeric materials with water mist application in an enclosure, with an emphasis on the production of toxic gases. Two different diameters, ~100 and ~260 μm, were tested. The experimental conditions were determined based on Froude similarity laws for low drop Reynolds number conditions. Droplets and polymers’ physical and chemical properties influence the burning/extinguishing behavior and toxic-gas evolution. In general, larger droplets can extinguish a fire in a shorter time, and toxic gas concentrations in a test chamber decreased more rapidly. However, the large droplets tended to cause the flame expansion phenomenon for thermoplastics by splashing molten polymer. This flame expansion phenomenon led to a rapid increase in toxic-gas production rate. For a smaller size of water droplets, the formation of a char layer tended to slow down the fire-extinguishing process, which caused continuous CO production

Conformational change from rigid rod to star: A triple-helical peptide with a linker domain at the c-terminal end

Terao K., Mizuno K., Bächinger H.P.. Conformational change from rigid rod to star: A triple-helical peptide with a linker domain at the c-terminal end. Journal of Physical Chemistry B, 119(9), 3714-3719, February 16, 2015. Copyright © 2015, American Chemical Society. https://doi.org/10.1021/jp5129172

A DEVELOPMENT OF A MUA TO MAKE PICTOGRAPH MAIL FOR CHILDREN

In recent years, children have begun using computers actively. With this situation, they are beginning to learn how to operate a mail user agent (Hereafter, called MUA) to adaptation to an information society. However, the user interface of general MUAs is not designed with them in mind. Specifically, many unnecessary menu items exist on the user interface of general MUAs. Moreover, the menu text contains many difficult characters (called Kanji) in Japan. In this situation, it is difficult to say that children could learn how to operate the MUA without being confused by the complex user interface. We consider it to be important that even children who have not learned Kanji can use the user interface. To solve this issue, we have developed a MUA that has a simple user interface only represented in Hiragana. In order to create a simple user interface for child use, it is necessary to reduce the number of menu items. Along with this, the number of available functions on this MUA has decreased. However, we think it is rather important to prevent the confusion and unexpected behavior of children. It is also necessary to devise a function to make an e-mail to attract the interest of them. Therefore, we have implemented a function to generate pictograph mail easily.We are using the XML-based User Interface Language (Hereafter, called XUL) to build a user interface for children. It is a language used to build the user interface of Mozilla applications like Firefox and Thunderbird. By using it, we can customize the user interface of Thunderbird to fit any purpose. By these improvements, we think children will be able to use the MUA actively and with enjoyment without falling into confusion

Complex formation of collagen model peptides with polyelectrolytes and stabilization of the triple helical structure

Terao K., Kanenaga R., Sato T., et al. Complex formation of collagen model peptides with polyelectrolytes and stabilization of the triple helical structure. Macromolecules, 45(1), 392-400, December 7, 2011. Copyright © 2011, American Chemical Society. https://doi.org/10.1021/ma202176w

The Proposal of the System That Recommends e-Learning Courses Matching the Learning Styles of the Learners

In providing e-learning, it is desirable to build an environment that is suitable to the student’s learning style. In this study, using the questionnaire to measure the student’s preferences for asynchronous learning and the use of ICT in learning that has been develoed by authors, the relationship between the learning preferences of a student that have been measured before and after the course and his or her adaptability to the course is explored. The result of multiple regression analyses, excluding the changes in learning preferences that may occur duirng the course, shows that a student’s learning adaptability can be estimated to some extent based on his/her learning preference measured before the course starts. Based on this result, we propose a system to recommend e-learning courses that are suitable to a student before the student takes the courses

Developing a Method of Recommending E-Learning Courses Based on Students’ Learning Preferences

In designing e-learning, it is desirable that individual learner’s learning style is considered. This study proposes a way to present the information about the expected adaptability of the course, in which a student wishes to enroll, based on the student’s responses to the learning preference questionnaire administered at the beginning of the course. As the result of applying the real data to the model derived, it was confirmed that it would be possible to estimate the course adaptability before taking the course and to provide the information for the student to improve his/her course adaptability based on the student’s responses to the learning preference questionnaire.15th International Conference on Knowledge-Based and Intelligent Information and Engineering Systems (KES 2011), September 12-14, 2011, Kaiserslautern, German

Changes of Department Structures in Japanese Private Universities : An analysis of influence of demography and industrial structure

The purpose of this paper is to analyze the changes of department structures in Japanese Private Universities between 2000-2015. Size and departmental organization of all education and childcare as well as engineering school/colleges were analyzed. Generally colleges of education and childcare field expanded their size due to big demands for teachers and childcare workers. It was found that organizational structure were influenced mainly by the location of the institutions. Engineering schools in metropolitan areas expanded their size and number of departments. Smaller colleges/schools in provincial areas tended to changes their structures more. They decreased their capacity of engineering schools and created new schools/colleges other than engineering more. These results imply the strong influence of the demographic factors and the selectivity of the institutions. Prospect of provincial colleges/schools are discussed.本研究は，科学研究費助成金基盤研究(C)「社会変動と教育研究組織の再構築」（平成25-27年度）の成果の一部である

Chain dimensions and hydration behavior of collagen model peptides in aqueous solution: [Glycyl-4(R)-hydroxyprolyl-4(R)-hydroxyproline]n, [Glycylprolyl-4(R)-hydroxyproline]n, and some related model peptides

Terao K., Mizuno K., Murashima M., et al. Chain dimensions and hydration behavior of collagen model peptides in aqueous solution: [Glycyl-4(R)-hydroxyprolyl-4(R)-hydroxyproline]n, [Glycylprolyl-4(R)-hydroxyproline]n, and some related model peptides. Macromolecules, 41(19), 7203-7210, September 4, 2008. Copyright © 2008, American Chemical Society. https://doi.org/10.1021/ma800790w