Concentration of bioethanol and dehydration of organic solvents by porous membranes

In order to obtain higher membrane performance in the concentration of bioethanol and dehydration of organic solvents, porous poly[1-(trimethylsilyl)-1-propyne] (PTMSP) and porous chitosan membranes, respectively are applied to a temperature-difference controlled evapomeation (TDEV) method in which a temperature difference between the feed solution and the membrane surroundings is established. Pressure treated porous PTMS membranes showed a high ethanol concentration performance with a high permeation rate and porous chitosan membranes also showed a high dehydration performance in TDEV. Membrane performances through these porous membranes in TDEV are discussed from the viewpoints of physical structure of membranes and permeants

How Does National Brand Portfolio Influence Private Label Production ?

論

幼児における数直線上での数の位置の見積りに関する研究

内容の要約広島大学(Hiroshima University)博士(心理学)Philosophy in Psychologydoctora

A Longitudinal Study of Number Line Estimation in Young Children

The development of numerical representations plays a central role in a child’s mathematical abilities. Previous studies have reported that children’s numerical representations shift from logarithmic to linear ones and the slope of linear representation shifts from 0 to 1. In order to investigate the developmental process in detail, we carried out a longitudinal study. Thirty young preschoolers (mean age = 4 years, 1 month) and 47 middle preschoolers (mean age = 5 years, 1 month) received a number-to-position task (0-10) twice over nine months. According to our results, both groups were most suitable linear representations, but the slope of middle preschoolers’ performance was nearer 1 than the young preschoolers’ performance. However, the slopes of both groups were not much different when we divided the children in fitted or non-fitted function. For this reason, previous studies could not properly evaluate the development of slope. It is possible that the non-fitted representations are transformed into linear representations with slope away from 1 partly through logarithmic representations.本論文のデータの一部は，日本心理学会第79回大会において発表したものである

Study support to encourage the concept acquisition of fraction and decimal by hypothetical instruction and lesson induction

Cognitive counseling is one of a method to improve the cognitive problem. This study is a case report for a 5th grade student who has difficulty with fraction and decimal. To solve his problem, we supported his learning by hypothetical instruction and lesson induction which was cognitive counseling methods. As a result, hypothetical instruction helped concept acquisition about fraction, and lesson induction promoted to reflect his calculation of decimal. Finally, he could assessment himself about his answer and explanation in the case, but could not reflect the assessment on the final exam. In the future, we should support his assessment between some mathematical problems and generalize the methods

Developing lessons in industrial art and home economics to foster global awareness by making toys using buttons and cloths for Hmong’s Children

本研究では，日本人の自国の伝統や文化を誇りにし，次世代への思いを表現させる「ものづくり」を通しての子どもの「多様性」「協働性」「主体性」を育成する効果的な学習を構築することを目的とした。そのために、子どもを対象として、日本と他国の違いや共通項を考えさせて、文化環境に恵まれていない地域で生活しているモン族の子どもに贈るくるみボタンを使った布おもちゃを製作し、現地の保育園に提案する学習活動を展開した。その結果，中学２年生の授業前後のアンケート調査や感想の分析から，「モン族の子どもたちに贈る布おもちゃの製作」という課題の解決を行う中で、「多様性」「協働性」「主体性」が育まれることが明らかとなった。This study aimed to develop effective lessons to raise cultural awareness as well as a spirit of both cooperation and independence in junior high school students in home economics classes through learning to make toys for other children In this course, it was expected that the students world learn to express their thoughts to the next generation as well as understanding and taking pride in Japanese tradition and culture. The goal of the lessons was to make toys using buttons and cloth to send to Hmong children, who live in culturally underprivileged areas. Toward this goal, eight hourly lessons were undertaken by eighth graders in Thailand. At the end of the course, the students completed questionnaires and provided written descriptions of their experience. From this, it was evident that the course helped stimulate the students’ thinking and contributed to a spirit of both cooperation and independence

Carnosine content in skeletal muscle is dependent on vitamin B6 status in rats

Carnosine, a histidine-containing dipeptide, is well known to be associated with skeletal muscle performance. However, there is limited information on the effect of dietary micronutrients on muscle carnosine level. Pyridoxal 5'-phosphate (PLP), the active form of vitamin B6, is involved in amino acid metabolisms in the body as a cofactor. We hypothesized that enzymes involved in β-alanine biosynthesis, the rate-limiting precursor of carnosine, may also be PLP dependent. Thus, we examined the effects of dietary vitamin B6 on the muscle carnosine content of rats. Male and female rats were fed a diet containing 1, 7, or 35 mg pyridoxine (PN) HCl/kg for 6 weeks. Carnosine in skeletal muscles was quantified by ultra-performance liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry. In the gastrocnemius muscle of male rats, carnosine concentration was significantly higher in the 7 and 35 mg groups (+70 and +61%, respectively) than in the 1 mg PN HCl/kg group, whereas that in the soleus muscle of male rats was significantly higher only in the 7 mg group (+43%) than in the 1 mg PN HCl/kg group (P < 0.05). In both muscles of female rats, carnosine concentration was significantly higher in the 7 and 35 mg groups (+32 to +226%) than in the 1 mg PN HCl/kg group (P < 0.05). We also found that, compared to the 1 mg group, β-alanine concentrations in the 7 and 35 mg groups were markedly elevated in gastrocnemius muscles of male (+153 and +148%, respectively, P < 0.05) and female (+381 and +437%, respectively, P < 0.05) rats. Noteworthy, the concentrations of ornithine in the 7 and 35 mg groups were decreased in gastrocnemius muscles of male rats (-46 and -54%, respectively, P < 0.05), which strongly inversely correlated with β-alanine concentration (r = -0.84, P < 0.01). In humans, 19% lower muscle carnosine content was found in soleus muscle of women of the lower plasma PLP tertile, but this was not observed in gastrocnemius muscle or in men. We conclude that adequate dietary vitamin B6 is essential for maintaining carnosine in skeletal muscles of rats. Significantly lower soleus carnosine content among women close to PLP deficiency suggests that a similar phenomenon exists in the humans