Interference effects on local peak pressures between two buildings

Local peak pressure coefficients between two buildings were studied by using wind tunnel experiments for various locations, different height ratios of interfering building and wind directions. The measured local peak pressure coefficients were compared to those obtained previously from a study on an isolated building. This study also investigated interference effects for local peak pressures on a principal building with various configurations and different height ratios of an interfering building. The experimental results have been examined and presented from the viewpoint of cladding design. The results show that highest peak suctions on a principal building increased with increase in height ratios of the interfering building. The oblique configuration generated more severe peak suction than the tandem configuration. To examine the interference effects for local peak pressures in detail, interference factors for maximum positive and minimum negative peak pressures at each measurement point (i, j) of the principal building for all wind directions are presented and discussed.     

Crossover of work engagement among Japanese couples: Perspective taking by both partners.

This study among 426 Japanese couples working in different occupational sectors tested the hypothesis that perspective taking moderates the crossover of work engagement. More specifically, we predicted that husbands' work engagement would cross over to their wives, particularly when wives scored high on perspective taking (the spontaneous tendency to adopt the psychological perspective of other people). A similar effect was predicted from wives to husbands. In addition, we hypothesized that the crossover effect would be most pronounced when both partners were high in perspective taking (i.e., a 3-way interaction effect). The results of moderated structural equation modeling analyses confirmed the moderating role of perspective taking, but only for women; women who took the perspective of their partner scored higher on engagement with increasing partner engagement. Moreover, the results showed that engagement crossover was strongest when both men and women were high (vs. low) in perspective taking. This 3-way interaction effect was found from husbands to wives, and vice versa. These findings expand the crossover literature by shedding light on the crossover process. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Synthesis of (-)-β-caryophyllene oxide via regio- and stereoselective endocyclic epoxidation of β-caryophyllene with Nemania aenea SF 10099-1 in a liquid-liquid interface bioreactor (L-L IBR)

Nemania aenea SF 10099-1, a basidiomycete isolated from a forest soil sample, regio- and stereoselectively epoxidized β-caryophyllene (Car) to (−)-β-caryophyllene oxide (Car-Ox) in a liquid–liquid interface bioreactor (L–L IBR) consisted of a liquid medium (a bottom phase), a fungus-ballooned microsphere (MS) mat (a middle phase), and an organic phase containing Car (a top phase). The cultivation conditions, such as carbon and nitrogen sources, kind of MS, initial medium pH and Car concentration, were optimized in the L–L IBR system. The best carbon and nitrogen sources were xylose and tryptone, respectively. The most suitable polyacrylonitrile MS was MMF-DE-1 (former MFL-80SDE; non-coated type). Although the strain could not grow below pH 5.5, the endocyclic epoxidation of Car efficiently proceeded at a wide range of initial medium pH (6.0 to 9.0). The bioconversion system exhibited an excellent alleviation effect toward substrate and product inhibitions. While Car could be added into an organic phase (KF-96L-1CS, dimethyl silicone oil) at 50% (w/v), the accumulation of Car-Ox reached over 30 g/l in spite of these strong microbial toxicities. Moreover, the epoxidation reaction smoothly proceeded in a novel L–L IBR system, a multistory L–L IBR systems, consisted of 5 stacked reactor units. The optical rotation of Car-Ox produced was (−) and the enantiomeric excesses of (−)-β-Car-Ox purified by 1st and 2nd recrystallization from methanol reached 97.51 and 99.33%, respectively.     

Appropriate operation inducement by biasing perception of velocity using tactile stimulation

Cognition, Technology & Work - Traffic congestion and accidents are more likely to occur on gently undulating roads called sags, because drivers are less likely to recognize a change in...     

Self-efficacy and learning experience of information education: in case of junior high school

The purpose of this study is to make clear the relationships between student’s self-efficacy and learning experience of information education in case of junior high school. Two investigations were implemented in this study. The aim of first investigation was to grasp the present status of students’ feeling of effectiveness of their learning experience in information education. Also, the aim of second investigation was to verify the relationships between students’ self-efficacy and the abilities for information utilizing that promoted in information education. The first investigation with a question: “What kind of a learning experience do you feel is useful in your life?” was conducted on 426 junior high school students. As a result, almost half of the students feel effectiveness of gaining computer-operating skills in “Information and Computer” class. Also, it is suggested that utilization of Internet could promote the feeling of effectiveness in current daily lives. In second investigation, the relationship between self-efficacy and abilities for information utilizing was examined by using multi-regression analysis on 544 junior high school students. As a result, abilities for information utilizing were affected from self-evaluation of “social position of abilities” and “positive attitude to activities” in self-efficacy. Also, self-efficacy was affected from “processing ability of information” and “creation ability of information” in abilities for information utilizing. By the results of these investigations, it is suggested that these two factors are formed as a gradual cycle which promote each other. From these results, some suggestions for improvement of classroom activities in information education were proposed.     

Improvement of tribological characteristics under water lubrication of DLC-coatings by surface polishing

To achieve a hydraulic power system, it is important to control tribology because water has a lack of lubricity. Therefore, coated surface is necessary under water lubrication. Diamond-like-carbon (DLC)-coating is known as a useful material because of its high hardness and low friction, therefore it can be used as a coating durable for the water lubrication. Deposition methods of DLC-coating are developed in various ways. Particles called “droplets” are observed on the surface of DLC-coating depends on deposition methods and it can affect friction and wear properties. In this study, DLC-coating was prepared using a multi-cathode unbalanced magnetron sputtering (UBMS) system. The surface was polished with diamond slurry solution and aero lap to remove droplets. DLC-coatings were evaluated by tribo-tests before and after polishing. It is considered that some surface modification occurred. Moreover, the results of tribo-tests show that friction coefficients became lower and more stable than before polishing. Although partial delamination was observed after tribo-tests without polishing, no appreciable wear was observed after polishing.     

Hydrothermal Corrosion and Strength Degradation of Aluminum Nitride Ceramics

The hydrothermal corrosion and strength degradation of aluminum nitride (AlN) ceramics were investigated. The weight gain in AlN ceramics after corrosion occurred because of the formation of boehmite. The reaction kinetics of AlN with water were diffusion controlled through the boehmite product layer. At 180°C, immersion in water caused no strength degradation, and water vapor caused a 20% strength degradation. At 300°C, immersion in water caused a 20% strength degradation, and water vapor caused a 30% strength degradation.     

Numerical simulation for diffusion of matter in compound round jet by three-dimensional particle method

A three-dimensional particle method for the diffusion of matter in a round jet is proposed. The flow field is calculated with a vortex method, whereas the concentration field is simulated through a method analogous to the vortex method. The particle method is based on the Lagrangian approach; thus no computational grids are needed. It is applied to simulate the diffusion of matter in a compound round jet. The large-scale eddies, appearing just downstream of the disappearing point of the potential core, cause the diffusion of matter in the radial direction. In the subsequent developed region of the velocity field, the diffusion proceeds to the smaller vortical structure. The mean concentration and the concentration fluctuation intensity are in the self-preservation state at x/D?8 and x/D?13, respectively. These numerical results are favorably compared with experimental ones, indicating that the present particle method is usefully employed to simulate the diffusion of matter in a round jet.     

Interaction of cyclodextrins with side chains of water soluble polymers: A simple model for biological molecular recognition and its utilization for stimuli-responsive systems

This article demonstrates that the interaction of cyclodextrins (CDs) with side chains of water soluble polymers is useful not only as simple models for biological molecular recognition but also as building blocks in nanotechnological applications. In the interaction of CDs with polymer side chains, the selectivity of CDs was enhanced by the steric effect of the polymer main chain and by interaction at multi-sites (i.e., collectivity). Utilizing the interaction of CDs with polymer side chains, stimuli-responsive systems were constructed from simple components.