Atsuko K. Yamazaki

A dinoflagellate adaptive behavior model : response to internal biochemical cues

Abstract In this study we built two models to simulate vertical movements of an individual dinoflagellate. In the models, we laid out the flows of the chemical substances inside the cell and their changes in response to such environmental changes as nitrate concentration and light intensity. One of the models is called the Clock-Driven Model, in which the cell moves only according to the clock time and exhibits a regular vertical diel movement. The other model, which we call the Decision-Making Model, contains a network to make decisions for the next move, based on the interactions among biochemicals inside the phytoplankter and its environment. In this model, the decision emerges from the results of a cells internal biochemical fluxes controlled by the threshold setting. The simulation results of both models with different nutrient conditions were compared in terms of the cells behavioral patterns and the amount of protein produced by the cell. The results indicated that balances among the biochemicals and their fluxes can play a significant role in the directional decisions made by dinoflagellates under some environmental nitrate conditions, and that irregularity in a cells movements may be affected by nitrate availability. Also, the simulation results suggest that irregular migration produced to meet the predefined criteria for biochemical fluxes inside the cell can benefit the cell in terms of protein accumulation. We propose that the essence of a cells adaptivity to the environment resides in the internal cellular condition represented here by threshold values associated with biochemical fluxes and their balances, and that it is important to consider an organisms internal condition when constructing an adaptive behavior model.

Oral presentations in international contexts: published advice, actual practice, problematic issues

In this paper, we describe the initial research and results of a project designed to investigate the literature and practice of oral presentations in international contexts, where the language of delivery is English and the presenters or members of the audience include nonnative speakers. Advice from books and journal articles on oral presentations, published in English or Japanese, was gathered and compared, and then contrasted with observations made on actual presentations by computer science faculty. The research revealed where similarities and differences exist among the publications, as well as where similarities and differences exist when compared to actual practice. General guidelines for making successful oral presentations were generated, along with a list of problematic issues, which require further investigation.

A preliminary examination of background-color effects on the scores of computer-based english grammar tests using near-infrared spectroscopy

A previous study of the effects of background colors on the scores of a computer-based English test indicated that a combination of black text and a background color with high luminance and high brightness, such as white or yellow, was not considered preferable for computer-based tests (CBTs). In this study, the authors conducted an experiment to see how a background color can affect the brain functions of CBT test takers by observing relative changes in hemoglobin (Hb) concentrations in their brains by using near-infrared spectroscopy. In the experiment, seven male subjects in their twenties took computer-based English tests with different background colors with black text. Two dimensional images of the Hb concentration changes obtained in the experiment showed that areas in the brain associated with memory retrieval tended to have higher Hb concentrations while the subjects were taking the tests with blue backgrounds. On the other hand, areas in the brain related to other functions, such as the frontal eye field, were observed to be more active than brain areas responsible for cognitive tasks while they were taking the test with white background. These results suggest that white color may not be the best choice for a background color of a CBT, in terms of activating brain functions associated with linguistic tasks, even though a white background is commonly used for CBTs.

A Preliminary Experiment to Investigate the Effects of Blue Backgrounds on a Tablet Screen for Elderly People

Abstract A tablet computer is considered as a useful tool for elderly people to improve their everyday life and even to have training to enhance their cognitive ability. In this study, the authors conducted a preliminary experiment to see how different background colors of a tablet computer screen can affect the attention of elderly people while they are performing a task on the tablet computer. Ten Japanese subjects over sixty-five years old performed circle-counting tasks on a tablet computer screen with white, blue and light blue backgrounds. For these three background colors, three different symbols including circles were presented in black, and the subjects were directed to count the number of circles in a short period of time. The average percentages of correct answers for the circle-counting tasks that the subjects performed were higher with the blue and light blue backgrounds than with the white background. These results suggest that white color may not be the best choice for a background color of a tablet computer screen for elderly people.

Signaling Transitions in Oral Presentations: Language and Strategies

One of the key elements of a successful presentation is the smooth and clear linking of ideas in and between slides. To achieve this, a presenter needs to know the appropriate language and effective strategies for signaling transitions. With the aim of providing better guidance on signaling transitions in presentations, in this study we will first review the advice given in popular self-help guides aimed at native and nonnative speakers of English. Next, we will compare this advice with the actual language and strategies used by experienced presenters at international conferences through an analysis of presentation transcripts and video footage. Finally, we will discuss some of the implications of this research for instructors of scientific and technical presentation courses.

Q&A: Published Advice vs. Real-World Difficulties

In order to assess how real-world problems in the Q&A segments of international conference presentations are being addressed in English and Japanese self-help guides, the advice given in fifteen English and seven Japanese books were compared with actual difficulties identified in nine transcribed conference presentations. Results show that the English self-help guides virtually ignore the language difficulties encountered by non-native speakers. The Japanese self-help guides, on the other hand, almost completely ignore strategies for a successful Q&A session, instead focusing on set phrases and sentences that appear to have limited value in real-world settings. Recommendations for more appropriate instructions are then provided

Systems engineering design education based on multidisciplinary and global project based learning

We developed systems engineering design education program based on multidisciplinary and Global Project Based Learning (PBL). We also implemented the global PBL as a joint program of Shibaura Institute of Technology and King Mongkut’s University of Technology, Thonburi, KMUTT in Thailand. To validate outcomes of this program, the progress report on generic skills (PROG) was performed to assess generic skill. Successful students in this program acquired comprehensive capacity of problem solving as a member of an international and/or interdisciplinary team, through synthetic problem solving experience. In this paper, we present the whole structure of systems engineering education program and implementation of global PBL.

Analysis of Effects of Aroma Foot Care Using Functional Near-infrared Spectroscopy

Abstract Foot care is attracting attention as a medically effective treatment of the foot lesions caused by diabetes or aging. In this study, we experimentally examined how aromatherapy affects the functions of the human brain during foot care by using functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS). Four female subjects received foot care massages and aroma oil massages. We analyzed the changes in their oxygenated hemoglobin (oxy-Hb) concentrations based on their brain activity by t-tests, and the t-test results showed significant differences between the foot and aroma oil massages. Our questionnaire results obtained from our subjects showed that they felt more comfortable and relaxed while receiving foot care with aroma oils. These results suggest that aroma oil massages are an effective foot care tool.

Surveys of the international communication needs of small and medium sized manufacturing companies in Tokyo

The author conducted a questionnaire survey to investigate the international communication needs of small and medium sized manufacturing enterprises (SMEs) in Ota City in Tokyo. One hundred eighty five companies responded to the questionnaire and representative from twenty six of them were interviewed. The analyses of the survey results showed that many SMEs had shifted from operating merely as a subcontractor to the manufacturing of their own in-house products in order to cope with the globalization of the industry. Although their operations were mainly domestic or connected to Asian countries, about half of the companies responded that English is the most important communication language at the workplace. The analyses revealed that SMEs holding a patent had more business with overseas companies and considered communication in English more important than companies without a patent. On the other hand, many SMEs in Ota City expressed passive attitudes toward overseas operations due to their lack of qualified personnel for international communication.

A pre-NIRS study of background colour effects on the functions of the frontal lobe

Abstract Some studies have pointed out that tablet computers can be used to enhance people‘s daily life and to strengthen their brain‘s cognitive ability. In this study, the authors conducted an experiment with elderly people as subjects in order to investigate whether different screen background colours can enhance their brain functions when performing a task on a tablet computer. In total, 17 elderly Japanese subjects participated in the experiment. We recorded haemoglobin concentration changes in the frontal lobe of the subject’s brain by using a near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS), while the subject performed circle counting task (CCT) and reading span task (RST) in the experiment. Each subject performed both tasks on five different background colours, which were white, blue, yellow, red, and green. All the task pages were designed in the same way for each background colour, and the order of colours were arranged randomly. As for the average scores of CCT from all the subjects, the yellow background showed the highest score while the white background showed the lowest score. However, as for the average RST scores, the score for the white background was higher than other background colours. The results indicated that the brains of the subjects received more stress while they were performing CCT on the white background whereas for RST the subjects may have already been used to the white background of a tablet screen and performed better. Brain functions should be analysed in further analysis since CCT requires attention, whereas effect of the background colours on the brain may be different from RST, which focuses on working memory.