This article summarizes the reform of the family registration law that was enacted in 2023 and is planned to be acted in 2024, and discusses the potential influences on naming, especially on the rates of unique baby names. This reform includes two major changes: registering readings of names in the family database and limiting readings of names written in Chinese characters. However, based on the information available at the time of writing this article (September 2023), it is predicted that these two changes will not extensively affect the rates of unique baby names. It is expected that the trend of increasing unique names will not reverse, which means that the predicted influence of the reform is not so profound. Until readings of names are forced to be registered in the family database, it has been common that they are registered in many other databases and people do not change their readings of names that are given at birth. Thus, even when readings of names are mandated for registry in the family database, major changes in naming are not predicted. Moreover, even when some readings of names are restricted, as long as “Japanese traditional naming practice that has allowed a broad range of readings of Chinese characters such as nanori” (stated in the draft proposal) continues, giving unique names is permitted, and the extent of the restriction is estimated to be small.

View full abstract

Video judging has been introduced in a variety of sports, including VAR in soccer and challenge systems in volleyball. In the field of martial arts, video judging was introduced on a full scale in judo in 2007. In kendo, three cameras were used to make video judgments, and judgments were made by three to five judges, including the chief referee. However, it has yet to be put into practical use, having only been introduced in three tournaments. Existing studies have attempted to make highly accurate judgments based on auditory and visual information by using sensors and microphones or by shooting from directly above. However, the locations where these devices can be used are limited, making it difficult to introduce them to small-scale local tournaments and university sports. Therefore, in this research, we conduct learning and evaluation of kendo using ResNet-18 with camera images taken from the actual referee’s position as input. Then, we then verify the feasibility of the proposed method by obtaining effective hits using camera images from multiple directions.

View full abstract

There needs to be more human resources who can objectively review operations in municipalities. Although the information necessary for analysis has been accumulated year by year, there are issues in training human resources capable of utilizing data in operations and in the flow of visualization and analysis. In this study, we proposed a mechanism to support operations and grasp the current situation through data utilization by visualizing, sharing, and reporting analysis results with local government officials. To evaluate the process and results of the analysis and visualization tools, we supported the existing operations of the staff by understanding the current situation based on log information. Specifically, we attempted to analyze and visualize the effects of local events by organizing the flow of data handling and information linkage. From the above, it is easy to infer that the tool is meaningful to promote evidence-based policy-making and data utilization. In addition, we aim to contribute to objective analysis of event implementation for regional revitalization and health promotion by establishing data formatting and visualization procedures and mechanisms that take into account the ease of analysis in the region, beyond the limited area of new introduction of existing tools and the ability of specialized staff to understand the current situation. In the long term, we will optimize the system’s flow to facilitate periodic review of operations according to the municipality. In addition, we aim to improve the planning and management of municipality-oriented projects and the effective implementation of operations, focusing on the information collaboration needed in the community for both citizens and staff.

View full abstract

Novel binary liquid crystalline systems were obtained by mixing amorphous side-chain polymethacrylate (SCP) and polar compounds. Their thermal and orientational properties were examined by DSC measurement, polarizing microscopy and temperature-variable X-ray diffraction measurement. SCP exhibited only a glass transition and did not form a liquid crystalline phase. An induced smectic A phase was formed by the binary liquid crystalline systems consisting of SCP and azobenzene derivatives with polar groups over a wide temperature range. In the case of the binary liquid crystalline systems composed of SCP and a cyanobiphenyl derivative, a highly ordered smectic B phase was formed as well as the smectic A phase. The induction of the smectic phases is due to interactions between the side-chains of SCP and the polar molecules.

View full abstract

The effect of scandium, one of the rare earth elements, on protease activity secreted into the culture supernatant was investigated in NG and LG media. The addition of scandium improved slightly the protease activity of Bacillus subtilis by 1.42 times compared to that with no addition of scandium in NG medium. On the other hand, no effect of scandium addition on protease activity was observed in LG medium. Furthermore, the effect of scandium on amylase activity was investigated in LG medium. The amylase activity was increased 1.5-fold after 72 hours cultivation compared to that with no scandium. However, the value was considerably lower than the previously reported 3.3-fold value in the NG medium. It was suggested that the medium composition reduce the stimulation effect of scandium on enzyme production.

View full abstract

This study investigates the enhancement of blue afterglow emission from ZrO2:Ti heat treatment at 1500 °C in air with raw ZrO2 containing 1000 ppm TiO2. The afterglow time of KZrB4O8.5, which was melt heat-treated with ZrO2:Ti heat-treated at 1500 °C, K2CO3, and H3BO3 at 1300 °C in air, was extended by approximately 2.5 times. XRD analysis of ZrO2:Ti revealed only monoclinic peaks, while that of KZrB4O8.5 with a glass-ceramic composition displayed monoclinic peaks and a halo. In the XPS analysis of ZrO2:Ti and KZrB4O8.5 with a glass-ceramic composition, the presence of Zr4+ and a small amount of Zr3+ was observed, while that of Zr2+ could not be confirmed. SEM observations revealed that ZrO2:Ti was composed of uniformly sized grains of approximately 0.5 μm size, whereas KZrB4O8.5 with a glass-ceramic composition exhibited coarsened grains of approximately 10 μm size. The afterglow decay curves of KZrB2O5.5, KZrB3O7.0, KZrB5O10.0, and KZrB6O11.5 with a glass-ceramic composition with varying B content in KZrB4O8.5 with a glass-ceramic composition were measured, and based on the results obtained, the afterglow time increased with an increase in the coarse grain size.

View full abstract

Although there are many delicate tasks performed by the fingertips, such as a famous doctor’s scalpel treatment, calligrapher’s brushwork, and craftsman’s delicate work, there are few evaluation methods in those fields. In this study, evaluations are performed using “Buffon’s needle problem,” and the important factor is the random drop of a needle held by the fingertips. It is generally known that an approximate value of pi (circle ratio) can be found using Buffon’s needle problem. Therefore, the approximation of pi by a needle dropped at random is calculated, and the closer the approximation is to true pi, the higher the accuracy of randomly dropping the needle held by the tip of a finger is judged to be. The purpose of this paper is to clarify the characteristics of “randomly dropping a needle held by the fingertips’’ using Buffon’s needle problem. Computer simulations and actual experiments with a subject are performed in this study. And, the accuracy of randomly dropping the needle held at the fingertip is improved.

View full abstract

This study statistically examined the industrial cluster structure of four cities in the Tohoku region (Yonezawa, Koriyama, Iwaki, and Aizuwakamatsu) in terms of value added, an indicator of productivity in each industry, and the number of employees, an indicator related to tax revenue and consumption, and their relationship to the total number of employees. Industrial statistics were obtained from the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) website, and statistical analysis was conducted using Excel. The correlation coefficients between the value added and the number of employees in each industry and their totals, as well as the correlation coefficients between the value of industrial manufactured goods shipped and their totals, which represent the size of each industry as previously reported, revealed the following. When the trend of the total of each indicator is in an increasing trend, i.e., a growing process, a correlation coefficient of +0.3 or more for an industry sector indicates an increasing trend and a growing process, while a correlation coefficient of –0.3 or less for an industry sector indicates a decreasing trend and a declining process. When the correlation coefficient of the industry is close to 0, there is no increase or decrease in trend, indicating a stagnant process. On the other hand, if the correlation coefficient of each indicator is significant at +0.3 or higher, the indicator is in a declining trend, and if it is significant at –0.3 or lower, the indicator is in an increasing trend, indicating a growth process. When the correlation coefficient of the industry is close to 0, there is no increase or decrease in trend and the process is stagnant. When the increase or decrease in the aggregate trend of each indicator is small, i.e., a stagnant process, the correlation coefficient for the industry is also close to 0, but it is also close to 0 for both increasing and decreasing trends. Based on the above results, it is considered that the correlation coefficient of each industry sector to each aggregate is negatively skewed at the time of industry transformation in the industrial agglomeration structure of the region, whether in the growth process or in the decline process. Therefore, the method used in this study provides an important suggestion and is extremely useful in examining the restructuring of the industrial agglomeration structure, since the growth, stagnation, and decline processes of regional industries can be easily evaluated by using the correlation coefficients between the value of manufactured goods shipped, value added, and number of employees for each industry and their totals as indices. This is considered to be an important suggestion and extremely useful when considering the restructuring of the industrial cluster structure.

View full abstract

Although several methods have been devised for determining the antimicrobial ability of various materials, they suffer from various limitations. For example, it is difficult to determine the antimicrobial ability of poorly water-soluble materials. This study proposes a simple method for evaluating the antimicrobial ability of insoluble powdered metal oxides based on the minimum inhibition concentrations (MICs) determined by combining the halo method, a common method for evaluating the antimicrobial ability, with the flat-plate dilution method. Using Al2O3 powder, which did not exhibit antimicrobial properties, as a diluent, we prepared a uniform mixture of Ag2O, CuO, and ZnO at several concentrations (ppm). We then tested the antimicrobial activity of these powders for antimicrobial activity against E. coli using the halo method. Our method can be highly useful in evaluating the antimicrobial ability of poorly water-soluble inorganic powdered materials.

View full abstract

The Mikawa region of Aichi Prefecture, where a university is located, is a nori (Porphyra spp.) farming area, and nori cultivation plays an important role in the regional fisheries industry. Nutrients contained in nori are also appealing due to its high dietary fibre and folic acid content. In recent years, however, with the changing era, the term ‘nori-banare’ (less-interested in nori) is being used. In a previous study, it was reported that over 80.0 % of college students liked nori, but the health benefits were not recognized as a reason for eating it. Therefore, in this study, an initiative was created, “recipes in which nori plays a leading role,” to make university students aware of nori and encourage them to eat it. Twelve recipes were presented, and the participating students were asked to vote by secret ballot for the recipe they would like to try. As a result, a recipe arranged in the style of baklava, a baked pastry eaten in Turkey and Central Asia, was one of the top votes. The combination of nori and sweet snacks is different from the normal image of nori, however, the results showed that it is not strange for students but rather an object of interest. This study confirmed the need to know the interests of young people and to think of ways to combine their interests with nori to promote the attractiveness.

View full abstract