Take-off of the Japanese University of the Air

Conclusion The University of the Air seems to have been favourably accepted by students after the first term's experience, and it can be assumed that the University activities will be developed in the future. The radio and television programmes broadcast via the University of the Air Foundation broadcasting station are listened to and watched by many people other than students of the University. The potential therefore for the social education of the public at large can be said to be enormous. Acknowledgement: The author expresses his thanks to the staff of the University of the Air Foundation and of the National Centre for the Development of Educational Broadcasting, and also to Professor Donald P. Ely, Syracuse University, for his helpful suggestions.     

The economics of the University of the Air of Japan revisited

In 1988 UAJ completed the first phase of its initial plan, thus enabling an assessment of the cost-effectiveness of UAJ and a forecast of its future based on available data. The cost per student at UAJ is 2/5, 1/2, and 3/4 of that at national, public, and day programs of private universities, and 1.1 times and 6.7 times of that at evening and correspondence programs of private universities repectively. The projected cost per graduate is slightly lower than that at national universities and 1.1, 1.9 and 2.3 times of that at public, correspondence and day, and evening programs of private universities respectively. The cost per credit is 1.3, 1.5, 2.2, 2.4 and 4.6 times of national and public universities, day, evening, and correspondence programs of private universities respectively.The simulations indicate that the cost per credit can be decreased by expanding the operation of UAJ to a nationwide scale, employing a surface circuit or satellite system; however, it is necessary that the number of students be doubled in order to make the cost per credit equivalent to that at public universities. However, even when the number of students is four times, the cost per credit is not equivalent to that at day programs of private universities regardless of what method is used. Although the current cost per credit is higher than that of conventional universities, changes in cummunication technology and student characteristics could alter the cost-effectiveness of UAJ.     

A time-space network based international transportation scheduling problem incorporating CO2 emission levels

Environmental problems have received a great deal of attention in recent years.In particular,CO2 emissions worsen global warming and other environmental problems.The transport sector accounts for 20% of the total CO2 emissions.Therefore,the CO2 emission reduction of the transport sector is of great importance.In order to reduce emissions effectively,it is necessary to change the distribution and transportation processes.The purpose of this study is to minimize both the transportation costs and CO2 emissions during transportation.Our model considers a transportation scheduling problem in which loads are transported from an overseas production base to three domestic demand centers.The need for time-space networks arises naturally to improve the model.It is possible to know the distance carriers are moving,and also consider the timetables of carriers during transportation.Carrier choice,less-than carrier load,and domestic transportation among demand centers are considered as the three target areas to reduce CO2 emissions during the distribution process.The research model was formulated as a mixed integer programming （MIP） problem.It achieves cost reduction,and will contribute to improvement of the natural environment.     

A cross-cultural confirmation of the dimensions of intercultural effectiveness

This study attempted to further our understanding of the construct of “intercultural effectiveness.” Specifically, the study compared the dimensions of intercultural effectiveness found in Hammer, Gudykunst, and Wiseman (1978) using American sojourners with the dimensions found using Japanese sojourners. The results revealed five dimensions for the Japanese sample: (1) the ability to communicate interpersonally, (2) the ability to adjust to different cultures, (3) the ability to deal with different societal systems, (4) the ability to establish interpersonal relationships, and (5) the ability to understand another. Both similarities and differences were found between the American perceptions and the Japanese perceptions of intercultural effectiveness. The implications of these results were then discussed.     

日本的教育经济学:实证分析的展望和课题

本总结了迄今为止日本教育经济学中实证研究的成果，探讨了今后需要进一步研究的课题。本从以下几个方面阐述了日本教育经济学的发展，即人力资本理论和教育收益率、劳动市场与教育、教育成果的成因分析、教育产业分析、教育需求的决定因素等，并比较各类研究的目的、方法、结论和政策意义。虽然以上每一方面都积累了很多研究成果，可是由于资料的限制，教育经济学中的实证研究尚存在着许多有待进一步研究的课题。     

A two-step iterative method for discrete-time systems reduction

A two-step iterative method (1,2) for a reduction in the order of linear continuous-time systems, given in the state equation or the transfer function, is extended to reduce discrete-time systems. The method requires the optimization of the residues and eigenvalues (or poles) belonging to an objective function. The objective function to be minimized is chosen as the finite sum of the squares of the error between the step responses of the reduced model and the original system. This scheme is continued cyclically until the objective function is satisfactorily minimized. By investigating the initial selection of the eigenvalues in the reduced-order model, it is found that the dominant eigenvalues of the original system give a good approximation. Further, the resulting model is always stable, assuming the original system is stable. As shown in a numerical example, the proposed method is superior to the other methods of model reduction in both steady-state and transient responses, and in the value of the sum of the squares of the error.     

中日青少年自主性发展的比较研究

本研究采用《自主性诊断检查表》（DTI）对中日被试进行测查。结果显示：中日两国被试在自主性的六个维度上发展水平存在显著的差异，无论是独生子女被试、非独生子女被试，还是男生、女生被试以及不同年级的被试均显示出这一趋势。     

Impacts of the universal primary education policy on educational attainment and private costs in rural Uganda

While some governments in Sub-Saharan Africa have abolished tuition to achieve universal primary education (UPE), few studies have examined the impacts of the UPE policy beyond school enrolment. This study estimates the impact of the UPE policy in Uganda on overall primary education attainments by using data including 940 rural households. We find that UPE has decreased delayed enrolments and increased grade completion rates up to the fifth grade and its effects are especially large among girls in poor households. Yet, schools in Uganda still face further challenges in terms of low internal efficiency and the unequal quality of education.     

The effect of simulation-based education before a cadaver dissection course

Although the methods for medical education continue to evolve due to the development of medicines, the cadaver dissection course still plays a fundamental role. The cadaver dissection course allows students to learn to handle instruments correctly while actively exploring three-dimensional anatomy. However, dissection comes with the risk of accidental injury. In recent years, the number of classes offered for the cadaver dissection course has decreased while the amount of knowledge required in clinical medicine has increased. Simulation-based education (SBE) has been proven to be an effective educational method that enhances the development of practical skills by integrating learners' knowledge and skills. This study aimed to investigate the effect of SBE as a preparatory education course when taken prior to a medical student's enrollment in the cadaver dissection course. In the present study, an SBE assuming practical cadaver dissection course was performed in the Clinical Simulation Center. The frequency of injury rates per 1000 h of cadaver dissection course was significantly less in 2017 and 2018 compared to that in 2016. Two years after the implementation of the SBE, average student self-efficacy scores and written examination scores significantly increased, whereas self-contentment scores were relatively unchanged. The results showed that the implementation of SBE decreased the incidence of injuries and improved students' overall self-efficacy scores and increased acquisition of knowledge evident on written examination score. Therefore, SBE as a preparatory education course may effectively promote the combined development of dissection skills and anatomical knowledge in the subsequent fundamental cadaver dissection course.