Search

This study examined the difference between authors and the consistency in each author's writing styles, both were the basis of authorship verification. We analyzed 88 academic papers on psychology written by 22 authors and focused on the rates of "non-content words", "bigram of parts-of-speech", "bigram of postpositional particles", "positioning of commas", "words before period", and "Kanji, Hiragana, and Katakana" in the papers. Next, symmetric Kullback-Leibler divergence distances between the papers were calculated. To examine the author differences in writing styles, using hierarchical Bayesian modeling, we compared the distances between papers written by the same author with those by different authors. Furthermore, to examine author consistency in writing styles, we compared the distances of short durations (under five years) between papers written by the same author with the longer durations (over five years). These results supported the hypothesis that there exist author differences and consistency in writing styles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Rock-Paper-Scissors game is used as a way of making specific decisions based on incidental outcomes. The present study aimed to investigate how children acquire the underlying cognitive functions to play the game relating to understanding of "three-way deadlock structure" through developmental processes. There were 569 children (age range ＝ 12-83 months) who were evaluated. In this study, the task consisted of three subtasks:(1)" understanding rock-paperscissors symbols";(2)" judgment of winning"; and(3)" judgment of losing". We evaluated the children's developmental levels using the Kyoto Scale of Psychological Development-2001(KSPD2001). Children aged 2.6 years had a 50% success rate in passing the first task, for the second task the age at which the 50% success rate was achieved was 4.8 years, and for the third task it was 5.4 years. Significant correlations were confirmed between the developmental age assessed in the KSPD2001 and the five stages of understanding the game. The results suggest that this task is useful to evaluate specific children's stages in understanding the game, and to assess developmental levels of young children. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since the Meiji Restoration, modern Japanese medicine has developed a system that associates disease names with Western medicine. However, integrating Kampo medicine within this framework has proven challenging. Nonetheless, Kampo medicine has demonstrated success in treating diseases that are resistant to Western or modern medical approaches. This paper focuses on real clinical cases of stomatitis and explores the fundamentals of clinical condition analysis using Kampo medicine in dental clinics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dermatophytosis caused by Trichophyton indotineae has been recorded in Japan since 2020, and there is concern that it may spread further in the country. This paper explains the isolation, identification, and drug resistance mechanisms of the fungus, as well as the status of isolation in Japan and overseas, to serve as reference in dermatological practice. Skin debris, crusts of the affected area, or other samples are inoculated onto dermatophyte isolation media such as a Mycocel agar in accordance with standard isolation methods. Colonies on Mycocel agar and Sabouraud's dextrose agar are white to pale yellowish brown, flat. with shortvillous or powdery surface, and closely resemble those of Trichophyton interdigitctie. Therefore, its identification is based on clinical findings (extensive tinea corporis), urease testing (negative reaction), and sequencing of the ribosomal internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region of the isolate. ITS region homology can be determined by performing a Basic Local Alignment Search Tool (BLAST) search at the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) site. Its identity can be confirmed if the result is a 100% match with the registered T. indotineae sequences. T. indotineae has been isolated in several locations in Tohoku, Kanto, and Kyushu. Although most of the patients are foreign nationals, the fungus has now been isolated also from Japanese who have no history of overseas travel. Public health guidance must be issued, especially because of the possibility of infection from common items and facilities that may also be used by travelers from overseas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, the regional characteristics of Tosa Province at the end of the 16th century were clarified from the industrial perspective, by mapping the locations and distribution of craftsmen residential sites, analyzed from the Chosokabe Cadastral Books. In the past, geographical research aimed at clarifying regional characteristics on a scale within daimyo territories up to the Shokuho period was conducted only from the three perspectives of control, towns and cities, and flow. Therefore, I proposed a new perspective that clarifies the regional characteristics from the distribution of the industry at that time, by exhaustively and quantitatively mapping the distribution of craftsmen of several professions in an area. As a result of the analysis, in addition to the characteristics of each occupation and region, the structure of Tosa Province was clarified, showing that the center of politics, culture, and handicrafts was in the Kochi Plain, wood-related industries and shipbuilding industries were actively carried out in the coastal areas, and products were transported through coastal routes. In addition, a comparison with the distribution of towns and cities revealed that craftsmen did not necessarily live there. It is presumed that craftsmen chose to live in locations that were suitable for their livelihoods, from the viewpoint of obtaining and processing raw materials, collaborating with other craftsmen, and shipping products. Although this is just one example, the results of this paper will be useful in future comparisons and examinations of the distribution of craftsmen and regional characteristics within other daimyo territories. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, I discuss the relationship between so cial organization and offspring-rearing methods, which are starting to be used as a novel indicator in interspecies societal comparisons. Additionally, I clarify the relationship between the intimacy of the mother-offspring relationship and the development of foraging in the offspring. I suggest that the establishment of a base camp in human evolution is important not only to facilitate effective hunting and gathering but also for immature individuals to reduce the cost of accompanying adults and engage in their own foraging activities. I also attempt to deconstruct weaning from the offspring's perspective, which often focuses on the mother's de ci sion to stop breastfeeding. Spe cifically, I focus on the development of the offspring's ability to acquire food independently and the offspring's behavior away from its mother. I suggest that there is no significant difference between humans and African apes in the timing when the offspring significantly reduces its dependence on breast milk. This paper also depicts "early weaning" as a characteristic of the unique life history of humans, in which the mother conceives a second offspring at the same time as or even before the offspring becomes much less dependent on the mother's milk. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: One typical document retrieval method is to use to co-citation. The method is based on the premise that the degree of similarity among co-cited papers is equal in a particular paper. The degree is calculated with binary values: "co-cited" or "not-cited". To improve upon this method, the author proposes a multivalued co-citation measure based on semantic distance between co-cited papers. Methods: To determine the distance between citations, the author measured two machine parseable relationships (location and citing words) between places where papers are cited. In order to evaluate the proposed method, we identified two categories of co-citation: a group with strong relationships indicating "enumerated co-citation" (papers cited within one statement) and a group with weak relationships showing "non enumerated co-citation". Similarities within each group were calculated and compared using the CiteSeer dataset and 6 major similarity indicators. Results: All of the similarity indicators showed that degree of "enumerated co-citation" is higher than "non enumerated co-citation". Consequently, it became clear that the proposed co-citation measure can be used to distinguish the strength of co-citation more precisely and the it can be applied to large-scale document collections. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) is a disorder characterized by prolonged periods of depression and various physical and psychological symptoms experienced during specific seasons, typically winter. In this review aims to provide a comprehensive overview of SAD with a specific focus on psychophysiological aspects. Through the review from ancient times to the present, this paper explores the characteristics, causes, and underlying mechanisms of SAD. Particularly, it comprehensively reviews the research findings on the relationship between external factors such as light, sunlight, climate, and their association with SAD. Furthermore, the paper discusses the interplay between SAD and psychophysiological changes, along with the latest research trends in treatment and prevention strategies. By combining theoretical and practical perspectives on SAD, this article aims to provide a holistic understanding and offer suggestions for future research directions and clinical interventions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A governmental cashless point consumer refund program was implemented from October 1, 2019 to June 31, 2020 as part of a policy to promote cashless payments. This policy gave consumers a 2% or 5% (depending on the store) cashback in the form of points when they made purchases at small and medium-sized businesses, franchise chains, and convenience stores. In this paper, we examine whether this policy actually had an effect on promoting cashless usage among consumers. We used the SCM (synthetic control method) and DID (difference-in-differences) as our analysis methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, convolutional neural networks (CNN) have become leading algorithms for many computer vision tasks. Many studies have used deep learning and artificial intelligence (AI). This paper summarizes the development of deep learning approaches and the impact of AI on marketing and customer behavior and discusses the challenges facing marketing research. The ma jor marketing application of AI is to support customer decision-making. However, most previous marketing research has focused on how to contribute to marketing decision-making in practice. We believe that there is room for research on how deep learning approaches can be used to support marketing decision-making. One area that has seen major developments in deep learning approaches is that of image data analysis, including video analysis. In marketing decision-making, market segmentation and positioning strategies are closely related to image data analysis. We believe that more research based on deep learning approaches should be conducted to support decision-making in these areas. Therefore, to support decision-making in marketing, we present studies on market segmentation and positioning strategy formulation as examples of studies that combine deep learning approaches with traditional marketing research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Clinical guidelines are developed based on evidence from a comprehensive collection of clinical studies on a target disease while eliminating various biases. In Japan, the Medical Information Sharing Organization (Minds) provides standardized procedures for creating clinical guidelines, and Minds’ clinical guideline creation manuals are intended mainly for relatively common diseases for which clinical results are obtained from multiple randomized clinical trials. However, the manual does not include much on rare diseases. In 2022, clinical guidelines for six major kinds of pediatric brain tumors were published. The development of these guidelines dates back to 2013, when there were no guidelines for pediatric brain tumors, despite the fact that they have the highest incidence among pediatric solid malignant tumors. Under such circumstances, the Japanese Society for Pediatric Neurosurgery proposed the development of clinical guidelines to the Japanese Society of Neuro-Oncology, and the clinical guidelines were finally completed by following the Minds manual, while overcoming difficulties due to the rarity of these tumors. Currently, it is hoped that guidelines will be developed for other pediatric neurosurgical diseases as well, such as developmental abnormalities of the central nervous system. However, since these diseases are relatively rare, they are likely to face the same difficulties as pediatric brain tumors. Based on our experience in developing these guidelines, this paper presents some tips that may be useful for the efficient development of clinical guidelines for other rare pediatric neurosurgical diseases. According to the Minds manual, the first step is to establish a steering committee, a guideline development group, and a systematic review team. The steering committee has full responsibility for decision-making in guideline development. Each guideline development group, consisting of members with extensive experience in the target disease, conducts a scoping search to determine the scope, which is comprised of several key clinical issues related to the target disease and corresponding clinical questions (CQs), etc. For each CQ, certain conditions are proposed for selecting clinical articles for systematic review. In our experience, as a preliminary search, scoping searches are extremely important for appropriate systematic reviews in the development of new clinical guidelines. The systematic review team comprehensively collects articles for systematic review of each CQ and selects under the conditions guided by the scoping search. For rare diseases where most selected articles on treatment or prevention are not commonly based on randomized clinical trials, a qualitative systematic review will be conducted to estimate the Body of Evidence. Although the level of evidence derived from a qualitative systematic review is not as high as that from a quantitative one, the strength of recommendations for each CQ based on Body of Evidence should be discussed and determined at meetings where all members of each guideline development group are requested to share their experiences. We believe that these tips will enable the efficient development of clinical guidelines in accordance with the Minds manual, even for relatively rare pediatric neurosurgical diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

At the beginning of 19th century Ino Tadataka surveyed almost whole coast lines of Japanese Islands and main roads, and made 214 sheet maps of 1:36000 and 8 sheet maps of 1:216000 in scale. This paper deals with his map compilation and scale-down. method. Almost every night, if possible. Ino measured elevation angles of 20 to 30 stars crossing meridian to determine latitude. The Y coordinates of the observation points were calculated from the latitudes using the ratio that one degree difference in latitude was 28.2 ri (or 101.52×36000 sun). Here ri and sun are Japanese old measures. Ino could not measure longitude astronomically because he had not chronometer. He corrected coordinates (x,y) obtained in surface survey "Dosen-Ho", a kind of open traverse method. The X coordinates of the observation points were estimated as x Y/y. In this way, he obtained coordinates (X,Y) on scale of 1:36000 concerning approximately 1220 astronomical observation points in whole Japanese Islands. For the first step, he prepared local maps of 1:36000 from local surface survey, then corrected them by using the coordinates of astronomical observation points. For second step. he compiled the wide area maps of 1:36000 from local maps to control reference to the coordinates of observation points. The maps of 1: 216000 were compiled from the maps of 1:36000 by using the reduced coordinate values of one six. In this process, the coordinates of the observation points were referred to keep precision of the maps. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The patient was an 75-year-old man with Lynch syndrome as an underlying disease. He had undergone multiple surgeries for gastric, colorectal, and small intestine cancers. In February 201X, the patient visited our hospital with gross hematuria. Cystoscopy revealed multiple neoplastic lesions in the bladder. Transurethral surgery for malignant bladder tumor was performed, and the patient was diagnosed with urothelial carcinoma. After that, recurrence was observed in the left ureter, and left nephroureterectomy was performed in November 201X. From May 201X+1, pembrolizumab was administered for about 2 years because of the suspicion of recurrence of urothelial carcinoma due to thickening of the left bladder wall and suspicion of urothelial cancer. In May 201X+3, CT examination showed improvement in the wall thickening on the left side wall, and the patient was diagnosed with CR. Accordingly, the administration of pembrolizumab was discontinued. However, thickening of the left wall was confirmed again, and recurrence was suspected again. Six courses of GC therapy were performed, and the thickening improved. Pathological results showed no obvious malignant findings. Six months have passed without recurrence. In this paper, we report a case of urothelial carcinoma in a patient with Lynch syndrome as an underlying disease who achieved a complete response to multidisciplinary therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper proposes a method to visualize worker behavior by utilizing machine learning from data obtained using wearable devices and videos. In conventional IE, worker behavior is observed using a stopwatch or video camera, and the amount of time required for each motion is measured. On the other hand, it has been reported that human motion estimation using machine learning is highly accurate when skeletal data is extracted from videos, and motion estimation is performed using a learning model of a graph neural network series. However, when applied to manufacturing sites, various problems have hindered remove widespread use, such as the loss of skeletal data obtained at the manufacturing site due to the positional relationship with equipment and other workers. In order to solve the problem mentioned above, this paper proposes a method to collect position and motion data from smart tags and skeletal data from video analysis, and to estimate workers behavior using machine learning. The smart tag was jointly developed by the research group and a company as a simple wearable device for workers. One of the features of this paper providing proof that the combination of video analysis and wearable devices can solve problems that are difficult to solve otherwise. This paper clarifies the effectiveness of the proposed motion estimation method in the case where posture estimation accuracy is reduced by obstacles such as machinery and equipment, work-in-progress, and other workers, and where skeletal data is often missing. For this purpose, an experiment is conducted assuming cell production and remove the accuracies of several motion estimation models are compared. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

I have attended "Snoezelen avec les enfants de 0 a 6 ans" and "Vivre le Snoezelen - En salle ainsi qu'en mobile, et Snoezelen dans les soins corporelle "at ISNA-Suisse in Grandson, Switzerland from 6 to 15 September 2022. This paper will focus mainly on Snoezelen avec les enfants de 0 a 6 ans" In looking at "Vol. 1 to Vol.5 of "The Japanese Journal of Education and Welfare on Snoezelen" published by ISNA-JAPAN, there are many reports on the practice of snoezelen for special needs school and other educational institutions, however, there are few reports on the practice of snoezelen for newborns or preschool children. This may be because there are few practitioners utilizing Snoezelen in the daycare and treatment of preschool children in our country. This paper introduces the certification seminar, Snoezelen from 0 to 6 years old, which was attended at ISNA-Suisse, and suggests how the findings obtained could be developed into a future certification seminar planned by the ISNA Japan Snoezelen Research Institute. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper proposes a new inventory control technique for dual-channel supply chains. In dual-channel supply chains, both a retail channel and a direct channel via a website exist. In previous studies, Takahashi et al. (2011) proposed a new inventory control technique for dual-channel supply chains by using a switching point that starts and stops for production and delivery. However, using a linear function for switching, reductions in inventory cost and lost sales costs can be expected. Therefore, in this paper, the authors propose an inventory control method using linear functions for dual-supply chains and and prove its effectiveness using numerical experiments and comparing results with those of a previous study conducted by Takahashi et al. (2011). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper addresses the storage assignment problem in a mixed-shelves warehouse. In a mixed-shelves warehouse, a stock-keeping unit（SKU）is assigned to several storage locations, and many kinds of SKUs are assigned in neighboring areas. Such an arrangement can reduce the length of the picking tour when many different orders, each involving small amounts for each SKU, are to be filled. However, locating SKUs in several storage areas makes it difficult to decide the best position for each SKU. Moreover, when the pickers pick an SKU for an order, they must decide where to start, and which storage locations should be visited in order to ensure the shortest picking tour. In this paper, we first propose a mathematical model for the mixed-shelves problem. We then propose two methods to obtain approximate solutions to the problem. The first method uses a two-step approach in which we first decide the best SKU pairs to assign to the same storage area and then determine the best position for these SKU pairs. The other method consists of three steps. The first step decides the SKU pairs, the second decides the storage location assignment, and the third decides the routing. To produce the best solution, a simulated annealing-based algorithm for the assignment problem is proposed. A numerical experiment is conducted to verify the effectiveness of the two proposed methods relative to the exact method for solving the proposed mathematical formulation, especially for large size datasets [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The 432 subjects were tested for the CDR-J by the examiner of the J-ADNI. Our study reexamined the CDR-J data to clarify the errors. The results revealed that there were the following 5 types of errors. 1. Error of insufficient information in the answers for the episodic memory task was observed in 135 subjects (31.3%) among the 432 subjects. The examiner of the J-ADNI failed to follow the test instructions which caused this type of errors. 2. Illegible hand-writing in the answers for the episodic memory task was observed in 24 subjects (5.6 %) among the 432 subjects. This error type could be avoided it the examiner exercised precautions. 3. Repetition error in the name and address memory task was observed in 19 subjects (4.4%) among the 432 subjects. The examiner neglected the test in structions, which caused this type of errors. 4. A blank space error refers no answer without comment. A blank space error of one or more test items among the 79 test items of the CDR-J was observed in 188 subjects (43.5%) among the 432 subjects. Some examiners of the J-ADNI do not believe that a blank space error on a test item makes it impossible to rate the result of the CDR-J, which caused a blank error. 5. The 432 subjects had been rated by the examiner of the J-ADNI before our study which revealed that for 297 subjects (68.8%) among the 432 subjects, there were one or more errors in the 4 above types of errors and a part of the CDR-J was inappropriately performed. Accordingly, these 297 subjects could not to be rated. Subtracting the 297 subjects from the 432 subjects gives a total of the 135 subjects. These 135 subjects were again rated by us and a rating error was observed in 69 subjects (51.1%) . The rating errors of the 69 subjects were caused by byexaminer of the J-ADNI since he failed to follow the rating criteria in the CDR-J Rating Table. A total of 366 subjects (84.7%) among the 432 subjects had one or more errors among the 5 types of errors, since the 297 subjects plus the 69 subjects with the rating error is the 366 subjects. The responses of those 366 subjects were considered invalid data, while the responses of the remaining 66 subjects were considered valid data without the 5 types of errors. Points of note regarding the CDR-J: 1. One or more of the 5 types of errors were observed in 366 subjects (84.7%) among the 432 subjects of the J-ADNI project. Researchers using the CDR in research or clinical practice must endeavor honestly to prevent those 5 types of errors. When the examiner follows instructions, and understands the premise and the rating criteria of the CDR, the 5 types of errors will be avoided. 2. Scientific papers using the CDR show only the rating score of the CDR, but not the details of the results for the CDR. In the J-ADNI project, the 297 subjects who had one or more of the first 4 error types, and inappropriate performance of a part of the CDR-J were rated by the examiner of the J-ADNI, though they should not be rated. Subtracting the 297 subjects from the 432 subjects gives the 135 subjects. The 135 subjects were rated by us and a rating error was observed in 69 subjects (51.1%) among the 135 subjects included. Authors of scientific papers using the CDR should rate the CDR after he ensuring that the 4 first error types are absent and the CDR was correctly performed. They must also ascertain that there were no rating errors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A stone tidal weir, named ishihibi, is a traditional large-scale fixed gear that is constructed using stones in seaward slopes where tidal changes are pronounced. It holds schools of fish that come ashore during high tide and catches them during low tide. This paper examines how ishihibi fishing has been represented in the geography of fisheries in Japan and its descriptions by geographers, focusing on research papers published from 1950 to 1980. The first geographer to record ishihibi was Keiichi Yoshida. He clarified that ishihibi fishing, which exists in the Ariake Sea, is a characteristic fishing activity that is performed according to the natural environment. Yoshihiko Yabuuchi then focused on ishihibi in the context of the stages of development and global distribution of fishing gear. Based on Yabuuchi’s research, geographers in the 1960s and 1970s, engaged in surveys and research in coastal areas around the world. They mainly regarded ishihibi fishing as one of the indicators of fishing culture and provided many descriptions of it. However, in the 1980s, studies and descriptions of ishihibi disappeared. This sudden lack of research interest in ishihibi was caused by methodological limitations of research on fishing culture, investigating the distribution and diffusion of fishing gear and the reduction in use of ishihibi in various places due to the development of modern boat fishing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In Zimbabwe, which has experienced white settler colonialism, racial inequalities over resources have historically been shaped. Therefore, it is essential to consider the political and economic context of the commercial kapenta fishery, the focus of this paper. This paper aims to identify the politics of access to kapenta fishery and issues related to resource use, and discuss them from the perspective of Political Ecology. Kapenta fishery and the Lake Kariba where it developed were rooted in the historical context of settler colonialism. Racial exclusivity existed in access to fishing permit before independence. After independence, patron- client relationships functioned in access to fishing permit among black operators. However, the changes implemented in conjunction with land reform, with the redistribution of permits and the introduction of a lease system, the actors involved in kapenta fishing became more diverse and, in some cases, more informal. The operators identified the decrease in catches, trading on the lake and fishing in prohibited areas as challenges. These violations were the result of a combination of institutional changes and practices by actors at various scales. Understanding the complexity of environmental- human relationships, as this paper demonstrates, is important as a foundation for discussions of resource management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Radiation therapy is a non-invasive cancer therapy with a very high quality of life (QOL) for patients. However, there is still no established treatment for radiation-resistant cancer cells. Radiation often damages normal tissue as well. Here, we focused on the possibility that purinergic signaling is involved in radiation resistance in cancer cells and in recovery for radiation damage in normal cells. In particular, the adenosine A2B receptor in cancer cells is involved in radiation resistance through changes in EGFR localization and DNA damage response. On the other hand, in normal cells, extracellular nucleotides (such as ATP) promote DNA damage response and protect against radiation. In this paper, we review the role of purinergic signaling in radiationinduced cellular responses and suggest new strategies for radiotherapy by controlling purinergic signaling to improve radiation therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Epidemiological studies of radiation exposure, including those of the A-bomb survivors and medical exposures, have shown that radiation exposure is a contributing factor to the development of cardiovascular disease, but the mechanisms and effects at low doses and low dose-rate ranges are not clear. Inflammation is thought to be an important biological mechanism, but reports on their cellular and molecular mechanisms are inconsistent and require further research. This paper reviews the effects of radiation exposure on the cardiovascular system from studies using animal models (mainly ApoE-/- mice), which is important for radiation protection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research is about collaborative practice between foreign citizens and support groups in Handa City, Aichi Prefecture. Although both the clients and their outside supporters confirmed the “initial needs” of the clients, in collaborative practice the content of the support provided sometimes deviated from these initial needs (“other support”). We regard the “deviation” between needs and support as a situation in which the relationship between clients and their outside supporters becomes a discussion. The aim of this paper was to determine how this “deviation” should be interpreted. The results showed that in collaborative practice the “deviation” between “initial needs” and “other support” should not necessarily be eliminated, but rather, it was perceived as connecting the clients and their outside supporters. Such “deviation” can be significant in an interactive relationship between clients and their outside supporters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study is to discuss the implementation and importance about the multinomial logit model of Bayesian Age-Period-Cohort analysis. Since the design matrix of three factors does not become full rank due to the identification problem derived from linear dependency between age, period and cohort, few studies have used a complex model. In contrast, this paper presents the practical multinomial logit model with efficient sampling by reparameterization about the constraints of assuming a random walk for each effect. Furthermore, we compared the estimates of the logit model and the multidimensional model about political issues that should be considered from multiple perspectives. Using repeated cross-sectional survey in Japan from 1973 to 2013, the multinomial logit model was shown to be effective because it was able to obtain a trend that were not captured in the logit model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper is an essay on nonrespondent bias in statistical random sampling surveys. In particular, it focuses on the personalities of respondents and nonrespondents in survey cooperation. First, I review previous relevant research on nonrespondent bias and outline the main points of the nonrespondent bias problem. Next, focusing on items related to interpersonal trust, I analyze personality differences between cooperative and non-cooperative respondents using time series data from the Japanese National Character Survey and its related surveys. I then present rules of thumb that may be useful for survey researchers dealing with nonrespondent bias. Finally, I discuss future issues. Particular mention will be made of social disparities in electoral voting and polling, i.e., people who tend to drop out of electoral voting and polling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Causal mediation analysis estimates causal effects by focusing on the mediators between cause and outcome. Multiple causally related mediators are often strongly correlated, making the estimation of causal effects difficult. In addition, recent years have seen a number of mediators compared to a sample size. In this paper, we propose a two-step estimation method based on sparse partial least squares regression and pathway lasso. The proposed method can identify the causal pathways among many candidate causal pathways. The effectiveness of the proposed method is shown by simulation studies and a real data analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This review addresses the development of computational models in educational psy-chology. First, we generally explained computational models and their background. Second, we searched academic articles relating to computational models in psychology and other fields. The search revealed that, on the one hand, international journals in behavioral or cognitive sciences include several articles relating to computational models, and the number is increasing in general psychology journals. On the other hand, domestic and international educational psychology journals scarcely have relating papers. Third, we described the current challenges in educational psychology and how the ideas and analytical method on computational models would contribute to overcome these challenges. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We developed a new method for collecting eggs of Scepticus uniformis Kono without the use of sand or soil and investigated the development of the collected eggs. Weevils presented with a kidney bean leaflet and a piece of kitchen paper deposited most eggs on the kitchen paper, which proved to be a suitable substrate for oviposition. The developmental period of the eggs differed between 20 and 32°C. We estimated the lower developmental threshold（T0）as 13.9°C and the effective cumulative temperature of eggs（K）as 104.2 degreedays. It might be possible to set the timing of egg hatch by controlling the rearing temperature in the above range. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A closed-loop manufacturing system (CLMS) is widely known as a management strategy that aims to minimize environmental loads as well as to maintain recycling resources throughout the entire manufacturing system. CLMS is composed of a conventional forward manufacturing system (FMS) and a reverse manufacturing system (RMS) that recovers used products and uses them for the production of new products. That is, it is possible to reduce the environmental load and to suppress wasteful production and distribution costs by reusing used products as resources to the furthest possible extent. Various studies on CLMS are being actively carried out, but there is relatively little research on decision-making problems concerning the introduction of RMS. In this paper, we focus on a more realistic and more rational decision-making strategy involved in the introduction of RMS into on existing production system (FMS). Therefore, we propose a multi-objective optimized recovery model that simultaneously evaluates the operation cost of CLMS and the environmental load that is newly defined in this paper. Furthermore, through numerical experiments, the effectiveness of the proposed model as a decision-making support model relating to CLMS is investigated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper focuses on intergenerational homeshare as a type of accommodation that has potential to alleviate the financial and psychological burdens of starting university and student life. It explores the possibilities and challenges of the Kyoto Solidaire Project, which promotes intergenerational homeshare, from the perspective of its development and the actual situation of the students who use it. The Kyoto Solidaire Project consists of four main participants: the prefectural government, matching service providers, students, and elderly people. Towards gaining the trust of elderly persons and students, the government and matching providers play a major role. Students who start living in a homeshare usually do so in the middle of their student life rather than at the time of starting university. This is due to differences in information students have and reliability from matching providers. Furthermore, the students who start an intergenerational homeshare change their lives due to the financial, psychological, and temporal benefits created by home sharing and their relationship with the elderly persons involved. From this perspective, this paper concludes that an intergenerational homeshare can be a home, namely a supportive environment for students as it provides psychological support, a personal relationship, and a place where they feel comfortable. However, in the context of starting university and student life, the home in intergenerational homeshare is variable. In addition, this paper argues that attention should be paid to educational spaces that encompass not only housing but also provide a home environment in which students can comfortably concentrate on their learning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper reports a case of postoperative localized recurrence of prostate carcinosarcoma for which combined treatment with ifosfamide and doxorubicin worked effectively. The patient was a male in his sixties, with a PSA level of 18.9 ng/ml, who was noted to have prostate cancer, seminal vesicle invasion and intra-pelvic metastasis after diagnostic MRI examination and right rib metastasis was found by bone scintigraphy. Although the PSA level decreased to 0.02 ng/ml as a result of CAB treatment, docetaxel was included as a second-line therapy when the PSA rate increased. Later, MRI showed that the prostate had atrophied, there were no significant changes in the pelvic lymph nodes, and no new metastasis were detected within the thoracicoabdominal area. After completing eleven courses of docetaxel administration, bladder and rectum invasion was thought likely to be present since lower abdominal pain had been noted, and a 7 cm sized massive intra-pelvic tumor was found by MRI. Consequently, total extirpation of intra-pelvic organs followed by construction of ileal conduit and artificial anus was performed. Pathological results demonstrated carcinosarcoma. CT scan taken 3 months after the surgeries revealed an intra-pelvic tumor and multiple pulmonary nodules. Therefore combined treatment with ifosfamide and doxorubicin was begun which has contributed to a clear diminution of the intra-pelvic recurrent tumor. After completion of two courses of treatment, no significant changes to the multiple pulmonary nodules were found. At completion of the additional 8 courses of combined treatment with ifosfamide and doxorubicin, however, ifosfamide as a single-agent treatment was continuously administered resulting in the patient achieving a stable condition [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In Japan, the increasing trend of delayed marriage and inclusion of infertility treatments into insurance coverage have led to a significant need to develop comprehensive treatment plans which incorporate dental interventions commencing prior to the initiation of infertility treatments. This study is aimed to highlight a holistic approach taking into account the various stages of pregnancy, childbirth, and childcare, and the evolving health status of patients while planning infertility treatment procedures, by establishing an effective interdisciplinary collaboration between medical and dental practitioners. We believe that our study makes a significant contribution to the literature because in the prevalence of the COVID-19 pandemic, individuals undergoing fertility treatments, pregnant and lactating women exhibit a notable propensity for heightened anxieties, including substantial concerns regarding oral health-related problems and dental procedures, which need to be addressed thoroughly. Further, we believe that this paper will be of interest to the readership of your journal because our study findings will benefit the patients and doctors alike in devising effective treatment protocols for successful outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, the authors formulate multiobjectve bimatrix games with fuzzy payoffs. Using the constraint method and necessity measure, an equilibrium solution concept is defined. Under the assumption that a player can estimate the opponent player’s acceptable levels of the constraint method, an interactive algorithm is proposed to obtain a satisfactory solution for the player from among an equilibrium solution set by updating the acceptable levels. A numerical example illustrates interactive processes for a hypothetical player to show the efficiency of the proposed method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this paper is to clarify the forms of enterprises in the pharmaceutical industry in Nara Prefecture. The pharmaceutical industry in Nara Prefecture originated from the production or placement medicine/' which was established as a local industry Placement medicines are sold under a system in which distributors place medicines in households and customers pay for the used medicines later. However, the production of placement medicines has decreased, and only a few enterprises specialize in their production. On the other hand, some enterprises have diversified into products such as over-the-counter drugs, quasi-drugs, and health foods. In addition, enterprises mainly engaged in contract production for major pharmaceutical companies or drugstores have also emerged. These enterprises are large in the pharmaceutical industry in Nara Prefecture and are characterized by the fact that their main products are prescription drugs. As described above, changes in the forms of pharmaceutical production enterprises in Nara Prefecture have been observed. In Nara Prefecture, although the share of placement medicines in total production has been declining, the production value of pharmaceutical products has shown an increasing trend since the mid-2000s, reflecting the diversification of products and the increase in contract production. However, the decline in the production of placement medicines has reduced the advantages of enterprises concentrated in Nara Prefecture. The expansion of contract production contributes to the increase in production value, but 辻 is susceptible to the globalization of production or institutional changes in the pharmaceutical industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As treatment options, the management of locally high-risk prostate cancer has become more complex, nuanced, and individualized. Although oncologic factors, life expectancy, comorbidities, and shared decision making (SDM) with the patient are considered during treatment selection, the current AUA/ASTRO/SUO, EAU, and NCCN guidelines for locally advanced patients with T3 or greater currently recommend either androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) plus radiation therapy or radical prostatectomy (RP) plus pelvic lymph-node dissection. In recent years, advances in robot-assisted surgery have made it possible to control cancer by RP in some highly challenging cases. The merits of organ-sparing therapy must also be fully considered in SDM, but there have been many clinical trials aiming at curative treatment by combining surgery with new hormonal agents, anticancer drugs, and immunotherapy. In addition, medical engineering has made remarkable progress, and competition in the development of surgical robots has intensified, so further advances in robot-assisted surgery are expected in the future, and expectations for surgical therapy are increasing. In addition, the groundwork for total treatment is steadily being laid, including diagnostic imaging technology for surgical support, extended reality that combines virtual reality and real images, and telesurgery technology that utilizes high-speed, large-volume communications. In this paper, we will look at the future prospects from the standpoint of total treatment (RP) in order to provide hints on which direction we should go in during the next 10 years. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cinusa nippon Nagasawa (Isopoda: Cymothoidae), a marine parasite infesting the buccal cavities of coastal puffers, is newly recorded from the Pacific coasts of central Japan. A pair consisting of a mature female and mature male, and six mancae and a juvenile, were collected from reared vermiculated puffer, Takifugu snyderi (Abe) (Tetraodontiformes: Tetraodontidae), in an aquarium and a museum, respectively. The present paper provides a description of the morphological characters of these cymothoids, including their immature stages, and molecular analysis using 16S rRNA for C. nippon and related species. In the maximum likelihood phylogenetic tree, C. nippon was included in the clade of Ceratothoa Dana and corresponds to Ceratothoa sp. 2 reported in another study. These suggest that the relationship between Cinusa Schioedte and Meinert and Ceratothoa needs to be re-examined. Furthermore, the morphological study showed that these cymothoid mancae are similar to Manca type 2 known from zoo-plankton, provided in one of our previous reports. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper provides a systematic overview of neuroaesthetics research on the brain mechanisms underlying visual aesthetic experience and evaluation. By reviewing previous empirical literature on the functions of the subcortical reward system and prefrontal regions, as well as inter-regional brain networks, the paper discusses what brain responses contribute to aesthetic appreciation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Current treatments for urinary stones include Extracorporeal Shock Wave Lithotripsy (ESWL), Transurethral Lithotripsy (TUL), Percutaneous Nephrolithotripsy (PNL), and Endoscopic Combined Intrarenal Surgery (ECIRS). This paper provides an overview of urinary stone treatment, "Stone Mountain", highlighting the importance of addressing underlying causes. In surgical treatment, it is vital to remember that urinary stones are a benign condition prone to recurrence, prioritizing minimally invasive approaches is key. 1. Emerging Active Treatment Approaches 1) Devices for More Effective and Minimally Invasive Current Treatments ・Thulium YAG (Tm : YAG) and Thulium Fiber Lasers (TFL) Next-generation lithotripsy devices, Thulium YAG lasers and Thulium Fiber Lasers, are introduced, offering benefits and quieter operation. ・Devices for Controlling Renal Pelvic Pressure Devices like single-use flexible ureteroscopes with renal pelvic pressure measurement and access sheaths with suction function are promising in reducing complications ・Robotic-assisted ureteroscopy This development mitigates surgeon fatigue, radiation exposure risks, and improves maneuverability. ・AI-enhanced ESWL Artificial intelligence enhances the effectiveness and safety of ESWL. 2) Potential Novel Treatments for Current Algorithms ・Ultrasonic propulsion, Burst Wave Lithotripsy (BWL) Focused ultrasound waves for non-invasive stone movement or fragmentation show promise in reducing residual stones. ・Laparoscopic and Robotic-assisted Stone Surgery Robotic-assisted surgery offers improved dexterity and visualization, potentially achieving outcomes comparable to open surgery. 2. Future Developments Needed in Urinary Stone Treatment Despite established measures, urinary stone incidence rates have increased, necessitating further advancements. Research focuses on : 1) Creation of Calcium Stone Dissolution Therapy We are developing a method to enhance calcium oxalate crystal phagocytosis by human iPS cell-derived anti-inflammatory macrophages. 2) Development of Less Invasive Lithotripsy Devices Collaboration with experts from diverse fields led to introducing a femtosecond laser-based lithotripsy method. Conclusion Addressing underlying causes is the future of urinary stone treatment. The "hill" in Figure 1 represents the current ascent, whereas the mountaintop signifies the "cloud" of future treatment. Readers are encouraged to consider questions like "How can we avoid invasive surgical treatment ?" and "What are the underlying causes ?" to fully harness their capabilities as urologists. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the past few years, the number of renal transplants in Japan has finally exceeded 2,000 per year. Among Japanese transplant centers, only a few high-volume centers perform more than 50 renal transplants per year. This paper introduces Osaka University's current efforts to become a high-volume center in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, the authors investigate a mixed-model assembly line problem with the intention of maximizing work efficiency. There are some objectives for various points, such as minimizing work removes congestion and line stop time. In the case of minimizing line stop time, a longer cycle time compresses the stop time and improves the evaluation value. However, it increases idle time and results in lower work efficiency. In other words, a short cycle time increases the line stop time, but there is a possibility to increase work efficiency. Many studies have reported job sequence with a fixed cycle time. An assembly line system achieves higher work efficiency if the cycle time of the system can be changed. This paper focuses on an assembly line system that is able to adjust the conveyer speed to change cycle time and requires restart time after a line stop. In order to consider remove work efficiency including idle time, line stop time and restart time, the objective function is set to minimize the makespan as the length of a schedule. The objective function value is the time when the last product is completed at the final work station. The solution of this problem consists of job sequence and conveyer speed. The authors propose some methods using remove simulated annealing. The effect of the proposed methods is shown and the influence of the problem conditions on the makespan is investigated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines adjustment disorders in school, focusing on their relationship with problems of nonattendance at school and learned helplessness. First, I discuss the relationship between the problems of nonattendance at school and adjustment disorder by examining the results of a survey on the causes of nonattendance and those of a survey on the actual conditions of educational support centers (adjustment guidance classes) conducted by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT), and previous research on the actual conditions of students with adjustment disorder in special support schools for students with health impairments. This paper also discusses the stressors of students with adjustment disorders who do not attend school. Additionally, the following points are outlined: (1) problems with friendships and poor learning are often assumed to be stressors, (2) it is important to organize stressors carefully as they are sometimes difficult to identify, (3) it is important to adjust the environment to reduce stressors, and (4) points for individual intervention. Next, I discuss the relationship between learned helplessness and adjustment disorder based on previous studies. Assuming that learned helplessness is one of the factors behind students’ apathy and anxiety, I outline the mechanisms that give rise to learned helplessness and the methods of intervention for students with learned helplessness. Specifically, I discuss the importance of environmental adjustments and interventions that enable students with learned helplessness to have experiences of contingency. Finally, the importance of preventive psychoeducation is discussed, confirming that various events at school can be stressors that lead to adjustment disorders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

How the Soviet regime handled the concessions that subjects of Imperial Russia had acquired in Iran was closely related to the transition from the Russian Empire to the Soviet Union. Iran had been defeated in the war against Imperial Russia in the first half of the 19th century. Consequently, its northern area was incorporated into Imperial Russia’s sphere of influence. In Northern Iran, Russian subjects were granted various special privileges. The oil concession (Khoshtariya concession) was particularly important in that countries such as Britain and the United States were involved in the issue in the 1920s. Previous studies on the Khoshtariya concession fail to comprehensively capture the interconnectedness of many actors. Thus, there have been no attempts to study the issue from a broader perspective by combining it with the issue of oil concessions on the Soviet shore of the Caspian Sea or to incorporate it into the study of the entire Caspian Sea region. To overcome this shortcoming, this paper will address the question of what continuity or discontinuity can be seen between Soviet and Imperial Russian diplomacy by examining how the Soviet regime in the 1920s attempted to deal with the Khoshtariya concession. In seeking to answer the research question, Soviet geographical perceptions of the Caspian Sea region will be revealed. This paper will first touch on how Khoshtariya acquired the oil concession in Iran in the last years of the Russian Empire. It will then describe the process by which ownership of the concession was transferred to another actor after the outbreak of the Russian Revolution. The entry of the Standard Oil Company of the U.S. into the struggle for the northern Iranian oil concession that involved the Iranian government, the Soviet government, and the Anglo-Persian Oil Company is discussed in this context. Following the failure of Standard Oil to reach an agreement with the Iranian government, Sinclair Oil Corporation, which had only recently turned its attention to the northern Iranian oil, began to seek a cooperative relationship with the Soviet government. It will become clear that the Soviet government linked its negotiations with Sinclair regarding the Northern Iranian oil concession to those with Western oil companies on oil concessions on the Soviet shore of the Caspian Sea and to issues of the oil pipeline that was planned to run from Northern Iran through the Caucasus. This confirms that the Soviet Union dealt with issues of foreign concessions as issues linked to its domestic concessions and its own economic sphere, suggesting that there was an intermediate category between domestic and foreign concessions and that Soviet officials had a geographical perception of the Iranian shore of the Caspian Sea as a politically continuous region with the Soviet shore of the Caspian Sea. Thus, although the Soviet Union did not have the same territorial ambitions toward Iran as had Imperial Russia, Soviet diplomacy had a certain historical continuity with that of Imperial Russia in that the Soviet Union still considered the Caspian Sea littoral to be within its sphere of influence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper seeks to explore the perception of learning, including the factors which contributed to the spread of self-learning and collaborative learning in the Association of Russian Interpreters in Japan. The research is based on the oral history interviews of three pioneer Russian language interpreters who have taken part in the activity of the Association of Russian Interpreters since the 1980s. The paper briefly outlines the background of pioneer Russian language interpreters in Post-World War II Japan. Tokunaga Harumi, who was one of the founders of the Association of Russian Interpreters in Japan, highlighted the importance of sharing knowledge and continuous learning, and his beliefs significantly influenced Russian language interpreters’ attitudes towards learning. Next follows a description on how the three interviewed interpreters acquired necessary competence through interpreting and translation work, and it focuses attention on the fact that all of them emphasized the role of background knowledge. The paper highlights the importance of extralinguistic knowledge, including worldly knowledge and the country-specific knowledge suggesting the future possibilities of interpreter training within area studies. By analyzing the narratives, this study also demonstrates how the socio-political situation, i.e., the ups and downs in demand for interpreters at that time, was one of the factors which led to the collaboration of the interpreters. Characteristics of interpreter demand, such as the need to work in different spheres, have influenced not only the contents of interpreters’ learning but also the style of learning. This in turn fostered the spread of collaborative learning in the community of practice which enabled the interpreters in this study to exchange their experiences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]