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The purpose of this paper is to re-examine the impact of exchange rate changes on the trade balance of China and its major trading partners. In the past, many studies have been focussed on the linear effect of exchange rate change, but in this paper, a non-linear Autoregressive Distribution Lag (NARDL) model is proposed. Empirical results show that there are nonlinear and asymmetric effects on the trade balance of exchange rate. In particular, the effect of exchange rate appreciation on Sino-US trade balance is more significant than that of depreciation. A genuine devaluation of the domestic currency would improve the balance of the domestic trade. However, the opposite effect is found in the case of Sino-Japan and the Euro, and the depreciation of the currency will make the trade balance worse. These results provide a solid basis for understanding the relation of exchange rate variation and trade balance. In terms of economic reality, it is also a useful reference for adjusting exchange rate and commercial policy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Japan famously muddled through the 2020 Summer Olympics – triumphant as a host in that the Games were held, after a year-long delay, despite the global COVID-19 pandemic that had threatened to shutter the event entirely. The successes were qualified, with spectator-less matches and races leading to eerily quiet medals ceremonies, at least compared with normal years of cheering fans, enthusiasts, and tourists. Nowhere was the strangeness of the event more apparent than in the Opening Ceremony, filled with a combination of subdued but technologically adept spectacle, artistic representations of grief and loss, and the an unnervingly empty Olympic Stadium. This paper examines the politics of the Ceremony, and in particular the apparent early plans for a more standard, lightly nationalistic display of local history and culture, and toward a set of acknowledgments of a global crisis that transcended borders. In doing so, it calls attention to the complex political goals on display, as well as the challenges of benefiting politically from an event whose meaning in the midst of loss had been called broadly into question. Drawing from political science and literary theory, the paper emphasizes that while spectacle can matter, it risks, a dense environment of media reflection, being seen as little more than a gimmick. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus has spread seriously throughout the world. Predicting the spread, or the number of cases, in the future can facilitate preparation for, and prevention of, a worst-case scenario. To achieve these purposes, statistical modeling using past data is one feasible approach. This paper describes spatio-temporal modeling of COVID-19 case counts in 47 prefectures of Japan using a nonlinear random effects model, where random effects are introduced to capture the heterogeneity of a number of model parameters associated with the prefectures. The negative binomial distribution is frequently used with the Paul-Held random effects model to account for overdispersion in count data; however, the negative binomial distribution is known to be incapable of accommodating extreme observations such as those found in the COVID-19 case count data. We therefore propose use of the beta-negative binomial distribution with the Paul-Held model. This distribution is a generalization of the negative binomial distribution that has attracted much attention in recent years because it can model extreme observations with analytical tractability. The proposed beta-negative binomial model was applied to multivariate count time series data of COVID-19 cases in the 47 prefectures of Japan. Evaluation by one-step-ahead prediction showed that the proposed model can accommodate extreme observations without sacrificing predictive performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Data mining from published papers can generate large experimental datasets that have been overlooked in computational materials informatics. We developed an open web system Starrydata2 to accelerate a comprehensive digitization of data of materials from as-reported plot images in published papers, without sample selection based on performance. By plotting results obtained from our dataset on experimental thermoelectric properties of 434 samples of rock-salt-type (PbTe-type) thermoelectric materials, we revealed differences in electronic structure of parent compounds PbTe, PbSe, PbS, and SnTe from just experimental data. We observed that the calculated Seebeck coefficients were fairly consistent with experimental data for n-type PbTe but not for p-type PbTe, indicating possible modifications in its valence-band electronic structure. We evaluated the electron relaxation time τel from 207 reported samples of n-type PbTe by combining calculations and experimental data. We found that τel is not a constant but varies by at least two orders of magnitude. Achieving long τel was suggested to be critical in increasing the thermoelectric figure of merit ZT. Reproduced with permission from Thermoelectrics Society of Japan. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rubus chingii Hu 1925 is an important medicinal vine shrub in the Rosaceae family, widely distributed in China and Japan. In this study, the complete chloroplast genome of R. chingii was sequenced and identified. The chloroplast genome was 155,563 bp in size with a total GC content of 37.06%. Two 25,749-bp inverted repeat (IRA and IRB) regions divided the genome as four sections, with the remainder forming a large single-copy (LSC, 85,322 bp) and a small single-copy (SSC, 18,743 bp) regions. This genome contained a total of 131 genes, of which 86 were protein-coding genes, 37 tRNA genes, and eight rRNA genes. The phylogenetic analysis showed that R. chingii, along with several other R. longisepalus, R. tsangii, R. hirsutus, R. taiwanicola, R. rubroangustifolius, and R. glandulosopunctatus, formed the monophylic group. Interestingly, the chloroplast genome structure we reported was different from the previously reported structure and provided richer phylogenetic analysis information in the Rubus genus compared to previous studies. The genome information reported in this paper will provide some useful information for further investigation on the evolution of the family Rosaceae. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We aimed to survey the findings of phenomenological studies built up in the field of diabetes care in Sweden. This is a meta-synthesis of phenomenological studies on experiences related to diabetes in Sweden focusing on learning to live with diabetes. We proceeded by reference to the seven phases of Noblit & Hare. We examined papers from seven phenomenological studies on learning to live with diabetes in Sweden. From the papers, which describe the experience of living with diabetes, three overarching themes were selected—perception and awareness of the body; integration and responsibility; and presence of others who provide support. From those describing the expert's experience, an overarching theme emerged—encouraging reflection in persons with diabetes. We interpreted each of these themes in phenomenological terms and compared them with theories in Japan. Persons with diabetes take responsibility for coping with a range of things brought on by the illness and learn to live with diabetes. Experts support these persons so they can see their world objectively and critically scrutinize it. By building a model of diabetes care in Japan that references Scandinavian human science, it will be possible to find new approaches that support learning at the existential level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines the process of the internationalisation of Japan Tobacco (JT), as a former state-owned enterprise (SOE) in the context of varied state motives and interventions influenced by changing social and political environments. The account of the successful internationalisation of this large Japanese multinational corporation (MNC), frequently listed in the Fortune Global 500, helps to meet a growing need to elaborate the relationship between the privatisation and internationalisation of SOEs. The historical analysis of JT's internationalisation is presented with two distinct focuses, each of which illuminates significant implications for scholars of business history. First, breaking down the narrative into distinct phases helps to reveal the dynamic interaction between processes of privatisation and internationalisation over time. Second, the focus on distinct stakeholders draws on resource dependency theory to elaborate the nuanced relationship between the State's motives and JT's determination to internationalise. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The greater argonaut Argonauta argo is a species of the paper nautilus (Argonautidae), which is a family in Octopoda. In this paper, we report its full mitogenome sequence, which was obtained from a specimen collected in the Japan Seas near Oki Island, Shimane Prefecture, in Japan. The sequence was determined using the NGS Illumina HiSeq platform. With its 37 genes, the mitogenome shows a typical metazoan and Octopoda genomic structure, and similar to the mitogenome of the previously reported congener, A. hians. To confirm A. argo phylogenetic position in Octopoda, we conducted maximum likelihood phylogenetic analysis, using a data set including publicly available 17 Octopodiformes, five Decapodiformes, three Nautiloids and two outgroup Conchiferans. The result confirmed the affinity of Argonautidae to Tremoctopus, and the sister group position of this clade against the rest of incirrate Octopods. The mitogenome and phylogeny of A. argo reported here will be useful for future studies involving this enigmatic species, including on the reacquisition of external calcified shell structures in mollusks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Considering the significant importance of environmental sustainability, it is vital to understand the determinants of environmental sustainability and to draw the policy implications for a sustainable environment. This paper examines the impacts of financial development and industrial structure on environmental sustainability in China from 1995 to 2020 using the A.R.D.L. approach. The result indicates that financial development negatively impacts CO2 emissions and greenhouse gas emissions in the long-run. The impact of industrial structure is also enormous. The results also suggest that industrial structure negatively impacts environmental sustainability by decreasing CO2 emissions and greenhouse gas emissions in the long-run. While Internet development accelerates environmental sustainability in Japan in the long run, economic development and energy negatively impact environmental sustainability in the long run. The findings of this study add to the current literature and provide some significant policy implications for improving environmental sustainability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study analyzed the factors required for a researcher to become a professor in the humanities and sociology, science and engineering, medicine and biology, and general studies fields. The study focuses on research productivity and analyzes the impact of hiatuses in research production on promotion in universities as well as the time at which such hiatuses have the least impact on promotions. I divided the factors required for promotion into three categories: academic performance (the number of published articles, books, and competitive grants and funding sources acquired), social elements (gender), and elements related to the duration of periods with no research output and their timing. The results show that the probability of promotion to professorship increases as the number of papers in Scopus, the number of books published, and the amount of acquired competitive funds increase. As expected, longer declines in research productivity reduce the probability of promotion. However, it is not always necessary for researchers to publish continuously throughout their careers; the results show that a decline in research productivity other than during the first five years and the period from 20 to 30 years after the start of the research career has no influence on academic promotions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Escalation of great power rivalry resulting from China's rise and Russia's invasion of Ukraine has prompted Japan to align its foreign and security policies more closely. This paper analyzes how ODA policy, which the Japanese government regards as a crucial diplomatic instrument, has been modified in the face of these changes. The most significant transformation is the securitization of ODA, or the deployment of ODA to advance Japan's national security interests. This trend is evident in the emergence of a new type of ODA that aims to contribute to Japan's security interests by strengthening the deterrence capabilities of developing countries involved in territorial disputes with China. Notably, Japan is justifying this new ODA trend in the name of upholding the universal value of the international rule of law. In other words, Japan is shifting the focus of assistance away from domestic issues of democracy and human rights in each recipient country toward the rule of law in international relations. This is a manifestation of Japan's effort to strike a careful balance between upholding universal values and avoiding the risk of offending incumbent governments in recipient countries with questionable domestic governance records. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Sino – Japanese Peace Treaty signed in April 1952 not only set the basic framework for diplomatic relations between China, Japan, and Taiwan until 1972, but was also significant in substantially determining the legal status of Chinese residents in Japan during the same period. Subsequently, this paper analyzes both the legislative process in Japan leading up to the Sino – Japanese Peace Treaty and the process of diplomatic negotiations between Japan and China and identifies the following points. In the process of legislating the Immigration Control Ordinance, the Japanese government, while recognizing that Chinese mainlanders in Japan were Chinese nationals, considered them to be outside the legal jurisdiction of the Republic of China (R.O.C.) government, and while recognizing the jurisdiction of the R.O.C. government over Formosans in Japan to a certain extent, interpreted "the ultimate nationality of Taiwanese people has not been determined" from the standpoint that the legal status of Taiwan was undetermined. The R.O.C. government was forced to accept the Japanese government's treatment regarding the legal status of Chinese residents in Japan because it was unable to have its sovereignty over Taiwan and the Penghu Islands clearly stated in the articles of the Sino – Japanese Peace Treaty out of consideration for the United States, which acted as an intermediary in the negotiations of the treaty. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Population decline is expected to continue to be a prominent feature of Japanese demography in future decades. Internal migration plays a significant role in dictating the intensity of population decline at the regional level. In this paper we visualize inter-prefecture internal migration flows between the eight regions of Japan in 2020 using a chord diagram to show the relative scales of the origin-destination migration flows between each region. In addition, we use an animated series of chord diagrams to show the development of internal migration between 1954 and 2020. We fix the axis of the sectors of the chord diagram in the animation to illustrate the rapid growth and then slow decline (post-1972) in the regional migration system, as well as the interruption in the movement patterns during 2011, due to the Great East Japan Earthquake. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper investigates the acceptance of Autonomous Vehicles (AVs) in Japan, the UK and Germany and speculates on the implications for policy and practice. Three on-line surveys of 3,000 members of the public in total, which were conducted in January 2017 (Japan), March 2018 (UK) and November/December 2018 (Germany) were analysed using Principal Component Analysis and then with an Ordered Logit Model. It finds that acceptance of AVs was higher amongst people with higher expectations of the benefits of AVs, those with less knowledge of AVs, and those with lower perceptions of risk. It also finds frequent drivers and car passengers to be more accepting, but that socio-economic factors were mostly insignificant. Finally, there were significant cultural differences between the levels of acceptance between Japan (broadly positive), the UK (broadly neutral) and Germany (broadly negative). These findings suggest that AV promoters should raise (or at least maintain) expectations of AVs among the public; engage with the public to reverse the negative perception of AVs; address AV-generated fears; not bother targeting people by socio-economic group; target frequent car drivers and passengers with information about what AVs could do for them; and target countries where AVs already enjoy a positive image. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The central model of Japan's North Korea policy has been maintained consistently despite repeated changes in the government from the Liberal Democratic Party to the Democratic Party and back again.Purpose: This paper summarizes Japan's policy concerning North Korea after the Cold War, examines the structure of this policy, and, based on this structure, analyzes Japan's current policy regarding North Korea. The analysis then turns to the future.Main Argument: Normalizing relations between Japan and North Korea may be the primary goal of Japan's policy, but the following four motives can also be identified. First, for Japan, the normalization of relations with North Korea is significant as a remaining postwar process. The second motive involves responses to security issues. Third, there is the issue of the safety of Japanese lives. Fourth, Japan's economic opportunities in North Korea must be considered. Japan has sought ties with North Korea with these four motives, which will remain unchanged in the future. However, Japan does not aim to normalize relations with North Korea without restrictions, and Japan's policy concerning North Korea is bound by the following three factors. The first factor is the international environment. Second, Japan–North Korea relations are constrained by the attitude of South Korea. Third, Japan's domestic politics also determine Japan's North Korea policy.Conclusion: While the four motives will remain the same for Japan, these three factors determine Japan's attitude toward North Korea, all three of which are pushing for Japan to negotiate with North Korea. He central model of Japan's North Korea policy has been maintained consistently despite repeated changes in the government from the Liberal Democratic Party to the Democratic Party and back again. This paper summarizes Japan's policy concerning North Korea after the Cold War, examines the structure of this policy, and, based on this structure, analyzes Japan's current policy regarding North Korea. The analysis then turns to the future. Normalizing relations between Japan and North Korea may be the primary goal of Japan's policy, but the following four motives can also be identified. First, for Japan, the normalization of relations with North Korea is significant as a remaining postwar process. The second motive involves responses to security issues. Third, there is the issue of the safety of Japanese lives. Fourth, Japan's economic opportunities in North Korea must be considered. Japan has sought ties with North Korea with these four motives, which will remain unchanged in the future. However, Japan does not aim to normalize relations with North Korea without restrictions, and Japan's policy concerning North Korea is bound by the following three factors. The first factor is the international environment. Second, Japan–North Korea relations are constrained by the attitude of South Korea. Third, Japan's domestic politics also determine Japan's North Korea policy. While the four motives will remain the same for Japan, these three factors determine Japan's attitude toward North Korea, all three of which are pushing for Japan to negotiate with North Korea. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper it is assumed that equity markets reflect the development of the overall economy of a country. Equity markets, among other factors, are considerably affected by factors such as inflation or deflation. Therefore, when inflationary or deflationary pressures appear, Central Banks try to manage those pressures in order to minimise their impact on the economy. In this paper, the case of Japan will be examined. Japan can be considered an example of a country which was under extended deflationary pressures for about three decades. In this study, the authors investigate different time frames for the Japan equity market. The research is based on Japan equity market (NIKKEI) returns. The authors aim to answer the question of whether the Japanese market complies with the Efficient Market Hypothesis (EMH) for different time frames, as well as test analytically if Japan's stock market and economy have improved after the implementation of different attempts at Quantitative Easing (QEs), a Zero Interest Rate Policy (ZIRP) or a Negative Interest Rate Policy (NIRP) to curb deflationary impacts on the economy. The analysis and obtained results could be useful for risk and portfolio management, and could be extended to other markets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One of the major limitations of using Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar (InSAR) in time series analysis is the low-phase coherence associated with rough terrain and vegetated areas, which results in limited spatial coverage in such regions. Permanent scatterers technique was introduced to overcome this limitation using time-series analysis. However, identifying major scatterers within a pixel requires the single-looked pixels oversampling which can be a demanding process especially with large interferometric stacks and vast study areas. Therefore, using multilooked temporal coherent pixels was proposed to increase processing efficiency and coverage by utilizing distributed targets, but this technique may exclude pixels with reliable phase returns because of their temporal varying neighboring pixels. In this paper, we propose a technique to identify multilooked temporal stable pixels with reliable phase returns independent of their neighboring pixels. We conduct a simulation analysis to relate the spatial coherence of a pixel with its expected temporal correlation in the time series analysis module. We found that a liberal temporal correlation threshold of 0.53 in multilooked pixels stack is equivalent to a spatial coherence threshold of 0.2 when using number of looks of 9, which is considered acceptable in temporal coherent pixels, in terms of phase standard deviation. Applying these findings to study the 2011 Tohoku earthquake in the northeastern part of Japan resulted in increasing the number of usable pixels and spatial coverage index by nearly 50.4% and 36.8%, respectively, compared to the temporal coherent pixels. Furthermore, we propose an approach to integrate GPS observations with InSAR time series analysis, which resulted in deformation maps of the megathrust 2011 Tohoku earthquake with mean RMSE of 11.4 mm and a correlation of 98% in comparison to GPS observations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper addresses questions seeking to clarify the nature of personal networking between modern Japan's wealthy economic elite and the Japanese nobility. In particular, to explore whether the social connections between the wealthy and the nobility led to changes in behaviour and formation of social ties, the marriages between the wealthy economic elite and the Japanese aristocracy, will be the focus of this study. The general overview, the motives, causes and effects of marriage alliances will be explored. And the examination of the cases of aristocratic elite who entered into business through the choice of entrepreneurial occupation will be presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper is the first study to examine the financial contagion from the U.S., Japanese and Chinese markets to Asian markets during the Global Financial Crisis (GFC) and Covid-19 Pandemic Crisis. We employ the DCC-EGARCH methodology and daily data of stock returns from 2005 to 2021 to estimate the time-varying correlations and the volatilities of stock markets. Our results show that the correlation between the U.S. and Japanese markets with emerging Asian ones is quite high, implying the interdependence between these markets. Furthermore, we find significant contagion effects from the U.S. equity market to markets in both advanced and emerging economies during the GFC. Nonetheless, during the Covid-19 pandemic, only 3 out of 10 Asian emerging markets had experienced the contagion from the U.S. Our findings also suggest that contagion effects are not strongly related to the level of global integration and Asian markets seem to be more affected by the contagion from Japan and China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new bio-economic model for managing population of non-renewable inland fishery resource in uncertain environment is presented. Population dynamics of the resource is described with stochastic differential equations (SDEs) having ambiguous growth and mortality rates. The performance index to be maximized by the manager of the resource while minimized by nature is presented in the context of differential game theory. The dynamic programming principle leads to a Hamilton-Jacobi-Bellman-Isaacs (HJBI) equation that governs the optimal resource management strategy under the ambiguity. The main contribution of this paper is a series of theoretical analysis on the reduced HJBI equation for non-renewable fishery resources in a broad sense, indicating that the ambiguity critically affects the resulting optimal controls. Practical implications of the theoretical analysis results are also presented focusing on artificially hatched Plecoglossus altivelis (Ayu), an important inland fishery resource in Japan. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper investigates how cinema has represented the two sides of the industrial expansion and contraction process in the context of a peripheral shrinking region. It explores how the cinematic vision of regions helps one to understand the processes of spatial development that resulted from socio-economic changes. Classic and contemporary filmmakers have shown the social problems associated with industrialization as well as deindustrialization. The paper focuses on the Northern Kyushu Region in Japan, which due to its own history epitomizes the problematic that affects Japan's peripheral territories - those outside the Pacific Industrial Belt. Through this analysis, it is argued that films can reveal aspects that other kinds of data cannot convey and, therefore, the cinematic analysis of regions has the potential to identify and reveal problems that otherwise would have remained unnoticed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper provides a brief explanation of the Japanese public credit guarantee system and analyzes what role it played during the global financial crisis. The author conducted a questionnaire survey of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Aichi Prefecture, the prefecture most seriously hit by the crisis, in collaboration with the Aichi-ken Credit Guarantee Corporation. Using the survey, which provides valuable information about the usage of the credit guarantee program, this paper finds that the credit guarantee system was effective in protecting the economy from collapsing. The system was so generous that now almost all SMEs want it to remain unchanged. However, as the generous system brings heavy financial burdens on the Japanese government and, more seriously, discourages firms and banks from improving their efficiencies, the author insists that reforms, such as limiting the target and the guarantee coverage, are inevitable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper aims to identify economic shocks in four developed countries that authorize different buyback programs. Previous research has revealed that there are few public debates about buyback activities and economic conditions. According to the free cash flow hypothesis, the total payout policy is in line with the real economy of each country. Using linear and non-linear bivariate causality tests, we find that buybacks and industrial production are endogeniously determined. In Japan, prior buyback programs indicated a change in economic growth. However, in the United States, changes in economic growth will increase repurchase activity before the financial crisis. This finding is interesting because it supports the idea that repurchase programs are a significant factor in determining economic shocks. It has extended and confirmed the knowledge and perception that stock repurchases could be used by financial economists to predict economic shocks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study analyzed weekday shopping behavior from a home base to a destination using data from the 4th Keihanshin metropolitan area person trip survey. We first analyzed the relationships between occupation and transportation means, transportation means and travel time, and transportation means and duration of time at the destination. Results of a chi-square test, residual analysis, and correspondence analysis confirmed that employed persons tend to travel by cars while unemployed persons tend to travel by bus or walk. The relationship between travel time and duration of time at the destination was also revealed according to transportation means. Results of a cluster analysis then classified shopping behaviors to expose four patterns. Finally, multiple regression analyzed the degree to which certain variables were related to duration of time at the destination. Results confirmed a strong relationship between duration of time at the destination and travel time. The degree of this factor's influence on other variables was also clarified. The value of these findings is that the relationship between travel time by means of transportation and the duration of time at the destination was clarified using statistical analysis. We then found a highly accurate equation that estimates the duration of time at a destination from the travel time. If the duration of time at a destination can be estimated, it may be possible to more accurately develop the structure of rest facilities, the number of parking lots, the degree of congestion, and so on, which can be associated with the customer's usage behavior in a shopping site. This research in this paper contributes to the field of urban analysis and marketing by presenting a new effective method for person trip survey and analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In May 2012, Japan launched the Point-Based Preferential Immigration Treatment for Highly-Skilled Professionals system for highly-skilled migrants. This launch is a culmination of years of interest in attracting highly-skilled migrants. Although the incentives offered to highly-skilled migrants are attractive, incentives alone do not constitute the whole picture. Researchers such as Anthony D'Costa and Oishi Nana have written about why Japan is not attracting as many highly-skilled migrants as it could be. The present paper discusses Japanese exclusionary tendencies which diminish its attraction as a destination for highly-skilled migrants, focusing on its English language education, Nihonjinron influences, mistrust of foreigners, inequality between foreigners and the Japanese, and insistence on doing things the Japanese way. These issues need to be addressed if Japan is serious about attracting larger numbers of highly-skilled migrants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The location of distribution centres for online retailers has become an important issue for many companies. The operation of the distribution centre for e-commerce seems to be different from the traditional concept of distribution centres. This study considers how the location of distribution centres are designed and operated for online retailing using a computer simulation with actual data. This paper analyses current issues in order to propose an effective location for e-commerce distribution centres. An effective location for a multi-distribution system over a wide geographical area is required. This paper clearly points out the importance of locating e-commerce distribution centres over a wide geographical area by performing a computer simulation using actual data on the assumption that online resale business customers live in a metropolitan area. The study created a business model in which a buffer warehouse, which primarily handled commodities with high-frequency shipments, was located near a large consumption area and was used in addition to a large-scale distribution centre. The validity of the created business model was verified by performing a simulation based on actual data. The result revealed that these recommended improvement measures for the location of e-commerce distribution centres can function effectively. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

A comparative assessment of pandemic governance in Japan and the United States helps explain the strikingly different shapes of the Covid-19 pandemic in these two countries. Japan has more successfully managed the pandemic compared to the striking failure of the US response. This paper uses the metaphor of the control tower of an airport to examine four aspects of pandemic governance: (1) the culture of the control tower, showing strikingly different cultures of mask-wearing; (2) the social value context of the control tower, reflecting a greater tendency in Japan for people to follow government advice, compared to the US libertarian values of emphasizing personal liberty and disregarding official advice; (3) the role of national leadership, especially who is sitting in the control tower making decisions, with Prime Minister Abe largely taking responsibility while President Trump effectively left decisions up to markets and individual states; and (4) the use and clarity of information provided by control-tower authorities, showing greater clarity and consistency in Japan compared to the confused and contradictory messages in the US. These differences in control-tower governance have had marked effects on the pandemic responses of the two countries and have important implications for sustaining democratic traditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Group of 20 Summit (G20) in Osaka, which Japan chaired for the first time in June 2019 has created a tailwind for achieving universal health coverage (UHC) globally. In response to the rapid digitalization, the G20 leaders commenced negotiations for the Osaka Track framework to formulate international rules on data flow across borders and systematize the concept of 'Data Free Flow with Trust (DFFT).' The strategic harnessing of the power of data to strengthen the healthcare system can allow for rapid and affordable progress toward achieving UHC. However, world leaders have yet to discuss what data governance approaches the Osaka Track will follow, or even on what values it will seek to create and maximize. In this paper, we propose a people-centered, trust-oriented approach as the key principle of data governance toward achieving UHC, using Japan's experience as an example. We believe that this approach is compatible with other prevailing approaches (e.g. the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) in the European Union), and can serve as a bridge to their conceptual differences. We hope that our proposed principles will be fully discussed in post-G20 Osaka Summit meetings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The presence of seismo-lower ionospheric perturbation for the Kobe earthquake (EQ) has been revisited with a relatively new phenomenon of ULF (ultra-low-frequency) magnetic field depression effect. By using the ULF data in Japan only at Kakioka belonging to Japan Meteorological Agency (because data from Memambetsu and Kanoya were not available), we have found that a very clear ULF depression was observed at Kakioka on 14 January 1995. A comparison with our former result on subionospheric VLF (very low frequency) propagation anomaly indicates that the occurrence of ULF depression exhibits a temporal coincidence (synchronization) with that of subionospheric VLF anomaly. This may be acceptable because the ULF depression can be explained in terms of enhanced absorption of magnetospheric ULF waves through the disturbed lower ionosphere prior to an EQ. The result of ULF magnetic field depression in this paper is likely to provide a further support to the presence of the lower ionospheric perturbation before the Kobe EQ. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

This article shows how wartime conditions transformed the waste business in Japan. Hygiene regulations from 1900 to the 1920s followed by an influx of Korean migrant labour disrupted the traditional waste trade. The conquest of Manchuria opened up new export markets for Japanese waste and increased the demand for munitions, causing scrap metal prices to skyrocket. These new economic conditions created opportunities for Korean-owned waste businesses. In 1938 the Japanese Ministry of Commerce and Industry imposed a control system on kuzuya scrap dealers consciously modelled on Nazi Germany to keep scrap prices as low as possible and to prevent criminal activity through extensive surveillance. These price controls privileged wholesalers and harmed waste-pickers; Koreans remained in the trade because of their cheap labour. Economic mobilization under conditions of total war after 1941 temporarily rehabilitated the marginalized image of kuzuya in government propaganda, but the end of the war shattered that illusion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

How did incumbents in Japanese publishing maintain resale price maintenance (RPM)? This article sheds light on the inter- and intra- industrial structure that enabled the protection of RPM, or the fixed price system, amid the country-wide liberalisation in the 1990s. By analysing textual data including governmental reports, trade papers in publishing and leaflets adopted for lobbying, the critical decade was reconstructed. It addresses a scarcity of business history literature about the link between RPM and business organisations, particularly concerning lobbying. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We conducted a global survey on the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the research activities of materials scientists by distributing a questionnaire on 9 October 2020 with a response deadline of 23 October 2020. The questions covered issues such as access to labs, effectiveness of online conferences, and effects on doctoral students for the period covering the first lockdowns until the relaxation of restrictions in late September 2020 in many countries. The survey also included online interviews with eminent materials scientists who shared their local experiences during this period. The interviews were compiled as a series of audio conversations for The STAM Podcast that is freely available worldwide. Our findings included that the majority of institutes were not prepared for such a crisis; researchers in China, Japan, and Singapore were able to resume research much quicker - for example after approximately one month in Japan - than their counterparts in the US and Europe after the first lockdowns; researchers adapted to using virtual teleconferencing to maintain contact with colleagues; and doctoral students were the hardest hit by the pandemic with deep concerns about completing their research and career prospects. We hope that the analysis from this survey will enable the global materials science community to learn from each other's experiences and move forward from the unprecedented circumstances created by the pandemic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Epimedium L. is an important genus in the family Berberidaceae. Epimedium trifoliolatobinatum (Koidz.) Koidz. 1939 is inhabited on the west side of the Shikoku, Japan. In this study, the first complete chloroplast genome of E. trifoliolatobinatum was assembled with Illumina paired-end sequencing data, which was 157,272 bp in length with a total GC content of 38.70%. A total of 112 unique genes were annotated, comprising 78 protein-coding genes, 30 tRNA genes, and four rRNA genes. The phylogenetic analysis suggested that E. trifoliolatobinatum was sister to E. koreanum. The current results provided fundamental information for further conducting molecular systematics and phylogenetic research of Epimedium genus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tertiary hyperparathyroidism is a complication of kidney transplantation. This complicated condition carries over from the dialysis period and varies according to the function of the transplanted allograft. Treatments include pharmacotherapy (mainly using calcimimetics) and parathyroidectomy, but calcimimetics are currently not covered by the national insurance system in Japan. Two types of parathyroidectomy can be performed: subtotal parathyroidectomy; and total parathyroidectomy with partial autograft. Both types can be expected to improve hypercalcemia. Concerns about the postoperative deterioration of allograft function are influenced by preoperative allograft function, which is even more likely to be affected by early surgery after kidney transplantation. In general, transient deterioration of allograft function after surgery is not expected to affect graft survival rate in the medium to long term. Tertiary hyperparathyroidism in kidney transplant recipients negatively impacts allograft and patient survival rates, and parathyroidectomy can be expected to improve prognosis in both kidney recipients and dialysis patients. However, studies offering high levels of evidence remain lacking. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This debate examines the impact of infodemics – an over-abundance of information – on social distancing during the COVID-19 pandemic. Because of its external effects, social distancing behavior (SDB) shares fundamental properties with public goods, whose potential for undersupply has been examined extensively in the social sciences. Although the negative effects of infodemics have been emphasized by governments and international organizations, theoretical models suggest that infodemics may work as a mitigation mechanism. That is, infodemics may enhance people's SDBs. Based on original survey data, we show that media exposure can positively increase SDB. We conclude by discussing two public health implications. First, the media plays an important role in motivating SDB. Second, even if infodemics can increase SDB, we must be wary of their ability to pose other, non-negligible dangers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many plants exhibit systemic induced resistance (SIR) coordinated among numerous branches after damage to a single localized tissue. Recently, it has been revealed that damaged leaves release a variety of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) into their surroundings that induce SIR. The phenomenon has been described for only four species in field experiments. We investigated induced resistance to herbivory in beech, a dominant tree in Japan. We examined whether volatile cues were required for SIR by determining natural levels of leaf damage for assay branches that were on the same plant as treatment branches. We found when a local branch was mechanically clipped, the proportion of leaf segments that were damaged by herbivores was reduced. However, when a clipped branch was covered with a plastic bag, the proportion of leaf segments that were damaged was the same as that of the control. These results suggested that SIR in beech trees required air contact. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines whether Japanese regional banks entering the banking market in other prefectures, including neighboring prefectures, can increase their lending-based income. To stimulate local economies and support local small- and medium-sized enterprises, the current Japanese Government's policies for regional banks require these banks to engage in region-based relationship banking practices. In this study, three lending-based income measures were used as dependent variables, and estimation was made using panel data from Japanese regional banks. As a result, it was determined that regional banks that enter markets in other prefectures experience positive effects in all three lending-based income measures. Moreover, it was determined that regional banks whose headquarters are located in non-urban areas derive greater benefit from their loan businesses upon entry into other prefectures, including neighboring prefectures, where economic activity is more vibrant than regional banks whose headquarters are located in urban areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While sovereign debt has become a major constraint in the policymaking of most developed countries, this article asks why the choices in fiscal and monetary policy were not uniform among the highest sovereign debt countries: Italy and Japan. While Japan has been fairly unconstrained in economic policymaking over the last 25 years since the onset of the 'Lost Decades,' Italy has been very strongly constrained even as debt levels are higher in the former than in the latter case. It is argued that Italy faced two important constraints to policymaking, which Japan does not face: (1) the higher exposure to foreign debt holding, which has made Italy more vulnerable to fluctuations in the interest rate, thus making the government more cautious about taking certain fiscal decisions; (2) the common currency and fiscal treaties to limit deficit and debt accumulation, which form a legal barrier to fiscal and monetary expansionism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: As the needs for home care increase, contact with patients and jobs out of the pharmacy such as the patients' homes have increased, and there is concern that the situation increases pharmacists' work-related stress. Stress deteriorates pharmacists' quality of life (QOL) and affects the quality of services they provide. In this study, we developed a scale for the measurement of stress of pharmacists engaged in home care and evaluated it in pharmacists in 3 prefectures of the Tokai district, Japan. Methods: Based on the stress factors of pharmacists in home care extracted by previous studies, a 59-item questionnaire was developed. The questionnaires were sent to 1785 pharmacies engaged in home care in 3 prefectures of the Tokai district, and anonymous responses were obtained from 399 (valid response rate: 22.4%). The answers to each question were scored using 5-point scale (1: I feel no stress to 5: I always feel strong stress). Results: As a result of factor analysis, the Pharmacist's Stress Scale for Home Care (PSS) was prepared with 51 items, i.e., 14 related to the first factor, "difficulty and feeling of incompetence in patient care", 9 related to the second factor, "relationship with superiors and work environment", 13 related to the third factor, "burdens related to work load and work contents", 10 related to the fourth factor, "communication with patients and families", and 5 related to the fifth factor, "communication with other professions". Cronbach's α coefficients for the entire scale and each factor were ≥ 0.833, and sufficient internal consistency was obtained. Conclusions: The scale developed in this study is considered to be useful for the measurement of stress of pharmacists derived from interpersonal work and home care services. Leaving the job and burnout are expected to be prevented by perceiving the stress level of the pharmacists by themselves using this scale and coping with stress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study aims to investigate risk factors of paternal perinatal depression during the COVID-19 pandemic. We conducted an online cross-sectional study of 473 prenatal fathers and 1246 postnatal fathers in August 2021. We applied a modified Poisson regression to estimate relative risk ratios of possible factors for paternal perinatal depression (measured by Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale), sequentially introducing the following factors into the model: individual factors, interpersonal factors, obstetric/pediatric factors, and service utilization factors. Prenatal fathers with the following risk factors were at an increased risk for having depressive symptoms: adverse childhood experiences (risk ratio; RR 1.61), past depression (RR 1.63), fear of COVID-19 (RR 2.09), lower social support (RR 1.91), low family resources (RR 1.95), and intimate partner violence (IPV) victimization (RR 1.29). Postnatal fathers having the following risk factors were at an increased risk for having depressive symptoms: past depression (RR 1.67), fear of COVID-19 (RR 1.26), low family resources (RR 1.85), IPV victimization. (RR 1.18), and preterm birth (RR 1.18). The study showed risk factors such as past history of depression, high fear of COVID-19, low family functionality, and IPV victimization were associated with perinatal depressive symptoms. The findings should contribute to future directions of interventions for paternal perinatal mental health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chronic kidney disease-associated pruritus (CKD-aP) is very common and sometimes refractory to treatment in hemodialysis patients. In a trial conducted in Japan, nalfurafine, effectively reduced itching of treatment-resistant CKD-aP. Our present bridging study aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of nalfurafine in Chinese cohort with refractory CKD-aP. In this phase III, multicenter bridging study conducted at 22 sites in China, 141 Chinese cases with refractory CKD-aP were randomly (2:2:1) assigned to receive 5 μg, 2.5 μg of nalfurafine or a placebo orally for 14 days in a double-blind manner. The primary end point was the mean decrease in the mean visual analogue scale (VAS) from baseline. A total of 141 patients were included. The primary endpoint analysis based on full analysis set (FAS), the difference of mean VAS decrease between 5 μg nalfurafine and placebo group was 11.37 mm (p =.041); the difference of mean VAS decrease between 2.5 μg and placebo group was 8.81 mm (p =.110). Both differences were greater than 4.13 mm, which met its predefined success criterion of at least 50% efficacy of the key Japanese clinical trial. The per protocol set (PPS) analysis got similar results. The incidence of adverse drug reactions (ADRs) was 49.1% in 5μg, 38.6% in 2.5 μg and 33.3% in placebo group. The most common ADR was insomnia, seen in 21 of the 114 nalfurafine patients. Oral nalfurafine effectively reduced itching with few significant ADRs in Chinese hemodialysis patients with refractory pruritus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study explores how the Japanese and Korean governments use multi-bi aid to complement their bilateral aid and compares their allocation behaviors. As opposed to traditional multilateral aid, multi-bi aid is earmarked for a specific country, project, region, sector, or theme. Japan—a traditional leading donor—and Korea—a small but growing donor—are considerably different in terms of their ODA history and size; although, they are comparable in meaningful manners in terms of their level of cooperation with multilateral organizations. Over the past 10 years, both countries used the multilateral system to a significantly lesser extent yet showed a higher proportion of earmarked funding within multilateral aid compared to the average DAC donor. This study identified more similarities than differences between Japan and South Korea—both countries commit a large proportion of their multi-bi to fragile and conflict-affected states, countries under-represented in their bilateral aid programs. Accordingly, a large proportion of their aid has been channeled through multilateral organizations leading the sectors that are not prioritized with their bilateral aid. Overall, this study identified strong complementarities between the composition of Japan's and Korea's bilateral and multi-bi aid. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context: Gout is a chronic disease that imposes a huge financial and health burden on patients, which might diminish quality of life. Qin Jiao, a perennial herb found in northwestern China and Japan, is commonly used for treating various ailments. Objective: This study investigates the effects of Qin Jiao on gout and joint inflammation and elucidates its potential mechanism for gouty arthritis. Materials and methods: Study 1, a literature review was conducted using PubMed, Web of Science, and CNKI to assess the applications of Qin Jiao in arthritis treatment. Study 2 was performed to discover the component targets and gouty disease targets via TCMSP, OMIM, GeneCards and DRUGBANK, and network pharmacology analysis. Study 3, male Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were divided into normal, model, colchicine, Qin Jiao low-dose (QJL), and Qin Jiao high-dose group (QJH), oral gavage for 40 d. Serum, synovial fluid, and synovial membrane tissue were collected to measure the expression levels of IL-1β, IL-6, and STAT3. Results: The research also identified potential targets and pharmacological pathways of Qin Jiao for gout treatment. In vivo study demonstrated Qin Jiao can reduce IL-1β levels in serum and ankle flushing fluid. ELISA analysis confirmed that Qin Jiao significantly reduces the protein expression of IL-6 and STAT3. Discussion and conclusion: Qin Jiao exerts anti-inflammatory effects on gouty arthritis by modulating the IL-6/STAT3 pathway. This study provides a biological basis for the use of Qin Jiao in treating arthritis-related diseases and offers experimental evidence for potential future drug development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ground-based high voltage electrical line inspection is one of the difficult and highly dangerous job as far as a manual worker is concerned. The transmission line inspection by robots avoids temporary interruption of power supply that affects the end user and transmission grid. Also, robot-based inspection reduces maintenance cost and hazards. The electrical line inspection is normally carried out using binoculars and rarely by helicopters in most of the countries because of the low cost. Wire traversing or aerial robots are being used in Japan, Canada, USA and Russia for inspecting and monitoring faults in transmission lines and towers. However, most of these robots require a lot of human effort for installation due to its weight and complex design. Cost of these robots is also very high. This paper presents the mechanical design, fabrication and testing of a novel, low cost, light weight and compact power transmission line inspection robot. This work also includes kinematic, static and dynamic analysis of various subsystems of robot. Proposed robot is capable of traversing on straight transmission line and jumper cables present in tension towers. The robot has 10 DoF dual arm for crossing operation and a base system to achieve the locomotion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights from the article: The 27th International Liquid Crystal Conference (ILCC2018) was held in Kyoto from 22 to 27 July 2018. Considering this fact, the organising committee planned general sessions for existing fields of science and technology of liquid crystals as well as special sessions for research fields related to liquid crystals and industrial applications in order to extend the territory of liquid crystal science and technology. Diverse topics were covered in the session ranging from defects, liquid crystal composites, molecular theories of complex phases, biological and lyotropic liquid crystals, and elastomers. The International Liquid Crystal Conferences have provided excellent opportunities for sharing new ideas, stimulating discussions, and exchange of information for researchers and engineers in the fields of liquid crystal science and technology since the first conference was held in Kent State University in 1965.

Geographical studies of outdoor activities have increased in recent years with the rise in popularity of these activities worldwide, including in Japan. Volunteered geographic information (VGI) is a key tool for organizing outdoor activities as it offers a means to determine the locational information and names of places. To evaluate the quality of VGI, geospatial data generated by land survey agencies and other VGI are often utilized as reference data. However, since these reference data may not be available, other methods are necessary to assure the quality of VGI. In this study, we examined five trust indicators based on the inherent characteristics of VGI through an empirical case study. We used mountain names extracted from OpenStreetMap in Japan as data because there were almost no other VGI in the vicinity. As a result, we isolated three trust indicators, namely versions, users, and tag corrections, to examine the thematic accuracy of VGI because these were the only statistically significant indicators. However, we found that the prediction rate of thematic accuracy was very low. To improve thematic accuracy, this study recommends using the most accurate versions, applying correctly given tags, and considering the motivations and characteristics of the VGI contributors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The growing India-Japan engagements are not only focused on economic issues, but also cover a wide range of interests, including regional security, political, and maritime security concerns. Both countries are consolidating strategic partnerships to address the risks and vulnerabilities posed by the evolving regional balance of power. Through their embeddedness with China, both India and Japan form an intrinsic part of the Indo-Pacific geopolitical security architecture. The key transformation of relations between these two states in the region is in response to the geopolitical change brought about by China's rapid ascension. In this regard, the article further explains how both countries are systematically strengthening a strategic partnership and gradually reinforcing economic, political, security, and strategic cooperation against China. This article seeks to address how both states would restrain rising China's strategic maneuvering in the Indo-Pacific region through an analysis of the India-Japan alignment, with the main focus of this study being on analyzing how both India and Japan are now investing in a long-term strategy to balance China's hegemonic policies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dolomite [CaMg(CO3)2] is used widely for soybean, Glycine max (L.) Merr. production in Japan to amend soil pH, although magnesium (Mg) in the dolomite can inhibit soybean growth and yield. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of Mg on soybean production in a paddy – upland rotation field in 2019–2020 by comparing the application of dolomite and calcite (CaCO3). The field test included three replications with three lime applications: control (no lime), dolomite, and calcite. The amounts of calcite and dolomite applied in each year were 253 and 259 g m−2, respectively. The soil pH was almost similar following the applications of calcite and dolomite, whereas the soil exchangeable Mg content was higher following the dolomite application than following the other applications. The shoot weight from the flowering stage to the harvest stage (R8) was significantly higher following the calcite application than following the other applications. However, the shoot weight at only R8 was significantly higher following the dolomite application than following the control application. In 2019–2020, the highest soybean yield was resulted from the calcite application (355 g m−2) followed by the dolomite application (312 g m−2) and the control application (260 g m−2). The severity of soil-borne diseases was lower following the dolomite application than following the control application, and even lower following the calcite application. Thus, the application of dolomite increased soybean yield by improving soil pH; however, Mg in the dolomite inhibited a further increase in soybean yield in a paddy – upland rotation field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We aim to investigate the impact of environmental entrepreneurship and green innovations on CO2 emissions in highly polluting Asian economies. For empirical estimation, we have applied ARDL and NARDL models. In the short run, the linear estimates of environmental entrepreneurship are significant in China and India. The short-run non-linear estimates of environmental entrepreneurship are significant in the case of China, India, and Japan. Similarly, the short-run linear estimates of green innovations are significant in China, India, and Japan, whereas the non-linear estimated coefficients of green innovation appeared to be significant in India, Japan, and Russia. In the long run, the linear estimates of environmental entrepreneurship are negative and significant in three countries, namely China, Japan, and Russia. Similarly, the estimates of green innovations are negative and significant in China, India, Japan, and Russia. In the non-linear model, the estimated coefficients of positive shock in environmental entrepreneurship are significant and negative in the case of China, India, and Japan; while, the estimates of negative shock in environmental entrepreneurship are negative and significant in India only. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper applies a sentiment index to check the influence of regional developed countries like Japan and Germany on the sentiments in regional developing countries like Pakistan and Turkey, respectively. The index has been created using a principal component approach with modified proxies. The results indicate that there is a significant influence of developed markets on developing markets also the sentiment index created in this study is good indicator regarding the return pattern of the stock exchange. This study has followed the footsteps of previous studies for methodology and the time period which is used ranged from 29 December 2004 to 31 December 2014. The weekly data has been collected with Wednesday prices so to avoid the white noise, start-of-the week and end-of-the week effect. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]