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Sensitizers are used to prepare photosensitive materials for ink-printing and thermal-recording media. Typical sensitizers contain an aromatic ring and exhibit aryl hydrocarbon receptor-mediated activity. They can accumulate in aquatic biota, leading to the disruption of ecosystems. Effluent from paper recycling plants has been identified as a source of contamination, and the presence of sensitizers in toilet paper may represent a new source of contamination in aquatic environments. To examine possible sources of contamination by sensitizers, this study investigated the levels of sensitizers in recycled toilet paper. We also studied the prevalence of sensitizers in rivers receiving effluents from sewage treatment plants in Japan, from 2020 to 2022. We detected eight sensitizers and related compounds in both toilet paper and river water samples; their total concentrations ranged from 0.78 to 34 µg/g (mean: 12 µg/g) in toilet paper and 58–1167 µg/L (median: 77 µg/L) in water. In the water samples, sensitizers were partitioned between liquid and suspended solid phases, and in suspended solids, sensitizers accounted for an average of 42% of the total. Correlation analysis showed a high correlation between sensitizer composition in the water from a river receiving sewage treatment plant effluents and toilet paper. Since these compounds were also detected in the river water analyzed in this study, toilet paper should be considered a novel source of sensitizers contamination in sewage treatment systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Traditional papermaking was a significant innovation that intrigued the information-sharing society in a wide range of the globe. The importance of finding the historical background hidden behind the historical traditional paper is critical to understanding societies in history. Advanced molecular biological research is applied to many forensic studies to identify the origin and criminal events. Yet, biological research refrained from the heritage science of traditional papers due to its damage to the samples. The current study explores the Pearson correlation between DNA in traditional paper and non-destructive measurement of characteristics of traditional paper. DNA concentration and purity were found to have a proportional relationship based on the CIEL*a*b* color system. The color of the traditional paper was assessed assessment shows green and yellow rather than red and blue. The DNA concentration demonstrated a positive linear correlation with the peaks of 992 cm−1, 1599 cm−1, and 1628 to 1638 cm−1 region, which were lignin-specific functional groups. The presence of lignin in traditional paper defines the colors green and yellow, which is related to the presence of a cell wall. The quantity of cell walls present is linked to DNA survival during the traditional papermaking process. Furthermore, the partial least square (PLS) regression model is established. The prediction model based on DNA, paper properties, and smoothing + the second derivative preprocessed attenuated total reflection-Fourier-transform infrared (ATR-FTIR) spectral data demonstrated valid purity predictions. The evaluation parameter of the cross-validated prediction model contains a low Root Mean Square Error of Cross-Validation (RMSECV) of 0.091 for DNA purity. The determination coefficient was close to 1. However, the further establishment of a validated DNA extraction methodology is required for the consistency of the prediction model for DNA concentration. The hierarchical clustering analysis demonstrated the agglomerative dendrogram on traditional paper samples. For the dendrogram, the Nasu paper mulberry (originating in northern Japan) was distinguished from another paper mulberry (originating in southwestern Japan) by clustering. By multivariate statistical analysis, the DNA presence and quality were predictable from the Japanese traditional papers. In addition, the clustering analysis provided the possible origin of paper mulberry materials for traditional papers. Based on the preliminary information, the need for DNA analysis on historical traditional paper can be determined. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The XY model of oil‐paper insulation connects the dielectric properties of oil, paper and oil‐paper system. Its equivalent circuit is the basis of the application of dielectric response technology in the state diagnosis of transformer oil‐paper insulation. To better apply the XY model to the study of the dielectric properties of oil‐paper insulation, the dielectric properties of the coaxial oil‐paper insulation system built in the laboratory, XY model and its equivalent circuits are compared. Then an improved circuit of XY model which can reflect the properties of the oil‐paper insulation more truly is proposed. The results show that there is no difference between the XY model and the coaxial model, and both can well characterize the oil‐paper insulation system. The two equivalent circuits of XY model, "Series to Parallel" circuit and "Parallel to Series" circuit, ignore the current tangential component and the electric field distortion in oil‐paper insulation, respectively, resulting in deviations from the XY model. By introducing a new branch C*XY, the improved circuit can reflect the tangential current and electric field distortion in oil‐paper insulation, which can be completely equivalent to XY model. In addition, there is a characteristic frequency point in the oil‐paper insulation system, where the dielectric loss factor tan δ of oil, paper and oil‐paper system are the same. There is no difference between the XY model and its two equivalent circuits at this point. The characteristic frequency is determined by the dielectric properties of oil and paper, and not affected by the insulation structure. © 2022 Institute of Electrical Engineers of Japan. Published by Wiley Periodicals LLC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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The frequency‐domain dielectric spectroscopy (FDS) of humid insulating paper has been measured at different temperatures. The data show three independent dielectric processes: electrode polarization, hopping conductivity and interfacial polarization. The dielectric properties of humid insulating paper are composed of hopping conductivity and interfacial polarization, and its equivalent dielectric model can be represented by a Havriliak‐Negami (HN) relaxation branch parallel hopping conductivity. At high temperatures and low frequencies, the measured dielectric spectroscopy bends downward, which is caused by the electrode polarization. In this case, the equivalent dielectric model is composed of the body impedance of insulating paper and the electrode polarization in series. According to the equivalent dielectric model, the components of electrode polarization, hopping conductivity, and interface polarization can be separated, thereby eliminating the parasitic effect of electrode polarization on the dielectric properties of insulating paper. Both of hopping conductivity and interface polarization of insulating paper move toward high‐frequency direction with temperature increasing. For humid insulating paper with a moisture content of 5.9%, the activation energies of hopping conductivity and interface polarization are 1.18 and 0.99 eV, respectively. This difference in activation energies results in the inability of the spectrums of insulating paper to overlap with each other at different temperatures. Based on the insulating paper without oil immersion, the results obtained in this article are not affected by oil or oil‐immersion operations. This provides a reference for exploring the dielectric properties and physical mechanisms of oil‐paper composite insulation materials widely used in high‐voltage equipment. © 2023 Institute of Electrical Engineer of Japan and Wiley Periodicals LLC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Assessment of the aging of oil‐paper insulation is analyzed in this article, based on an improved fractional Poynting‐Thomson model, which includes dc and hopping conductivity (P‐T model2). Based on samples of oil paper produced in laboratories with different thermal aging times, it has been found that the proposed improved model provides a better fit and a higher index of coincidence concerning the measured values than the traditional P‐T model and the model that only incorporates the effect of dc conductivity (P‐T model1). Nevertheless, comparing the proposed improved P‐T model with the traditional Cole–Cole (C‐C), Davidson–Cole (D‐C), and Havriliak–Negami (H‐N) models, the improved P‐T model2 also demonstrated a superior fit for the measured value and a higher coincidence index than another model. In addition, there was an excellent exponential relationship between the quantities εa, εb and τ of the improved model and the furfural content of the samples. Consequently, these characteristic quantities could be utilized to estimate the furfural content in the oil‐paper insulation and evaluate the insulation's condition. © 2023 Institute of Electrical Engineer of Japan and Wiley Periodicals LLC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to publish good research papers from Japan, it is necessary to conduct good (i.e., meaningful) research, obtain good (i.e., meaningful) results, and write good manuscripts that convey the significance of research. In particular, when aiming for publication in an English medical journal, the manuscript should be written in correct and accurate English, which is a major challenge for authors who are non-native speakers of English, such as those from Japan. At the same time, to ensure that the manuscript is a "good paper," attention should also be paid to elements other than language. To write a paper that will be accepted by reliable medical journals, including top-ranked ones, the content should be appropriately written according to the requirements based on international standards, such as the reporting guidelines endorsed by the EQUATOR Network and the recommendations of the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors; this is a common challenge not only for Japanese authors but for authors around the world. Medical writers are professionals who improve the quality of manuscripts and facilitate the publication of research. Based on my own expertise and experience as a medical writer for 20 years in supporting clinical research, I would like to describe the steps I think should be followed to produce good manuscripts. I would also like to focus on the importance of education and of collaboration with professionals in writing and publishing research papers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article delves into the collection of texts related to Japan within Paul Claudel's complete works and supplementary volumes, discussing their organization and significance in understanding Claudel's relationship with Japan. It examines Claudel's travel to Japan in 1898 as a young diplomat and his subsequent appointment as the French ambassador to Japan in 1921, highlighting his perspectives on cultural exchange and diplomatic initiatives.

Purpose: This paper aims to explore how researchers in general, and field researchers in particular, might respond to systems of governance of the researchers' activity in ways that can support rather than distort the quality of the research. Design/methodology/approach: We draw upon literature on serendipity to develop a framework for engaging with the positive and negative potentials of systems of governance. We ground our analysis in discussion of participation in the field comprising two parts: first, the examination of our own activities and second, the accounts of participation found in two career-autobiographical interviews with emeritus professors of management accounting from Japan. Findings: We highlight the potential for a productive tension between two contrasting perspectives that researchers might take on governance of their activity. A contractual perspective sees the value of targets and detailed pre-planning. A reflexive perspective sees the value of exploring the unexpected and considering many alternatives. We offer a framework for considering serendipity and the conditions that facilitate serendipity to help researchers maintain a productive tension between these perspectives. Research limitations/implications: We build upon retrospective accounts of two successful individuals whose careers evolved in a specific context. The intention is not to set out what might be generally achievable in a research career, nor to propose specific lines of action or planning in relation to specific systems of governance, since these vary across countries and over time. Rather, the paper draws on these materials to illuminate the more general challenge of preparing for serendipity in a way that goes beyond simple opportunism. Originality/value: We analyse how researchers' mindfulness of serendipity and the nature of contexts that facilitate serendipity can encourage a productive tension between contractual and reflexive perspectives on governance of academic activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rice-paper plant, Tetrapanax papyrifer is a woody plant native to Taiwan and widely distributed in western Japan. Due to its low commercial value, little is known about its interactions with microorganisms. Here, we isolated Neofusicoccum parvum, a known causal agent of grape stem rot and mango stem-end rot, from leaf blight on T. papyrifer. Compared to mango isolate, N. parvum from rice-paper plant showed comparable virulence on grape stem and mango fruit. N. parvum strains exhibited pathogenicity on a variety of common weeds, which may act as disease reservoirs and boost N. parvum prevalence in commercially grown mango and grape. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To address the issue of marine pollution caused by microplastics, the Japanese government started charging for plastic shopping bags in July 2020 and the Plastic Resource Recycling Promotion Law (PRRPL) was passed in April 2022, thereby discouraging plastic use in Japan. However, even before these laws and regulations were established, companies and offices had begun starting to make voluntary efforts to reduce plastic use. Among these efforts, this study focused on the shift from plastic to paper materials and company efforts to lower plastic use. This study aimed to investigate the impact of the social perception of marine plastic pollution since 2018 on companies' adoption of paper materials for containers and packaging. The companies reviewed may have used up to 236,699 tons of paper materials instead of plastic since 2018. This reduction in plastic consumption is expected to decrease emissions by up to 625,424 tons of carbon dioxide (tCO2) annually, as well as external costs by up to 180.7 million yen. Hence, the shift from plastic to paper materials through firms' voluntary efforts since 2018 has helped to reduce plastic use and ameliorate the effects of global warming. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The partial discharge in the converter transformer will cause the carbonization of the insulating paper. The high concentration of free carbon particles generated from the insulating paper during the operation of the converter transformer will cause partial discharge, which will aggravate the insulation performance deterioration. For the bi‐directional interaction of carbon particles and partial discharge, the mechanism of insulating paper carbonization caused by partial discharge and the effect of carbon particles on the dielectric strength of oil paper are studied. In this paper, we construct a simulation system of amorphous cellulose to study the carbonization mechanism of insulating paper from the microscopic level. Furthermore, we build a DC voltage experimental platform to carry out partial discharge damage tests of oil‐paper insulation models and to measure the changes in the breakdown voltage with different carbon particle concentrations and diameters. The results show that partial discharge speeds up the cleavage rate of cellulose, generates low molecular hydrocarbon gas and water molecules, and the carbon atoms rearrange into PAH‐like molecules with aliphatic side chains. The surface of the insulating paper will carbonize, then form free carbon particles after peeling off. Afterward, the carbon particles in insulating oil accumulate in the high electric field area and attach to the insulating paper, which will cause electric field distortion and reduce the dielectric strength of oil‐paper insulation. With the increase of carbon particle concentration and diameter, the breakdown voltage of oil‐paper insulation decreases gradually. © 2023 Institute of Electrical Engineer of Japan and Wiley Periodicals LLC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As a super-aging society, health promotion activities in local Japanese communities are increasingly essential. Developing the health-promotion programs must include the perspective of older people residing in these communities and what they believe to be their regional strengths. This study aimed to clarify the elements of regional strengths perceived by older people living in local Japanese communities from the literature review. Using the internet edition of the Japan Medical Abstracts Society (Ichu-shi), the authors examined papers on Japanese regional residents using relevant keywords. Of 342 considered papers, 14 papers were extracted in this study. As a result, the contents related to the regional strengths perceived by the older people living in the local Japanese community were extracted, classified based on the similarity of the meanings and contents, and then summarized into the elements of the strengths. As the regional strengths, three categories were cited for individual elements: "Actions or behaviors underpinned by experience," "Continuing to live with positivity and vigor," and "Extensive support for the subject and their family." Three categories were cited for environmental elements: "A comfortable environment," "Maintaining intimate and friendly interpersonal relations," and "Support that meets the regional characteristics." Along with individual and environmental elements, support from experts in the region was cited. Hence, it was concluded that the active participation of experts is essential for promoting activities in local communities, and that deepening relationship with older people has the potential to improve their quality of life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Studies have indicated that higher numbers of nurses regarding staffing ensure patient safety and a better practice environment. Using citation analysis, this study visualizes the landscape of nurse staffing research over the last two decades to show the overall publication trends, major contributors, and main research topics. We extracted bibliometric information from PubMed from January 2000 to September 2022. After clustering the network, we analyzed each cluster's characteristics by keyword. A total of 2167 papers were considered for analysis, and 14 clusters were created. The analysis showed that the number of papers published per year has been increasing. Researchers from the US, the UK, Canada, Australia, and Belgium have led this field. As the main clusters in nurse staffing research during the past two decades, the following five research settings were identified: nurse outcome and patient outcome research in acute care hospitals, nurse staffing mandate evaluation research, nursing home research, and school nurse research. The first three clusters accounted for more than 80% of the total number of published papers, and this ratio has not changed in the past 20 years. To further develop nurse staffing research globally, evidence from other geographic areas, such as African and Asian countries, and from long-term care or community settings is necessary. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Flutter framework with Dart programming allows developers to effortlessly build applications for both web and mobile from a single codebase. It enables efficient conversions to native codes for mobile apps and optimized JavaScript for web browsers. Since utilizing a wide range of widgets in Flutter ensures consistent experiences on various devices for users, it becomes crucial in programming education by providing a unified environment for learning app development while reducing the need for platform-specific knowledge. However, the setup of the Flutter environment is challenging for novice students due to its multiple steps, such as installing dependencies and configuring environments. To support independent learning for these students, it is essential to simplify the setup by providing user-friendly instructions and automated tools. In this paper, we present a Docker-based environment for Flutter app developments across Windows, Linux, and Mac through Visual Studio Code, ensuring a unified learning experience. This paper aims to simplify complex configurations and address the obstacles encountered by students when initiating Flutter projects. For the evaluation, we prepared three simple Flutter projects along with the setup environment in a Docker container. Then, we asked 24 Master's students at Okayama University, Japan, to install the environment and modify the source codes in the projects independently by following the given instructions. The results show that all the students successfully completed the assignments, which confirms the efficiency and validity of our proposal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The paper aims to provide an understanding of how the transfer of progressive human resource management (HRM) practices may or may fail to render multinational enterprises (MNEs) institutional entrepreneurs creating change in job quality and decent work to underprivileged workers in the low-pay retail sector in Japan. Design/methodology/approach: The paper draws on survey questionnaire data and interviews with workers and management in a foreign retailer in Japan. Findings: The findings suggest that even where MNEs may provide some measurable material improvements in job quality, in this case equal pay for equal work, the total outcomes are nevertheless shaped by institutional context and constraints. In this case, the improvement in pay was intertwined with flexibility demands that were possible to meet for some workers but not others. In particular, women with care responsibilities and competing demands on their time were not able to experience "decent work" in the same way as others. Research limitations/implications: The study had a relatively low response rate, due to lack of discretion over time experienced by workers in Japan, as well as limited data on program outcomes, with interviews conducted with a small number of participants. Practical implications: The study suggests that spaces and opportunities exist for MNEs to diverge from dominant practices in given host country locations and exercise a level of agency as emissaries of decent work but successful outcomes require a very thorough understanding of individual worker experiences within the institutional constraints of given environments. Social implications: The study offers insights into the complexities of initiatives by MNEs to contribute to the provision of decent work, particularly for workers in underprivileged positions including women in low-pay sectors such as retail, as firm-level practices lead to variable outcomes when filtered through local institutions. Originality/value: The study brings together a focus on firm-level practices that inform much of the international HRM and international management scholarship with an emphasis on the experiences of workers, which is pursued in the sociology of work, to investigate whether MNEs can be actors in the realising of the Sustainable Development Goals around decent work. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As the global energy landscape transitions towards a more sustainable future, hydrogen has emerged as a promising energy carrier due to its potential to decarbonize various sectors. However, the economic competitiveness of hydrogen production by water electrolysis strongly depends on renewable energy source (RES) availability. Thus, it is necessary to overcome the challenges related to the intermittent nature of RESs. This paper presents a comprehensive techno-economic analysis of complementing green hydrogen production with grid electricity. An evaluation model for the levelized cost of hydrogen (LCOH) is proposed, considering both CO2 emissions and the influence of RES fluctuations on electrolyzers. A minimum load restriction is required to avoid crossover gas. Moreover, a new operation strategy is developed for hydrogen production plants to determine optimal bidding in the grid electricity market to minimize the LCOH. We evaluate the feasibility of the proposed approach with a case study based on data from the Kyushu area in Japan. The results show that the proposed method can reduce the LCOH by 11% to 33%, and increase hydrogen productivity by 86% to 140%, without significantly increasing CO2 emission levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: In Japan, health-care systems have long been supported by physicians' long working hours. To solve this problem, there is an urgent need to improve the working environment for physicians while practicing patient-centered medicine and controlling health-care costs. This paper aims to examine the effect of task shifting to nurses and discuss its usefulness from the perspective of health-care value co-creation. Design/methodology/approach: This paper analyzes task shifting to nurses in acute care hospitals in Japan as a solution for the shortage of anesthesiologists. The authors discuss how the value was created from the perspective of the health-care ecosystem, with conceptual consideration of the value co-creation mechanism through patient-centered practices. Findings: The study showed that task shifting initiatives in Japan can improve the motivation of nurses through human resource development while maintaining high quality. The study also suggested that task shifting from physicians to nurses may contribute to improving net income and maintaining the health-care system. Practical implications: The findings are highly reproducible and can be immediately applied to initiatives at other medical institutions in Japan. Furthermore, it is suggested that these findings might provide some perspective on the realignment of fragmented healthcare in the USA. Originality/value: It was confirmed in practical terms that micro-level initiatives have an impact on the macro level as well. In addition, the academic presentation of the concept has contributed to the deepening of value research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

After nearly a decade of rapid development, woody biomass has been widely used in Japan for power generation and heating. However, it has faced bottlenecks in recent years, leading to a decline in its popularity. This study aimed to elucidate the current status of woody biomass utilization in Japan by reviewing relevant research papers on upstream resource supply and downstream case studies in the supply chain. The supply potential of woody biomass estimated by reviewed articles ranges from 1.2 to 5.5 m3/year/ha, yet a significant portion of this potential cannot be exploited. The utilization of government subsidies, mechanization, and aggregated forests can substantially enhance the availability. The utilization of woody biomass has garnered widespread attention from the Japanese government and private enterprises, presenting an economic impact ranging from 66 to 249 million JPY/t, along with a GHG emission reduction spanning from −17.29 to 202.44 kg-CO2eq/GJ. However, balancing cost and scale remains the primary challenge facing woody biomass utilization in Japan. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, a scalable end-to-end tree boosting system called XGBoost has been applied for predicting the magnitude of an earthquake from the early part of earthquake waveform data. This model uses the features extracted from the early P wave phase of the records as an input. The model's effectiveness has been verified by using data on earthquakes occurring in the Eurasian plate of Japan Islands from 1996 to 2021. Feature engineering has given 29 new features identified from the early P wave phase of the record, which show a high correlation with the magnitude of an earthquake. The comparison of predicted and actual magnitude shows that a trained XGboost model, which uses a single input record for magnitude prediction, gives an average prediction error of 0.004 ± 0.57 for earthquakes in the test dataset. In contrast, the average prediction error of –1.1 ± 0.80 and –0.65 ± 0.69 has been obtained for the magnitude estimated from conventional τc and Pd methods using the same test dataset. It is further seen that the average predicted magnitude of a single earthquake of magnitude 4.5 and 6.1 (MJMA) obtained by using multiple nearfield records using XGBoost model is 4.58 ± 0.33 and 6.32 ± 0.29, which is close to the actual magnitude of the earthquake. The results presented in this paper clearly show that the structured data can be effectively used by complex machine learning or deep learning models to predict earthquake magnitude from single or multiple records. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

From mathematical models of growth to computer simulations of pigmentation, the study of shell formation has given rise to an abundant number of models, working at various scales. Yet, attempts to combine those models have remained sparse, due to the challenge of combining categorically different approaches. In this paper, we propose a framework to streamline the process of combining the molecular and tissue scales of shell formation. We choose these levels as a proxy to link the genotype level, which is better described by molecular models, and the phenotype level, which is better described by tissue-level mechanics. We also show how to connect observations on shell populations to the approach, resulting in collections of molecular parameters that may be associated with different populations of real shell specimens. The approach is as follows: we use a Quality-Diversity algorithm, a type of black-box optimization algorithm, to explore the range of concentration profiles emerging as solutions of a molecular model, and that define growth patterns for the mechanical model. At the same time, the mechanical model is simulated over a wide range of growth patterns, resulting in a variety of spine shapes. While time-consuming, these steps only need to be performed once and then function as look-up tables. Actual pictures of shell spines can then be matched against the list of existing spine shapes, yielding a potential growth pattern which, in turn, gives us matching molecular parameters. The framework is modular, such that models can be easily swapped without changing the overall working of the method. As a demonstration of the approach, we solve specific molecular and mechanical models, adapted from available theoretical studies on molluscan shells, and apply the multiscale framework to evaluate the characteristics of spines from three distinct populations of Turbo sazae. Author summary: Connecting genotype to phenotype is a fundamental goal in developmental biology. While many studies examine this link in model organisms for which gene regulatory networks are well known, for non-model organisms, different techniques are required, and multiscale computational modeling offers a promising direction. In this paper, we develop a framework linking molecular-scale interactions to tissue-level growth and mechanics to organ-level characteristics in order to investigate spine formation in T. sazae, a species of mollusc that displays remarkable phenotypic plasticity in spine form. Our analysis uncovers a subtle but statistically significant difference in spine form between shell specimens collected from three different localities in Japan. Moreover, by tracing the difference in form through parametric differences in the multiscale framework, we provide mechanistic insight as to how environmental differences may translate to a change in form. The methodology we present may readily be extended to more detailed modeling of this system, and the conceptual framework is amenable for multiscale analysis in other systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Some macroalgae drift on the ocean and are stranded on coasts, and these stranded brown macroalgae are regarded to be degraded by organisms. Alginate is a major component of brown macroalgae. An uncovering of how carbon is cycled through brown macroalgae is needed to deeply understand coastal ecosystems. In this study, to gain insights into metabolism of brown macroalgae and alginate in the organisms, we initially confirmed that supralittoral talitrid amphipods (beach fleas or sandhoppers collected on the Shibagaki coast in Ishikawa Prefecture, Japan) fed on the brown macroalgae. We then isolated bacteria such as Vibrio sp. with alginate-assimilating capability from the gut of the amphipods. Metagenomic analysis of the gut of amphipods housed in several conditions (e.g. macroalgae or paper as feed, non-sterilized or sterilized environment) showed no condition-dependent compositions of bacteria and fungi, but Vibrio sp. were detected at high frequency, in good agreement with the isolation of Vibrio sp. An intervention study using antibiotics showed that amphipods fed on algae or paper at about the same rate in the presence or absence of antibiotics, and that the antibiotics had no effects on the life span. Moreover, intervention with antibiotics completely killed Vibrio sp. and some other bacteria, and had significant effects on the composition of the flora in the gut, with elimination of the variations observed in the guts of amphipods housed without antibiotics. These data suggest that microbes that were killed by antibiotics, including Vibrio sp., in the gut of talitrid amphipods are not essential for assimilation of brown macroalgae. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper presents a bibliometric analysis of research on Private Equity (PE) and identifies the key contributors, major countries and institutions, and scope for further research. It uses scientific mapping strategy to meet its goals and employs R studio to extract pertinent data. Scopus and Web of Science—two popular databases—were used to extract the data. The study examines 1698 publications from business, management, finance and econometrics journals. The data are analyzed using descriptive statistics. The status of research on PE is represented through graphical and tabular analysis. Since PE first gained popularity in developed nations like US, UK and Japan, these countries boast a majority of studies on the subject. The PE concept is still relatively new in emerging countries, and there is still opportunity for more research. Future research should focus on issues like investment, venture and market. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

From my 25 years of experience working with Japanese graduate students, my central understanding is that the students know a lot of English as they can read English articles, have good knowledge of English, and do their experiments well. They can also solve problems. First of all, I feel the most critical difficulty in writing any papers for Japanese students is the difficulty in deciding where they need to stop experiments, whether the produced data is enough for a publication, and how to prepare a research manuscript. Therefore, the help of someone who has both research supervision capability and English proficiency is essential for research publication in Japan. In that case, it is easy to handle the English manuscript of graduate students in Japan; I have been working hand in hand with graduate and postgraduate students. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This study explores the politics of ideology in the process of sensegiving and sensemaking at a Japanese retailer in Hong Kong. Studies on power and politics are scarce despite key role of power and politics in understanding the factors behind the conflict between the management's policy legitimization (sensegiving) and employees' policy interpretation (sensemaking). By using the three dimensions proposed in the critical sensemaking approach (discourse, rules and contexts), this paper explores the complex mechanism of power and politics in sensemaking and sensegiving. Design/methodology/approach: Using 15 months of participant observation as a salesperson, this paper discusses how the Japan-centric customer service philosophy (dominant discourse), customer service policies and practices (organizational rules) and asymmetric power structure between the Japanese global headquarters and Hong Kong subsidiaries (formative contexts) are presented and perpetuated through the sensegiving–sensemaking process. Findings: Dominant discourse was observed in the management's sensegiving, which placed the Japanese style of customer service over others. This ethnocentric dominant discourse informed the creation of customer service policies, although the realization of the discourse was determined by the employees' conflicting interpretations of the organizational rules. As a formative context, an asymmetric power structure was present that positioned the Hong Kong subsidiary as subservient to the global headquarters in Japan. This shows that the political process of sensegiving and sensemaking deeply implicates the dominant discourse, organizational rules and power structure as central forces that determine the level of perpetuating ideology. Originality/value: This research illustrates the wider implications of power and politics in sensegiving–sensemaking studies and provides a complex picture of ethnocentric management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: This research explores the initial skepticism and bewilderment among zoo staff about animal welfare and environmental enrichment introduced in Japanese zoos in the mid-1990s. Based on the results of a 2001 questionnaire survey conducted by the Japanese Association of Zoos and Aquariums and publicly available literature, this paper demonstrates that this skepticism and confusion are not simply due to wariness of a new initiative but to a complex combination of factors, including inadequate information, historical and cultural context, and differing perceptions of animal care in the legal system. For example, it was shown that in the early 2000s, environmental enrichment was misinterpreted as exhibit strategy, leading to resistance from zoo staff. This misinterpretation and resistance can be traced back to the post-World War II popularity of mobile zoos and the legal perception of animals as mere "living beings", not "sentient beings" under Japan's Animal Protection Law. Through the analysis of a case study in Japan in the early 2000s, this paper aims to identify some of the early challenges to introducing and practicing animal welfare and environmental enrichment in non-Western cultures and contribute to better understanding and practice. Despite regional differences, this study aims to contribute to understanding and improving the universal acceptance and application of animal welfare. This study examines the Japanese zoo staff's initial skepticism and bewilderment regarding animal welfare and environmental enrichment in the mid-1990s. Utilizing a 2001 questionnaire conducted by the Japanese Association of Zoos and Aquariums and existing literature reveals that this resistance stemmed from inadequate information, cultural history, and legal perspectives on animal care. Specifically, environmental enrichment was initially misunderstood as an exhibition strategy, partly due to post-WWII trends in mobile zoos and legal views of animals as non-sentient under Japan's Animal Protection Law. The research highlights the early hurdles in adopting animal welfare and environmental enrichment in non-Western settings, aiming to provide insights for other regions dealing with similar transitional challenges. It also addresses misperceptions about environmental enrichment in the context of empathetic relationships and professional ethics in Japanese zoology, offering insights into regions facing similar issues. Additionally, the paper discusses the progression of animal welfare practices in Japanese zoos and related managerial challenges, acknowledging cultural and institutional factors. Despite regional differences, this study aims to contribute to understanding and improving the universal acceptance and application of animal welfare. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This paper aims to estimate a statistical model of the country risk determination as represented by the country price earnings ratio (PE) to identify potentially mispriced countries. It uses the gross domestic product (GDP) growth rate and a dummy indicator for market-related events (i.e. financial crises), both approximating the business cycle. The model is used to compare a major Asian country's (i.e. Japan) risk with Western countries' risk. Design/methodology/approach: The model used finance variables such as the systemic, non-diversifiable, risk and foreign direct investments to characterize any country risk. A random effects model with panel data estimated the effects of macroeconomic and financial variables on PE. The simultaneity problem was checked using two stage least squares and some lagged independent variables. Findings: The results explained to investors the country risk contributing factors: PE was positively correlated with variables that may increase dividends and market risk premia similar to GDP growth rates and total risk and negatively correlated with variables that increase market risk, namely, nominal risk-free interest rates and financial crises. Japan's PE seemed to exceed most of the Western countries considered here, implying lower risks, lower interest rates and higher growth in the major Asian country Japan. Originality/value: This paper focuses on the effectiveness of country risk measures in predicting periods of intense instability, similar to financial crises. This study contributes a model to measure market risk premium, using PE (or inversely, the earnings yield) as a proxy variable. Investors can use this risk measure in picking less risky stocks to include in their portfolio, calling for liberalizing Asian countries' financial markets to improve their stock market capitalization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper reports the study which explored the learning and teaching of the topics of climate change, sustainability and disaster risk reduction in secondary-level teacher education programs in England and Japan. Through interviewing teacher educators, the study particularly probed how teacher education programs used local knowledge and collaboration in discussing the above topics. Geography tends to be the main subject area for these global agendas, but its crammed curriculum is "an ongoing challenge" for teacher education. Some researchers demonstrate that university-based initial teacher education has "ignored" training teachers on how to implement environmental and sustainability education at schools. Besides, the inquiries into how initial teacher education equips geography teachers for the learning and teaching of disaster risk reduction are still scarce. This paper aims to fill this gap by bringing together the fields of geography education, climate change and sustainability education, disaster risk reduction education and initial teacher education. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since deep low‐frequency tremors are considered to be associated with large earthquakes that occur adjacently on the same subducting plate interface, it is important to investigate tremors that occurred before the establishment of modern seismograph networks such as the High Sensitivity Seismograph Network (Hi‐net). We propose a deep‐learning solution to detect evidence of tremors in scanned images of paper seismogram records from over 50 years ago. In this study, we fine‐tuned a convolutional neural network (CNN) based on the Residual Network, which was pre‐trained using images of synthetic waveforms from our previous study, using a data set comprised of images generated from real seismic data recorded digitally by Hi‐net to facilitate a supervised analysis. The fine‐tuned CNN was able to predict the presence or absence of tremors in the Hi‐net images with an accuracy of 98.64%. Gradient‐weighted Class Activation Mapping heatmaps created to visualize model predictions indicated that the CNN's ability to detect tremors is not degraded by the presence of teleseisms. Once validated using the Hi‐net images, the CNN was applied to paper seismograms recorded from 1966 to 1977 at the Kumano observatory in southwest Japan, operated by Earthquake Research Institute, The University of Tokyo. The CNN showed potential for detecting tremors in scanned images of paper seismogram records from the past, facilitating downstream tasks such as the creation of new tremor catalogs. However, further training using an augmented data set to control for variables such as inconsistent plotting pen thickness is required to develop a universally applicable model. Plain Language Summary: In 2002, deep low‐frequency tremors, which periodically occur with much smaller amplitudes and longer durations than common earthquakes, were discovered owing to the establishment of dense seismic arrays in Japan. These tremors are considered to be associated with megathrust earthquakes because they occur in deeper regions of plate boundaries compared with common earthquakes. Investigating tremors that occurred before the establishment of dense seismic arrays is important since megathrust earthquakes recur on intervals of 100–200 years, and digital records from modern seismic arrays cover only a fraction of that time. In this study, we developed a convolutional neural network based on the Residual Network (ResNet) that extracts tremors from images of waveforms recorded more than 50 years ago, when seismometers drew waveforms directly on drum‐rolled paper using a pen. The proposed ResNet, which was trained on seismogram images generated from synthetic waveforms and real data recorded digitally by modern seismic arrays, was applied to scanned images of paper seismograms recorded from 1966 to 1977 at an observatory in southwest Japan. A list of tremors was successfully obtained; however, further training using data that accounts for variables such as inconsistent plotting pen thickness is required to develop a universally applicable model. Key Points: Convolutional neural network model for detection of deep low‐frequency tremors from seismogram images is proposedThe model trained with seismogram images converted from real seismic data successfully detects tremorsThe detection performances of the trained model for the paper records at the Kumano observatory in southwest Japan are discussed [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While previous studies found that origami, when used for cognitive training and education, can improve spatial ability, the underlying mechanisms of this change, presumably associated with the origami folding process, remain unclear. In the present study, we focused on origami imagery in which participants imagined the process of folding paper to create a work of art; and we examined the cognitive factors involved in the imagery process and their association with mental transformations and the extent to which visual imagery was vivid. We identified four specific relevant cognitive factors in origami imagery: (a) controllability of origami transformations, (b) visual imagery of shapes, (c) hand sensations, and (d) visual imagery of colors. We associated the first two of these with non-rigid transformations: the controllability of origami transformations and the visual imagery of shapes. Moreover, vividness of visual imagery was related to all four cognitive factors. We propose this cognitive model of origami as one that considers the key relationships between origami imagery, mental transformations, and vividness of visual imagery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

When toilet paper disappeared from store shelves across Japan in November 1973, the housewives who searched their neighborhood markets and stood in long lines for the scarce packs were described as unwitting perpetrators of a "toilet paper panic." The word "panic" evoked well-established notions of a social frenzy, irrational and overwrought. This article overturns a conception of panic laden with condescension and adopts, instead, a more empathetic approach to examining why a run on toilet paper and other daily necessities occurred in late 1973, and why it resonated so deeply across Japan as a "panic." In the broader context of the early 1970s, the toilet paper scare and its characterization as a "panic" can be understood as responses to sweeping and multifaceted economic challenges that destabilized daily life and threatened to upend middle-class lifestyles. After more than fifteen years of high economic growth, that sense of middle-class comfort and security was shaken by shortages and inflation as well as mounting evidence of government ineptitude and corporate profiteering. Buffeted by insecurity and uncertainty, Japanese "middle-classness" as both an experience and an ideal had never seemed as vulnerable as it did in the early 1970s. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Preserving cultural artifacts while minimizing the energy consumption and costs associated with environmental control is crucial. This often requires predicting artifacts degradation caused by temperature and humidity. Here, mechanical damage can be predicted by comparing stress and damage criteria. Although the constitutive coefficients and damage criteria of various materials have been extensively studied, the mechanical properties of white clay remain unknown. This material is a crucial component of various artifacts including some important cultural artifacts and national treasures of Japan. Thus, this study aims to identify the strength and elastic properties of simulated white clay mimicking the substrate of the wall paintings Hiten at Kondo, the main hall at Horyu-ji Temple. Following existing literature, we created the simulated white clay by combining clay, paper fiber, and rice glue. We fabricated 36 distinct specimen patterns by varying the equilibrium humidity and material mixing ratios. We measured the tensile strength using splitting tensile tests and, compressive strength, Young's modulus, and Poisson's ratio using compressive tests. The tensile strength, compressive strength, Young's modulus, and Poisson's ratio ranged from 0.0785–1.17(MPa), 0.358–3.67(MPa), 0.0394–0.274 (GPa), and 0.10–0.44(-), respectively, with variations depending on the equilibrium humidity and ratio of material mixing. We also formulated the results as functions that depend on the equilibrium humidity and material mixing ratios. These findings can be used to predict stress and damage to targeted wall paintings and to inform the preservation and restoration of cultural artifacts containing white clay. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is an increasing amount of research into corpus-based study as a pedagogical approach in language learning. This is most commonly known as datadriven learning (DDL) and can refer to both computer-based and paper-based activities. Despite the growing interest, the vast majority of published research into DDL investigates university students and there is a serious lack of inquiry into children and adolescents. This paper seeks to add to the limited knowledge that currently exists on pre-adolescent learners. Present research into young learners primarily investigates corpus-supported or paper-based learning; therefore, the aim of this particular study is to compare the latter with direct corpus use in order to help improve our understanding of young learner attitudes toward both forms of DDL. A small-scale, mixed-methods study was designed to investigate the perceptions and attitudes of Japanese sixth-grade elementary school students toward EFL corpus-based activities. Five participants took part in a month-long course of four one-hour online sessions, with data collected via a pre-study survey, post-class questionnaires, and post-study interviews. Results show that students display a very favorable attitude toward DDL activities, with a clear preference for paper-based activities over computer-based activities. The findings also highlight the importance of 'scaffolding' in young learner education and the potential obstacles that must be overcome to ensure that DDL activities can be successfully implemented in the EFL young learner classroom. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is commonly defined as a transitional subclinical state between normal aging and dementia. A growing body of research indicates that health behaviors may play a protective role against cognitive decline and could potentially slow down the progression from MCI to dementia. The aim of this study is to conduct a bibliometric analysis of literature focusing on health behaviors and MCI to summarize the factors and evidence regarding the influence of health behaviors on MCI. Methods: The study performed a bibliometric analysis by retrieving publications from the Science Citation Index and Social Sciences Citation Index subdatabases within the Web of Science Core Collection. Utilizing VOSviewer and CiteSpace software, a total of 2,843 eligible articles underwent co-citation, cokeywords, and clustering analyses. This methodology aimed to investigate the current status, trends, major research questions, and potential future directions within the research domain. Results: The bibliometric analysis indicates that research on healthy behaviors in individuals with MCI originated in 2002 and experienced rapid growth in 2014, reflecting the increasing global interest in this area. The United States emerged as the primary contributor, accounting for more than one-third of the total scientific output with 982 articles. Journals that published the most articles on MCI-related health behaviors included "Journal of Alzheimer's Disease," "Neurobiology of Aging," "Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience," and other geriatricsrelated journals. High-impact papers identified by VOSviewer predominantly cover concepts related to MCI, such as diagnostic criteria, assessment, and multifactorial interventions. Co-occurrence keyword analysis highlights five research hotspots in health behavior associated with MCI: exercise, diet, risk factors and preventive measures for dementia, cognitive decline-related biomarkers, and clinical trials. Conclusion: This study provides a comprehensive review of literature on health behavior in individuals with MCI, emphasizing influential documents and journals. It outlines research trends and key focal points, offering valuable insights for researchers to comprehend significant contributions and steer future studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One of the impacts of the Fukushima disaster was the shutdown of all nuclear power plants in Japan, reaching zero production in 2015. In response, the country started importing more fossil energy including coal, oil, and natural gas to fill the energy gap. However, this led to a significant increase in carbon emissions, hindering the efforts to reduce its carbon footprint. In the current situation, Japan is actively working to balance its energy requirements with environmental considerations, including the utilization of hydrogen fuel. Therefore, this paper aims to explore the feasibility and implications of using hydrogen power plants as a means to reduce emissions, and this analysis will be conducted using the energy modeling of the MARKAL-TIMES Japan framework. The hydrogen scenario (HS) is assumed with the extensive integration of hydrogen into the power generation sector, supported by a hydrogen import scheme. Additionally, this scenario will be compared with the Business as Usual (BAU) scenario. The results showed that the generation capacities of the BAU and HS scenarios have significantly different primary energy supplies. The BAU scenario is highly dependent on fossil fuels, while the HS scenario integrates hydrogen contribution along with an increase in renewable energy, reaching a peak contribution of 2,160 PJ in 2050. In the HS scenario, the target of reducing CO2 emissions by 80% is achieved through significant hydrogen penetration. By 2050, the total CO2 emissions are estimated to be 939 million tons for the BAU scenario and 261 million tons for the Hydrogen scenario. In addition, the contribution of hydrogen to electricity generation is expected to be 153 TWh, smaller than PV and wind power. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Preparation for university entrance tests now forms a significant part of international English language pedagogy, with considerable numbers of learners aiming to study abroad requiring supportive instruction. This important learning stage underpins subsequent experiences and requires further investigation, if later challenges faced by international university students are to be understood. This paper's Japan-based research included observing an entire intensive IELTS preparation course (N = 12 students) over a five-week period. Additionally, two instructors and seven learners were interviewed, and forty homework essays collected. Pedagogical approaches, participant perspectives and the test preparation process itself are described in depth. Thematic analysis of qualitative data indicated three key findings. First, a think-plan-write essay model may improve students' performance under timed test conditions, if supported by classroom exercises on lexis, grammar and structure. Second, introducing unfamiliar academic writing structures using model answers and increasing test knowledge (particularly using simplified rubrics) helped clarify expectations of western-style writing. Third, test preparation should be broader than increasing score gains alone; introducing academic writing is a justified and viable objective of preparation courses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To assess vespicochory in Aristolochia (Aristolochiaceae), we conducted preliminary observations of Aristolochia shimadae under cultivation and in its natural habitat. Two paper wasp species (Polistes spp.) were observed visiting freshly dehisced capsules of cultivated plants of A. shimadae. After removing the seed from the capsule and licking the juicy and sticky substance surrounding it, paper wasps bit off and carried away only a part of the raphe. This behavior suggests that the capsule, including the substance surrounding the seeds, is attractive to them, and the raphe is equivalent to an elaiosome. In our field observations of A. shimadae in a natural habitat, a wasp (Vespula shidai) carried away a seed after licking the juicy and sticky substance surrounding it. This observation of vespicochory is the first report on A. shimadae and the first on angiosperms in Japan. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: Contribution to the authorship, including that for case reports, should be appropriately evaluated. I have noticed a scarcity of case reports with clinic doctors listed as coauthors, prompting this investigation. I sought to offer suggestions on the possible reasons for this trend. Methods: I checked case reports published in the Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology Research, the Journal of Medical Case Reports, and the BMJ Case Reports. I identified case reports listing a clinic doctor as a coauthor. I consulted eight professors at Jichi Medical University to ascertain whether case reports from their departments included clinic doctors as coauthors and, if not, the reasons. Results: Among 65 case reports from Japanese institutes published in the Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology Research, only one paper lists a clinic doctor as a coauthor. Of 100 and 50 papers published in the Journal of Medical Case Reports and BMJ Case Reports, respectively, none listed a clinic doctor as a coauthor. Six out of eight professors admitted to never considering the idea of including clinic doctors as coauthors. Conclusions: The scarcity of case reports with clinic doctors as coauthors extends beyond Japanese obstetrics and gynecology, encompassing various specialties worldwide. Center doctors do not think of the idea that a clinic doctor should be a coauthor. A clinic doctor who transferred the patient should be considered as a candidate coauthor depending on his/her scientific contribution. Such an approach could foster an environment encouraging doctors to contribute to academic writing, regardless of their workplace. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The XY model is a simplified insulation model for transformers that aims to connect the frequency spectrum of major insulation, insulation paper, and oil. It enables the calculation of the paper's frequency spectrum, facilitating a quantitative evaluation of the transformer's insulation status. Given the scarcity of research addressing the accuracy of the XY model and its corresponding equivalent circuit, this paper investigates the accuracy of the XY model and conducts an in‐depth analysis of the error associated with its equivalent circuit. Firstly, the frequency spectrum of oil‐paper insulations based on the XY model with varying moisture content and structure configurations were measured, followed by the simulation of both the corresponding 2D‐coaxial and XY models. By comparing the results obtained from these simulations with experimental data on oil‐paper insulation, the accuracy of XY model is verified. Subsequently, two variants of the equivalent circuit of the XY model are derived by combining the oil, spacer, and paper differently, which denoted as Type I and II circuits. Finally, we analyzed and explained the errors present in these equivalent circuits compared with the XY model. Our findings show that the width‐thickness ratio of oil‐paper insulation is the most critical influencing factor, while moisture content and insulation structure have a less decisive impact. Notably, for general transformers, as the width‐thickness ratio is between 30 and 70, the relative error of the Type I circuit remains consistently below 0.3% across different frequencies. Consequently, the Type I circuit proves to be a more suitable representation of the equivalent circuit for the XY model in the context of general transformers. © 2024 Institute of Electrical Engineers of Japan. Published by Wiley Periodicals LLC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Visual SLAM algorithms can obtain a large amount of texture information from the environment and usually perform very well in static scenes, but there are a large number of irregular dynamic points when running in dynamic scenes, which can lead to increased error in SLAM feature point matching and loss of tracking localization. To address this challenge this paper proposes a SLAM system (YVG‐SLAM) that adapts to dynamic scenes. YVG‐SLAM is an improvement on the ORB‐SLAM3 algorithm, integrating the view geometry algorithm and the current powerful YOLOv5 algorithm, while proposing a dynamic feature removal strategy without a priori assumptions to reduce the influence of dynamic targets. In this paper, we first lighten the YOLOv5 algorithm, then process the image frame to get the bounding box, then use the view geometry algorithm to determine the dynamic feature points on the image frame, and finally remove the moving objects in the image frame according to the dynamic feature recognition strategy proposed in this paper. The performance of the algorithm is tested on the TUM RGB‐D and BONN RGB‐D datasets. The experimental results show that the robustness of the proposed algorithm on most video sequences is better than the existing SLAM algorithms dealing with dynamic scenes such as Detect‐SLAM and DynaSLAM, and the RMSE index of the absolute trajectory error measured on high‐speed dynamic video sequences can be significantly reduced by more than 93% compared to ORB‐SLAM3. © 2024 Institute of Electrical Engineer of Japan and Wiley Periodicals LLC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Sparganosis is a rare zoonotic disease caused by plerocercoid larvae of the genera Spirometra or Sparganum (Cestoda: Diphyllobothriidae). The larvae of Spirometra generally do not undergo asexual reproduction, whereas those of Sparganum can induce proliferative lesions in infected tissues. This paper presents an unusual case of proliferative sparganosis due to infection with Spirometra mansoni in a cat, normally considered a definitive host of the species. Case presentation: A 9-year-old male domestic cat was presented with a mass on the right side of the face that underwent progressive enlargement for 1 month. The morphological and histopathological examinations revealed multiple asexual proliferative cestode larvae in the lesions, suggestive of proliferative sparganosis. Next-generation sequencing analysis of formalin-fixed and paraffin-embedded specimens of surgically excised tissue indicated that the worm was Spirometra mansoni. Conclusion: Although S. mansoni a common tapeworm species found in the small intestine of domestic cats and dogs in Japan, proliferative sparganosis is extremely rare. This is the first confirmed case of proliferative sparganosis due to infection with S. mansoni in cat. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the early 1900s, mutation breeding to select varieties with desirable traits using spontaneous mutation was actively conducted around the world, including Japan. In rice, the number of fixed mutations per generation was estimated to be 1.38-2.25. Although this low mutation rate was a major problem for breeding in those days, in the modern era with the development of next-generation sequencing (NGS) technology, it was conversely considered to be an advantage for efficient gene identification. In this paper, we proposed an in silico approach using NGS to compare the whole genome sequence of a spontaneous mutant with that of a closely related strain with a nearly identical genome, to find polymorphisms that differ between them, and to identify the causal gene by predicting the functional variation of the gene caused by the polymorphism. Using this approach, we found four causal genes for the dwarf mutation, the round shape grain mutation and the awnless mutation. Three of these genes were the same as those previously reported, but one was a novel gene involved in awn formation. The novel gene was isolated from Bozu-Aikoku, a mutant of Aikoku with the awnless trait, in which nine polymorphisms were predicted to alter gene function by their whole-genome comparison. Based on the information on gene function and tissue-specific expression patterns of these candidate genes, Os03g0115700/LOC_Os03g02460, annotated as a shortchain dehydrogenase/reductase SDR family protein, is most likely to be involved in the awnless mutation. Indeed, complementation tests by transformation showed that it is involved in awn formation. Thus, this method is an effective way to accelerate genome breeding of various crop species by enabling the identification of useful genes that can be used for crop breeding with minimal effort for NGS analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the world population growth, energy consumption and the rapid development of industrial economy, a large amount of carbon emissions has brought destruction and threats to the earth's environment on which human beings depend. The development of low-carbon economy has become the consensus of governments all over the world and has been vigorously advocated & promoted. This paper focuses on the top five global GDP nations in 2022: The United States, China, Japan, Germany, and Britain. A comprehensive evaluation index system of urban low-carbon economic development level is constructed from four dimensions: economic development level, environmental quality, energy consumption emission intensity and social development speed by using literature review and field interview. The evaluation measures are determined using the TOPSIS evaluation method with entropy weight and the grey relational model, providing a comprehensive assessment of the low-carbon economy's development level in these five countries." Judging from the comprehensive evaluation score, the overall development of low-carbon economy in American cities is in good condition and has reached the development standard of low-carbon economy; Germany and Japan rank second and third, and they are low-carbon economies. Britain ranks fourth in comprehensive evaluation, although it belongs to a low-carbon economy country, but there is still a certain gap with Germany and Japan; There is still a big gap between China and the other four countries. Based on the measurement and evaluation outcomes, it presents recommendations and strategies to foster the growth of low-carbon economies, offering valuable insights for the advancement of such economies across different nations. The research results guide countries all over the world to reduce carbon emissions in the process of economic development, protect the earth environment on which human beings depend, and make a better tomorrow for sustainable development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Although internet-based stress management programs are proven effective in improving mental health among workers, micro- and small-sized enterprises (MSEs), lacking in occupational healthcare services, face challenges implementing them. To address this gap, this study will develop the program with stakeholders at MSEs to aim for real-world implementation. Objectives: This paper describes a study protocol for a pre-post feasibility study of an effectiveness-implementation hybrid type 2 trial of text-based internet-based programs ("WellBe-LINE") in MSEs with less than 50 employees. This feasibility study primarily aims to evaluate trial methods for future effectiveness-implementation hybrid type 2 trials. Methods: For this study protocol, an internet- and text-based self-care intervention program using the LINE app (a popular message tool in Japan) will be prepared according to evidence-based psychoeducational topics. Based on our online survey findings, personalized algorithms will be implemented according to employees' gender, age, and psychological distress levels. A personalized program using a popular pre-existing text app is expected to reduce employees' burdens and be attractive to them, resulting in successful implementation outcomes and mental health benefits. A pre-post design feasibility study will be conducted on ten companies to evaluate trial methods (e.g., recruitment and procedures). The primary outcome will involve individual-level penetration, defined as the proportion of the number of employees who register for the program divided by the total number of invited employees at the company. The progression criterion to go next trial specifies that more than 50% of the recruited companies obtain 60% individual penetration, which is set based on the findings of the prior survey of employees at MSEs and of interviews of stakeholders involved in this study, and will be measured by LINE system. Finally, acceptability, appropriateness, and feasibility will be measured using internet-based questionnaires and interviews. Discussion: This pre-post feasibility study for future effectiveness-implementation hybrid type 2 trials will provide in-depth knowledge about the successful implementation of text-based, semi-personalized, self-care mental health interventions in real-world settings using both quantitative and qualitative data. Conclusions: This feasibility study will help validate the effectiveness of text-based interventions using a widely used social networking service (SNS) tool for employees in MSEs. Trial registration: UMIN clinical trial registration, UMIN000046960. Registered on February 21, 2022. https://center6.umin.ac.jp/cgi-open-bin/ctr/ctr_view.cgi?recptno=R000053570 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Human driving behavior significantly affects vehicle fuel economy and emissions on hilly roads. This paper presents an ecological (eco) driving scheme (EDS) on hilly roads using nonlinear model predictive control (NMPC) in a mixed traffic environment. A nonlinear optimization problem with a relevant prediction horizon and a cost function is formulated using variables impacting the fuel economy of vehicles. The EDS minimizes vehicle fuel usage and emissions by generating the optimum velocity trajectory considering the longitudinal motion dynamics, the preceding vehicle's state, and slope information from the digital road map. Furthermore, the immediate vehicle velocity and angle of the road slope are used to tune the cost function's weight utilizing fuzzy inference methods for smooth maneuvering on slopes. Microscopic traffic simulations are used to show the effectiveness of the proposed EDS for different penetration rates on a real hilly road in Fukuoka City, Japan, in a mixed traffic environment with the conventional (human-based) driving scheme (CDS). The results show that the fuel consumption and emissions of vehicles are significantly reduced by the proposed NMPC-based EDS compared to the CDS for varying penetration rates. Additionally, the proposed EDS significantly increases the average speed of vehicles on the hilly road. The proposed scheme can be deployed as an advanced driver assistance system (ADAS). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Japan and Germany are both facing a rapidly aging population and have similar social insurance-based long-term care systems. However, there are significant differences in utilization and costs. This paper presents a microeconomic decision model validated by regression analysis, Blinder-Oaxaca decomposition, and Data Envelopment Analysis to contrast the utilization patterns in the Japanese and German long-term care sectors. The design of the welfare programs for low-income families has been identified as one of the main reasons. In Germany, the welfare system leads to a demand curve for nursing home care that is comparable to that of an inferior good which makes external long-term care in nursing homes the more attractive, the poorer the respective households are. In addition, the resulting inelastic demand of the population groups in need of social benefits seem to reduces competition among Germany's long-term care providers, which is associated with a loss of efficiency in how they use production factors. In Japan, this negative outcome is avoided by a comfort segmentation in the nursing home market. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Our research activities would be better served if they were communicated in a manner that is openly accessible to the public and all researchers. The research we share is often limited to representative data included in research papers—science would be much more efficient if all reproducible research data were shared alongside detailed methods and protocols, in the paradigm called Open Science. On the other hand, one primary function of research journals is to select manuscripts of good quality, verify the authenticity of the data and its impact, and deliver to the appropriate audience for critical evaluation and verification. In the current paradigm, where publication in a subset of journals is intimately linked to research evaluation, a hypercompetitive "market" has emerged where authors compete to access a limited number of top‐tier journals, leading to high rejection rates. Competition among publishers and scientific journals for market dominance resulted in an increase in both the number of journals and the cost of publishing and accessing scientific papers. Here we summarize the current problems and potential solutions from the development of AI technology discussed in the seminar at the 46th Annual Meeting of the Molecular Biology Society of Japan. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]