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In nonclinical safety studies for new drug development, healthy animals have been commonly used. However, in some cases, the use of animal models of human disease is considered to be more favorable in evaluating risks in patients. To elucidate the current status of the use of animal models for nonclinical safety assessment, an internal questionnaire from the Japan Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Association and surveys (questionnaire period: August 27 to September 30, 2015) of both common technical documents and review reports of approved drugs (approval period: May 1999 to May 2017) disclosed by the Pharmaceutical and Medical Devices Agency were conducted. Although there were some concerns and limitations raised, the survey results revealed that animal models have been used in nonclinical safety assessment on a case-by-case basis and that nonclinical safety studies using animal models were included in the data packages of several approved drugs in Japan. The survey results also revealed that nonclinical safety studies using animal models have become more frequent in the past few years. In almost all cases, useful information, such as signs of toxicity under disease conditions and mechanisms of toxic change, was obtained from the results of nonclinical studies using animal models. Note: This is an opinion article submitted to the Toxicologic Pathology Forum. It represents the views of the author(s). It does not constitute an official position of the Society of Toxicologic Pathology, British Society of Toxicological Pathology, or European Society of Toxicologic Pathology, and the views expressed might not reflect the best practices recommended by these Societies. This article should not be construed to represent the policies, positions, or opinions of their respective organizations, employers, or regulatory agencies. [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]

The author touches upon several issues on the occasion of the publication's 50th anniversary. Over the course of a half-century submissions have changed in two important respects. First, all articles are per-reviewed and consist of original material. And second, a large and growing proportion of papers is being submitted by academics rather than practitioners. The current issue contains six papers that cover topics such as the seemingly flawed model used by advertisers to assess television advertising, the response rates of web-based surveys, and the history of Japanese market research after World War II.

In the context of the COVID-19, it is very significant to explore the dynamic fluctuation of China's export growth to the international market and examine the causes of this fluctuation in a multi-dimensional way. The dynamic fluctuation level is measured in the short and medium-long cycle respectively based on monthly data. Factor decomposition of the dynamic fluctuation is made from the growth effect, the structure effect and the competitiveness effect by the improved CMS model, which results show that the growth effect has decreased first and then increased; The structure effects include market structure effects and commodity structure effects, and the former effect basically fluctuates around the X-axis while there is a negative commodity structure effect; There are different specific competitiveness effects on 21 categories of goods. China should rely on the RCEP agreement to strengthen and stabilize trade cooperation other countries, and strengthen its core position in the industry chain and value chain in the Asia Pacific region. The current paper creatively introduce the trade expansion margin including the ternary margin and product structure into the CMS model, explaining the internal relationship between the trade expansion margin analysis at the product- market level and the CMS analysis at the overall level; meanwhile, this paper analyses the dynamic fluctuation structure of China's export growth to Japan and South Korea through a CMS factor decomposition from the perspective of technological structure and factor ladder, and studies the source and dynamic distribution evolution of this growth pattern. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. The significance of mutual-help in communities for disaster management is a fundamental important concept. However, the current societal state does not reflect this lesson. S&G (Simulation and Gaming) has the potential to overcome the challenges faced in promoting community-based disaster management. No scientific research is currently present that reviews their achievements in Japan. Aim. This paper analyzes the current achievements of S&G in enhancing community resilience against large-scale earthquakes in Japan. Method. The paper clarifies the theoretical advantages of S&G in enhancing community resilience in coping and adaptive capacity plus proposes a conceptual contribution framework of S&G in improving community resilience. Based on this framework, the paper analyzes some major games that tackle community resilience against earthquakes in Japan. Results. The paper demonstrates the achievements through the S&G spectrum that stresses the disastrous experience with specific resilience views on one side, while decision making for critical reflection from other players with more comprehensive resilience views on the other side. Conclusion. The paper showcases the current S&G achievements in enhancing community resilience against large-scale earthquakes in Japan using the proposed framework, which can be utilized by other disaster-prone countries to develop and evaluate applications of S&G for increasing community resilience against earthquakes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Third Symposium of the Los Alamos Computer Science Institute (LACSI) was held in Santa Fe, New Mexico, U.S. on October 13-16, 2002. The mission of the LACSI Symposium series is to be a valuable forum for presenting and discussing current research and important programs in scalable high performance computing. Each year the format of the program has evolved to meet that goal. In 2002, the program included a keynote talk on Japan's Earth Simulator, a number of invited "state of the field" talks, an invited panel, a poster session, a day of workshops, and the presentation of 17 reviewed research papers selected from 42 technical submissions. Six papers from the Symposium is presented in this special issue of the "International Journal of High Performance Computing Applications." The selected papers represent the breadth of technical content of the Symposium.

Purpose: During Japan's initial pandemic prevention and control period, the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science, and Technology of Japan (MEXT) issued several notifications to ensure students' continuous learning according to the "leave no one behind" philosophy. This study focused on the comprehensive measures comprising top-level arrangements to implement the "suspending classes without stopping learning" initiative. Design/Approach/Methods: The study reviewed MEXT's guide on ensuring learning for Japanese primary and secondary school students during the pandemic. Findings: The pandemic has accelerated the development of the information and communications technology educational environment and the implementation of the Global and Innovation Gateway for All (GIGA) schools initiative. These developments laid the foundation for the evolution of diverse pedagogical models and feasible methods for promoting equity. The home schooling experience during the pandemic provided a natural base for students to practice and foster survivability. Originality/Value: This paper provides scholars with an understanding of the opportunities and challenges encountered in educational innovation in Japan. It provides insights into the future direction of pedagogical development, capability development, and effective educational arrangements for extraordinary circumstances to facilitate educational development from a broader perspective, particularly under the new normal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents information on the papers presented at a round table at the 1949 Annual Conference of the Milbank Memorial Fund held in November 16 to 17, 1949. The publication titled "Modernization Programs in Relation to Human Resources and Population Problems" are grouped under three categories. The first category discusses aims and methods of selected programs of modernization such as Liberian Foundation, Point Four and UN Technical Assistance. The second and third category highlights the problems in the development and utilization of human resources and Japan as a case study in modernization, respectively.

Objectives: This study examines the implementation and short-term effects of a Learning Partner Model (LPM)-based educational program on cancer prevention and control information for community health volunteers in Japan. Methods: The program was undertaken by 3 local governments in collaboration with a government initiative and offered a 90-min group workshop to community health volunteers. Community health volunteers (primary participants) recruited in turn friend or family members (secondary participants) with whom they were prepared to share the content of the workshop with the help of printed materials received in the workshop. We conducted self-administered paper and pencil questionnaire surveys before, immediately after, and 3 months after the workshop. The t-test, Fisher's exact test, paired t-test, and McNemar test were used to compare the 2 groups' demographic characteristics and healthy habits at pretest. Repeated measures ANOVA was used to compare cancer prevention knowledge between groups and over time. Results: Of 142 participants, 107 pairs of learning partners (primary and corresponding secondary participant) completed all questionnaires. All primary participants and 37.4% of the secondary participants were women, and 57.9% of the learning partners were spouses. The results showed significantly higher correct answers on the cancer-prevention knowledge questions in the post-workshop and follow-up surveys compared to the pre-workshop survey (P <.001). The increase in knowledge was observed in all learning-partner groups in all 3 sites. Conclusion: The study demonstrates a promising strategy that can be adapted to the health needs of the community beyond cancer prevention and control, building on the efforts of local governments and government health initiatives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dealing with cultural diversity is one of the key challenges in contemporary societies, with Japan being no exception. However, relatively little is known about how minority group members are viewed by members of the dominant group. The current paper presents a study that evaluated three hypotheses that are related to these issues with a survey of 210 Japanese adult participants. The study also examines moderating roles of national identities in acculturation expectations and psychological functioning in the dominant group. Perceived security about the society in terms of national culture, and personal conditions in a multicultural society predict the most tolerant form of acculturation expectation. This association is mediated by one's multicultural ideology. Although acculturation expectations are not predictive of psychological functioning, particular national identity (i.e., internationalism) alleviates the negative effect of the closest form of expectation (exclusion) on psychological problems. The study implies the need for analysis on culture-specific constructs of multicultural society in perceptions and attitudes in the dominant group in Japanese society. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: This study examines the implementation and short-term effects of a Learning Partner Model (LPM)-based educational program on cancer prevention and control information for community health volunteers in Japan. Methods: The program was undertaken by 3 local governments in collaboration with a government initiative and offered a 90-min group workshop to community health volunteers. Community health volunteers (primary participants) recruited in turn friend or family members (secondary participants) with whom they were prepared to share the content of the workshop with the help of printed materials received in the workshop. We conducted self-administered paper and pencil questionnaire surveys before, immediately after, and 3 months after the workshop. The t-test, Fisher's exact test, paired t-test, and McNemar test were used to compare the 2 groups' demographic characteristics and healthy habits at pretest. Repeated measures ANOVA was used to compare cancer prevention knowledge between groups and over time. Results: Of 142 participants, 107 pairs of learning partners (primary and corresponding secondary participant) completed all questionnaires. All primary participants and 37.4% of the secondary participants were women, and 57.9% of the learning partners were spouses. The results showed significantly higher correct answers on the cancer-prevention knowledge questions in the post-workshop and follow-up surveys compared to the pre-workshop survey (P < .001). The increase in knowledge was observed in all learning-partner groups in all 3 sites. Conclusion: The study demonstrates a promising strategy that can be adapted to the health needs of the community beyond cancer prevention and control, building on the efforts of local governments and government health initiatives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dealing with an aging society is a global challenge, and more countries than ever before are now mobilizing their healthcare systems to provide high-quality long-term care (LTC) to older adults. This paper reviews the current situation pertaining to aging and the issues for measuring the LTC quality in Japan. It also introduces current efforts to develop quality indicators for measuring LTC quality. Assuring the quality of LTC and developing indicators to measure its quality is a challenge worldwide. Detailed systems for LTC quality measurement have been developed and managed, primarily in the US. In Japan, on the other hand, such systems do not exist; the public LTC system mostly depends on the evaluation of structural aspects, such as facility structure and staffing. Our research group has been developing quality indicators to measure LTC quality. In the future, we aim to evaluate care quality in various LTC settings using the proposed quality indicators, aiming to improve care quality across LTC settings in the community-based integrated care system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper introduces some regression models for a categorical dependent variable with data from egocentric social networks as covariates to analyze the determinants of the outcome for the subject and the determinants of the extent of agreement in the outcome between the subject and the people socially connected to the subject. The merits of the models introduced in this paper are their wide applicability to surveys that collect data on egocentric social networks and their ability to identify the determinants of agreement between subjects’ and their friends’ attitudinal or behavioral outcomes, controlling for the tendency to agree because of homophily in the choice of friends. An illustrative application from the Japanese General Social Survey data shows that several substantively distinct characteristics of egocentric networks affect subjects’ political party preferences and the extent of agreement between the political party preferences of subjects and their significant others. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

This paper argues that features of Japanese organizations, previously held to be the foundations of innovation, change and flexibility, can equally be significant barriers to change, innovation and adaptation in turbulent economic environments. This paper draws on two in-depth case studies of Japanese organizations. It shows how, in both cases, these firms displayed specific weaknesses in the ways in which they integrate and bundle knowledge, in particular around their research and development (R&D) functions. Despite the adoption of strategies of technological innovation and internationalization, the data suggest that the pursuit of both strategies is beset by barriers of inertia. Embedded internal network connections and knowledge-sharing routines between central R&D and other divisions are inappropriate for the revised strategy. Existing external connections, with preferred suppliers and customers within keiretsu structures, and close relationships with existing R&D partners retard these firms' strategic flexibility. With a limited variety of latent routines, knowledge, capabilities and agency to draw on when needed, these firms have limited organizational responsiveness and high levels of path-dependency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this paper is to provide empirical estimates of total factor productivity (TFP) growth rates in the electric power industry for the United States, Japan, and Korea. In this paper, the conventional Divisia index number approach and two cost function approaches are used to assess TFP growth rates during the 1972-1996 period. The TFP growth rates in the United States, where regulatory reform has been progressing gradually since 1978, did not show much difference from those in Japan, and were considerably lower than those achieved by Korea, where little reform has taken place. Decomposition analysis based on the total cost function shows that the major sources of TFP growth were the scale effect in Japan, the capacity utilization effect and the scale effect in Korea, and technical change in the United States. Since the mid-80s, the increases in TFP growth were due to improvements in the capacity utilization effect in all three countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Countries have been shown to be competitive in specific industries. This paper contends that this industrial specialization can be understood in terms of an affinity between national 'models of capitalism' and the characteristics of industrial task environments. Put differently, industry-specific competitiveness is conceived to arise out of a fit between patterns of national business systems and patterns of industrial task environments. Specifically, the paper will propose a relationship between the communitarian or individualistic nature of national business systems and the organization-specificity of knowledge in an industry. More communitarian business systems are thought to enjoy a competitive advantage in industries with a high organization-specificity of knowledge, i.e. in industries that rely more on the long-term accumulation of organization-specific knowledge within tightly-knit corporate communities. More individualistic business systems, on the other hand, are thought to enjoy a competitive advantage in industries with a low organization-specificity of knowledge, i.e. in industries that thrive more on the speedy dissemination or reallocation of company-unspecific knowledge through a constant reconfiguration of social relationships. The paper will offer some illustrations of these proposed relationships in terms of the competitive profiles of the United States, Japan, Germany and Britain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although researchers have suggested that work–life programs (WLPs) help increase the representation of women in management (WIM), stigmatization and gender stereotyping can prevent this beneficial effect. We adopt a contingency approach by taking the roles of time, gender context, and the purposes of different practices into consideration and examine the effects of WLPs on WIM longitudinally. Our analysis of a sample of Japanese public firms spanning 14 years addresses endogeneity concerns and shows that: (1) increases in WLPs are weakly associated with subsequent increases in the proportion of WIM within firms; (2) this positive effect is stronger in organizations where the percentage of female employees is growing; and (3) there is no evidence to suggest an effect in the opposite direction. We further propose different temporal patterns by which the effects of flexibility practices (e.g., remote work) and resource practices (e.g., childcare benefits) emerge due to the varying degree of changes in job structures and work norms involved in their implementation. Our analysis provides supportive evidence that the effects of flexibility practices that require more changes inconveniencing decision-makers, users, and coworkers take longer to emerge compared to resource practices that incur fewer changes and inconveniences. These findings contribute to a more detailed understanding of the WLPs–WIM relationship and offer insights for research on WLPs and women's career advancement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper introduces new models for comparing several social mobility tables that provide various one-degree-of-freedom tests for two mobility tables on substantively meaningful structural components. These components include differences between mobility tables in (1) the strength of off-diagonal associations, (2) the strength of diagonal effects, and (3) the extent of structural mobility. Most of the models in this paper use association models and the Sobel-Hout-Duncan model but are specifically formulated to analyze three-way tables that have either nations or periods as the third dimension. American, British, and Japanese mobility tables are compared. Together, they show that equality of occupational opportunity is larger for the United States than for Great Britain, that Japan's mobility structure is closer to quasi-independence than that of the two other nations, and that Japan's mobility structure became more like that of the United States in 1975 rather than in 1955. These analyses also demonstrate that comparative mobility research based on indexing mobility has strong limitations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Mental health is a serious concern among novice school nurses in Japan. Numerous novice school nurses with various health problems experience high stress levels, affecting their mental health. They may be experiencing reality shock, a known risk factor for burnout and turnover, or its factor, the "reality gap." Objective: This study aimed to examine the hypothetical model by which the reality gap affects the mental health of novice school nurses. Methods: This cross-sectional study conducted a self-administered questionnaire survey, and responses were obtained from 102 novice school nurses. A path model was created based on a hypothetical model. Results: After several revisions on the hypothesis model, a modified path model was generated (CFI =.98, TLI =.93, RMSEA =.06). The path model showed that reality gaps negatively affected work engagement, work engagement positively affected intention to stay, and intention to stay positively affected mental health. Reality gap was also directly negatively associated with mental health. Having various support networks reduced the effects of reality gaps on mental health. Additionally, social support in the workplace boosted work engagement. Conclusion: Unique from other studies, this study contributed to understanding the effects of reality gaps on mental health. School managers and administrators should establish a support system that enables school nurses to receive various supports from within and outside the school. In addition, novice school nurses should take advantage of networks and support inside and outside school to reduce reality gaps and grow as professionals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper provides a diversification explanation in order understand the development of PTAs in Southeast Asia. I argue that an important reason why ASEAN states participate in PTAs has been to diversify existing trade ties and to reduce overdependence on a narrow range of export markets. Southeast Asian countries have formed PTAs with markets with which they had weak or unexplored economic relations, as demonstrated by three case analyses: the ASEAN Free Trade Area (AFTA), the ASEAN-China Free Trade Agreement (ACFTA) and the ASEAN-Japan Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (AJCEP). To maximise the economic gains and the diversification effects of PTA participation, ASEAN countries have pursued a strategy of strengthening economic unity while keeping external economic linkages as diversified as possible. Although East Asia, and especially China, was an important alternative market to reduce ASEAN's dependence on trade with America, ASEAN countries have also pursued PTAs with a number of other trading partners. This paper explains how PTAs have helped ASEAN states to develop more policy autonomy in their trading environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since the end of World War II, the Kuomintang (KMT) (Guomindang) government has erased all traces of Japanese rule from public space, deeming them "poisonous" to the people in Taiwan. This frenzy, often termed "de-Japanization" or qu Ribenhua in Chinese, included the destruction and alteration of Japanese structures. Yet, with democratization in the 1990s, the Japanese past has been revisited, and many Japanese structures have been reconstructed and preserved. This paper examines the social phenomenon of preserving Japanese heritage in present- day Taiwan. It mainly investigates religious/ spiritual architecture, such as Shinto shrines and martial arts halls (Butokuden), war monuments and Japanese statues and busts. A close investigation of these monuments finds that many of them are not restored and preserved in their original form but in a deformed/ transformed one. This finding leads the paper to conclude that the phenomenon is a postcolonial endeavour, rather than being "pro-colonial", and that the preservation of Japanese heritage contributes to the construction and consolidation of a Taiwancentric historiography in which Taiwan is imagined as multicultural and hybrid. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this paper is to describe the methods used in a phenomenological study aimed at understanding students' perceptions of volunteer experiences from the viewpoint of their existential meanings. In Japan, as volunteer activities have just been recently introduced to youth education, it is necessary to verify the effect of the activity on the students. The authors present phenomenological reduction, which is a fundamental concept in phenomenology, as a health care research method to elucidate the essence of people's lived experiences. The 22 statements presented from volunteer students' group discussion after their practices were redescribed by phenomenological reduction, a method of valid interpretation based on their embodiment and desire. The phenomenological approach allows us to understand the essence of students' perceptions in terms of their purpose in life, which suggests that educators could inspire the students to realize existential growth by participating in volunteer activities through practical communications with others. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The implementation of tax reforms to reduce carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions has become increasingly popular. Nevertheless before prescribing these measures, they should be subject to a cost-benefit analysis. This paper evaluates the effects, in Spain, of a rise in the excise duties on energy to a level equal to the average of the EU-15. To this end, a complete demand model, comprising four energy products and fourteen nonenergy products, is estimated. The results indicate that such a reform, despite the fact that it would reduce CO2 emissions by 11 million tons per year, would produce efficiency costs of 15.88¢ for each euro collected, causing households an average annual welfare loss of 228€. Moreover, the progressivity and redistributive capacity of Spanish indirect taxation would be also reduced. As a result, the private welfare loss arising from the reform would be approximately four times greater than its estimated social benefits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this paper is to test the hypothesis of the existence of a single economic market for the international coal industry, separated for coking and steam coal, and lo investigate market integration over time. This has been conducted by applying cointegration and error-correction models on quarterly price series data in Europe and Japan over the time period 1980-2000. Both the coking and the steam coal markets show evidence of global market integration, as demonstrated by the stable long-run cointegrating relationship between the respective price series in different world regions. This supports the hypothesis of a globally integrated market. However, when analyzing market integration over time it is not possible to confirm cointegration in the 1990s for steam coal. Thus, compared to the coking coal market, the steam coal market looks somewhat less global in scope. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents two case studies of how large, traditional corporations simultaneously created new service markets and established a dominant position in the competitive fields of the Internet and mobile communications in Japan. The corporations accepted new organizational bodies imbued with an entrepreneurial spirit supported by different types of personnel and then continuously promoted entrepreneurial strategies based on time pacing. At the same time, with the aim of implementing strategic innovation, the companies integrated the above strategies with deliberate strategies based on event-based pacing practiced by the existing organizational bodies. This paper uses case studies to discuss the factors in success and the problems encountered in the course of achieving strategic innovation in the communications field, specifically in the creation of new markets, through the deliberate and strategic maintenance and subsequent integration of paradoxical organizations and strategies under a single corporate umbrella. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines the technical and institutional factors leading to the 'failure' of a zaibatsu -- a pre-World War II Japanese form of conglomerate organization that combined market and hierarchical elements. It suggests that coordination and legitimacy problems can be particular threats to the survival of some intermediate organizational forms. Drawing on historical and archival materials, the paper chronicles the collapse of the Suzuki zaibatsu, a business empire with sales that at one point equaled 10 percent of Japan's GNP. Suzuki's coordination problems and resource misallocations were the outcome of three factors: (a) the lack of mechanisms to coordinate relations between operating units and the holding company, (b) the failure of the 'owners', in this case a merchant family, to correct managerial inadequacies and, (c) the parallel failure of the group's 'organ bank' to discipline managers. Suzuki's legitimacy problems included a shortage of support from political parties, the bureaucracy and the media. This jeopardized Suzuki's ability to compete with other zaibatsu for public resources and gain institutional support that might have allowed survival. The implications of the case study for future research on the 'failure' of intermediate organizational forms are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article analyzes unit nonresponse bias of establishment surveys, drawing on two major government wage surveys in Japan. We find that unit nonresponse is prevalent among establishments with fewer employees, in urban prefectures, and operating in the service industry. Further, while low-wage establishments are less likely to respond, the resulting bias is quantitatively negligible. Regarding establishment sampling of employees, we find that the sampled establishments randomly choose workers in an appropriate manner. Overall, with proper weighting, nonresponse bias is negligible in Japanese wage statistics to the extent that the mean estimate is concerned. In addition to nonresponse bias, we also assess potential bias due to limited coverage of the sampling population and find substantial bias at the tails of the wage distribution. In particular, excluding corporate executives and establishments with few employees results in an underestimation of wage inequality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Workers and students are often stressed and distressed by a variety of factors, including work and study. However, support for individual psychological stress is not yet well established. Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the effect of mindfulness breathing on the mental load of college students using an electroencephalogram (EEG). Methods: Twenty participants were randomly allocated into treatment or control groups, with 10 participants in each group. Mindfulness breathing was applied to participants in the treatment group, while those in the control group received no treatment. The regression equation was evaluated from the EEG, and time series analysis was performed based on autocorrelation and partial autocorrelation. Results: In the After condition after mindfulness breathing exercises in the Mi group, the alpha wave content of the regression equation at eye closure after task performance showed an upward trend, and the autocorrelation coefficient showed repeated upward and downward fluctuations. Conclusion: It was suggested that alpha wave content may increase over time with mindfulness breathing exercises. The EEG after mindfulness breathing exercises was shown not to be constant and to have non-linear characteristics. This suggested that the effects of mindfulness breathing exercises could be evaluated using time series data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Culturally appropriate communication training programs for a wide range of professions that can be used during infection epidemics are crucial for advance care planning implementation. Starting in 2018, the Japanese Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare made a major policy change, and doctors, nurses, and social workers, and care managers were identified in the guidelines as the professions that promote advance care planning. Motivated by the lack of online programs for Japanese care managers, we proposed a new one-day program. Objectives: This study aimed to determine the changes in the positive attitude of care managers toward dying patients compared to that of nurses, which has been used in past literature as an outcome of advance care planning educational interventions, after administering the program in Japan. Design: Before-after comparison study. Methods: Care managers were recruited through our website, ACP-Piece, http://plaza.umin.ac.jp/~acp-piece/piece.html. A questionnaire survey concerning positive attitudes toward dying patients was administered before and after the program on 28 August 2021. Sixty-six subjects participated in the training and 60 participants, including 14 care managers, consented to the study and completed the questionnaire surveys before and after the program. Results: The Frommelt attitude toward care of the dying scores for care managers increased after the program (p -values, confidence intervals, and effect sizes: p < 0.001, −11.90 to −4.388, −1.252). After training, care managers had a significantly higher maximum score occurrence than nurses. Older care managers with advance care planning experience may have had a higher maximum score occurrence compared to younger, inexperienced participants. Conclusion: To our knowledge, this is the first to demonstrate the increased positive attitude scores toward dying patients after online communication training for Japanese care managers. The limitations of this study include the lack of evidence regarding reasons for score changes, long-term score changes, and effectiveness for patients and their families. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purposes of this research are threefold. First, it revisits the "normative powers in Central Asia" debate, which largely ignores an important stalwart supporter of the rule-based international order—Japan. The traditional exclusion of Japan often appears to be related to the belief that Japan plays second (if not third) fiddle at best and has limited power to influence developments in the region. While this thinking for the most part continues to organize much that is written about Japan–Central Asia relations, this article asserts that Japanese normative power should be taken more seriously than many studies understand. Second, using a combination of document analysis (in Japanese, Kazakh, Russian and English) and key stakeholder interviews, it examines how Japan socializes Kazakhstan into a set of norms of appropriate behavior in the field of foreign aid. Finally, highlighting that Kazakhstan embraces a hybrid identity as an official development assistance provider, this study asserts that Japan's ODA has become a key reference model for Kazakhstan. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The medial patellofemoral ligament (MPFL) has been investigated widely in the past 30 years, resulting in many research achievements in this field. Purpose: To perform a comprehensive bibliometric analysis to evaluate the 100 top-cited articles on the MPFL. Study design: Cross-sectional study. Methods: We searched the Scopus database in December 2022 using the terms "medial patellofemoral ligament" OR "MPFL." The search was confined to English-language articles, including technical notes, systematic reviews on clinical outcomes and/or complications, clinical studies, studies regarding complications, and basic science articles (either cadaveric or biomechanical); we excluded letters, case reports, personal opinions, guidelines, editorials, and narrative or other types of reviews. Analysis of the 100 top-cited articles was performed according to total number of citations, average citations per year (ACY), study type, country of origin, journal of publication, affiliated institution, and most published authors. Results: The total number of citations was 16,358 (range of citations per article, 72-692). The majority of articles were published as clinical studies (54%), with cadaveric studies being the second most common (21%). Most studies originated in the United States (32%), with Japan (15%) and Germany (13%) following. The American Journal of Sports Medicine published the majority of the 100 top-cited articles (37/100; 6304 citations) as well as the 10 top-cited articles according to ACY (7/10; mean, 285.14 citations). The most prolific authors were Nomura (8 articles); Burks (6 articles); and Inoue, Sillanpää, and Dreyhaupt (5 articles each). Conclusion: By analyzing the characteristics of the 100 top-cited articles, this study demonstrated that the MPFL is a growing and popular area of research, with the focus varying through timeline trends. Questions regarding MPFL anatomy, isometry, and biomechanics might have been answered adequately, but research regarding optimal fixation technique under various circumstances is still ongoing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, we explore the interaction between fiscal and monetary policies in Japan over a period including the Global Financial Crisis (GFC) and a phase of the Covid-19 pandemic under the presupposition that policy regimes are fixed and there are random switches between the two regimes. Using the Regime switching model, the results show that fiscal policy is more active in Japan than monetary policy, especially during the GFC and the Covid-19 pandemic. By using the Bayesian VAR model, we continue to further analyze the response of macroeconomic factors to an expansionary fiscal policy to verify the above findings once again. The results indicate that government expenditure helps boost the economy in the short-run. The positive impact of a government expenditure shock on GDP, PPI, and Investment lasts about three to four quarters, while private consumption only increases in one next quarter. These positive responses can increase the inflation rate and make the local currency overvalued, reflected in the increase in the effective exchange rate. A fiscal policy shock does not have much impact on the monetary policy, specifically, the money supply and interest rates of long-term government bonds still tended to decrease as expected by Japan. This is the basis for studying policy implications for some countries pursuing similar policies to Japan. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examines regional price elasticities in electricity consumption to offer valuable insights for policymaking in electricity demand-side management in Japan. By employing a partial adjustment model and utilizing data from regional electric utilities, the study estimates regional electricity demand functions. The analysis reveals that, within the residential sector, the size of houses plays a significant role in explaining regional variations in price elasticity. Likewise, in the industrial sector, the presence or absence of private power generation facilities in firms significantly influences regional disparities in price elasticity. These findings hold substantial implications for enhancing the cost-effectiveness of electricity consumption regulations and policies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article presents information related to sociology as of April 1, 1950. The Committee of the American Sociological Society on Contributed Papers for the 1950 annual meeting consists of Robert E. L. Fans, chairman; and A. B. Hollingshead and T. C. McCormick. Papers submitted for consideration should be sent not later than June 1, 1950. Recently elected officers of the Pacific Sociological Society for 1950 are: President, Leonard Bloom; Vice-president, Southern Division, Ernest Greenwood; Vice-president, Central Division, Carlo Lastrucci; Vice-president, Northern Division, Joseph Bachelder; and Members of the Advisory Council, Robert O'Brien and Paul Wallin. Gwynne Nettler continues as secretary-treasurer. The Society's annual meeting will be held in Seattle, Washington, during April 21-22, 1950. The Twenty- second annual meeting of the Japan Sociological Society was held in Tokyo, Japan, during October 15-16, 1949. The meeting was attended by more than 250 members. Fifty-two reports were given on various aspects of social theory and social research, and three public lectures on the topic, "The Population Problem in Japan."

Background. Wildlife management is becoming a more challenging problem throughout the world. One of the main difficulties it encounters is that residents tend to have ambivalent attitudes regarding whether wildlife should be eliminated or conserved. Aim. We made a consensus building gaming scenario for promoting creative solutions to wildlife management dilemmas. In this article, we aim to show the prerequisites for high performance of this gaming. Method. The gaming consists of three phases: a game playing phase, a presenting dilemma phase, and a game remodeling phase. The game playing phase consists of playing the game which is based on the actual wildlife management problem in Japan. Players can learn the difficulties of real wildlife management from the perspective of farmers. In presenting the dilemma phase, they are presented with the dilemma structure of wildlife problems and motivated to solve the dilemma. In the game remodeling phase, the players remodel the played game to design a new society wherein the residents can coexist successfully with wildlife. The remodeling phase is a kind of well-constructed debriefing process. With this game remodeling process, players can use their creativity for consensus building. Results. The gaming society functioned well especially for players with high pragmatic attitudes or those good at generating ideas especially through talking with others. Conclusion. The prerequisites for high performance of this gaming were verified. But further research is necessary for producing creative consensus building theory and objectively evaluating the quality of players' ideas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and aims: Research on the psychological impact of the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic has highlighted its negative and positive effects on children with autism spectrum disorder and their families. However, little is known about the neutral effects that remain the same, even in particular circumstances, and how children with autism spectrum disorder and their parents perceive each other. We explored how children with autism spectrum disorder and their mothers perceived and experienced the pandemic in Japan. Methods: A mixed-methods design was employed. Thirteen children with autism spectrum disorder and 12 mothers participated. Data were collected through online semi-structured interviews and analyzed using thematic analysis. Similarities and differences in perceptions were compared. Results: The results revealed six broad themes and 27 categories. Regarding neutral effects, some mothers reported no substantial impact because there were no changes in their jobs or other dramatic life changes. In addition, some children were not affected because they had had no social contact before the pandemic or because their lives had not changed dramatically. Regarding the perceptions of children/mothers, most expressed that they/their children enjoyed spending time with their families. At home, mothers made various efforts to interact with their children. However, mothers and children differed in their perceptions, such as regarding the emergence of anxiety about conducting school events and the resolution of study-related concerns. Conclusions: There were negative, neutral, and positive effects on both children with autism spectrum disorder and their mothers; specifically, they were striving to move forward to overcome the problems posed by the pandemic. Both parties tapped into their resilience by enhancing family interactions, such as cooking together or discussing children's interests. Implications: These findings have important implications for developing more creative solutions to the challenges of coping and resilience in future crises. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Yokukansan (YKS) is a traditional Japanese Kampo medicine approved by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare of Japan. Recently, in addition to its indications as a drug treatment, YKS has been shown to have ameliorative effects on various psychological and behavioral responses such as anxiety, aggression, and stress responses. Stress exposure activates not only the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis but also the sympathetic nervous system. Sympathetic activation in brain regions such as the paraventricular hypothalamic nucleus (PVN) stimulates elevation of plasma catecholamine (noradrenaline and adrenaline) levels. We previously reported that various stress-related neuropeptides and several kinds of stressors, such as restraint stress (RS), increase plasma catecholamine and that brain prostanoids and their synthases mediate these responses in rats. In the present study, to determine if YKS treatment can affect stress-induced sympathetic activation, we examined the effects of YKS treatment on the RSinduced elevation of plasma catecholamine levels and related prostanoid production in the PVN of rats. Methods: YKS (1000 mg/10 mL/kg, p.o.) or vehicle was administered to rats daily for 14 days, and all rats were exposed to RS for 60 min on day 14. Before and during stress exposure on day 14, blood samples and PVN dialysates were collected and analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography and liquid chromatography-ion trap tandem mass spectrometry, respectively. Results: Our results showed that repeated administration of YKS suppressed the RS-induced increase in plasma adrenaline but not noradrenaline. Furthermore, YKS administration also suppressed the RS-induced elevation of both prostaglandin E2 and thromboxane B2 levels in the PVN. In addition, we found that repeated administration of YKS suppressed the RS-induced increase in serotonin, gamma-aminobutyric acid, and acetylcholine in the PVN. Conclusion: Our results suggest that YKS can ameliorate stress-induced sympathetic activation via inhibition of stress responses in the brain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Little League elbow, including humeral epicondylitis and osteochondritis dissecans, is a severe throwing injury in school-aged pitchers. Recent rule revisions have been implemented, and thus, prevention awareness may have increased. Purpose: To compare the incidence of elbow injury in 2011 from a previous study with that in 2021 and examine changes in the incidence and characteristics of players with elbow injuries. Study Design: Cross-sectional study; Level of evidence, 3. Methods: A survey based on the 2011 survey was conducted from September 1 to December 31, 2021, among 4060 third- to sixth-grade Little League players belonging to 203 teams in Kyoto, Japan. This survey included a 23-item checklist on physical condition and injury. The participants were classified into 2 groups according to the presence or absence of an elbow injury in the dominant arm during the season. The Wilcoxon rank-sum test was conducted to compare differences in basic information between the 2 groups. We also compared the differences in the 23 checklist items between the 2 groups using the chi-square or Fisher exact probability test. Results: Overall, 98 teams (1335 players; age range, 8-12 years) returned the questionnaires (collection rate, 32.9%). The final analysis population (excluding incomplete questionnaires) was 678 (mean age, 10.6 ± 1.1 years). Elbow injuries accounted for 30.7% of all injury sites in the players. Overall, 61 players (9.0%) reported elbow injuries in 2021 compared with 19.1% of the players in the 2011 survey (P <.01) A significantly higher percentage of players with elbow injuries had elbow pain in extension (item 2 on the survey checklist, P <.001) and flexion (item 4, P <.0024), were regular players (item 5, P =.0288), played baseball under fatigue (item 8, P =.0028), and had lower and upper limb inflexibility (item 17, P =.0379; item 18, P =.0146; and item 22, P =.0085). Conclusion: Study findings indicated that the incidence of elbow injuries has decreased significantly over the past 10 years, although the elbow joint still accounted for almost one-third of all injuries in Japanese youth baseball players. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this paper is to investigate an identification method of magnitude of blasting force using the Kalman filter finite element method. The identification is carried out with estimation at the same time. Acceleration is estimated using actual observation data. As the state equation, the balance of stress equation, the strain - displacement equation, and the stress strain equation are used. For temporal discretization, the Newmark β method is employed and for the spatial discretization the Galerkin method is applied. The Kalman filter finite element method is a combination of the Kalman filter and the finite element method. This is capable of estimation not only in time but also in space directions. However, long computational time is required for computation. To reduce the computational time, the computational domain is divided into two parts, the main and subsidiary domains. In the main domain, filtering procedures are carried out, whereas only a deterministic process is considered for the variables in the subsidiary domain. Eliminating the state variables in the subsidiary domain, a drastically effcient computation is carried out. This method is applied to Futatsuishi quarry site. The site is located in Mt. Minowa in Miyagi prefecture, Japan. The blasting examination was carried out on September, 19th through 22th, 2005. Acceleration is measured by the accelerometer, which was set at two points. One is used as a reference and the other is used as an observation. A velocity is measured by the speedometer, which was set also at two points. These are used as observation data. The acceleration is estimated by using observation data and a blasting force. It is necessary to identifiy the blasting force in advance. In this research, two computations are carried out to verify the present method. The identified values are used as blasting forces in the estimation. The estimation values are compared with observation values at estimation points. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigated the factors behind the historical changes in CO2 emissions of the Japanese manufacturing industry as a whole and by sector at the prefectural level. We decomposed the changes of CO2 emissions in 47 prefectures from 1990 to 2013 into four factors (carbon intensity, energy intensity, structure, and activity effects) using the logarithmic mean Divisia index method. We found that energy intensity, structure, and activity effects were more influential in the changes of emissions than the carbon intensity effect, although the most influential factor varied by prefecture. Among the eight considered industrial sectors of Japan's manufacturing industry, the changes in the chemistry and metal sectors were particularly complex. Thus, improvements of the energy intensity and production in these two sectors should be prioritized. We also conducted detailed analysis of the decomposed factors in three selected prefectures based on cluster analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using data on a sample of 979 union and nonunion Japanese manufacturing firms selected from the 1987 issue of the Yearbook of Japanese Unlisted Companies, the author examines the relationship between union status and firm performance in Japan. The findings suggest that Japanese unions in the sample substantially reduced both productivity and profitability, as well as regular wages net of bonuses and fringes. These three union effects were considerably smaller in small and medium-size firms than in large firms, perhaps because many of the small and medium-size firms were subcontractors that were pressed by the firms contracting them to cut costs and increase productivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In Japan, quantitative accounts of religious membership range from more than one and a half times the total population to thirty percent or less, and we do not have a solid understanding of who these religious affiliates are. This paper addresses four core questions to provide a clearer portrayal of Japanese religious affiliation: 1) What is the approximate number of Japanese who claim religious affiliation? 2) How do the figures presented in this study differ from previous statistics and why? 3) Are there significant differences between individual affiliates and those who claim to have a "household" religion? And 4) What are some of the theoretical explanations for religious affiliation in Japan? Using data from large nationally representative probability samples of Japanese adults, multivariate analysis indicates that some deprivation measures (e.g., unemployment and low education and income levels) help explain individual affiliation with "New Religions" but not with Buddhist or Christian groups, and socialization controls (e.g., gender, age, social engagement, and traditional attitudes) can predict belief in Buddhist, New Religion, and Christian religions. Insufficient data have hindered research on this important topic in the past. This study takes advantage of new resources and supports findings from qualitative research, enabling us to explore who are religious affiliates in Japan and why they might claim such associations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The incidence of renal cell cancer has been increasing worldwide. Although the incidence of renal cell cancer in Japan is lower than the rates in the other industrialized countries, there is no doubt that it is increasing. In this paper, we would like to introduce the result of our studies, which evaluate the risk factors for renal cell cancer in Japan. Hypertension, diabetes mellitus, kidney diseases, fondness for fatty food and black tea showed an increased risk of renal cell carcinoma while an intake of starchy roots such as taro, sweet potato and potato reduced the risk of renal cell carcinoma. In Japan, however, drinking black tea may be a surrogate for westernized dietary habits while eating starchy roots may be a surrogate for traditional Japanese dietary habits. Further studies may be needed to evaluate risk factors for renal cell cancer because the number of renal cancer cases was small in our studies in spite of a large population-based cohort study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article focuses on the interaction between protest movements and the Japanese government. A broad range of protest events are observed. The author discusses the collection of digital photographs that were used from protests at the Defense Ministry. The subject of the photographs were of various people carrying out the petition ritual. One protest was the about the participation of the Japanese Self-defense Force in the Iraq War. Other protests were in opposition to the Self-defense Force activities and the U.S.-Japan Joint Security Treaty.

The prolonged, 10-year, economic downturn in Japan has had far-reaching implications for structure and human resource management (HRM) practices in Japanese organizations. In particular, the demise of hierarchical and group structures has been predicted, together with the end of distinctive HRM features such as lifetime employment and seniority-based pay. Using interview-based empirical data with a variety of Japanese organizations, this paper argues that such organizations are indeed moving towards flatter, less hierarchical structures. Moreover, there are marked shifts in HRM practices. In particular, the seniority-based pay system has been subject to reform. However, other practices have proved considerably more robust than the popular literature would suggest. For example, the lifetime employment system, although under significant pressure, remains largely intact. Indeed, we will argue that certain other key practices are being sacrificed to maintain job security. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines how multiple roles affect the mental health of the elderly in Japan and the United States, two countries with vastly different cultures. Hypotheses were drawn based on the cultural differences in role experiences, and these hypotheses are tested by analyzing nationally representative samples of the elderly in these countries. The results show that Americans are more likely to be involved in roles related to family, work, and community, while the Japanese are more likely to be involved in only those roles related to family and work. Multiple roles are also found to be less beneficialfor the mental health of Japanese elderly compared to American counterparts. National differences in the effects of individual roles and role configurations on mental health are also documented. Overall, the results show the importance of broad cultural contexts for understanding the relationship between roles and mental health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper extracts several dualistic constructs from the anthropological literature on Japan and interprets them in terms of recent understandings of paradox in organizational behaviour. Two historical and one contemporary illustration of these dualities within the Japanese business macroculture are offered. Each is interpreted using a normative, critical and paradox approach, and the different approaches are shown to constitute competing explanations of the phenomena. The findings are discussed in terms of how the dualities affect the dynamics of Japanese business conduct and how they reproduce a macroculture among the large business conglomerates. Insights are offered into how individual firm behaviour is shaped by dualistic features of the macroculture. Implications are drawn for how the conduct of cross-cultural business relationships and government policy may be informed by paradox. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article discusses the paper "Roads to Democracy," by Lawrence Friedman. Friedman discusses three routes by which societies can move toward democracy. These he gives as top down as present in Britain, bottom up as present in the United States, and imposed from outside as in Japan. That set of possibilities provides a valuable framework for analyzing changes in the direction of democratic governance and rule of law. India seems to fit Friedman's outside category, but with reservations. Indigenous legal institutions are said to have proved quite unsatisfactory for regulating commerce and ensuring order. During the U.S. occupation, Japan shifted toward democratic institutions of governance. The legal process, however, remained relatively inactive during and following the occupation. Some have attributed the disuse of the courts to the Japanese cultural base that specified proper behavior so completely that the courts were seldom invoked. The Russian move toward democracy and the rule of law cannot be attributed to external imposition. If there was a groundswell from the public in favor of democratic rule of law, it should be traceable by scholars. The author concludes by stating that the underlying mechanism on which this form of governance depends is less certain.

In Japan, unlike in most other industrialized societies, the decline in marriage rates has been most pronounced among highly educated women. Theoretical interpretations of this distinctive pattern of change have typically emphasized increasing economic independence for women and reductions in the gains to marriage. In this paper, the authors develop and evaluate an alternative explanation that emphasizes women's continued dependence on men's economic resources and decline in the relative supply of highly educated men. Using data from four rounds of the Japanese National Fertility Survey, the authors decompose the observed decline in marriage rates into changes in the propensity to marry and changes in the educational composition of the marriage market. Results indicate that change in the availability of potential spouses accounts for one-fourth of the decline in marriage among university-educated women and explains a substantial proportion of the growing educational differences in marriage. The conclusion is that the relatively large decline in marriage among highly educated Japanese women likely reflects both increasing economic independence and continued economic dependence on men. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]