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Purpose: This study examined the factors that facilitated and obstructed the dissemination of a physical education lesson study (PELS) project in Peru, conducted in collaboration with Japan. Design/methodology/approach: Adopting a qualitative approach, five Peruvian stakeholders in the field of physical education (PE) were interviewed. All the interviews were transcribed. The data were analysed using the Steps for Coding and Theorization (SCAT). Findings: The factors that obstructed the dissemination of PELS were lack of mutual observation of lessons among teachers and the resistance of teachers to the project due to the term “study” in “lesson study”. Conversely, online dissemination of PELS may significantly improve its position in Peru. Disseminating PELS through small group practice and deploying it in the field of education through stakeholder collaboration comprised facilitating factors. Originality/value: This study could facilitate an understanding of Peruvian educational and PE culture and have ripple effects on the practice and dissemination of LS in other countries and subject areas.

ABSTRACTTree-cavities are considered as key components that support multiple species, including endemic ones, in subtropical forests in Yambaru, the northern area of Okinawa Island, Japan. Here, we established two study plots in mature subtropical forests in Yambaru and surveyed for tree-cavities with depths ≥ 10 cm. The density of tree-cavities was 198 per ha, which is exceptionally high compared with tree-cavity densities reported by other studies. Among the three key tree species (Castanopsis sieboldii, Schima wallichii, and Distylium racemosum), no tree-cavities were observed in S. wallichiiin the study plots. In both C. sieboldiiand D. racemosum, the probability of tree-cavity presence increased as the diameter at breast height (DBH) increased. In addition, the probability of tree-cavity presence on D. racemosumstarted to increase at smaller DBH stage compared with that on C. sieboldii. Distylium racemosumoften had multiple tree-cavities per stem. Excavated cavities were rare across all species, and decay cavities were dominant. We detected the activity of the endangered Ryukyu long-haired rat (Diplothrix legata) in two cavities, both of which had similar features: a stem DBH of about 43 cm and volumes of 0.09–0.16 m3. In the Yambaru area, the preservation of large-diameter stems that will form tree-cavities is critically important for maintaining forest ecosystem health and should be considered when implementing forest management plans, especially for D. racemosum, which is rich in cavities and likely plays multiple ecological roles.

ABSTRACTDegradation of old-growth forests is an important issue for global biodiversity conservation. Robust indicator species greatly facilitate the identification of old-growth forests requiring protection. Understanding why particular species are associated with priority forests is necessary for assessing the reliability of indicator species. Here, we surveyed the vegetation of 69 sites in Yambaru forests (Okinawa Island) varying in forest age and analyzed the relationships between the dominance of vascular species and three criterion parameters (forest age and species richness (SR) of epiphytes and endangered plants). Eleven species showing significant positive correlations with three parameters were designated as potential candidate indicator species, ten of which were woody species. Of the above eleven candidate indicator species, Distylium racemosumwas considered one of the most useful indicator species because it can be easily identified in the field and its ecological characteristics are well documented. Regarding three woody traits – sprouting ability, annual growth rate and wood density – which are expected as the cause of indexing, endangered SR increased when tree species with low sprouting ability and high wood density were dominant, and epiphyte SR increased when tree species with low annual growth rate and high wood density were dominant. These woody species traits were associated with forest age and could explain why D. racemosumis an indicator of priority forest. These results suggest that large trees with such woody characteristics are effective indicators of priority forests.

ABSTRACTNest tree availability is a critical reproductive requirement for woodpeckers. To inform off-reserve management strategies for Okinawa woodpecker (OW) Dendrocopos noguchii(Syn. Sapheopipo noguchii) nest trees, we assessed the characteristics of 213 nest trees as well as the detailed forest age of the nest sites by using aerial photographs and the local forest registers. The woodpecker used 17 tree species and one tree fern. The dominant tree species used were Castanopsis sieboldii(34% of total nest trees), Melia azedarach(11%), Alnus japonica(24%), and Pinus luchuensis(8%). Castanopsis sieboldiiwere used most often in the forests ≥ 60 years old, while A. japonica, P. luchuensis, and M. azedarachwere used most often in the younger forests. The relatively high frequency of nests in A. japonicaand P. luchuensissnags was likely affected by tree die-offs due to outbreaks of the introduced leaf beetle Plagiosterna formosanaand pine wilt disease caused by the introduced Pine wood nematode Bursaphelenchus xylophilus, respectively. However, these die-offs were temporary, and snags created by exotic pest outbreaks may not be long-lasting resources in the warm, humid climate. To ensure the stable supply of available nest trees for the OW, we recommend preserving areas of forest ≥ 60 years old, retaining a few C. sieboldiitrees when logging, and also retaining most regenerating M. azedarachtrees during thinning operations in young forests.

Abstract: To evaluate the usefulness of intraarterial digital subtraction angiography (IADSA) in hepatocellular carcinoma, IADSA was prospectively performed, combined with conventional film-screen angiography, in 40 patients in whom the tumor was histologically proven or highly suspected. Of the 16 main tumors less than 2 cm, IADSA detected 7 that were missed by film-screen angiography; 6 of these were less than 1 cm in size. With other diagnostic modalities including ultrasound; routine CT study, and CT after intraarterial Lipiodol injection, the detection rate of these tumors was low. IADSA's contribution is important in the detection of small hepatocellular carcinomas.

Ion-exchange studies of crystalline zirconium titanium phosphate with variable zirconium-to-titanium mole ratios have been extended to sodium-ion exchange on the exchangers with Zr-to-Ti mole ratios of 0.37 and 0.61, and to lithium and potassium ion exchange on the exchanger with a Zr-to-Ti mole ratio close to unity. In the sodium-ion exchange, a mono-sodium phase formed up to about a half of the exchange; then a disodium phase with a different amount of water of crystallization formed. In the lithium-ion exchange, the reaction proceeded with the formation of fully exchanged phases whose water content varied depending upon the environment in which the exchanger was placed during or after the reaction. The exchange amount of potassium ions was much less than that of sodium or lithium ions, and the ion exchange proceeded in parallel with an extensive hydrolysis of the exchanger. The half-exchanged phase could not be confirmed in this case. For the three alkali metal ions studied, the selectivity series was found as a function of loading, i.e., within the range of the load from 0 to 1.3 meq/g, the selectivity is in the order of Na+>K+>Li+, between 1.3 and 4.5 meq/g, it is Na+>Li+>K+, and above 4.5 meq/g loading, it turns out to be Li+>Na+>K+.

In this paper, the percolation threshold of the carbon black-resin composites is discussed based on the experimental results of the changes in resistivity and relative permittivity for loading carbon black, the electric field dependence of current, and the critical exponent of conductivity. It was found that a formation of infinite clusters is interrupted by a tunneling gap in the volume fraction region of carbon black loading where the change in resistivity is extremely large. It was also found that the critical exponent of conductivity for the universal law of conductivity is satisfied if the percolation threshold is estimated at the volume fraction of carbon black where a nonohmic current behavior changes into an ohmic one. It is concluded that the percolation threshold should be defined at this volume fraction of carbon black.