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The use of electronic patient-reported outcomes has increased recently, and smartphones offer distinct advantages over other devices. However, previous systematic reviews have not investigated the reliability of the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D), Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7), and Kessler Screening Scale for Psychological Distress (K6) when used with smartphones, and this has not been fully explored. This study aimed to evaluate the equivalence of the paper and smartphone versions of the CES-D, GAD-7, and K6, which were compared following a randomized crossover design method in 100 adults in Gunma, Japan. Participants responded to the paper and smartphone versions at 1-week intervals. The equivalence of paper and smartphone versions was evaluated using the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC agreement ). The mean participant age was 19.86 years (SD = 1.08, 23% male). The ICC agreements for the paper and smartphone versions of the CES-D, GAD-7, and K6 were 0.76 (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.66-0.83), 0.68 (95% CI 0.59-0.77), and 0.83 (95% CI 0.75-0.88), respectively. Thus, the CES-D and K6 scales are appropriate for use in a smartphone version, which could be applied to clinical and research settings in which the paper or smartphone versions could be used as needed.

Paper can be reused to efficiently manage biomass consumption, meaning that it has potential as an environmentally friendly material. On the other hand, because of high energy usage during the recycling process and transportation inefficiencies, there is a call for the development of technologies that can mitigate this environmental burden. This study evaluated, from a lifecycle perspective, a new technology that can collect and recycle paper within the office. This technology can reduce by over 90% the amount of water used compared with the conventional recycled paper that is pulped and bleached once by the dry process. It also eliminates transportation from paper collection facilities to recycling factories, reducing greenhouse gas emissions. This new technology is already in use in Japan, and analyses by user data indicate that evaluation results differ greatly depending on the utilization rate of the machine. In the future, environmental information should be shared by both users and manufacturers, so that users could increase their utilization rate, and manufacturers could develop alternative bonding agents in order to further reduce the total environmental burden. [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]

In Japan, approximately 23.5 billion paper diapers are produced annually (total of diapers for infants and adults produced in 2018). The majority of used paper diapers are disposed of through incineration; in certain regions, some paper diapers are recycled, mostly by open-loop recycling or thermal recycling. To date, several methods of recycling used paper diapers have been proposed and developed, but these methods are considered to have different types and amounts of recycled materials and different environmental performances. In this study, a new technology was developed for the closed-loop recycling of used paper diapers, and the use of the recycled pulp and superabsorbent polymer (SAP) as materials for paper diapers was evaluated via the environmental impact using the life cycle assessment (LCA) method, using data obtained from experimental facilities for recycling. The results between the comparison of the new method with the landfill and incineration processes demonstrate a greenhouse gas reduction of 47% and 39%, respectively. The results also show that such recycling is expected to reduce land-use occupation and water consumption, closely related to the pulp, main raw material of paper diapers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Today's zoos and aquariums claim to be shifting from being entertainment facilities to centers for the conservation of biodiversity. To make this shift, scientific research, including understanding the biology of endangered species and improving the environment of captive animals, is essential. Several studies have examined the trends in the number of research papers published by zoos and aquariums globally and indicated that this number has increased over the past few decades. In this study, we examined the trends in the number of papers published by Japanese zoos and aquariums over the past 62 years to determine whether research activities are also developing in Japan. We found that the number of research papers has significantly increased and that the research fields have diversified since around 1990. However, we also found some problems: about a quarter of the institutions have published no papers, research targets in zoos were biased toward captive mammals and that aquariums conducted little research on animal welfare. Addressing these issues, we would argue, will help Japanese zoos and aquariums to make further progress. With the shift in their social roles, modern zoos and aquariums are required to develop scientific research. Although zoos and aquariums worldwide have reported an increase in the number of papers they publish and the diversification of their fields in recent decades, the specific circumstances in Japan are slightly unclear. We listed peer-reviewed papers authored by Japanese zoos and aquariums using search engines and quantitatively evaluated the changes in the number of papers published over 62 years. Our results showed that papers published in Japan have increased remarkably since the 1990s, and research fields have diversified as in the rest of the world. In particular, joint research with research institutes has seen an upward trend, and the instances of English-language papers have increased. Meanwhile, the content of the research was biased. In zoos, research on animal welfare has been increasing, but the focus was heavily biased toward captive mammals. Aquariums contributed to the understanding of local ecosystems through the fundamental study of wildlife, but there were fewer papers on improving husbandry. Our results indicated that while research by Japanese zoos and aquariums is developing, research on welfare, conservation, and education regarding native endangered species must still be improved. [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]

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]

Zen practice is often associated with aloof silence and introspection. However, any visitor to a Japanese Zen training temple will be surprised by the abundance and richness of the acoustic environment. In effect, every moment of the training schedule is accompanied, chronicled, and choreographed by percussions and chanting vocals. This paper will introduce this sonic environment and explain how different sounds construct the training experience. In particular, I will focus on sound instruments that coordinate daily activities, such as bells, gongs, drums, and the like, arguing that they are essential to Zen practice. The first part of the paper explains the unique characteristics of a Japanese Zen training temple, focusing on ritual sound instruments and their place within the monastic soundspace. The second part examines the meaning of these instruments as described in Zen canonical writing, focusing mainly on Baizang's monastic regulation and different references to it by Japanese masters throughout history. The third part explores how contemporary monastics understand sound instruments and their function in regulating the body, conveying values, and evoking spiritual transformation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The electron density (Ne), ion density (Ni), and electron temperature (Te) statistics recorded by the DEMETER satellite payload ISL (Instrument Sonde de Langmuir) were used to study the disturbance characteristics of the ionosphere before solid earthquakes of magnitude 6 or higher in Japan during the summer of 2005 – 2009 , to provide more information and methods for the coupling mechanism and short-range earthquake prediction. In this paper, the region of ± 10 ° of the epicenter is divided into 1 ° × 1 ° pixels, and the background field of each parameter is constructed using data without earthquakes and relatively calm space weather. We also define a measure of the perturbation intensity of ionospheric parameters relative to the background field during the occurrence of earthquakes. The analysis results of the four Japanese earthquakes from space and time show an excellent synchronization in the time and area of the anomalies in ionospheric parameters of the four cases. All four instances showed Ne abnormalities, and three showed Ni and Te anomalies, in which N e and Ni increased or decreased abnormally, while Te increased abnormally every time, and the anomalies mainly occurred about 9–12 days before the earthquake. This paper eliminates the influence of solar, geomagnetic, and satellite data defects on the experimental results as much as possible in data screening and method selection. The results partially agree with the conclusions reported in the existing literature, and the obtained anomalies are somewhat related to the ionospheric precursors of earthquakes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recently, Japan's discharge of wastewater from the Fukushima nuclear disaster into the ocean has attracted widespread attention. To effectively address the challenge of separating uranium, the focus is on finding a healthy and environmentally friendly way to adsorb uranium using biochar. In this paper, a BP neural network is combined with each of the four meta-heuristic algorithms, namely Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO), Differential Evolution (DE), Cheetah Optimization (CO) and Fick's Law Algorithm (FLA), to construct four prediction models for the uranium adsorption capacity in the treatment of radioactive wastewater with biochar: PSO-BP, DE-BP, CO-BP, FLA-BP. The coefficient of certainty (R2), error rate and CEC test set are used to judge the accuracy of the model based on the BP neural network. The results show that the Fick's Law Algorithm (FLA) has a better search ability and convergence speed than the other algorithms. The importance of the input parameters is quantitatively assessed and ranked using XGBoost in order to analyze which parameters have a greater impact on the predictions of the model, which indicates that the parameters with the greatest impact are the initial concentration of uranium (C0, mg/L) and the mass percentage of total carbon (C, %). To sum up, four prediction models can be applied to study the adsorption of uranium by biochar materials during actual experiments, and the advantage of Fick's Law Algorithm (FLA) is more obvious. The method of model prediction can significantly reduce the radiation risk caused by uranium to human health during the actual experiment and provide some reference for the efficient treatment of uranium wastewater by biochar. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents a method for applying forging to high-density wood. A cylindrical container was formed using a closed die, and the appropriate conditions for temperature and punch length were evaluated. Ulin, which is a high-density wood, and Japanese cedar, which is a low-density wood and widely used in Japan, were used as test materials. The pressing directions were longitudinal and radial based on wood fiber orientation, and the shape and density of the resulting containers were evaluated. In the case of ulin, cracks decreased by increasing the temperature, while temperature had little effect on Japanese cedar. Containers without cracks were successfully formed by using a punch of appropriate length. The density of the containers was uniform in the punch length l = 20 and 40 mm in the L-directional pressing and l = 20 mm in the R-directional pressing when using ulin, with an average density of 1.34 g/cm3. This result indicates the forging ability of ulin is high compared to that of commonly used low-density woods. In summary, this paper investigated the appropriate parameters for forging with ulin. As a result, products of more uniform density than products made by cutting were obtained. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The maritime route connecting the Chinese continent and the Japanese archipelago facilitated a significant exchange of commercial goods and sociocultural knowledge throughout the Southern Song dynasty. Within this context, Japanese pilgrim monks traveling along this route acted as key conduits for the transmission of Buddhist teachings. Their journeys profoundly influenced the establishment and development of new Buddhist monasteries in Japan. Focusing on biographical accounts that portray the experiences of these pilgrim monks during their twelfth- and thirteenth-century sea voyages, this paper aims to explore how these accounts drew on intertextual links with existing Buddhist records to fulfill the compilers' intentions. Specifically, this paper examines the structure and sources of biographical accounts detailing miraculous encounters between pilgrim monks and Buddhist deities during perilous situations at sea. By interpreting the role of these deities in the corpus of Buddhist literature and within Japanese Buddhist monasteries founded by pilgrim monks, this paper argues that the increasing emphasis on pilgrim monks' attainment of divine protection in their biographical records suggests a growing concern for reinforcing the authority of their dharma lineages. Moreover, the composition and reception of these miraculous accounts reflected the changing religious needs and reshaped strategies for promoting specific Buddhist sects in subsequent periods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In today's economy, one of the most important national indicators of economic growth performance is the country's ability to produce new technology--and use it responsibly and efficiently--for environmental protection or energy conservation, production and consumption in agreement with international standards. The purpose of this study is to identify the Research and Development (R&D) capability in the area of environmentally friendly technologies in China, Japan and Korea over the last twenty years. As the field is very wide, Water-Gas Shift (WGS) reaction technologies were taken as a case study for the purpose of this article. During 1990-2011 a total of 788 papers in the field of WGS technologies were published by scientists in China, Japan and Korea. China was the top producing country with 394 papers (50%) followed by Japan with 250 papers (32%), and Korea with 144 papers (18%). The growth of the literature in the field was found to be exponential in nature for China. The R&D capabilities were found to correlate directly with the Gross Domestic Expenditures on R&D (GERD), Researchers in Full-time equivalents (FTE), and other economic parameters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Acute otitis media (AOM) in children is one of the leading causes of health care visits and antibiotic prescriptions worldwide. The overall aim of the current study is twofold: 1. to analyze and discuss the antibiotic prescription patterns in AOM in children without complications or risk factors and 2. to assess to what extent the watchful-waiting approach is a real practice or a mere desideratum. We performed an electronic search in the PubMed and Embase databases from 2013 to 2023 to capture original research studies investigating antibiotic prescribing patterns for AOM in children. Among the 12 papers included in the analysis, the antibiotic prescription rate ranged from 44.8% to 98%. Our study reveals similarities regarding the use of amoxicillin as a first-line antibiotic in pediatric AOM, but also discrepancies in the watchful-waiting approach attitude and in the choice of second or third-line antimicrobial agents. The proportion of cases managed with the watchful-waiting approach ranged from 7.5% (Australia) to 55.2% (Finland). Denmark was the only country reporting penicillin V as a first-choice regimen for children with AOM, which fulfils the guidelines' recommendations. The most unsatisfying rate of amoxicillin use was recorded in Japan, contrary to the recommendations of local guidelines. The use of quinolones was reported in two out of twelve studies, with the highest proportion in Japan, where tosufloxacin was used in 21.4% of the total number of cases. The duration of the antibiotic regimens was analyzed in three out of twelve papers. Since global antibiotic overuse contributes to the emergence of antibiotic resistant bacteria, new strategies are needed to increase the rate of watchful waiting and to promote the judicious use of antibiotics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper investigates how historical inter-firm syndication networks influence venture capitalists' (VCs) propensity to invest in startups pursuing novel, uncertain technologies, with a focus on artificial intelligence (AI). We theorize that VCs' positional attributes within cumulative syndication networks determine their access to external expertise and intelligence that aid AI investment decisions amidst informational opacity. Specifically, reachability to prior AI investors provides referrals and insights transmitted across short network paths to reduce ambiguity. Additionally, VC brokerage between disconnected industry clusters furnishes expansive, non-redundant information that is pivotal for discovering and assessing AI opportunities. Through hypotheses grounded in social network theory, we posit network-based mechanisms that equip VCs to navigate uncertainty when engaging with ambiguous innovations like AI. We test our framework, utilizing comprehensive historical records of global venture capital investments. Analyzing the location information of VC firms in this database, we uncovered a history of 14,751 investments made by Korean and Japanese firms. Using these data, we assembled an imbalanced panel dataset from 1984 to 2022 spanning 230 Korean and 413 Japanese VCs, with 4508 firm-year observations. Negative binomial regression analysis of this dataset reveals how historical relational patterns among venture capital firms foster readiness to evaluate unfamiliar innovations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As a replacement for polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), organophosphorus flame retardants (OPFRs) have been widely used and detected in different indoor environments all over the world. This paper comprehensively describes the concentration levels and distribution information of 11 kinds of OPFRs from 33 indoor dust and 10 air environments, from which TBOEP, TCIPP, and TDCIPP were observed to have higher concentrations in indoor environments. The ΣOPFRs displayed higher concentrations in indoor dust than in indoor air due to the higher molecular weight and vapor pressure of ΣOPFRs in building decoration materials, specifically for TCIPP and TDCIPP compounds. Considering that it is inevitable that people will be exposed to these chemicals in the indoor environments in which they work and live, we estimated their potential health risks through three human exposure pathways and found that the ingestion exposure to TBOEP for toddlers in Japan may reach up to 1270.80 ng/kg/day, which comprises a significant pathway compared to dermal contact and indoor air inhalation. Specifically, the combined total exposure to OPFRs by air inhalation, dust ingestion, and dermal contact was generally below the RfD values for both adults and toddlers, with a few notable higher exposures of some typical OPFRs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A web-based Java programming learning assistant system (JPLAS) has been developed for novice students to study Java programming by themselves while enhancing code reading and code writing skills. One type of the implemented exercise problem is code writing problem (CWP), which asks students to create a source code that can pass the given test code. The correctness of this answer code is validated by running them on JUnit. In previous works, a Python-based answer code validation program was implemented to assist teachers. It automatically verifies the source codes from all the students for one test code, and reports the number of passed test cases by each code in the CSV file. While this program plays a crucial role in checking the correctness of code behaviors, it cannot detect code plagiarism that can often happen in programming courses. In this paper, we implement a code plagiarism checking function in the answer code validation program, and present its application results to a Java programming course at Okayama University, Japan. This function first removes the whitespace characters and the comments using the regular expressions. Next, it calculates the Levenshtein distance and similarity score for each pair of source codes from different students in the class. If the score is larger than a given threshold, they are regarded as plagiarism. Finally, it outputs the scores as a CSV file with the student IDs. For evaluations, we applied the proposed function to a total of 877 source codes for 45 CWP assignments submitted from 9 to 39 students and analyzed the results. It was found that (1) CWP assignments asking for shorter source codes generate higher scores than those for longer codes due to the use of test codes, (2) proper thresholds are different by assignments, and (3) some students often copied source codes from certain students. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines the utilization of the mantra of light and its associated maṇḍala practices by Wang Hongyuan 王弘願 (1876–1937), a Chinese Buddhist during the Republican Period, and his adherents, which has not yet been noticed by previous scholars. With the import of esoteric Buddhist doctrines and practices from Japan, the mantra of light, which was a rarely used mantra in pre-modern China, gained renewed significance. This led to the widespread adoption of the ritual practices of this mantra by Wang Hongyuan and his surrounding Buddhist groups in early modern China. The rituals of this mantra were used as a supplement or substitute for near-death Pure Land practices. This paper presents Pure Land Buddhist practices intertwined with esoteric Buddhist elements or "esoteric" approaches to Pure Land rebirth in modern Chinese Buddhism which have been overlooked by previous scholars. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In Japan, the final tightening of bolts in the bolt-tightening operations is guaranteed to have been performed correctly by visually determining the change in markings during the temporary tightening operation performed by the technician. However, the engineer must confirm many bolts; further, the amount of time needed for the confirmation work and the inability to keep an objective record of the confirmation results present problems. To solve these problems, we developed a system for automating the final tightening of bolts using deep learning-based image-processing technology. The proposed system takes as input videos of bolt fastening points, extracts individual bolts, extracts markings on the extracted bolts, and makes fastening decisions based on the markings. In the judgment stage, the system processes information on each bolt where a marking is detected; thus, it is possible to leave this information as objective data. In this paper, we evaluated the accuracy of each automated step using an actual bridge video. We also compared the confirmation time with human confirmation. As a result of the confirmation, our proposed method reduces the confirmation time by about 33% in comparison to human confirmation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The quality-assured preparation of crushed and diluted preparations for children is a challenge. In this study, a multicenter study was conducted to validate the preparation method for the quality assurance of baclofen powder, clonidine powder, and hydrocortisone powder prepared from tablets according to a previously established method. In-hospital preparations were prepared at five medical facilities under different crushing and mixing conditions. After storage in closed bottles, in-use bottles, and laminated paper for 120 days, ingredients stability, drug elution, and content uniformity after packaging were evaluated. All three ingredients were maintained at between 90% and 110% of their initial content for 120 days under packaging conditions of 25 ± 2 °C and 60 ± 5% relative humidity, with no change in dissolution in all formulations made at all five facilities. The content uniformity was also acceptable. The established method may contribute to quality-assured pediatric dosage form modification. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Ctenolepisma calvum, commonly known as the ghost silverfish, is an insect that lives in buildings, including museums, libraries, and archives. It is regarded as a pest of paper-based objects. Recently, C. calvum was discovered in several areas of Japan for the first time, and it may be a new threat to the conservation of collections that are of cultural and historical importance. Because the biological characteristics of this species in Japan are not well known, we observed their growth and reproduction. We found that eggs were laid from April to November, especially in early June, and eggs usually hatched within two months. The young insects grew through molting, and started laying eggs the next year. Females laid around 10 or more eggs at one time, and they were able to lay eggs once or more per year. Through this study, only females were found, and they were able to reproduce without male individuals. Further research on practical control methods for this species in museums and other facilities is required. Ctenolepisma calvum (Ritter, 1910) (Zygentoma: Lepismatidae) is a primitive wingless insect that causes damage to paper, and it is regarded as a pest of collections in museums, archives, and libraries. This species was recently discovered in Japan for the first time and may have already spread over large areas of Japan, but, currently, no information is available on the biological characteristics of C. calvum in Japan. In this study, we observed the processes of development and reproduction of C. calvum found in Japan at room temperature. Oviposition was observed from April to November, with a peak in early June. The average egg period was 56.9 days at average temperatures above 24.0 °C, and was 72.4 days at average temperatures below 24.0 °C. The 1st, 2nd, and 3rd instars lasted 4.7 days, 13.2 days, and 26.1 days on average, respectively, at average temperatures above 22.0 °C. Average instar periods were 23–28 days in 4th–7th instars and tended to increase in later instars. Instar periods also increased when the average temperature was 22.0 °C or lower. In individual rearing, the longest-living individual lived for approximately two years, up to the 15th instar. The head width grew at an approximate ratio of 1.1 per molt. First oviposition occurred at the 10th or 11th instar. Individually observed females oviposited once or twice a year, laying 6–16 eggs at one time, but females at least two years old laid 78.2 eggs per year on average in a mass-culture cage. Through this study, only females were found, and the mature females produced their progenies parthenogenetically. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Japanese firms have historically followed a country-specific model of corporate governance. Yet, Japan has had to adapt its corporate model over the last 30 years, along with the transformation of distinctive characteristics of Japanese capitalism in the same period. We review the historical evolution of Japanese corporate governance over the last three decades with a specific emphasis on the changes in the capital structure of major companies and the efforts to correct ineffective board of directors monitoring. By doing this, we investigate to what extent specific Japanese corporate governance features may explain the nation's economic situation over this period. Thereby, we try to clarify the influences that have presided over recent corporate governance reforms in Japan despite the existence of managerial failures and corporate scandals. This paper places itself into the debate over the diversity of capitalism as it portrays the specificities, differences, and converging trends of Japanese corporate governance practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Societies of the East are often contrasted with those of the West in their stances toward technology. This paper explores these perceived differences in the context of international ethics guidance for artificial intelligence (AI) and robotics. Japan serves as an example of the East, while Europe and North America serve as examples of the West. The paper's principal aim is to demonstrate that Western values predominate in international ethics guidance and that Japanese values serve as a much-needed corrective. We recommend a hybrid approach that is more inclusive and truly 'international'. Following an introduction, the paper examines distinct stances toward robots that emerged in the West and Japan, respectively, during the aftermath of the Second World War, reflecting history and popular culture, socio-economic conditions, and religious worldviews. It shows how international ethics guidelines reflect these disparate stances, drawing on a 2019 scoping review that examined 84 international AI ethics documents. These documents are heavily skewed toward precautionary values associated with the West and cite the optimistic values associated with Japan less frequently. Drawing insights from Japan's so-called 'moonshot goals', the paper fleshes out Japanese values in greater detail and shows how to incorporate them more effectively in international ethics guidelines for AI and robotics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

River water-level prediction is crucial for mitigating flood damage caused by torrential rainfall. In this paper, we attempt to predict river water levels using a deep learning model based on radar rainfall data instead of data from upstream hydrological stations. A prediction model incorporating a two-dimensional convolutional neural network (2D-CNN) and long short-term memory (LSTM) is constructed to exploit geographical and temporal features of radar rainfall data, and a transfer learning method using a newly defined flow–distance matrix is presented. The results of our evaluation of the Oyodo River basin in Japan show that the presented transfer learning model using radar rainfall instead of upstream measurements has a good prediction accuracy in the case of torrential rain, with a Nash–Sutcliffe efficiency (NSE) value of 0.86 and a Kling–Gupta efficiency (KGE) of 0.83 for 6-h-ahead forecast for the top-four peak water-level height cases, which is comparable to the conventional model using upstream measurements (NSE = 0.84 and KGE = 0.83). It is also confirmed that the transfer learning model maintains its performance even when the amount of training data for the prediction site is reduced; values of NSE = 0.82 and KGE = 0.82 were achieved when reducing the training torrential-rain-period data from 12 to 3 periods (with 105 periods of data from other rivers for transfer learning). The results demonstrate that radar rainfall data and a few torrential rain measurements at the prediction location potentially enable us to predict river water levels even if hydrological stations have not been installed at the prediction location. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

SDG target 12.3 calls for halving food waste in retail, food service, and households by 2030. The food waste index developed for this purpose includes parts attached to food that are usually removed intentionally ("unavoidable food waste") and counts conversion into animal feed and utilisation as biomaterial as a means of reduction. In Japan, the "Food Waste Recycling Law", which has been in effect since 2001, promotes the recycling of food waste generated from businesses, designating feed conversion as a top priority. On the other hand, based on the more recent "Food Loss Reduction Promotion Act" of 2019, the government is currently promoting reduction in avoidable food waste to meet the SDG target. Based on statistical sources and interviews with ministry officers, this paper explains the history and achievements of Japan's 23-year policy based on the Food Recycling Law, as well as the tension between the two legislations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research aimed to investigate Japanese university students' entrepreneurial development processes using the happenstance learning theory. The current research was an empirical study investigating the role of risk propensity, lifetime employment orientation, and entrepreneurship-related exploratory behaviour in developing the entrepreneurial intention of university students in Japan. Data were collected from 214 undergraduate students in Japan. The results demonstrated that the risk propensity characteristic of students influenced entrepreneurial intentions through entrepreneurship-related exploratory behaviour and lifetime employment orientation. The research also found that leadership experience moderated the relationship between risk propensity and entrepreneurship-related exploratory behaviour and the relationship between entrepreneurship-related exploratory behaviour and entrepreneurial intention. By applying the happenstance learning theory in an entrepreneurship study, the current research provides meaningful insights for research scholars, educators, and policymakers interested in the entrepreneurial intentions of students. This paper concludes with a discussion on the theoretical implications and future research directions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is a major microvascular complication of diabetes, affecting a substantial portion of diabetic patients worldwide. Timely intervention is pivotal in mitigating the risk of blindness associated with DR, yet early detection remains a challenge due to the absence of early symptoms. Screening programs have emerged as a strategy to address this burden, and this paper delves into the role of artificial intelligence (AI) in advancing DR screening in Japan. There are two pathways for DR screening in Japan: a health screening pathway and a clinical referral path from physicians to ophthalmologists. AI technologies that realize automated image classification by applying deep learning are emerging. These technologies have exhibited substantial promise, achieving sensitivity and specificity levels exceeding 90% in prospective studies. Moreover, we introduce the potential of Generative AI and large language models (LLMs) to transform healthcare delivery, particularly in patient engagement, medical records, and decision support. Considering the use of AI in DR screening in Japan, we propose to follow a seven-step framework for systematic screening and emphasize the importance of integrating AI into a well-designed screening program. Automated scoring systems with AI enhance screening quality, but their effectiveness depends on their integration into the broader screening ecosystem. LLMs emerge as an important tool to fill gaps in the screening process, from personalized invitations to reporting results, facilitating a seamless and efficient system. However, it is essential to address concerns surrounding technical accuracy and governance before full-scale integration into the healthcare system. In conclusion, this review highlights the challenges in the current screening pathway and the potential for AI, particularly LLM, to revolutionize DR screening in Japan. The future direction will depend on leadership from ophthalmologists and stakeholders to address long-standing challenges in DR screening so that all people have access to accessible and effective screening. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

(1) Background: The increasing older population and demographic shifts highlight the need to understand the digital profiles of older adults, a pivotal factor in developing innovative technologies like the e-VITA virtual coach. This personalized coach provides recommendations for sustainable well-being in a smart home environment. (2) Methods: This study focuses on analyzing the characteristics of older individuals categorized as Internet users (onliners) and non-users (offliners). European Social Survey data from 2021 were utilized for European analysis, determining Internet usage based on frequency. Offliners are defined as users who never use the Internet, and onliners as those who use it, albeit with different frequencies. In Japan, data from the 9th International Comparative Survey on the Lives and Attitudes of the Elderly were employed, based on the responses of 1367 subjects, which defined onliners as individuals using communication devices and offliners as those not utilizing fax machines, cell phones, or the Internet. (3) Results: This paper presents a primary analysis of older end-user context and perspectives, outlining effective strategies for the diffusion of an active and healthy aging coaching system in the market and society. (4) Conclusions: the study emphasizes the importance of analyzing digital behavior in any user-centered design approach to ensure the system's acceptance after deployment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With a substantial rise in life expectancy throughout the last century, society faces the imperative of seeking inventive approaches to foster active aging and provide adequate aging care. The e-VITA initiative, jointly funded by the European Union and Japan, centers on an advanced virtual coaching methodology designed to target essential aspects of promoting active and healthy aging. This paper describes the technical framework underlying the e-VITA virtual coaching system platform and presents preliminary feedback on its use. At its core is the e-VITA Manager, a pivotal component responsible for harmonizing the seamless integration of various specialized devices and modules. These modules include the Dialogue Manager, Data Fusion, and Emotional Detection, each making distinct contributions to enhance the platform's functionalities. The platform's design incorporates a multitude of devices and software components from Europe and Japan, each built upon diverse technologies and standards. This versatile platform facilitates communication and seamless integration among smart devices such as sensors and robots while efficiently managing data to provide comprehensive coaching functionalities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study introduces a brief history of the discovery of and conservation efforts to preserve the Nara Palace Site in Japan, which brought about the recognition of this heritage site as a World Cultural Heritage location by UNESCO in 1996. Accordingly, the 1994 Nara Document on Authenticity plays an important role in contributing to Japanese cultural heritage conservation achievements, with the expansion of cultural diversity and heritage diversity and the concepts of values and authenticity, which proposed a new orientation in terms of awareness and openness to develop a broader vision when identifying architectural heritage values. Against this background, we first discuss the newly proposed concept of so-called "architectural heritage DNA" and its potential structure, providing a simple formula for appraising the authentic values of architectural heritage conservation works. Working within conservation theory, besides the doctrinal study of the 1994 Nara Document on Authenticity, this study also focuses on other important international conventions, such as the 1964 Venice Charter and the 1999 Burra Charter, to clarify the concepts of conservation, restoration, and reconstruction, adding the concept of inheritance between conservation and development, which addresses the lack of international conventions regarding cultural heritage conservation. The viewpoints expressed in this paper are based on the most common concepts of these international conventions but are interpreted in a novel, understandable, practical, and highly applicable approach suited to both the current socio-political situation and future scenarios. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tooth fusion is a dental anomaly with a prevalence of 0.1% in permanent dentition. The aim of this paper is to present the occurrence, region of fusion, and prognosis of fused tooth which is a very rare case in the literature. The authors present a very rare case with a maxillary right lateral incisor fused to a supernumerary tooth on the palatal side. The eruption was delayed, but eruption occurred naturally at 9 years and 6 months. However, cone-beam computed tomography at 11 years and 6 months revealed it was diagnosed as a fused tooth. The authors undertook a literature review over the past 10 years and found 30 articles about fused teeth between permanent teeth and supernumerary teeth. It was more common in males than females and there were no differences depending on the occurrence. Mesiodistal fusion was more common in the incisor region, while labiopalatal fusion was more common in the molar region. Most cases required dental treatment with a surgical approach, root canal treatment, or orthodontic treatment. The present study highlights the importance of long-term follow-up and suggests the region of fusion and prognosis of the fused tooth may vary depending on the occurrence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents additional notes on the carabid genus Nebria subgenus Falcinebria Ledoux and Roux, 2005 from Japan: a description of a new species Nebria suzukana sp. nov. from Mt. Gozaishodake; a new distribution and the southwesternmost collection record of Nebria furcata Sasakawa, 2020 from Mt. Uchimiyama; an additional record of Nebria kobushicola Sasakawa, 2023 from the Yatsugatake Mountains; and an additional record of an undetermined species from the Iide Mountains that was previously treated as Nebria taketoi Habu, 1962, with a note on its habitat. In addition, a key to the known species of Nebria (Falcinebria) from Honshu is provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since their birth in the 1990s, social enterprises, as a kind of third-party organization with the attributes of both a not-for-profit entity and a profit-making enterprise, have played a significant role in the socio-economic development of cities, in particular those facing the challenge of shrinking. But why are social enterprises so deeply embedded in the regeneration process of shrinking cities, and how do they promote their multi-dimensional revitalization? In order to answer these questions, this paper presents a case study on Shimizusawa in Japan based on a literature review and field research. In line with the embeddedness and institution–function–instrument theories, it reviews the revitalization of Shimizusawa by involving a social enterprise in the adaptive reuse of industrial heritage sites and the development of industrial tourism, analyzes the establishment process and organizational characteristics of this social enterprise, and summarizes the four major experiences of its practice—that is, the governance structure of two types of institutions and two types of functions, the planning for both profitable and non-profitable activities, the operation of both for-profit and not-for-profit businesses, and the fund management of leveraging multiple parties to raise funds and reinvesting the profits locally. The extensive support provided by the Shimizusawa Social Enterprise that creates not only economic value but also social value justifies the significant role of social enterprises in the revitalization of shrinking industrial areas. This case study, together with its analytical framework, may serve as a meaningful reference for the revitalization of shrinking industrial areas in other parts of the world. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Maritime shipping is considered a major air pollutant that directly affects global warming and climate change. This study aims to design an emission control route (ECR) that can contribute to long-term initiatives along with emission prevention policies. Applying a scenario analysis, this paper has analyzed the impact of ECR implementation on air quality in the shipping route between Korea and Japan. In this study, the ECR is defined as eco-friendly shipping routes that recommend maintaining a specific level of speed while sailing. Based on the navigation trajectories of 55 O/Ds, which were extracted by the automatic identification system (AIS) data of 135 container ships for each port call during one year, the ECR domains were designated. To analyze the introduction impacts, this study employed a scenario analysis based on the current Vessel Speed Reduction Program (VSRP) recommendation of 12 knots or less. The results demonstrated that the introduction of ECR in the liner services between Korea and Japan would increase the average travel time by 10.47–16.98%. However, according to the results of the scenario analysis, the introduction of the ECR can reduce emissions by 25.65% to 39.73%. By suggesting the initial concept of ECR and analyzing the emission reduction effects of its implementation, this study provides useful insights for a balance between economic and environmental performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper argues how the study of religion in Japan influenced the nation's conduct during the Asia-Pacific War (1931–1945). Specifically, the paper addresses the wartime national indoctrination texts of Katō Totsudō 加藤咄堂 (a.k.a. Katō Yūichirō 加藤熊一郎, 1870–1949). Although Katō was not strictly a religious scholar, analyzing Katō's texts is significant in understanding the influence of religious theory and religious studies discourse on Japanese society during the war. To illustrate this point, this paper introduces previous studies that have discussed the movements of religious scholars during the war. It then clarifies the significance of discussing Katō's texts, followed by an introduction to what has been revealed about Katō so far. The paper then examines Katō's wartime texts that discuss the relationship between war, faith and the readiness to die. The East–West comparison of views of life and death used by Katō was characterized as a wartime application of comparative religion. It was intended to emphasize Japan's superiority over other countries. Such features agitated Japanese readers to proactively enter the fight to the death through spiritual mobilization in a total war system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The COVID-19 crisis battered the Japanese economy. The purpose of this paper is to investigate whether the pandemic has left scars. To this end, it employs out-of-sample forecasting models and detailed stock market data for 30 sectors and disaggregated current account data for the 3 years after the first case occurred. The findings indicate that stock prices in sectors such as tourism, education, and cosmetics remain far below forecasted values after three years. Office equipment and semiconductor stock prices initially fell more than predicted but have since recovered. Other sectors such as bicycle parts and home appliances gained at first but are now performing as expected. Sectors such as home delivery and electronic entertainment continue to outperform. The results also indicate that income flows from Japanese investments abroad are much larger than forecasted, keeping the Japanese current account in surplus even as imports of oil and commodities have created persistent trade deficits. Since the travails of hard-hit sectors such as tourism reflect their exposure to the COVID-19 pandemic rather than bad choices made by firms, policymakers should consider employing cost-effective ways to stimulate economic activity in these sectors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Forest bathing was proposed in Japan in 1982 for the purpose of reducing stress and health management, and research on the health promotion and disease prevention effects of forest bathing began in Japan in 2004. Since then, the author's research team has published many papers and, in 2012, established Forest Medicine as a new preventive medicine. Imagine a new medical science that could let you know how to be more active, more relaxed, healthier, and happier, with reduced stress and a reduced risk of lifestyle-related diseases. This new medical science is Forest Medicine. Forest Medicine studies the effects of forest environments on human health and is a new interdisciplinary science that belongs to the categories of environmental and preventive medicine. On the other hand, more than 10 years have passed since then, and a lot of evidence has been obtained and many articles regarding Forest Medicine have been published. Therefore, in this review, the author proposes a new concept of Forest Medicine, based on the new evidence and published papers, with the psycho-neuro-endocrino-immune network in mind. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents a feasibility study on monitoring earthquake-caused furniture vibrations using radiofrequency identification (RFID) sensor tags. Finding unstable objects by exploiting the vibrations caused by weaker earthquakes is effective as one of the potential countermeasures for large-scale earthquakes in earthquake-prone areas. For this purpose, a previously proposed ultrahigh-frequency (UHF)-band RFID-based batteryless vibration/physical shock sensing system enabled long-term monitoring. This RFID sensor system introduced standby and active modes for long-term monitoring. This system enabled lower-cost wireless vibration measurements without affecting the vibration of furniture because the RFID-based sensor tags provide lightweight, low-cost, and battery-free operations. This RFID sensor system observed earthquake-cased furniture vibrations in a room on the fourth floor of a building eight stories high at Ibaraki University, Hitachi, Ibaraki, Japan. The observation results revealed that the RFID sensor tags identified the vibrations of furniture caused by earthquakes. The RFID sensor system also observed the vibration duration times of the objects in a room and specified the most unstable reference object. Hence, the proposed vibration sensing system helped achieve safe living in indoor environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines the local beliefs of the sea gods in Japan, represented by the Sumiyoshi Sanjin 住吉三神, and their acceptance of the foreign culture of Mazu 媽祖. While there are many differences between the two in terms of their backgrounds, functions, and identities, the evolution of Japanese sea god beliefs has been characterized by a gradual acceptance of Mazu culture, culminating in the co-culturing of the two in shrines. This paper adopts an empirical research design to compare the local beliefs of the sea gods in Japan with the culture of Mazu and to analyze the reasons for their acceptance of Mazu culture from the perspective of the other. This article argues that the Japanese sea gods accepted Mazu for two reasons: the tangibility of Mazu's beliefs and the superb spirituality of Mazu's beliefs. Superb spirituality means effective protection, both in terms of safety at sea and swiftness in rescuing shipwrecks, and in terms of the smooth running of the fishing industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the field of vegetable farming, it has become a common approach for farmers to advance into the secondary and tertiary industries to increase their income, an initiative known as the sixth industrialization. Under these circumstances, a growing trend is to outsource a part of the sixth industrialization activities in order to improve consumer satisfaction, strengthen market competitiveness, and avoid investment risks. However, owing to a mismatch between farmers and processors, there are few cases that result in collaboration. Under such circumstances, a new distribution channel called local distribution systems have been born, and its importance is increasing in Japan. This paper demonstrates how a local distribution system for farmers living in rural areas could address this distortion. The concept of local distribution systems has been used since the 1990s, and yet, its significance and importance are still increasing in relevancy in today's Japanese agriculture. In this study, the subject is an intermediary (Company A) that originated from farmers, so it was able to understand the behavioral principles of farmers and to identify businesses that could not be covered by the management resources of farmers themselves. Through the entrustment of the business, company A could support the production and sales activities of the farmers. The following conclusions were drawn: (1) the company does not directly involve members in the decision-making of sales methods but instead provides a number of options for decision-making, and (2) the needs on the production side will match those on the consumer side and play the role of communication. By building such a collaboration system, the company succeeded in establishing a local distribution system. In the distribution of vegetables, which is characterized as perishable items, it is essential to pursue efficiency and rationality through a wholesale market system to distribute the products from producers to a large number of consumers. However, constraints in the wholes system limit the extent to which this local distribution functions. This paper demonstrates how a local distribution system for farmers living in rural areas could address this distortion. The concept of local distribution systems has been used since the 1990s, yet its significance and importance are still increasing in relevancy in today's Japanese agriculture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Benefiting from rich agricultural land, easy transport and fishing, etc., more and more people are moving to live in coastal areas, with more than 200 million people now living in coastal areas that are vulnerable to extreme sea level events. Sea level information is useful for coastal societies. Image measurement is rapidly developing as a new type of measurement tool. A multicamera-based sea level monitoring system along Japan's coast near the Pacific is proposed in this paper, and a long-distance sea wave matching method for this system is described. The whole system employs multiple binocular vision systems to take sea surface images and obtain the sea level height based on the disparity between the field of views of the left and right cameras, forming a local measurement and overall analysis monitoring system. Sea level monitoring requires a high processing accuracy and speed to realize a timely response to extreme events. Thus, the paper extracts sea waves and integrates a sea wave's appearance features as feature points and descriptors and pioneers the idea of searching deterministic features for fast image processing. The average stereo matching precision of the proposed method is up to 89.9% with a running time smaller than 40 ms for most pairs of images. Experiments on various real sea surface image pairs are conducted to validate the effectiveness of the proposed method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper explores the shifting position of "readers" and "writers" within serialized works by Japanese detective fiction author Edogawa Rampo. The essay focuses on two works published at the end of the 1920s and early 1930s: the novella "Beast in the Shadows" and Edogawa's first long-form serialized novel, The Demon of the Lonely Isle. By examining the kinds of magazines in which Edogawa published, as well as the expected readership of those magazines, we discover several important stylistic shifts in Edogawa's writing as he transitions from being a genre fiction short story writer to an author of popular novels. In Edogawa's short detective fiction for niche magazines, the position of the reader and writer overlap, mirroring the way readers of detective fiction magazines often became writers themselves. Edogawa parodies his simultaneous position as dedicated reader and writer of detective novels. Moving to popular magazines and long-form fiction causes those self-parodies to shift into the background. Edogawa severs the correlative or dual position of writer/reader in favor of a detached "author" and consuming "reader". This paper explores the genesis of this change in relation to the development of magazine media in modern Japan. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we describe two related scripting methods of cartographic data processing and visualization that provide 2D and 3D mapping of Japan with different algorithm complexity. The first algorithm utilizes Generic Mapping Toolset (GMT), which is known as an advanced console-based program for spatial data processing. The modules of GMT combine the functionality of scripting with the aspects of geoinformatics, which is especially effective for the rapid analysis of large geospatial datasets, multi-format data processing, and mapping in 2D and 3D modes. The second algorithm presents the use of the R programming language for cartographic visualization and spatial analysis. This R method utilizes the packages 'tmap', 'raster', 'maps', and 'mapdata' to model the morphometric elements of the Japanese archipelago, such as slope, aspect, hillshade and elevation. The general purpose graphical package 'ggplot2' of R was used for mapping the prefectures of Japan. The two scripting approaches demonstrated an established correspondence between the programming languages and cartography determined with the use of scripts for data processing. They outperform several well-known and state-of-the-art GIS methods for mapping due to their high automation of data processing. Cartography has largely reflected recent advances in data science, the rapid development of scripting languages, and transfer in the approaches of data processing. This extends to the shift from the traditional GIS to programming languages. As a response to these new challenges, we demonstrated in this paper the advantages of using scripts in mapping, which consist of repeatability and the flexible applicability of scripts in similar works. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A cosmic muon imaging system is essentially a particle tracking detector as known from experimental High Energy Physics. The Multiwire Proportional Chamber (MWPC) once revolutionized this field of science, and as such it is a viable choice as the core element of an imaging system. Long term construction and operation experience was gathered from a Japanese–Hungarian collaboration that gave rise to the MWPC-based Muon Observatory System (MMOS), and is being used in Japan at the Sakurajima volcano. The present paper attempts to draw conclusions on the thermal and mechanical limits of the system, based on controlled measurements and detailed simulations. High temperature behavior and effects of thermal cycling and conditioning are presented, which appear to consistently allow one to propose quality control criteria. Regarding mechanical stability, the relation between gluing quality (tensile strength) and expected stress from vibration (during transportation) determines the safety factor to avoid damages. Both of these are presented and quantified in the paper using a conservative and austere approach, with mechanical simulations validated with experimental modal testing data. One can conclude that mechanical stress during industrial standard air freight shipping conditions is nearly a factor of three below the calculated maximum stress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the paper, we analyze laser strainmeter data for the period from 2014 to 2022 to identify deformation anomalies that led to the generation of tsunamis in the area of the Japanese Islands. It is impossible to determine the main characteristics of a tsunami from the deformation anomaly registered by the laser strainmeter, but it is possible to calculate the seabed displacement in the epicenter of a tsunami formation, which causes the tsunami. We have established that the relationship between the registered deformation anomalies and the seabed displacement in the tsunami source in the area of the Japanese Islands is similar to the same relationships found in other regions of the Earth (Indonesia, Latin America, and the West Coast of North America). This result allows us to assert that such a relationship should be typical of any region of the Earth. The obtained results are aimed at solving the problem of reliable short-term tsunami forecasting, which allows for the avoidance of false alarms that lead to significant socio-economic damage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper discusses the relationship between the vertical ground motion and ionospheric disturbances before the Kumamoto earthquake on 16 April 2016, in Kyushu, Japan, using the vertical ground motion measured by slant gauges widely distributed in Kyushu, and the NmF2 observed by ionosondes in Japan and another region. We provide evidence that vertical ground motion excites internal gravity waves (IGWs) that disturb changes in the ionospheric plasma density. From the spectral analysis results of the vertical ground motion data, the summation of various period (frequency) components analyzed from the original data of the slant gauge shows a possible correlation with the change of NmF2 before the earthquake. On the other hand, the influence of the geomagnetic disturbance on vertical ground motion seems to exist. However, we cannot confirm that vertical ground motion is influenced by the geomagnetic disturbance (Kp index) and that the earthquake is triggered by the geomagnetic disturbance. There are two conditions for the vertical ground motion to disturb variations in the ionospheric plasma density: (1) The effective vertical ground motion period should be shorter than 5 h. In addition, (2) vertical ground motion should continue to exist so that wave energy can be continuously injected into the atmosphere. A possible mechanism with which to modify the ionosphere is discussed. The results of this study can provide a basis for the future ionospheric precursors of earthquakes by using the vertical ground motion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examines experiences and perceptions concerning the provision of Japanese language support for ethnic minority school children between the ages of 6 and 12 enrolled in public elementary schools in a city located in the Kansai region of Japan (hereinafter referred to as "City M"). This paper will focus in particular on interpreting the experiences and perspectives of language support teachers, volunteer interpreters, mother-tongue language supporters (hereafter referred to as MTLS) as well as three principals of three public elementary schools located in particularly different areas of the City M. Each of the school's history, backgrounds and current situations are varied and unique. One-on-one interviews of 40 to 60 min in length were conducted with a total of 9 participants consisting of public elementary school principals and Japanese language support teachers. These results of the data collection provided a deeper understanding and explanation of the reasons behind current trends and challenges regarding the accessibility, implementation, provision, and practice of language learning support for ethnic minority school children. The findings from this research will increase awareness of current issues faced by practitioners supporting ethnic minority children in their learning. The research findings also provide insight into what obstacles need to be overcome in order to provide adequate, sufficient, and sustainable educational support for children from different cultural and linguistic backgrounds within the mainstream Japanese education system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plastic product consumption and disposal are widespread. Given that these products are derived from crude oil, it is critical to reduce their consumption and effectively recycle plastic waste as recycled resources to achieve a low-carbon society. Japan enacted the "Containers and Packaging Recycling Law" in 2000, encouraging the recycling of plastic packaging and containers. However, material recycling of plastic waste has stalled due to recycling costs and technical challenges. This paper examines and evaluates the transition process and operational status of Japan's recycling policy for plastic containers and packaging, as well as clarifies the limits of resources recycling. The limits and issues of current identification technology are discussed by analyzing the characteristics of plastic marks and detecting the material compositions of waste samples. The paper also discusses a new sorting technology that uses terahertz waves to improve plastic recycling. This analysis revealed that plastic containers are typically made of two or more plastic materials, which makes resources recycling more difficult. Terahertz waves are safer than other high-accuracy sorting technologies currently in use. Thus, material recycling can be expanded by accurately analyzing the composition of plastic waste and introducing sorting devices appropriate for achieving the circular economy with sustainable resource recycling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As an unconventional clean resource with huge reserves and a wide distribution, natural gas hydrates (NGHs) have good application prospects. However, due to limited understanding and available production technology for NGHs, there is still a large gap between current production tests and commercial exploitation. A breakthrough in reservoir stimulation technologies is key to realizing the industrialization of NGHs in the future. Through a comprehensive summary of hydrate production test cases in Japan and China, this paper highlights the difficulties in the transformation of weakly-consolidated reservoirs. By systematically reviewing the theory and technology of hydrate reservoir transformation and engineering applications, this paper elucidates in detail the technical principles and mechanisms of several available stimulation technologies for weakly-consolidated reservoirs, and assesses the feasibility of their application to increase the production of NGHs. Existing problems and challenges are summarized and future prospects are discussed. Finally, suggestions are put forward for research and development of transformation technology for weakly-consolidated NGHs reservoirs in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]