Search

Purpose: The study aims to explore the demographics, perceptions, and predictors of job satisfaction of Chinese/Korean faculty and American/British faculty at Japanese universities. Design/Approach/Methods: The data from a national survey of these faculty conducted in Japan was analyzed. Findings: The study suggests that Chinese/Korean faculty tend to be distributed across all the disciplines with senior positions and have higher scientific achievements and Japanese language proficiency, contributing to their better recognition and engagement at Japanese universities. Their job satisfaction was more inclined to be influenced by the intangible factors from the environmental conditions. Whereas American/British faculty were mainly hired in Humanities and Social sciences at mid to high positions, having lower Japanese proficiency and scientific achievement, which results in their perceived lower recognition and participation at Japanese universities. However, they tend to have a higher evaluation of working conditions at Japanese universities and express higher job satisfaction. Their job satisfaction was predicted by various factors, including intangible factors and tangible factors. Originality/Value: The study was the first attempt to explore international faculty's job satisfaction in Japan. The key findings shed light on the situation of international faculty in Japan and help to better support international faculty practically.

As learning is more real and permanent when connected to learners' private lives beyond the classroom (Godwin-Jones, 2011), mobile-assisted language learning (MALL) has emerged as a good way to support language learning, especially in informal contexts. With thousands of language learning applications (apps) becoming available, more and more language learners have started to use them as a support for their language learning. The purpose of this research is to investigate the life cycle of language learning apps and the reasons why learners decide to start, stop and restart using apps to better understand the use of the apps outside formal education contexts. The data collected from a survey of 186 participants with experience using language learning apps were analyzed. The results showed that the language learning app has three different phases in its life cycle, which are the "increasing period," "decreasing period," and "reviving period" with three turning points. This life cycle is similar to the Hype Cycle, a model describing how a new technology develops. Furthermore, the reasons behind the three turning points were also discussed. Influence from teachers and friends was the most significant factor contributing to starting using apps. The reasons for abandoning apps can be divided into app-related ones such as dissatisfaction of apps, and learner-related ones, such as stop learning a language. Restarting to learn a language is the major reason for participants who chose to use apps again. The results also revealed that language learners had a positive attitude towards language learning apps, while the high abandonment rate of using apps also indicated that both apps and learning patterns could be improved if teachers can provide more sufficient and appropriate guidance to support the selection and use of apps, and app-designers can include more meaningful and interactive activities rather than just providing drills. [Note: The volume number (5) shown on the PDF is incorrect. The correct volume number is 6.]

Purpose: The internationalization of higher education institutions (HEIs) is the top stage of international relations among universities, and it is no longer regarded as a goal but as a means to improve the education of sustainability. As institutional commitments to internationalize higher education continue to grow, so does the need to critically consider the intended purposes and actual outcomes of the resulting programs and policies. This study aims to explore how institutional international policies influence outcomes of HEIs internationalization in the East Asian region, specifically in Taiwan and Japan. Design/methodology/approach: The study used quantitative design. 3,158 participants, including 1,192 participants from Taiwan and 1,966 participants from Japan, were randomly recruited to complete the Academic Profession in the Knowledge Society (APIKS), an international survey examining the change in academic work in HEIs. The study adopted quantitative data and used two variables (institutional international policies and outcomes of internationalization) with descriptive, correlational, and moderated multiple hierarchical regression analysis with SPSS computer software to answer the research questions. Findings: The study showed that both Taiwanese and Japanese academics have high agreements on the outcomes of internationalization for enhancing academic quality and increasing mobility of students. In both countries, two institutional international policies of HEIs internalization- clear internationalization strategies and funding for faculty members to undertake research abroad- can significantly influence the process of internationalization in the teaching-oriented and research-oriented HEIs respectively. Originality/value: This study provides insight into the relationship between institutional international policies and the outcomes of HEIs internationalization in Taiwan and Japan. It provides university leaders with empirical evidence for implementing managerial strategies of internationalization that promote education for sustainability in HEIs.

Background: Priority given to supported decision-making has increased internationally since the United Nations General Assembly adopted the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPDs). Nations worldwide have moved to ratify and enact the CRPD. Methods: A questionnaire survey on the supported decision-making status was conducted in Japan and Taiwan (60 and 73 people, respectively; N = 133, 82 women and 51 men). Survey items were objective indicators based on the CRPD. Results: In both countries, people who are older (vs younger) or those having more (vs less) experience supporting persons with intellectual disabilities were more likely to practice supported decision-making. Relationships between persons with intellectual disabilities and family members are vital. Conclusions: It is necessary to establish appropriate supported decision-making methods, that do not depend on aspects such as support experience, for persons with intellectual disabilities in Japan and Taiwan. Additionally, it is necessary to clarify the relationship with the family in supported decision-making for persons with intellectual disabilities and to work together appropriately.

This study investigates the employment landscape and career expectations of doctoral graduates in Japan through the analysis of three national surveys conducted in 2012, 2015 and 2018. The research explores the changing factors influencing graduates' employment destinations during this period, encompassing changes by discipline and proposing strategies to address challenges faced by these graduates. Unlike previous studies, which predominantly focussed on analysing data and interviewing students, this research offers both descriptive insights and analytical perspectives on Japanese doctoral education. Key fndings include an increase in doctoral graduates employed in universities and the private sector, while academia employment varies by discipline. Humanities exhibit the highest academic employment, while engineering shows diverse fluctuations. Additionally, career expectations shift, with declining interest in tenure positions and growing inclination towards non-academic paths. The study identifies challenges stemming from shifting academic appeal, skill mismatches, sector concentration and field-specific hurdles, providing insights into global trends while emphasizing Japan's unique complexities.

The study examines the role of neoliberalism, institutional internationalization, and Japanese exclusionism in shaping the academic environment of Japanese higher education institutions by exploring international academics' integration experiences at Japanese universities. Specifically international academics' perceptions of the academic environment, and their practical behaviors while integrating into Japanese universities were investigated via semi-structured interviews with 40 international faculty with various backgrounds. Employing Nvivo12, the interview data was managed based on a six-step thematic analysis procedure. Drawing on the integration experiences of international academics, the data analysis indicates that international academics perceived various subtle and overt constraints while integrating into Japanese universities, and they tend to seek private solutions to navigate their professional and social lives at Japanese universities. Moreover, although no differences in their practical behaviors were found, the study acknowledges the perceptual differences of the participants by suggesting that international academics, particularly those in the Humanities, those without previous experience in Japan, those who possess propaganda value due to their international appearance, and those who are not from countries that use Chinese characters, were more likely to perceive an integration deficit at Japanese universities. The research findings are indicative of the complex academic environment of Japanese HEIs caused by neoliberalism, institutional internationalization, and Japanese exclusionism, which is competitive, exclusionary, and pragmatic. Both theoretical and practical implications for policymakers, researchers, and university administrators are provided.

Given the criticism of the institutional practices of Japan's higher education institutions on international students' learning experiences, the study attempts to investigate why international students still chose to study at Japanese universities and whether they benefited from this experience. It also explores whether they benefit from this experience by focusing on their motivations, learning experiences, and outcomes of studying in Japan. Through semi-structured interviews with 12 international students who studied in two different national universities, the research findings illustrate that: firstly, international students' decision-making of studying abroad was a complex process involving their host environments and various considerations, including academic, cultural, and financial factors; secondly, despite numerous barriers encountered by international students, they were supported well in various aspects, and finally, they believed that they benefited significantly in four key domains, including personal growth, cultural enrichment, professional development, and better career opportunities. Theoretical and practical implications are also provided for researchers, administrators, and policies makers.

Understanding the make-up of gritty L2 students has garnered quite a lot of attention recently. In this descriptive narrative-based study, we looked at the interview data of eight English language learners who recorded high scores on a nine-item grit questionnaire. Specifically, two female university students each from Taiwan, Malaysia, Thailand and Japan were interviewed and their interview scripts were transcribed and then coded looking for common threads to emerge from the data by applying the tenets of Charmaz's (2006) Grounded Theory. The data show that beyond perseverance, gritty L2 students enjoy learning the L2, are consistently curious about the L2, are generally not bored by the L2, are confident using the L2 (not letting anxiety dissuade them), are extraverted--encompassing a strong willingness to communicate, have focused L2 vision and have had experiences and/or encounters that bolstered their L2 grittiness. As for encouraging L2 grit development, we suggest that good L2 classroom practice include frequent communicative activities so that students can see the practical side of learning a L2 with the hopes of strengthening their L2 vision.

This study examined whether direct communication with people from other countries using Skype or Line would affect students' English test scores in listening and reading as well as the development of their curiosity concerning foreign cultures by comparing the data of an experimental group with that of a control group. The former group conducted online exchanges with foreign students, while the latter group did not. As many Japanese companies engaged in international business require high scores in the TOEIC test, which is one of the multiple-choice English tests of listening and reading often used to show each person's English proficiency, universities in Japan are making efforts to improve their students' scores in such an English test. Preparation classes for English tests have been offered. However, students have been likely to lose interest in learning English in the circumstances of this learning style. Results of the study indicated that although the aim of exchange activities is to foster students' curiosity concerning intercultural matters, students experiencing online exchange with skype significantly raised their scores in TOEIC tests in listening and reading after a programme of synchronous exchanges with foreign students, compared with ones who did not experience such online exchanges.

The purpose of this study is to analyze different interpretations of public good(s) in the context of higher education, the contributions that higher education makes to the public good, and how these contributions are measured in Japan. The analysis draws on 17 semi-structured interviews with policy makers, presidents of national professional associations, institutional leaders, deans and professors from contrasting disciplines, and other administrators from two national universities in Japan. Firstly, all interviewees believed that Japan's higher education could be considered to be a public good. However, they did not consider it a pure public good. Secondly, the study not only reveals a wide variety of interviewees' interpretations of the public good, the public good of higher education, the contributions that higher education makes to the public good, and the measurement of these contributions, but also suggests to what extent interviewees' understanding deviates from the literature. Finally, while the structure of Japan's higher education system, including the quantitative dominance of private universities, tuition fee system, and existing oversight of the public good, may suggest that there are fewer contributions to public good in Japan's higher education than in European continental countries, the study reveals that Japan's higher education, including private universities, contributes the public goods, and its contributions to the public good or public goods are highly valued.

The purpose of this study is to explore impacts of the pandemic on the academic activities and life of full-time international faculty at Japanese universities, drawing on findings from semi-structured interviews with them. Main findings include three points. First, although the vast majority of the interviewees believed that the pandemic has had more negative impacts on their academic activities and life, the case study of Japan suggests that there are both negative and positive impacts from the pandemic that are unique on international faculty's academic activities and life. Second, the study reveals that the impacts on international faculty vary according to the backgrounds of the interviewees such as their academic disciplines, countries of origin, and work roles and duties. Finally, participants may have experienced discrimination etc., but not felt comfortable talking about it. It seems that no interviewees, particularly those from China and other parts of Asia, experienced social exclusion and xenophobic attitudes and, at times, became victims of discrimination and verbal assaults.

The purpose of this study is to describe an overview of changes to inbound international faculty members to Dutch higher education institutions, their main characteristics, and forces or agents of change which occurred in them, and the implications for Japanese higher education. The analysis and discussion are based primarily on official statistics issued by the Dutch government, professional associations, individual higher education institutions, earlier relevant literature, case studies and interviews with administrative and academic staff in the Netherlands. With regard to the structure, it begins with a short introduction to the Dutch higher education system and academic profession and then analyzes key characteristics of international faculty members being employed in Dutch higher education research universities. The third section deals with major forces and agents of change which affected international faculty members in Dutch higher education institutions. The article concludes by summarizing main findings and offering implications for research, policy, and practice.

Electrical workers must wear insulating gloves during daily maintenance. Detecting the condition of these gloves is significant for power safety. Due to the limitations of existing detection algorithms in accuracy and lightweight on power construction sites, this paper proposes a Faster‐YOLOv8 algorithm to detect the wearing condition of insulating gloves. First, it replaces the Bottleneck in the C2f module with the Faster Block and introduces a new C2Faster module. This reduces model parameters while improving performance. Second, the feature pyramid is improved to enhance the combination of deep and shallow semantic information. This improvement aims to improve the network's focus on detecting small targets. Finally, the GSConv is introduced into the neck network to reduce the model parameters and calculation. Additionally, GSConv enhances feature information exchange through shuffle operation. The effectiveness of the Faster‐YOLOv8 algorithm is verified through comparisons with mainstream algorithms such as the Faster‐RCNN algorithm, SSD algorithm, YOLOv5 algorithm, and YOLOv7‐tiny algorithm. The results demonstrate that the Faster‐YOLOv8 algorithm outperforms the above algorithms in terms of detection accuracy. Compared with the original YOLOv8 network model, the mAP is improved by 3.8%, the mAP of the wrong glove increased by 9.8%, the model size is reduced by 33.3%, and the detection speed can reach 81 FPS. © 2024 Institute of Electrical Engineers of Japan and Wiley Periodicals LLC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Treatment for lung cancer continues to rapidly evolve. Here, we describe trends in the initial treatment of adults with newly diagnosed primary non-small-cell lung cancer in Japan. This retrospective cohort study used data from JMDC Inc. Claims Database from 2015 to 2023. Adults with lung cancer, confirmed using a combination of diagnosis, treatment, or procedure codes, were enrolled. A total of 9373 patients were included, with a mean age of approximately 59 years. The median time from diagnosis to treatment initiation ranged from 38 days in patients treated surgically to 25 days in patients with distant metastases. The observed trends were a decrease in the percentage of newly diagnosed patients with distant metastases, a decline in chemotherapy use in patients with early-stage disease, and in advanced disease, a more than doubling in the use of targeted therapy, including checkpoint inhibitors, while radiotherapy and chemotherapy tended to decrease. The observed changes in treatment were driven mainly by the increased use of targeted therapies including checkpoint inhibitors and are aligned with current treatment guidelines in Japan. The observation of fewer patients with distant metastases over time possibly indicates earlier detection. Additional research is needed to understand if new therapies are being extended to older and frail patients with lung cancer in Japan. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: In Confucian-influenced Asian societies, explicit end-of-life conversations are uncommon and family involvement in decision-making is crucial, which complicates the adoption of culturally sensitive advance care planning. Aim: To develop a consensus definition of advance care planning and provide recommendations for patient-centered and family-based initiatives in Asia. Design: A five-round Delphi study was performed. The rating of a definition and 84 recommendations developed based on systematic reviews was performed by experts with clinical or research expertise using a 7-point Likert scale. A median = 1 and an inter-quartile range = 0–1 were considered very strong agreement and very strong consensus, respectively. Setting/participants: The Delphi study was carried out by multidisciplinary experts on advance care planning in five Asian sectors (Hong Kong/Japan/Korea/Singapore/Taiwan). Results: Seventy-seven of 115 (67%) experts rated the statements. Advance care planning is defined as "a process that enables individuals to identify their values, to define goals and preferences for future medical treatment and care, to discuss these values, goals, and preferences with family and/or other closely related persons, and health-care providers, and to record and review these preferences if appropriate." Recommendations in the domains of considerations for a person-centered and family-based approach, as well as elements, roles and tasks, timing for initiative, policy and regulation, and evaluations received high levels of agreement and consensus. Conclusions: Our definition and recommendations can guide practice, education, research, and policy-making in advance care planning for Asian populations. Our findings will aid future research in crafting culturally sensitive advance care planning interventions, ensuring Asians receive value-aligned care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study examines the role of neoliberalism, institutional internationalization, and Japanese exclusionism in shaping the academic environment of Japanese higher education institutions by exploring international academics' integration experiences at Japanese universities. Specifically international academics' perceptions of the academic environment, and their practical behaviors while integrating into Japanese universities were investigated via semi-structured interviews with 40 international faculty with various backgrounds. Employing Nvivo12, the interview data was managed based on a six-step thematic analysis procedure. Drawing on the integration experiences of international academics, the data analysis indicates that international academics perceived various subtle and overt constraints while integrating into Japanese universities, and they tend to seek private solutions to navigate their professional and social lives at Japanese universities. Moreover, although no differences in their practical behaviors were found, the study acknowledges the perceptual differences of the participants by suggesting that international academics, particularly those in the Humanities, those without previous experience in Japan, those who possess propaganda value due to their international appearance, and those who are not from countries that use Chinese characters, were more likely to perceive an integration deficit at Japanese universities. The research findings are indicative of the complex academic environment of Japanese HEIs caused by neoliberalism, institutional internationalization, and Japanese exclusionism, which is competitive, exclusionary, and pragmatic. Both theoretical and practical implications for policymakers, researchers, and university administrators are provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to enhance the experience of learning, many educators applied learning analytics in a classroom, the major principle of learning analytics is targeting at-risk student and given timely intervention according to the results of student behavior analysis. However, when researchers applied machine learning to train a risk identifying model, the reason which affected the performance of the model was overlooked. This study collected seven datasets within three universities located in Taiwan and Japan and listed performance metrics of risk identification model after fed data into eight classification methods. U1, U2, and U3 were used to denote the three universities, which have three, two, and two cases of datasets (learning logs), respectively. According to the results of this study, the factors influencing the predictive performance of classification methods are the number of significant features, the number of categories of significant features, and Spearman correlation coefficient values. In U1 dataset case 1.3 and U2 dataset case 2.2, the numbers of significant features, numbers of categories of significant features, and Spearman correlation coefficient values for significant features were all relatively high, which is the main reason why these datasets were able to perform classification with high predictive ability.

In the context of learning a second language, the passing on of cultural information as a means to further the development of intercultural competences is primarily viewed as being unidirectional--the "native-speaking culture" passing on information to the language learning student. However, in EFL (English as a foreign language) environments, the most relatable cultural norms available to the learners tend to be those associated with their homeland--the place they presently reside. As such, teaching language learning students using a unidirectional cultural frame ignores the wealth of cultural knowledge that such language learners possess. Offering cultural exchanges between groups of different language learners is one way to facilitate cultural learning in a bidirectional manner. In this study, 11 university students, six Japanese and five Taiwanese, took part in a cultural exchange project using the videoconferencing application "Zoom." Findings from the data suggest that such telecollaborative video activities are mutually beneficial for exchanging local cultural information. We conclude that such exchanges develop intercultural competences via increased verbosity, the application of polite language, and of the utmost importance, by building interpersonal relationships. For language teachers who ascribe to a belief in the value of intercultural exchanges, applications like "Zoom" open up avenues for student interactions that are real, meaningful, and culturally rich.

The purpose of this study is to depict how the public goods of internationalizing higher education in Japan, especially inbound international students, are viewed by various stakeholders based on the main findings from semi-structured interviews. The interviewees include key persons from different levels or fields in Japan: officials from MEXT (the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science, and Technology), national agencies in relation to international students and international cooperation, a national-level professional association of higher education research, both top-level and middle-level leaders of one research-intensive national university, academics from Humanities, Engineering, and Economics, administrators in charge of internationalization of their respective universities, and international students from diverse backgrounds. The study begins with a brief introduction to the research background, before presenting the analysis and main findings from the interviews. It concludes by arguing how the public good and its relationship to the internationalization of Japanese higher education are viewed and interpreted by different stakeholders, and offering brief implications for research and practice.

This paper presents a semi‐passive smart contact lens platform for sensor and actuator applications. It focuses on design improvements made prior to human clinical trials involving basic considerations on comfort and safety, which are verified through animal studies. Observations of tissue temperature variation and post‐trial surgery examinations confirm that the 50 μW on‐lens wireless power delivery reduces the impact on tissue of previously reported SCL. Migration of wirelessly powered radio frequency identification (RFID)‐based passive SCL to semi‐passive systems is enabled with the proposed on‐lens power storage element. Furthermore, a switched capacitor converter extends the active time of the storage element and reduces electromagnetic influence. © 2024 Institute of Electrical Engineers of Japan. Published by Wiley Periodicals LLC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

International knowledge and skills are essential for success in today's highly competitive global marketplace. As one of the key providers of such knowledge and skills, universities have become a key focus of the internationalization strategies of governments throughout the world. While the internationalization of higher education clearly has certain benefits for students, schools, the national economy, and the international community, each country gives a different degree of importance to each of these various benefits. The purpose of this study was threefold: 1) to determine which benefits of the internationalization of education are deemed most important in Taiwan and Japan; 2) to determine which measures are most effective for realizing these benefits; and 3) to determine the extent to which these measures have actually been carried out. A questionnaire was used to obtain the views of 100 professors, 50 in Taiwan and 50 in Japan, as to the current situation in their respective countries. The results indicate that there are significant differences between the two country's reasons for promoting the internationalization of education, as well as in their respective internationalization strategies.

Based on two national surveys of Japanese faculty members, the purpose of this study is to analyze whether changes had occurred in key aspects of governance arrangements in both national and private universities in Japan from 1992 to 2017. This study focuses on the changing relationships between national universities and the central government and the internal governance and management style at institutional level, due to the application of new public management theory and market mechanisms to universities in Japan. The main findings show: (1) the changing trends of governance arrangements in Japanese universities did not seem to be more managerially-oriented and centralized in general between 1992 and 2017; (2) actual changes did not occur in some aspects of governance arrangements in Japanese universities; (3) changes in governance arrangements in private universities present a sharp contrast to those occurring in national universities. This research has important implications that the current governance patterns in Japanese universities should be improved, and top administrators should provide more competent leadership.

Community integrated energy system coupled with renewable energy generation provides an effective solution to improve economy and reduce carbon emissions. This paper establishes a two‐stage multi‐objective optimal scheduling model for community integrated energy system. During the day‐ahead scheduling stage, a comprehensive customer dissatisfaction model based on Kano model is established, and the model takes total operating cost, comprehensive customer dissatisfaction, and carbon emissions as multi‐objectives. The Non‐dominate Sorting Genetic Algorithmic‐II (NSGA‐II) and the CRITIC‐TOPSIS evaluation model are used to develop a day‐ahead scheduling scheme. On the premise of ensuring customer dissatisfaction, the intra‐day scheduling stage evens out the uncertainty of wind power and photovoltaic power through rolling optimization and improves the reliability of system operation. Simulation results show that the proposed model reduces the total operating cost and carbon emissions by 8.1% and 12.8%, respectively, which validates the effectiveness of the proposed model. © 2024 Institute of Electrical Engineers of Japan and Wiley Periodicals LLC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to the increasing need to develop a globalized workforce, like many countries across the globe, Taiwan and Japan have extended the efforts to internationalize education to the elementary-school level. This study focuses on elementary school principals from both countries and explores the importance that these school leaders place on the level and ordering of various factors in the internationalization of education efforts. Using a questionnaire-based research design, a researcher-made instrument was administered to the principals of both countries, and the analytic hierarchy process (AHP) as well as descriptive statistics were used to compare the internationalization of education goals of both countries in terms of the effectiveness of ordering and practical implementation. Afterwards, the study utilized corresponding analysis (CA) to determine the views of the principals of both countries regarding the relationships between the goals and strategies of international education, which are summarized therein. Finally, through the data obtained and resulting discussion, the study offers some suggestions for the educational institutions and educators of both countries related to the implementation of an international education.

In 2008, OECD released one multi-national report about one important survey of its twenty-two member countries, the title of this report is "Improving School Leadership: Volume 1 Policy and Practice". This report analyzed one specific common trend of its members, which is the "unique gender divide among school principals and teachers". That meaning of this phenomenon is, in the context of school education in some OECD countries, the ratio of female teachers among all teachers is much higher than male teachers. However, the contrast point is, the ratio of female school principals is significant lower than male principals. This phenomenon is especially significant in the East Asia countries. For example, the percentage of female school principals is significantly lower than male principals when we observed the longitudinal trend in Taiwan. In Japan, the ratio of female teachers in primary schools is 62.7% and the ratio of female teachers in junior high schools is 54.8%, but the ratio of female primary school principals in Japan is only 17.9% of the total principals. When we look at the ratio of female principals in junior high schools in Japan, it is even lower; the ratio is only 5%. Therefore, the main purpose of this study is to explore the unique gender divide among school principals and teachers in Taiwan, Japan, and South Korea. The research methods include document analysis and descriptive statistical analysis. The statistical data is collected from Ministry of Education in Taiwan, Japan, and South Korea. The supplemental data is collected from OECD dataset. This study compares the gender distribution among school teachers and principals in these three countries. In the last section of this study, we discuss the findings and their relationships with social cultures in Taiwan, Japan, and South Korea. Policy and practice implications are offered to rethink the hindrance of female teachers' promotion. How to enhance female teachers' participation in school leadership is another important issue for future studies.

In the study reported here, the authors examined the LEs (learning expectations) related to Grades 1 to 8 number and quantity in mathematics across several US states and high performing TIMSS (Third International Mathematics and Science Study) Asian countries, including Singapore, Taiwan and Japan. The general strategy used is based on the topic tracing method. Several approaches and lenses have been used to analyze the LEs in each document. In order to simplify the procedures, only one topic within the number and quantity strand is reported here. Results of this study indicated that the mathematics contents, grade placement and cognitive level of LEs related to selected topic vary markedly across documents. Thus, these differences may have impact on students' opportunities to learn. (Contains 9 tables and 2 figures.)

Children acquire argument structure through distributional evidence, but how does this interacts with event semantics and existing verb knowledge? The current study compares verb learning in adult speakers of Japanese (where lexical causatives span wider semantic categories) and English (where alternation is more restricted). In the Fully alternating familiarization, internally caused events (similar to "descend") and externally caused events (similar to "rock") occurred with novel verbs in transitive and intransitive frames. In the Semi-alternating familiarization, internally caused events occurred with intransitives only while externally caused events occurred with both frames. During the test, participants rated the naturalness of transitive and intransitive descriptions for all events. For internally caused events, transitives were rated equivalently low across speakers after the Semi-alternating familiarization (which featured only intransitives), while intransitives were more felicitous for English compared to Japanese speakers. For externally caused events, all participants rated transitives higher than intransitives, despite equal occurrence across familiarizations. This may be related to the presence of salient animate agents in scenes. Together, this suggests that syntactic and semantic biases concurrently influence the interpretation of distributional evidence. Input statistics are interpreted through existing syntactic representations, and salient semantic distinctions may exert a bias for syntactic instantiations.

This study aims to identify the major characteristics and motivations of foreign faculty at Japanese universities. The study begins with a brief introduction to the literature, research framework and method. In the second section, the study deals with the background and changes in foreign faculty at Japanese universities since 1980. In the third section, the study discusses the key aspects of the personal attributes and career patterns of the foreign faculty and their motivations of being hired in Japanese universities. The study concludes by presenting a more detailed description of the personal, educational and professional identities of the foreign faculty at Japanese universities, the main reasons for their coming to work in Japan, and the implications for research, policy and institutional practice.

The purpose of this study is to explore key aspects of the personal, educational, and professional characteristics of international faculty and their work roles at Japanese universities based on findings from a national survey of international faculty in 2017. Main findings include the following: first the demographic profile of international faculty differs from their Japanese colleagues in terms of their highest degree awarded, academic rank, and between disciplines; second, three broad types of international faculty could be practically identified, and which differ according to their size and professional roles within their institutions; third, in addition to both teaching and research, international faculty are also strongly expected to undertake any activities which cannot be accomplished by Japanese colleagues, especially help enhance the international reputation of their current universities.

Background: Evaluating the risk of relapse is a pivotal step in the treatment of patients with methamphetamine use disorder (MUD). The 30-item Stimulant Relapse Risk Scale (SRRS) was originally developed in Japan to meet the demand. This study examined the reliability, validity, and factor structure of the Chinese version of the SRRS for patients with MUD. Methods: 247 patients with MUD self-rated the Chinese version of the SRRS. Cronbach's alpha coefficients and inter-item correlation analysis were used to assess the internal consistency reliability. Construct validity was determined through confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), and concurrent validity was examined using the visual analogue scale (VAS) for drug craving and the severity of dependence scale (SDS). We followed the participants for 1 year and assessed the predictive validity based on the correlation of the scores of the Chinese version of the SRRS with the relapse rate within 3, 6, and 12 months of follow-up. Results: CFA revealed satisfactory model fit estimates for the 22-item Chinese version of the SRRS that consisted of four subscales. The four-factored 22-item Chinese version of the SRRS had adequate internal consistency with Cronbach's alphas ranging from 0.76 to 0.92. The 22-item Chinese version of the SRRS scores were significantly correlated with the VAS and SDS scores as well as the relapse rate within 3, 6, and 12 months, indicating good concurrent and predictive validity of this scale. The receiver operating characteristic curve revealed a cutoff score of 40 could discriminate between participants with (SDS score ≥ 4) and without (SDS score < 4) methamphetamine dependence (area under the curve = 0.71, p < 0.01). Conclusions: The 22-item Chinese version of the SRRS that consists of four subscales is a valid and reliable instrument to assess the relapse risk in patients with MUD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The accumulation of snow is one of the essential reasons for the significant decrease in the power generation efficiency of PV stations in winter. For this reason, this paper firstly provides a detailed review of the current research into the physical processes and shedding reasons for the natural melting of snow on PV module surfaces. Then, several common techniques to promote snow and ice melting on PV surfaces are discussed, and the feasibility and shortcoming of ultrasonic technology in removing high‐density snow and ice are analyzed in detail. Finally, this paper proposes two snow sensing technologies for PV modules, namely, image processing method and interdigital capacitance method. Among them, the image method based on fixed camera and UAV detection is more suitable for wide area PV power stations, while the interdigital capacitance method is helpful in obtaining snow characteristic parameters, such as icing type and LWC. The relevant research has certain reference significance for PV power stations to formulate a more reasonable snow removal plan and power generation forecast. © 2024 Institute of Electrical Engineers of Japan and Wiley Periodicals LLC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wireless power transfer (WPT) technology can completely isolate the equipment from the power supply, and has been widely used. However, the transmission efficiency of WPT system is optimal only as the transmitting coil was completely aligned with the receiving coil. But in practical applications, the mobile devices are all dynamic system, and perfectly alignment of the coils is a very demanding condition. In order to solve this problem, the paper proposed a coil position adaptive adjustment control scheme of WPT system with lateral misalignment or angular misalignment. Firstly, the relationship between transmission efficiency and lateral misalignment and angular misalignment was analyzed. And the research results show that if there is a lateral misalignment between the coils, the transmission efficiency can be optimized by adjusting the angular misalignment. Secondly, based on the hill climbing algorithm, a coil position adaptive adjustment control method was proposed. Finally, a coil position adaptive adjustment WPT system experimental platform was built, and the experimental researches are carried on. The results of the experiment show that as the transfer distance is 0.10 m and the lateral misalignment is 0.12 m, the transfer efficiency can be increased from 38.38% to 55.61% through the proposed control scheme. And the results verify the feasibility and effectiveness of control scheme proposed in the paper. © 2024 Institute of Electrical Engineers of Japan and Wiley Periodicals LLC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A brain‐computer interface for operating an electric wheelchair (wheelchair BCI) has been studied to support independent living for physically disabled patients. The current wheelchair BCI systems are facing the problem that the wheelchair cannot be moved or rotated to an arbitrary place or direction in a single measurement. To solve this problem, we developed a BCI that uses audiovisual stimuli based on mixed‐reality (MR) and virtual sound sources. During the online analysis, six out of seven participants were able to move or rotate the wheelchair to the target location or direction at a rate higher than the chance level. Thus, our results indicate that audiovisual stimulation with MR and virtual sound sources may be useful for intuitive wheelchair operation. © 2024 Institute of Electrical Engineer of Japan and Wiley Periodicals LLC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the continuous increase in carbon dioxide emissions due to human activities and the resulting severe climate issues, there is global concern about energy conservation and emission reduction. However, detailed data on energy consumption and emissions at a fine-grained scale, particularly regarding spatial dimensions and sector-specific emissions, remains insufficient and in need of refinement and timely updates. In Japan, following the Fukushima nuclear disaster, there has been a significant shift from nuclear power generation to reliance on fossil fuels across various sectors, highlighting disparities in emissions data across different regions and industries. Our work extends the emissions time series for Japan's 47 prefectures, incorporating their socioeconomic characteristics over a broader time frame and with a more detailed sectoral classification. The emissions inventory, covering the period from 1990 to 2020, is based on the consumption of the three main fossil fuels across 32 sectors, with emissions carefully allocated for regional power generation. This dataset, presented in a unified format, is expanded to include longer time scales and more detailed socioeconomic data. It is anticipated to offer crucial insights for establishing regional emission reduction targets and identifying sectoral priorities for decarbonization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Prognostic indices can enhance personalized predictions of health burdens. However, a simple, practical, and reproducible tool is lacking for clinical use. This study aimed to develop a machine learning-based prognostic index for predicting all-cause mortality in community-dwelling older individuals. Methods We utilized the Healthy Aging Longitudinal Study in Taiwan (HALST) cohort, encompassing data from 5 663 participants. Over the 5-year follow-up, 447 deaths were confirmed. A machine learning-based routine blood examination prognostic index (MARBE-PI) was developed using common laboratory tests based on machine learning techniques. Participants were grouped into multiple risk categories by stratum-specific likelihood ratio analysis based on their MARBE-PI scores. The MARBE-PI was subsequently externally validated with an independent population-based cohort from Japan. Results Beyond age, sex, education level, and BMI, 6 laboratory tests (low-density lipoprotein, albumin, aspartate aminotransferase, lymphocyte count, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, and creatinine) emerged as pivotal predictors via stepwise logistic regression (LR) for 5-year mortality. The area under curves of MARBE-PI constructed by LR were 0.799 (95% confidence interval [95% CI]: 0.778–0.819) and 0.756 (95% CI: 0.694–0.814) for the internal and external validation data sets, and were 0.801 (95% CI: 0.790–0.811) and 0.809 (95% CI: 0.774–0.845) for the extended 10-year mortality in both data sets, respectively. Risk categories stratified by MARBE-PI showed a consistent dose–response association with mortality. The MARBE-PI also performed comparably with indices constructed with clinical health deficits and/or laboratory results. Conclusions The MARBE-PI is considered the most applicable measure for risk stratification in busy clinical settings. It holds potential to pinpoint older individuals at elevated mortality risk, thereby aiding clinical decision-making. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cu‐Sn transient‐liquid‐phase bonding has a limit in achieving small diameter/high‐density bumps due to the extrusion of the melted Sn layer during bonding. This paper report a new method that can fabricate small diameter Cu‐Sn bumps with 5 μm diameter and 25 μm pitch based on a new thermal reflow and pre‐bonding method that enables solid‐state Cu‐Sn reaction for avoiding Sn extrusion. Using the new method, 3D integration of a 640 × 480 MEMS array on a CMOS circuit chip has been demonstrated. This method can be used in 3D integration of MEMS arrays and CMOS circuits such as micromirror arrays. © 2024 Institute of Electrical Engineer of Japan and Wiley Periodicals LLC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For the needs of augmented reality (AR), virtual reality (VR) and mixed reality (MR), smart contact lenses (SCL) have become an important platform as a display source in the future consumer market. Accordingly, this paper demonstrates a display device based on contact lenses. This device integrates a 3 × 3 Mini‐LED display array, a micro antenna, and a driver and transmission chip and is packaged in a smart contact lens made of hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA). It is note that in order to simultaneously meet the goals of wearing comfort, biocompatibility, wireless energy transmission and adjustable display functions, the final package thickness needs to be less than 200 μm. Here, we use heterogeneous packaging technology to connect the driver and transmission chip and the Mini‐LED display array with metal wires on the flexible substrate, and use metal wires on the same conductive layer to design the antenna required for wireless energy transmission. In order to complete the above functions, we use 920 MHz RFID technology as the energy source for wireless energy transmission. When the antenna of the RFID reader is 2 cm away from the smart contact lens, the designed receiving chip can receive 100 μW of energy. After converting this energy to DC 3 V, it can drive Mini‐LED with a current of about 30 μA, and the mini‐LED display array can be instantly controlled to display different contents by transmitting display commands through the RFID protocol. © 2024 Institute of Electrical Engineer of Japan and Wiley Periodicals LLC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article begins with a review of relevant literature and a brief introduction to dependency theory and center-periphery theory, and then it will outline major changes in general education in the United States. In the third part, the article analyzes how U.S. general education has been transferred to Japan, China, and Hong Kong; its impact on the three places; and similarities and differences in the acceptance and implementation of U.S. general education in Japan, China, and Hong Kong. The study concludes by identifying characteristics of general education in these three systems and to what extent dependency theory or center-periphery theory can explain the transfer of U.S. ideas to Japan, China, and Hong Kong with regard to the changes in their respective higher education curricula.

Based on case studies of China and Japan, this study undertakes comparative research on major aspects of university curriculum and instruction-teaching activities of academics, their role in curriculum development, and their perceptions of these activities--between a mass and a universal higher education system. Major findings from the APA (Academic Profession in Asia) surveys administered in the two countries in 2011-2012 with a similar questionnaire provide hard data. However, the study also explores other contextual factors and drivers which might have affected the teaching activities undertaken by academics, their involvement in curriculum development, and their views of relevant activities. The paper argues that, although differences can be found in some aspects of the curriculum and instruction and academics' participation in these activities during the shift from the mass to universal phase of higher education, seen from the two case studies, it is less clear that the differences show the impact of transforming from mass to universal education. The national contextual factors, especially the origins of higher education and ongoing national policies in both countries, appear to play a significant role in how current academics perceived the curriculum development and instruction, and their participation in these activities. More importantly, as fundamental changes do not necessarily occur in all aspects of the curriculum and instruction, as well as the academics' views across universal and mass higher education systems, Trow's research can only be partly applied to the analysis of the curriculum and instruction in both countries.

Numerous studies have been published heralding the benefits of physical education in school education. Sport and physical activities form the major content in learning and the arrangement serves as the major source of development in students. This paper identifies "quality" as an internationally concerned issue and within the concept, the perceptual framework in learning is then placed with focus. To conduct this study, a sample of N = 799 ("11 Asian cities") physical education professionals working in different levels were invited to participate in a questionnaire survey with 37 items designed to forge the conceptualization of quality learning in physical education. Results from statistical analysis showed 24 items grouped in 3 subfactors being retained after EFA, of 37 items that were framed through content analysis to assess the quality physical education learning among the PE professionals. The retained three factors from the EFA were further assessed with robust confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). The 3-factor model demonstrated a good fit with the data (CMIN/DF = 7.367, NFI = 0.888, CFI = 0.901, PCFI = 0.748, RMSEA = 0.089). In this sample, the QPEL demonstrated an acceptable three-factor structure, internal consistency and inter-factor correlation. These items were appropriate to provide the necessary understanding of the diversified practice in the learning of quality physical education.

This historical study reflects on history curriculum debates over the last 20 years in Taiwan. To open up possibilities for contemporary Taiwanese to rethink themselves in terms of national culture and subjectivity, this paper explores the construction of Taiwanese subjectivity in the past. It focuses on the history of Taiwan under Japanese occupation as a key issue in history curriculum debates. Particularly, it examines language issues in the 1920s, an important theme in the histories of the formation of Taiwanese consciousness, ideology, and cultural nationalism during the Japanese colonial period. Rather than addressing issues of identity (national or cultural), identifying who Taiwanese really were, or looking for Chinese or Taiwanese consciousness, this study explores how meanings of "Taiwanese" in the 1920s under Japanese occupation were constructed in the discourse of language reform for civilisation. The analysis of the New Culture Movement discourse suggests that the classical Chinese language of "Hànwén" as a valuable cultural resource and flexible linguistic instrument played an essential role in constituting Taiwanese subjectivities that shaped Taiwanese practices of the self for distinctive civilisation.

Achieving sustainable dietary change is essential for safeguarding human and environmental health. However, dietary recommendations based on broad food groups may not accurately reflect real-world realities because individuals select and consume dishes with multiple food items influenced by diverse context-specific factors. Therefore, here we explored the sustainability trade-offs of dietary choices at the dish level through an optimization modeling approach tested in Japan. We estimated the nutritional quality, price, and carbon footprint of major Japanese dishes and examined 16 dietary scenarios to identify options that meet the nutritional requirements and minimize carbon footprint. Overall, mixed diets contain more combinations of dishes that meet nutritional requirements with lower carbon footprints compared to more restrictive dietary scenarios. We argue that the approach developed here enables a better understanding of dietary trade-offs, complements existing methods, and helps identify sustainable diets by offering nuanced information at the national and sub-national levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Compared to the model predictive control (MPC) technique, the modulated MPC (M2PC) method applies multiple voltage vectors in order within one switching cycle, enabling a fixed switching frequency and better motor control performance. However, the M2PC technique suffers from a significant computational burden and imprecise allocation method of the vector action time, affecting the control performance. To address these two issues, this paper proposes an improved M2PC method that utilizes the information of projection of the reference vector on the selected voltage vectors for efficiently selecting the optimal active vectors and also accurately calculating their action time. Compared to the conventional M2PC, the proposed technique demonstrates both excellent dynamic performance with reduced execution time by 15.3% and superior steady‐state performance in terms of lower torque/speed ripple as well as fewer current harmonics. Those benefits have been proven by the results of a 2.5k rpm permanent magnet synchronous motor drive. © 2024 Institute of Electrical Engineer of Japan and Wiley Periodicals LLC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective To evaluate the non-inferiority of endovascular treatment (EVT) alone versus intravenous thrombolysis (IVT) followed by EVT and to assess its heterogeneity across prespecified subgroups. Methods We pooled data from two trials (SKIP in Japan; DEVT in China). Individual patient data were pooled to assess outcomes and heterogeneity of treatment effect. The primary outcome was functional independence (modified Rankin Scale score 0-2) at 90 days. Safety outcomes included symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage (sICH) and 90-day mortality. Results We included 438 patients (217 EVT alone; 221 combined IVT+EVT). The meta-analysis failed to demonstrate the non-inferiority of EVT alone over combined IVT+EVT in achieving 90-day functional independence (56.7% vs 51.6%; adjusted common odds ratio (cOR)=1.27, 95% CI 0.84 to 1.92, pnon-inferiority=0.06). Effect sizes favoring EVT alone were present with stroke onset to puncture time longer than 180 min (cOR=2.28, 95% CI 1.18 to 4.38, pinteraction ≤180 vs >180 min=0.02) and intracranial internal carotid artery ICA occlusions (for ICA cOR=3.04, 95% CI 1.10 to 8.43, pinteraction ICA vs MCA=0.08). The rates of sICH (6.5% vs 9.0%; cOR=0.77, 95% CI 0.37 to 1.61) and 90-day mortality (12.9% vs 13.6%; cOR=1.05, 95% CI 0.58 to 1.89) were comparable. Conclusions The cumulative data of these two recent Asian trials failed to unequivocally demonstrate the non-inferiority of EVT alone over combined IVT+EVT. However, our study suggests a potential role for more individualized decision-making. Specifically, Asian patients with stroke onset to EVT longer than 180 min, as well as those with intracranial ICA occlusions and those with atrial fibrillation might have better outcomes with EVT alone than with combined IVT+EVT. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Symptom burdens tend to increase for patients with cancer and their families over the disease trajectory. There is still a lack of evidence on the associations between symptom changes and the quality of dying and death. In this context, this research investigated how symptom changes influence the quality of dying and death. Methods This international prospective cohort study (the East Asian Collaborative Cross-Cultural Study to Elucidate the Dying Process (EASED), 2017-2019) included 22, 11, and 4 palliative care units across Japan, South Korea, and Taiwan. Eligible participants were adults (Japan and Korea, ≥18 years; Taiwan, ≥20 years) with locally advanced or metastatic cancer. Physical and psychological symptoms were assessed by physicians upon admission and within 3 days before death. Death quality was assessed using the Good Death Scale (GDS), developed in Taiwan. Univariate and multivariate regression analyses were used to identify correlations between symptom severity changes and GDS scores. Results Among 998 patients (542 [54.3%] men and 456 [45.7%] women; mean [SD] age = 70.1 [± 12.5] years), persistent dyspnea was associated with lower GDS scores when compared to stable dyspnea (β  = −0.427, 95% CI = −0.783 to −0.071). Worsened (−1.381, −1.932 to −0.831) and persistent (−1.680, −2.701 to −0.659) delirium were also significantly associated with lower GDS scores. Conclusions Better quality of dying and death was associated with improved symptom control, especially for dyspnea and delirium. Integrating an outcome measurement for the quality of dying and death is important in the management of symptoms across the disease trajectory in a goal-concordant manner. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates the employment landscape and career expectations of doctoral graduates in Japan through the analysis of three national surveys conducted in 2012, 2015 and 2018. The research explores the changing factors influencing graduates' employment destinations during this period, encompassing changes by discipline and proposing strategies to address challenges faced by these graduates. Unlike previous studies, which predominantly focussed on analysing data and interviewing students, this research offers both descriptive insights and analytical perspectives on Japanese doctoral education. Key findings include an increase in doctoral graduates employed in universities and the private sector, while academia employment varies by discipline. Humanities exhibit the highest academic employment, while engineering shows diverse fluctuations. Additionally, career expectations shift, with declining interest in tenure positions and growing inclination towards non‐academic paths. The study identifies challenges stemming from shifting academic appeal, skill mismatches, sector concentration and field‐specific hurdles, providing insights into global trends while emphasizing Japan's unique complexities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lesson study (LS), a teacher-oriented, student-focused professional development (PD) approach that originated in Japan, has spread globally. However, existing literature on the implementation of LS and its effectiveness provides inconsistent results, suggesting a need to review current research on LS. With a focus on LS in mathematics education, we examined 75 recent LS studies using Lewis's (ZDM Mathematics Education 48:571–580, 2016. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11858-016-0792-x) framework to understand how LS is implemented and the pathways by which LS can impact teaching practice and student learning. We found that new developments have taken place in LS implementation, although challenges persist throughout its process. Regarding the implementation of LS, even though the examined LS studies generally contained four phases (study, plan, teach, and reflect), we found many LS lacked a research question, and the study of teaching materials was sometimes invisible. Across phases, studies shared a consensus that it is most critical to focus on students' thinking and learning, yet reported challenges in maintaining this focus. In addition, the role of knowledgeable others (KOs) was recognized but inconsistently understood. Collaboration was also widely reported as a challenge. Finally, there were large variations in LS duration, with some LS implementing overly brief cycles. Regarding LS impact, the literature has more frequently reported changes in teachers' knowledge and beliefs and less frequently in curriculum, learning community/professional norms, teaching practice, and student learning outcomes. The above challenges reflect a need for culturally relevant systemic support for developing sustainable and large-scale LS. We suggest future directions for continued research and practice improvement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]