Student Perspectives on Music in University-level English Language Classes

This paper reports on the results of a questionnaire administered to universitystudents regarding the use of music for their English language learning. Thestudy took place in the context of a Speaking and Listening course, and writtenresponses were obtained from 60 students. Students generally agreed thatmusic is beneficial for language learning, but responses were mixed regardingits role in English language instruction at university. Students also respondedwith a wide range of music-related topics that they would be interested inlearning more about in English. The results of the questionnaire suggest thatthe majority of students would be highly motivated to participate in classesusing music provided it was a topic of their particular interest and choice

Immunocytochemical Analysis of α-Tubulin Distribution Before and After Rapid Axopodial Contraction in the Centrohelid Raphidocystis contractilis

The centrohelid Raphidocystis contractilis is a heliozoan that has many radiating axopodia, each containing a bundle of microtubules. Although the rapid contraction of the axopodia at nearly a video rate (30 frames/s) is induced by mechanical stimuli, the mechanism underlying this phenomenon in R. contractilis has not yet been elucidated. In the present study, we described for the first time an adequate immunocytochemical fixation procedure for R. contractilis and the cellular distribution of α-tubulin before and after rapid axopodial contraction. We developed a flow-through chamber equipped with a micro-syringe pump that allowed the test solution to be injected at a flow rate below the threshold required to induce rapid axopodial contraction. Next, we used this injection method for evaluating the effects of different combinations of two fixatives (paraformaldehyde or glutaraldehyde) and two buffers (phosphate buffer or PHEM) on the morphological structure of the axopodia. A low concentration of glutaraldehyde in PHEM was identified as an adequate fixative for immunocytochemistry. The distribution of α-tubulin before and after rapid axopodial contraction was examined using immunocytochemistry and confocal laser scanning fluorescence microscopy. Positive signals were initially detected along the extended axopodia from the tips to the bases and were distributed in a non-uniform manner within the axopodia. Conversely, after the induction of a rapid axopodial contraction, these positive signals accumulated in the peripheral region of the cell. These results indicated that axopodial microtubules disassemble into fragments and/ or tubulin subunits during rapid axopodial contraction. Therefore, we hypothesize that the mechanism of extremely rapid axopodial contraction accompanied by cytoskeletal microtubule degradation in R. contractilis involves microtubule-severing at multiple sites

Cytoskeletal elements in an acoelomorph worm, Praesagittifera naikaiensis

Acoel flatworms can move in a variety of ways such as muscular and ciliary movements via cytoskeletal elements and their neural regulations. However, those locomotive mechanisms have not yet been fully elucidated. In this study, we examined the distribution of cytoskeletal elements including filamentous actin (F-actin) and tubulin, and the neuroanatomical organization in an acoelomorph worm, Praesagittifera naikaiensis (P. naikaiensis). Video microscopy revealed the elongation/contraction and the bending/rotation processes, and the ciliary gliding movement of P. naikaiensis. Histochemical and morphological analysis demonstrated that F-actin networks of inner longitudinal and outer circular muscle fibers were positioned along the entire surface of the body, and that the average distance between the circular muscle fibers in the contracted organism was decreased in the anterior region compared with that in the elongated organism. Electron microscopy showed dense bodies on the muscle cells of P. naikaiensis, which indicates that those muscle cells have the appearance of vertebrate smooth muscle cells. Immunohistochemical analysis revealed that -tubulin-positive signals on the ciliary microtubules had close contact with the F-actin network, and that neurite bundles labelled with anti dSap47 antibody as a neuronal marker run along the anterior-posterior body axis. These results indicate that the well-organized cytoskeletal elements and their neural control systems are preserved in P. naikaiensis, and that their mechanisms involved in those regulation systems are similar to those vertebrate systems. Further studies are needed to clarify the physiological mechanisms underlying the muscular and ciliary movements in P. naikaiensis

Structure and function of tegmentum vasculosum in avian cochlea

In spite of the importance of endocochlear DC potential (EP) and the K+-rich endolymph for the avian cochlea, the structure and function of the tegmentum vasculosum (TV) has not yet been fully elucidated, compared with those of the stria vascularis in the mammalian cochlea. In this study, we examined structural analysis of the epithelial cells, gene expressions of Na+-K+-ATPase (Atp1A1) and Kir4.1 (Kcnj10), and protein localizations of Na+-K+-ATPase and Kir4.1, in the TV. Tight junctional structures were observed between epithelial dark cells and light cells in the TV. Both Atp1a1 and Kcnj10 genes were detected in the TV. In addition, immunopositive signals for both Na+-K+-ATPase and Kir4.1 were recognized in the TV. These results indicate that Na+-K+-ATPase and Kir4.1 play roles in maintaining the EP and high K+ concentration of the endolymph. Further studies are needed to clarify the physiological functions of the TV. This is the first report which demonstrates that gene and protein expression data contribute to the avian inner ear homeostasis

Epidemiologic profile of type-specific human papillomavirus infection after initiation of HPV vaccination

Funding Information: This work was supported by the Health and Labor Sciences Research Grant [26272001] and the Japanese Agency for Medical Research and Development [JP15ck0106103]. Acknowledgments: We would like to thank Yuka Watanabe, Sachiko Ono, Anna Ishida, Yoko Motoki and the administrator of Niigata city for their support in conducting the surveyPeer reviewedPublisher PD

Japan's Ongoing Crisis on HPV Vaccination.

Funding: This work was supported by the Health and Labor Sciences Research Grant [26272001] and the Japanese Agency for Medical Research and Development [JP15ck0106103]. Acknowledgments: We would like to thank Yuka Watanabe, Sachiko Ono, Anna Ishida, Yoko Motoki, Tomomi Egawa-Takata, Akiko Morimoto, Yusuke Tanaka and the administrator of Niigata city for their support in conducting the surveyPeer reviewedPublisher PD

Effectiveness of human papillomavirus vaccine against cervical precancer in Japan : Multivariate analyses adjusted for sexual activity.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS We would like to thank Mr Kenshin Sekine and Mr Taishin Sekine for English editing, and Ms Yuka Watanabe, Ms Sachiko Ono, Ms Anna Ishida, and administrators of Niigata, Nagaoka, Joetsu, Shibata, Sanjo, Mitsuke city for their support in conducting the survey.Peer reviewedPublisher PD

Long-term effectiveness of HPV vaccination against HPV infection in young Japanese women : Real-world data.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS We would like to thank Ms. Yuka Watanabe, Ms. Sachiko Ono, Ms. Anna Ishida, and the administrator of Niigata city for their support in conducting the surveyPeer reviewedPublisher PD

Long-Term Effects of Human Papillomavirus Vaccination in Clinical Trials and Real-World Data : A Systematic Review

Peer reviewedPublisher PD