Written languaging, learners’ aptitude and second language learning

Languaging (Swain, 2006), defined as learners’ language use to make meaning, has been suggested and identified as a way to facilitate second language (L2) learning. Most of the research conducted so far has been on oral languaging, whereas the effectiveness of written languaging (WL) in promoting L2 development remains underexplored. To help to bridge this gap, this thesis examined (1) the impact of WL on L2 learning, (2) the relationship between the frequency/quality of WL and L2 learning, and (3) the associations between L2 learning through languaging and individual differences in aptitude and metalanguage knowledge. The study used a pretest-posttest-delayed posttest design with individual written dictogloss as a treatment task. The participants were 82 adult EFL learners, assigned to three groups: +WL group, –WL group or a control group. The +WL group engaged in WL by writing about their linguistic issues when they compared their reconstructions and an original text, whereas the –WL group completed the same task without engaging in WL. The control group simply did the pre- and posttests. The assessments included an essay test, a grammar production test and a recognition test. The MLAT, LLAMA_F, and LABJ were employed as aptitude measures. A metalanguage knowledge test was also devised and administered to the participants. Finally, they completed an exit questionnaire. Three main findings emerged. First, the +WL group outperformed the –WL group on the grammar production tests and, to a lesser degree, on the essay tests. Second, significant correlations were observed between the frequency/quality of WL and the gain scores on two grammar tests. Finally, a greater number of significant associations were identified between aptitude/metalanguage knowledge and L2 learning for the –WL group than the +WL group. These results are discussed with reference to previous research in second language acquisition and cognitive psychology

Physical and gas transport properties of asymmetric hyperbranched polyimide-silica hybrid membranes

Physical and gas transport properties of the asymmetric hyperbranched polyimide (HBPI) -silica hybrid membranes prepared with a dianhydride, 4,4’-(hexafluoroisopropylidene)diphthalic anhydride (6FDA), and an asymmetric triamine, 2,4,4’-(triaminodiphenyl)ether (TADE), were investigated and compared with those of the symmetric HBPI-silica hybrid membranes prepared with a symmetric triamine, 1,3,5-tris(4-aminophenoxy)benzene (TAPOB). The HBPI-silica hybrid membranes were prepared via sol-gel reaction using hyperbranched polyamic acid of which end groups were modified with silane coupling agents, water and tetramethoxysilane. The thermal mechanical and dynamic mechanical analysis measurements confirmed that the rigidity of asymmetric HBPI was higher than that of symmetric HBPI because of the rigid and asymmetric structure of TADE monomer. In addition, the degree of branching of asymmetric HBPI is lower than that of symmetric HBPI because of the different reactivity of the three amino groups included in TADE. The rigidity and linearity of HBPIs had an effect on the progression of sol-gel reaction, consequently the gas transport properties. The increasing of the gas permeability coefficient of the asymmetric dianhydride(DA)-HBPI-silica hybrid membranes with increasing silica content was smaller than those of symmetric DA- and amine(AM)-HBPI-silica hybrid membranes. In addition, the gas permeability coefficient of the asymmetric AM-HBPI-silica hybrid membranes decreased with increasing silica content. This was due to the fact that the dispersibility of silica in the asymmetric HBPI-silica hybrids, of which polymer chain was more rigid and linear than those of symmetric HBPI-silica hybrid, was not as fine as in the symmetric HBPI-silica hybrids, and that the long and tortuous diffusion path was newly formed by hybridization with silica

Altered Homeostasis of CD4+ Memory T Cells in Allogeneic Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplant Recipients: Chronic Graft-versus-Host Disease Enhances T Cell Differentiation and Exhausts Central Memory T Cell Pool

AbstractAn increased risk of late infection is a serious complication after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (AHSCT), especially for recipients with defective CD4+ T cell recovery. Although chronic graft-versus-host disease (cGVHD) negatively influences CD4+ T cell reconstitution, the mechanisms leading to this defect are not well understood. We found that the proportion of CD27− CD4+ T cells was remarkably increased in ASHCT recipients with cGVHD or with repetitive infectious episodes. Isolated CD27− CD4+ T cells from ASHCT recipients had significantly shortened telomere length, displayed enhanced vulnerability to activation-induced cell death, and showed extremely reduced clonal diversity, when compared with CD27− CD4+ T cells from healthy donors. Also, CD27+ CD4+ T cells from AHSCT recipients easily lost their expression of CD27 in response to antigen stimulation regardless of cGVHD status. Taken together, these data indicate that homeostasis of memory CD4+ T cells from AHSCT recipients is altered, and that they easily transit into CD27− effector memory T cells. Increased in vivo T cell stimulation observed in recipients with cGVHD further promotes the transition to effector memory cells, a change that decreases the central memory CD4+ T cell pool and consequently weakens the recipient’s defense against persistently infecting pathogens

Understanding anthropometry, metabolism and menstrual status of Japanese college female long-distance runners

Aim: To understand the anthropometry, metabolism, and menstrual status of Japanese collegiate female long-distance runners. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study of 29 Japanese college female long-distance runners divided into three menstruation status groups: 1) Regular; 2) Irregular; and 3) Amenorrhea. The amenorrhea group was further divided into participants who consulted a gynecologist and those who did not. Metabolism was measured using resting metabolic rate, total energy expenditure, and physical activity level. Energy was measured using energy intake, exercise energy expenditure, and energy availability (EA). Anthropometric measurements were performed following standardized techniques from the International Society for the Advancement of Kinanthropometry. Results: Of the 29 runners, 68% had menstrual dysfunction. The amenorrhea group who had consulted a gynecologist had lower body mass index (BMI) and lower skinfolds than the other groups. All groups had more than 30 kcal/kg fat free mass/day for EA with no difference between the groups. Conclusions: There was high prevalence of menstrual dysfunction in the female Japanese college long-distance runners. Runners with amenorrhea had lower BMI and lower skinfolds than the other groups, despite having consulted a gynecologist for medical support. All the runners had an energy deficiency higher than the published threshold; therefore, this threshold did not differentiate the amenorrhea or irregular menstruating athletes from regular menstruating athletes. Longitudinal tracking of athletes should include measurement of height, body mass, and skinfolds to enable evaluation of BMI, the sum of eight skinfold sites, and leanness ratio score as possible indicators over time for menstrual dysfunction.Objetivo: Comprender la antropometría, el metabolismo y el estado menstrual de las corredoras de larga distancia universitarias japonesas. Métodos: Este fue un estudio transversal de 29 corredoras de larga distancia universitarias japonesas divididas en tres grupos de estado de menstruación: 1) Regular; 2) Irregular; y 3) amenorrea. El grupo de amenorrea se dividió en participantes que consultaron a un ginecólogo y los que no lo hicieron. El metabolismo se midió utilizando la tasa metabólica en reposo, el gasto energético total y el nivel de actividad física. La energía se midió utilizando la ingesta de energía, el gasto energético del ejercicio y la disponibilidad de energía (EA). Las mediciones antropométricas se realizaron siguiendo técnicas estandarizadas de la Sociedad Internacional para el Avance de la Cineantropometría. Resultados: De las 29 corredoras, el 68% tenía disfunción menstrual. El grupo de amenorrea que había consultado a un ginecólogo tenía un índice de masa corporal (IMC) más bajo y pliegues cutáneos más bajos que los otros grupos. Todos los grupos tenían más de 30 kcal / kg de masa libre de grasa / día para EA sin diferencias entre los grupos. Conclusiones: Hubo una alta prevalencia de disfunción menstrual en las corredoras de larga distancia universitarias japonesas. Las corredoras con amenorrea tenían un IMC más bajo y pliegues cutáneos más bajos que los otros grupos, a pesar de haber consultado a un ginecólogo para recibir apoyo médico. Todos los corredores tenían una deficiencia energética superior al umbral publicado; por lo tanto, este umbral no diferenciaba la amenorrea o los atletas con menstruación irregular de los atletas con menstruación regular. El seguimiento longitudinal de los atletas debe incluir la medición de la altura, la masa corporal y los pliegues cutáneos para permitir la evaluación del IMC, la suma de ocho sitios de pliegues cutáneos y la puntuación del índice de delgadez como posibles indicadores a lo largo del tiempo de la disfunción menstrual

[Note] Issues of School Lunch in Osaka

大阪における学校給食は、1985年の学校給食の民営化（民間委託）によって、大きく変えられてきた。また、大阪では1996年7月堺市の小学校給食におけるO-157 （腸管出血性大腸菌O-157、以下O-157 と称する） 食中毒の発生は忘れられない事件である。豊かで安全な学校給食を実現することは、大阪府民の願いである。大阪における中学校給食の実施率は低く、中学校給食の実施は解決すべき重要な行政課題の一つとなっている。本稿では、上記のことを考えるために、大阪の学校給食の現状について分析した

Current Situation and Issues of Food Equipment in School Lunch in Osaka Prefecture: Focusing on the Survey of Food Equipment for School Lunch in Osaka Prefecture

学校給食において、食の内容と同時にどのような食器具を使用するのかということは、大切なことであると考えられる。しかしながら、「食育基本法」等においては具体的に規定されていない。そこで、本論文では、大阪府内における食器具の使用実態を調査し、それに基づいて、学校給食における食器具の現状と課題を考察した。上記の分析を踏まえ、学校給食における食器具問題を総括すれば、次の４点が指摘できる。第１には、食器具に係る全国的統計の不備であり、早急な改善が望まれる。第２には、適切な食器具使用に係る法制度の整備の必要性である。第３には、食器具と学校給食調理場方式との関係性について、今後、より踏み込んだ検証が求められる。第４には、食器具の材質選択における教育的意義の重要性である

Issues of Local Distribution System in School Lunch : Focusing on School Meal Survey in Osaka

「第3次食育推進基本計画」（2016年3月策定）では、「学校給食における地場産物を使用する割合」の2020年度目標値を30％以上と記載している。しかしながら、この数値は、2006年3月策定の「第1次食育推進基本計画」の地場産物の使用割合目標30％以上（2010年度目標）と同様の数値であり、その実現の困難さを物語っている。本論文では、大阪府内における地場産物の使用実態を調査し、それに基づいて、学校給食における地場産物の使用の現状と課題を考察した。学校給食における地産地消を推進するためには、まずは、学校給食の実態を正確に把握することが大事なことである。「学校給食」と言っても、食材調達方式や運営方式は多様であり、同じ方法で一律に地産地消を推進することは困難である。とりわけ、大阪府内の学校給食における「統一献立、一括購入」は、地産地消を推進するためには、大きなネックとなっており、改善が求められる

The Erotic and the Vulgar: Visual Culture and Organized Labor's Critique of U.S. Hegemony in Occupied Japan

This essay engages the colonial legacy of postwar Japan by arguing that the political cartoons produced as part of the postwar Japanese labor movement’s critique of U.S. cultural hegemony illustrate how gendered discourses underpinned, and sometimes undermined, the ideologies formally represented by visual artists and the organizations that funded them. A significant component of organized labor’s propaganda rested on a corpus of visual media that depicted women as icons of Japanese national culture. Japan’s most militant labor unions were propagating anti-imperialist discourses that invoked an engendered/endangered nation that accentuated the importance of union roles for men by subordinating, then eliminating, union roles for women