The question of English language varieties in Japanese English language teaching and learning

Over the past few decades, globalization has progressed rapidly in many disciplines. English symbolically reflects this globalization, and pragmatically it performs the role of an international lingua franca. Under such a milieu, issues of English varieties and of English-related language policy and planning have become more significant. This significance arises not only in societies where English is used for daily communication but also in societies where it is used as a foreign language, such as Japan. This thesis is a study of English varieties and of Japan's English language education policy and planning. It explores the objectives, implementation, and efficacy of Japan's postwar English related language policies from the viewpoint of English varieties. This study analyses and provides an interpretation to better understand Japan's English-related policy development. In Japan, although the English-related policies have been developed under Monbusho (Ministry of Education) education policy, this traditional policy making approach does not apply to the recently released policies. As a result of examining the education policies and their development process, it was found that, in general policymaking, English has become a more substantial concern in terms of strengthening a human resource, in addition to the traditional concern for English as a school subject. Thus, Japan's education policy and the comprehensive language policy released after 2000 have amplified and reinforced English's importance. The policy examinations performed in this thesis also question the connection between the policy and its implementation. Comparing the English varieties aimed at in the policy with those actually being offered in related-plans revealed an inconsistency between them. This inconsistency highlights a problem in the efficacy of the policy implementation. This thesis also examines the actual linguistic and attitudinal impact on the learners. Although other studies have pointed out that American English is the dominant variety learned in Japan, such studies do not provide much detail, such as in which linguistic component or how strongly this tendency appears. In this study, a survey revealed that the learners who studied English under the 1989 Course of Study (national guidelines) showed strong familiarity with the American English in accent recognition, spelling, and grammar, but not in vocabulary and stylistics. In addition, the survey showed that the most positive attitudes were toward British English, and a significant attitudinal gap was found between Englishes in the so called Inner Circle (i.e. the US, the UK, and Australia) and those in the Outer Circle (i.e. South Africa, India, and Singapore). The findings from the learners' survey and the policy examination show that the policies are not always implemented effectively. This study suggests possible solutions that can be applied to improve formal English education in Japan, and to teach English better as a global/inguafranca

音響効果と超音波を用いた全身麻酔前後における気道径の比較

Changes in airway dimensions can occur during general anaesthesia and surgery for a variety of reasons. This study explored factors associated with postoperative changes in airway dimensions. Patient airway volume was measured by acoustic reflectometory and neck muscle diameter by ultrasound echography in the pre- and post-anaesthetic periods in a total of 281 patients. Neck circumference was also assessed during these periods. A significant decrease in median (IQR [range]) total airway volume (from 63.8 (51.8–75.7 [14.7–103]) ml to 45.9 (33.5–57.2 [6.4–96.3]) ml, p < 0.0001), and a significant increase in muscle diameter (from 4.3 (3.3–5.6 [2.2–9.0]) mm to 5.8 (4.7–7.3 [2.8–1.3]) mm, p < 0.0001) and neck circumference (from 34.0 (32.5–37.0 [29.5–49.0]) cm to 35.0 (33.5–38.0 [30.5–50.5]) cm, p < 0.0001) were observed. It may be possible that changes in airway volume and neck circumference were influenced by surgical duration or peri-operative fluid management (ρ) = −0.31 (95% CI −0.24 to −0.01), p = 0.0301, −0.17 (−0.23 to −0.06), p = 0.0038, 0.23 (0.12–0.34), p < 0.0001, and 0.16 (0.05–0.27), p = 0.0062, respectively). The intra-oral space can significantly decrease and neck thickness increase after general anaesthesia, and might increase the risk of difficult laryngoscopy and intubation if airway management is required after extubation following general anaesthesia.博士（医学）・甲第626号・平成27年3月16日Copyright © 1999-2015 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. All Rights Reserved.© 2014 The Association of Anaesthetists of Great Britain and Irelan

Spirulina Effectiveness Study on Child Malnutrition in Zambia

Ensuring adequate nutrition among vulnerable children has been a serious challenge in Zambia. Chronic child malnutrition is more predominant at 45 per cent while underweight and wasting are at 15 and 5 per cent respectively. This study tested the effectiveness of spirulina on malnourished children in Zambia. The study took place from June 2012 to February 2013. Sixty children were divided into spirulina treatment and control groups. The outcome of taking spirulina was analysed by collecting anthropometric data. The fixed-effect regression result showed that 10g of spirulina dairy intake leads to improvement by producing 0.29 higher points in the height-for-age z-score (HAZ); confidence interval (CI)[0.0404, 0.535]. On the contrary, the weight-for-age z-score (WAZ) and the mid-upper arm circumference z-score (MUACZ) did not show a significant difference, although treated children showed a larger improvement by 0.09 points and 0.38 points, respectively. This study implied the validity of spirulina in reducing chronic malnutrition

Study of glycosylation of prostate-specific antigen secreted by cancer tissue-originated spheroids reveals new candidates for prostate cancer detection

Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) is the most frequently used biomarker for the screening of prostate cancer. Understanding the structure of cancer-specific glycans can help us improve PSA assay. In the present study, we analysed the glycans of PSA obtained from culture medium containing cancer tissue-originated spheroids (CTOS) which have similar characteristics as that of the parent tumour to explore the new candidates for cancer-related glycoforms of PSA. The glycan profile of PSA from CTOS was determined by comparing with PSA from normal seminal plasma and cancer cell lines (LNCaP and 22Rv1) using lectin chromatography and mass spectrometry. PSA from CTOS was mostly sialylated and the content of Wisteria floribunda agglutinin reactive glycan (LacdiNAc) was similar to that of PSA derived from seminal plasma and 22Rv1. Conversely, concanavalin A (Con A)-unbound PSA was definitely detected from the three cancer origins but was almost negligible in seminal PSA. Two novel types of PSA were elucidated in the Con A-unbound fraction: one is a high molecular weight PSA with highly branched N-glycans, and the other is a low molecular weight PSA without N-glycans. Furthermore, the existence of Lewis X antigen group on PSA was indicated. These PSAs will be candidates for new cancer-related markers

Relationship of Physical Activity to Self-Care Agency and Physical Condition Among Older Adults in a Rural Area

[Background] Maintaining physical activity is important for older adults. “Self-care agency” is the ability to perform self-care, which is defined as people following their own will, managing themselves, and maintaining activities. We investigated the relationship among physical activity and self-care agency, demographic factors and physical condition in older adults. [Methods] Self-care agency was assessed by using the Self-Care Agency Questionnaire developed for Japanese patients with chronic diseases. Among 175 older adults aged 65 years or older living in a rural area, responses from 83 who performed physical activities were analyzed. Correspondence analysis was conducted to characterize demographic factors and self-care agency. [Results] A higher proportion of women than men were engaged in physical activity. Irrespective of age and sex, many of the participants performed stretching exercises, walking, radio exercises, TV exercises, and participated in community circles. Participants who engaged in physical activities had significantly higher self-care agency scores than inactive participants. Among the active participants, the self-care agency score was significantly higher for women than men (P = .04) and was also significantly higher for participants aged ≥ 75 years compared to those aged < 75 years. Individuals with a high self-care agency tended to participate in local programs and perform brief physical activities at home. [Conclusion] Physically active older adults demonstrated high self-care agency. Their activities were easily carried out in their daily lives, with activities varying by age and sex. Support from community health experts is needed to promote suitable physical activity among older adults tailored for age and sex, especially among older adults who have low self-care agency

New Function of Autophagy in C. jejuni Invasion

Campylobacter jejuni is a leading cause of food-borne disease worldwide. The pathogenicity of C. jejuni is closely associated with the internalization process in host epithelial cells, which is related to a host immune response. Autophagy indicates a key role in the innate immune system of the host to exclude invasive pathogens. Most bacteria are captured by autophagosomes and degraded by autophagosome-lysosome fusion in host cells. However, several pathogens, such as Salmonella and Shigella, avoid and/or escape autophagic degradation to establish infection. But autophagy involvement as a host immune response to C. jejuni infection has not been clarified. This study revealed autophagy association in C. jejuni infection. During infection, C. jejuni activated the Rho family small GTPase Rac1 signaling pathway, which modulates actin remodeling and promotes the internalization of this pathogen. In this study, we found the LC3 contribution to C. jejuni invasion signaling via the Rac1 signaling pathway. Interestingly, during C. jejuni invasion, LC3 was recruited to bacterial entry site depending on Rac1 GTPase activation just at the early step of the infection. C. jejuni infection induced LC3-II conversion, and autophagy induction facilitated C. jejuni internalization. Also, autophagy inhibition attenuated C. jejuni invasion step. Moreover, Rac1 recruited LC3 to the cellular membrane, activating the invasion of C. jejuni. Altogether, our findings provide insights into the new function of LC3 in bacterial invasion. We found the interaction between the Rho family small GTPase, Rac1, and autophagy-associated protein, LC3