Comprehensive Analysis of Flooding in the Hinogawa River Catchment in Shiga, Japan

Source: ICHE Conference Archive - https://mdi-de.baw.de/icheArchiv

Explicit Instruction of Memory Vocabulary Learning Strategies in an ESP Context

Recent studies have shown that proficient language learners make substantial use of vocabulary learning strategies (VLS). However, teaching VLS is not emphasized in English education in Japan. This is especially problematic when students are required to learn the technical terms of their field in university since those terms are usually low-frequency words that the students do not encounter when learning academic English. The present study examines the effectiveness of explicit VLS instruction for learning biology terms for Japanese students who major in biology. The study also investigates which VLS are suitable for these students in accordance with their vocabulary size. The instructed VLS in this study were all memory strategies: imagery, association, grouping, and a strategy using affixes. The results revealed that both students with smaller vocabulary sizes and those with larger vocabulary sizes were satisfied with explicit VLS instruction but that lack of vocabulary can hinder the use of some types of memory strategies. The study demonstrates the efficacy of explicit memory VLS instruction in ESP settings, especially the strategy using affixes and roots

Gender Differences in the Effects of Explicit Vocabulary Learning Strategies Training

Vocabulary knowledge is a building block in language learning, but many students struggle to learn new words regardless of their proficiency level. Various studies have demonstrated the efficacy of explicit instruction of vocabulary learning strategies (VLS). On the other hand, other studies have demonstrated that gender can affect a student’s use of language learning strategies including vocabulary learning strategies, and many of them have confirmed that females use a larger variety of strategies more often than their counterparts. The aim of this study was to shed light on gender difference as a variable for the influence of explicit VLS training. The participants were 109 Japanese EFL bioscience majors. They completed a questionnaire on vocabulary learning behavior before and after receiving explicit VLS training for 11 weeks. The questionnaire consisted of nine categories of items, two on metacognitive strategies, six on the use of cognitive and memory strategies, and one on overall use of VLS. The quantitative measures used a 5-point Likert scale and multiple-choice. The VLS training focused on four memory strategies, namely imagery, association, affix and grouping. The results from two-way repeated measures analysis of variance (ANOVA) with VLS training and gender as factors revealed that VLS training was effective in enhancing the participants’ use of metacognitive strategies, writing rehearsal, and grouping strategy, although significant gender differences were observed for writing and grouping strategies. The students’ written comments gave us insight into their perception of these strategies. Gender difference was also observed in the overall use of strategies

Notes on the genus Anomala Samouelle, 1819 (Coleoptera, Scarabaeidae, Rutelinae) in Vietnam and neighboring regions: eight new species and faunistic records

Acht neue Arten der Gattung Anomala Samouelle, 1819 aus Vietnam werden beschrieben: Anomala okushimai spec. nov., Anomala immeliorata spec. nov., Anomala confrater spec. nov., Anomala imperspicabilis spec. nov., Anomala ordinata spec. nov., Anomala recordata spec. nov., Anomala asaitoae spec. nov. und Anomala herbacea spec. nov. Ausserdem werden neue und interessante Funddaten von Anomala-Arten aus Vietnam und benachbarten Regionen präsentiert. Nomenklatorische Handlungen Anomala okushimai spec. nov. – urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:DB65AF09-2AD7-4B48-A64B-0D74C2A8C830 Anomala immeliorata spec. nov. – urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:94F6E08A-609F-45BD-90DC-C2357A94B080 Anomala confrater spec. nov. – urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:CF9C33FF-3E48-4583-B307-61BAC7F3D04A Anomala imperspicabilis spec. nov. – urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:8B865ECA-A674-4C60-A04A-10B0B4196C34 Anomala ordinata spec. nov. – urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:1177FA2D-BF2B-417C-8B01-BD230DBC23DE Anomala recordata spec. nov. – urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:53189F43-2F86-4D8B-B41D-9E5E4BD47013 Anomala asaitoae spec. nov. – urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:829A3E69-938F-4F9C-998A-C4FE117C5740 Anomala herbacea spec. nov. – urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:D39067BB-B013-4D67-9E01-BEA126CF5EA8Eight new species of the genus Anomala Samouelle, 1819 are described from Vietnam: Anomala okushimai spec. nov., Anomala immeliorata spec. nov., Anomala confrater spec. nov., Anomala imperspicabilis spec. nov., Anomala ordinate spec. nov., Anomala recordata spec. nov., Anomala asaitoae spec. nov., and Anomala herbacea spec. nov. In addition, new and interesting records of Anomala species from Vietnam and neighboring regions are presented. Nomenclatural Acts Anomala okushimai spec. nov. – urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:DB65AF09-2AD7-4B48-A64B-0D74C2A8C830 Anomala immeliorata spec. nov. – urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:94F6E08A-609F-45BD-90DC-C2357A94B080 Anomala confrater spec. nov. – urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:CF9C33FF-3E48-4583-B307-61BAC7F3D04A Anomala imperspicabilis spec. nov. – urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:8B865ECA-A674-4C60-A04A-10B0B4196C34 Anomala ordinata spec. nov. – urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:1177FA2D-BF2B-417C-8B01-BD230DBC23DE Anomala recordata spec. nov. – urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:53189F43-2F86-4D8B-B41D-9E5E4BD47013 Anomala asaitoae spec. nov. – urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:829A3E69-938F-4F9C-998A-C4FE117C5740 Anomala herbacea spec. nov. – urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:D39067BB-B013-4D67-9E01-BEA126CF5EA

Double viral vector technology for selective manipulation of neural pathways with higher level of efficiency and safety

Pathway-selective gene delivery would be critical for future gene therapy against neuropsychiatric disorders, traumatic neuronal injuries, or neurodegenerative diseases, because the impaired functions depend on neural circuits affected by the insults. Pathway-selective gene delivery can be achieved by double viral vector techniques, which combine an injection of a retrograde transport viral vector into the projection area of the target neurons and that of an anterograde viral vector into their somas. In this study, we tested the efficiency of gene delivery with different combinations of viral vectors to the pathway extending from the ventral tegmental area (VTA) to the cortical motor regions in rats, considered to be critical in the promotion of motor recovery from neural injuries. It was found that retrograde recombinant adeno-associated virus 2-retro (rAAV2reto) combined with anterograde AAVDJ (type2/type4/type5/type8/type9/avian/bovine/caprine chimera) exhibited the highest transduction efficiency in the short term (3-6 weeks) but high toxicity in the long term (3 months). In contrast, the same rAAV2reto combined with anterograde AAV5 displayed moderate transduction efficiency in the short term but low toxicity in the long term. These data suggest that the combination of anterograde AAV5 and retrograde rAAV2retro is suitable for safe and efficient gene delivery to the VTA-cortical pathway

Effect of nalfurafine hydrochloride on the basal pressure of the sphincter of Oddi in anesthetized rabbits

Background: Opioid analgesics, which are classified as μ-opioid receptor agonists, are known to induce spasms or contraction of the sphincter of Oddi (SO), thereby inducing or exacerbating biliary diseases such as biliary obstruction, gallbladder dysfunction, cholelithiasis, pancreatitis, biliary dyskinesia, cholangitis, and cholecystitis. However, effects of κ-opioid receptor agonists on SO contraction have not been clarified. In the present study, we investigated the effect of nalfurafine hydrochloride (nalfurafine), (E)-N-[17-(cyclopropylmethyl)-4,5α-epoxy-3,14-dihydroxymorphinan-6β-yl]-3-(furan-3-yl)-N-methylprop-2-enamide monohydrochloride, a selective κ-opioid receptor agonist, on spontaneous contraction of rabbit SO.Methods: SO contraction was measured using manometry in anesthetized rabbits. Rabbits were anesthetized with intravenous administration of 25 mg/kg sodium pentobarbital. An open tip catheter was inserted into the common bile duct toward the SO ampullae. Saline was perfused through the lumen of the open tip catheter at a constant rate of 6 ml/hr using a syringe pump. Nalfurafine, morphine, and pentazocine were intravenously (i.v.) administered and perfusion pressure was recorded.Results: Morphine (0.3 mg/kg, i.v.) and pentazocine (3 mg/kg, i.v.) were found to increase SO perfusion pressure, suggesting that these opioid analgesics may cause SO contraction. In contrast, nalfurafine (0.2 μg/kg, i.v.) decreased the perfusion pressure, indicating that this κ-opioid receptor agonist suppresses SO contraction.Conclusions: These findings suggest that nalfurafine is unlikely to induce or exacerbate biliary diseases and may be safely used in patients with these disorders

Detection of circulating superantigens in an intensive care unit population

AbstractObjective: Plasma concentrations of superantigens were measured in an intensive care unit (ICU) population and the relationship of superantigen positive rates with the presence of sepsis was investigated.Methods: Plasma samples were collected at least twice a week from 78 patients whose primary diagnoses were abdominal disorders (n = 27), respiratory disorders (n = 11), trauma (n = 10), burns (n = 10), cardiovascular disorders (n = 4), neurological disorders (n = 2), and others (n = 14). Five different species of superantigens, i.e., staphylococcal enterotoxins A, B, and C (SEA, SEB, and SEC), toxic shock syndrome toxin-1 (TSST-1), and streptococcal pyrogenic exotoxin A (SPEA), were measured using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.Results: Significant levels of plasma superantigens were detected in 16 patients. SEA was found in seven patients, SEB in four patients, SEC in two patients, TSST-1 in six patients, and SPEA in five patients. Superantigen detection rates were 6% (1/17) in patients without systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS), 0% (0/21) in SIRS patients without infection, 31% (5/16) in septic patients without shock, and 42% (10/24) in septic shock patients.Conclusions: The presence of superantigens was confirmed in part of the ICU population. The role of superantigens in the pathogenesis of sepsis remains to be determined

Effects of nicorandil, a potassium channel opener, on idiopathic ventricular tachycardia

AbstractObjectives. We assessed the effects of the adenosine triphosphate (ATP)–sensitive potassium channel opener, nicorandil, on ATP- and verapamil-responsive ventricular tachycardias (VTs).Background. Adenosine- or ATP-sensitive VTs are thought to be due to a nonreentrant mechanism, presumably delayed afterdepolarization. We suggest that this potassium channel opener may suppress ATP- and verapamil-sensitive VTs.Methods. The subjects included 13 patients with idiopathic VTs, 7 of whom had sustained VT and 6 of whom had nonsustained VT. We evaluated the effects of ATP, nicorandil and verapamil on VTs.Results. Sustained VT: Verapamil had preventive effects on seven VTs. Four VTs were terminated by ATP, and of these, nicorandil terminated two and prevented exercise-induced VT in the two others. Three ATP-insensitive VTs, which were determined to be due to a reentry by an electrophysiologic study, were not terminated by nicorandil. Nonsustained VT: All six VTs were inhibited by ATP, and five of these were suppressed by nicorandil. Verapamil inhibited four of the five VTs. QT intervals and the corrected QT intervals were significantly shortened by nicorandil.Conclusions. Nicorandil suppresses ATP- and verapamil-responsive VTs. One of the mechanisms of suppression by nicorandil might be related to a reduction of calcium in the myocardium, because it reduces the action potential duration