The Critical Period Hypothesis and English Language Education: EFL at primary and middle schools in Japan

English learning is considered an important priority in Japanese Education. The new Courses of Study encouraging English Activities and Education for elementary schools has just been released in 2017. In regards to successful language learners,age has long been considered a key factor. Many researchers have focused for a long time on age‐related studies in second language acquisition. This paper examines past research on the Critical Period Hypothesis (CPH) and discusses how English education has been conducted in Japanese schools. Finally, considering all the evidence of the EFL environment in Japan and the CPH, ideas that help EFL learners in Japan overcome the CPH and become successful learners will be presented

イコウ キカン ニオケル ショウガッコウ ガイコクゴカ ノ トリクミ : ICT ノ コウカテキナ カツヨウ ニツイテ

学習指導要領が改訂となり，小学校では平成32年度からの新学習指導要領全面実施に向けて，本年度（H30年度）から移行措置期間が開始された。鳴門市では，早くから教育委員会支援室が「学習指導要領改訂に伴う外国語教育の早期化・教科化にむけた検討委員会」を設置し，「外国語活動年間指導計画・活動例　移行期間における学習内容」を作成し，鳴門市内小学校の移行期間における外国語学習への支援を行っている。本報告は，鳴門市教育委員会が作成した「外国語活動年間指導計画・活動例　移行期間における学習内容」にもとづき行った，ティームティーチングによる小学校高学年外国語学習における授業実践の内容をまとめたものである。特に，複式学級の小学校外国語科におけるICTの効果的な活用方法についてその詳細を報告するとともに，移行期における小学校外国語科学習内容について見えてきた課題についても示唆するものである

A Study of the Pronunciation of English by Chinese Learners in Japan

English is now considered an international language; many countries use English as a primary educational language and students in those countries are required to go through years of formal English classes. China is one of those countries which vigorously focuses on English education. The number of Chinese students learning overseas is the largest in the world. This paper will discuss the English pronunciation of Chinese speakers and any common errors, when producing English sounds in their speech. The common errors will be generalized for the subject of this research

Japanese Learners of English and Japanese Phonology

English learning is considered an important priority in Japanese Education. All Japanese must go through a large amount of English education during school, there needs to be a focus on creating a learning environment that helps them become proficient in English. This paper will discuss how Japanese learners of English are influenced by their native language, Japanese, when producing English sounds and it will provide teaching methods to correct pronunciation errors

新生児マウス鼻腔への微生物抽出液の投与は気道中のオプソニン量及び、成熟CD1c+ 細胞を増加させる

Nasal exposure to the mixture of microbial extracts (MME) after ablactation enhanced airway resistance of newborn mice to Streptococcus pneumoniae (J Physiol Lung Cell Mol Physiol 298: L67, 2010). The present study was addressed to elucidate effective factors responsible for the enhanced innate resistance in the airway of MME-exposed newborn mice. MME exposure significantly increased the amount of pulmonary surfactants (SP-A and SP-D) in the airway. Bronchoalveolar lavage fluid of the exposed mice exhibited greater levels of opsonic activity, thereby enhancing the phagocytic and intracellular killing activities of alveolar macrophages (MØ) against S. pneumoniae. The exposure itself did not increase a complement component C3 and mannan-binding lectin-A (MBL-A) in the airway, whereas intratracheal infection with S. pneumoniae increased the quantity of SP-A, SP-D, C3, and MBL-A in the exposed mice to a significant extent compared with control mice. The exposure enhanced the expression of the class A scavenger MØ receptor with collagenous structure on alveolar MØ and also increased the frequency of major histocompatibility complex II+ CD11c+ cells in the lung; the cells were able to produce IL-10 and transforming growth factor-β in vitro. These results suggest that microbial exposure early in life increases the amounts of SP-A and SP-D and the number of scavenger MØ and also promotes maturation of CD11c+ cells in the airway of newborn mice, which may be involved in airway resistance to S. pneumoniae.博士（医学）・乙1323号・平成26年3月17日発行元の規定により、本文の登録不可。本文は以下のURLを参照 "http://dx.doi.org/10.1152/ajplung.00031.2012

Anti-IL-6 Receptor Antibody Causes Less Promotion of Tuberculosis Infection than Anti-TNF-α Antibody in Mice

Objective. Our aim was to investigate the effects of IL-6 blockade on the progression of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (TB) and compare them with those of TNF-α blockade in mice. Methods. Mice were intravenously infected with TB and injected with antibodies. Survival was monitored and histological and immunological studies were carried out. Results. All anti-IL-6R Ab-treated mice and 8 of 10 control mice survived until sacrificed 224 days after TB challenge, whereas anti-TNF-α Ab-treated mice all died between 120 and 181 days. Anti-IL-6R Ab-treated mice exhibited no significant differences in TB CFU in organs, including the lungs, and no deterioration in histopathology compared to control mice at 4 weeks. In contrast, anti-TNF-α Ab-treated mice exhibited increased TB CFU and greater progression of histopathological findings in organs than control mice. Spleen cells from anti-TNF-α Ab-treated mice had decreased antigen-specific response in IFN-γ release and proliferation assays. The results in anti-IL-6R Ab-treated mice suggest that spleen cell responses were decreased to a lesser degree. Similar results were obtained in IL-6 knockout (KO) mice, compared with TNF receptor 1 (TNFR1) KO and TNFR1/IL-6 double KO (DKO) mice. Conclusion. IL-6R blockade promotes the progression of TB infection in mice far less than TNF-α blockade

ショウ チュウ ノ エンカツナ セツゾク オ ハカル タメ ニ : カリキュラム ト シドウ ノ クフウ

学習指導要領が改訂となり，小学校では平成32年度から5･6 年生に外国語科が本格的に導入される。小学校で教科としての英語を学んでくる生徒を中学校で迎えるにあたり，小中の円滑な接続を図ることがますます重要であると考えられる。これに先駆けて，本校区では，平成25年度より文部科学省から「研究開発学校」の指定を受け，「豊かな英語力を育成する小中一貫の外国語教育」の実践研究に取り組んできた。本報告は，5年間の実践研究において取り組んだ小中の円滑な接続を図るための指導の工夫についてまとめたものである。特に中学校入門時における本校独自のスタートカリキュラム開発と教育実践についてその詳細を報告するとともに，今後の小中連携について見えてきた課題についても示唆するものである

台湾・韓国産トリカブト Aconitum bartletii, A. napiforme, A. jaluense の系統学的位置

[論文] Articl

Novel Prophylactic Vaccine Using a Prime-Boost Method and Hemagglutinating Virus of Japan-Envelope against Tuberculosis

Objective. Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection is a major global threat to human health. The only tuberculosis (TB) vaccine currently available is bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG), although it has no efficacy in adults. Therefore, the development of a novel vaccine against TB for adults is desired. Method. A novel TB vaccine expressing mycobacterial heat shock protein 65 (HSP65) and interleukin-12 (IL-12) delivered by the hemagglutinating virus of Japan- (HVJ)- envelope was evaluated against TB infection in mice. Bacterial load reductions and histopathological assessments were used to determine efficacy. Results. Vaccination by BCG prime with IgHSP65+murine IL-12/HVJ-envelope boost resulted in significant protective efficacy (>10, 000-fold versus BCG alone) against TB infection in the lungs of mice. In addition to bacterial loads, significant protective efficacy was demonstrated by histopathological analysis of the lungs. Furthermore, the vaccine increased the number of T cells secreting IFN-γ. Conclusion. This vaccine showed extremely significant protection against TB in a mouse model, consistent with results from a similar paper on cynomolgus monkeys. The results suggest that further development of the vaccine for eventual testing in clinical trials may be warranted

QOL after RT or OP for uterine cervix cancer

This study aimed to research the post-treatment quality of life (QOL) between radiotherapy (RT)- and operation (OP)-treated early cervical cancer survivors, using separate questionnaires for physicians and patients. We administered an observational questionnaire to patients aged 20–70 years old with Stages IB1–IIB cervical cancer who had undergone RT or OP and without recurrence as outpatients for ≥6 months after treatment. We divided 100 registered patients equally into two treatment groups (n = 50 each). The average age was 53 and 44 years in the RT and OP groups, respectively. The RT group included 34 and 66% Stage I and II patients, respectively, whereas the OP group included 66 and 34% Stage I and II patients, respectively. The OP group included 58% of patients with postoperative RT. Combination chemotherapy was performed in 84 and 48% of patients in the RT and OP groups, respectively. On the physicians’ questionnaire, we observed significant differences in bone marrow suppression (RT) and leg edema (OP). On the patients’ questionnaire, significantly more patients had dysuria and leg edema in the OP group than in the RT group, and severe (Score 4–5) leg edema was significantly higher in the post-operative RT group than in the OP only group. The frequency of sexual intercourse decreased after treatment in both groups. On the patients’ questionnaire, there were no significant differences between the two groups regarding sexual activity. These findings are useful to patients and physicians for shared decision-making in treatment choices. The guidance of everyday life and health information including sexual life after treatment is important