Adopting Moodle:Case Studies in the Diffusion of Innovation

This joint research paper among five part-time English teachers at Maebashi Kyoai Gakuen University, hereafter called Kyoai University, represents a focused practical application of Action Research based on CALL (Computer Assisted Language Learning) in the classroom and syllabus. This research builds upon the history and development of CALL at the University, including previous research based on student perceptions of CALL (Deadman, 2014) and teacher’s perceptions and evaluations of multimedia technologies (Mason, 2014). The paper details and investigates how CALL is adopted amongst the teachers in this study, through the existent software Moodle (Modular Object-Oriented Dynamic Learning Environment). Two of the members of this group have used Moodle, whereas the three other part-time teachers have had limited exposure and experience using it. The aim of this research group is to peer-teach each other in a community of practice, in order that our own technology skills increase, ultimately transferring this to better learning experiences for the students. The paper will use teachers experience, observations and planning to detail the purposefulness of technology in the curriculum; the teacher’s own perceptions of the technology; the subsequent selection, planning and design of appropriate class-specific Moodle applications; and each teacher’s initial evaluations of Moodle as they begin to construct their own Moodle accounts for various classes.　A general　e-mail was sent to all Japanese part-time teachers who would be interested in jointly partaking in a research paper, based on the above considerations. As such, the members of this research paper are equal in membership and responsibility for the research, as per the ethical considerations of practitioner research (Hammersley, M., Gomm, R., and Woods, P., 2003)

コロンブス ノ タマゴ テキ ハッソウ ニ モトズイタ タイイ ヘンカンヨウ マット ノ シサク

We report on a new mat experimentally developed by us for changing the position of the body (named i-mat), based on an idea of a floating body. [Method] At first,4, approximately 70cm long, belts were attached to both the right and left side of the pad for tying to the beds. For a lateral position with a 30-degree tilt to the right side, the belt attached on the left side is fixed to the right bed fence and the length of the belt is adjusted so that the patient’s position becomes lateral with a 30-degree tilt. The body pressure levels (mmHg) at sites of bone were measured after position changes by using a simple body pressure-measuring device (PREDIA®) in 10 patients with an independence degree of daily living rating of C2 (group i) in whom the i-mat was used, and compared with the levels measured after position changes in patients where a mat made of urethane (Nasentpat®) was used (group N). [Results] The pressure levels in the sacral region and occipital region could be significantly lowered in group i as compared with that in group N. We also measured and compared the pressures at the major trochanter, acrominon, and iliac regions, because the high-pressure loaded region shifted to these regions on the side facing the bed in the lateral position. No significant differences in the pressure levels at the major trochanter and acrominon were found between the i and N groups. The pressure level in the iliac region in the i group was significantly higher than that that in the N group. [Conclusion] Use of this experimentally produced i-mat can significantly lower the pressure load at the sacral and occipital regions when the patient is placed in the lateral position of either side with a 30-degree tilt, as compared to that of Nasentpat®. But it appears that caution should be exercised to prevent the occurrence of bedsores in the iliac region

TAK1 inhibition in myeloma

Along with the tumor progression, the bone marrow microenvironment is skewed in multiple myeloma (MM), which underlies the unique pathophysiology of MM and confers aggressiveness and drug resistance in MM cells. TGF-β-activated kinase-1 (TAK1) mediates a wide range of intracellular signaling pathways. We demonstrate here that TAK1 is constitutively overexpressed and phosphorylated in MM cells, and that TAK1 inhibition suppresses the activation of NF-κB, p38MAPK, ERK and STAT3 in order to decrease the expression of critical mediators for MM growth and survival, including PIM2, MYC, Mcl-1, IRF4, and Sp1, along with a substantial reduction in the angiogenic factor VEGF in MM cells. Intriguingly, TAK1 phosphorylation was also induced along with upregulation of vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1) in bone marrow stromal cells (BMSC) in cocultures with MM cells, which facilitated MM cell-BMSC adhesion while inducing IL-6 production and receptor activator of nuclear factor κ-Β ligand (RANKL) expression by BMSC. TAK1 inhibition effectively impaired MM cell adhesion to BMSC to disrupt the support of MM cell growth and survival by BMSC. Furthermore, TAK1 inhibition suppressed osteoclastogenesis enhanced by RANKL in cocultures of bone marrow cells with MM cells, and restored osteoblastic differentiation suppressed by MM cells or inhibitory factors for osteoblastogenesis overproduced in MM. Finally, treatment with the TAK1 inhibitor LLZ1640-2 markedly suppressed MM tumor growth and prevented bone destruction and loss in mouse MM models. Therefore, TAK1 inhibition may be a promising therapeutic option targeting not only MM cells but also the skewed bone marrow microenvironment in MM

RANKLが誘導する破骨細胞分化におけるROSの役割と、Febuxostatによる破骨細胞分化抑制効果

Receptor activator of NF-κB ligand (RANKL), a critical mediator of osteoclastogenesis, is upregulated in multiple myeloma (MM). The xanthine oxidase inhibitor febuxostat, clinically used for prevention of tumor lysis syndrome, has been demonstrated to effectively inhibit not only the generation of uric acid but also the formation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). ROS has been demonstrated to mediate RANKL-mediated osteoclastogenesis. In the present study, we therefore explored the role of cancer-treatment-induced ROS in RANKL-mediated osteoclastogenesis and the suppressive effects of febuxostat on ROS generation and osteoclastogenesis. RANKL dose-dependently induced ROS production in RAW264.7 preosteoclastic cells; however, febuxostat inhibited the RANKL-induced ROS production and osteoclast (OC) formation. Interestingly, doxorubicin (Dox) further enhanced RANKL-induced osteoclastogenesis through upregulation of ROS production, which was mostly abolished by addition of febuxostat. Febuxostat also inhibited osteoclastogenesis enhanced in cocultures of bone marrow cells with MM cells. Importantly, febuxostat rather suppressed MM cell viability and did not compromise Dox’s anti-MM activity. In addition, febuxostat was able to alleviate pathological osteoclastic activity and bone loss in ovariectomized mice. Collectively, these results suggest that excessive ROS production by aberrant RANKL overexpression and/or anticancer treatment disadvantageously impacts bone, and that febuxostat can prevent the ROS-mediated osteoclastic bone damage

Capability and Limitations of Recent Diagnostic Criteria for Autoimmune Pancreatitis

Because a diagnostic serological marker is unavailable, autoimmune pancreatitis (AIP) is diagnosed based on unique features. The diagnostic capabilities and potential limitations of four sets of diagnostic criteria for AIP (Japanese diagnostic criteria 2006 and 2011, Asian diagnostic criteria, and international consensus diagnostic criteria (ICDC)) were compared among 85 patients who were diagnosed AIP according to at least one of the four sets. AIP was diagnosed in 87%, 95%, 95%, and 95% of the patients according to the Japanese 2006, Asian, ICDC, and Japanese 2011 criteria, respectively. The ICDC can diagnose types 1 and 2 AIP independently and show high sensitivity for diagnosis of AIP. However, as the ICDC are rather complex, diagnostic criteria for AIP should perhaps be revised and tailored to each country based on the ICDC

食玩に関する生活文化学的研究Ⅱ : 生活財としての食玩の表象文化的研究

Shokugan. research has been conducted by 1） monthly exchanges of shokugan project members of the Department of Life Environmental Sciences 2） visiting several exhibitions of toys， shokugan， figures， and mangas， as well as a cos-play（costume-parading） event in several areas of western Japan. Research show the reception of manga characters as the most evident attribute of shokugan. Therefore further inquiry shall be necessary to probe exactly why we are witnessing such a proliferation of manga icons， and to understand better the system behind this reception and circulation of icons