A Corpus for Spoken EFL Lexicon:learner-based definition vs. dictionary-based definition

Reading a target language dictionary definition in a printed dictionary is one common way of learning a new word in foreign language. Digital dictionaries enable a learner not only to read the definition of a word but also to listen to its pronunciation, although digital dictionaries provide no definitions recorded in spoken sounds as yet. The definitions of words in dictionaries, however, may be too difficult for many learners to understand in speech. To modify the definitions so that the learners could understand them with ease in a listening context, the authors conducted word association research, obtaining associated words from EFL learners that could be cues for other EFL learners to accurately approximate the meaning of a new word. We will explore the effect of these cues on the learners\u27 listening comprehension. Word-association cues vs. dictionary-based cues were presented to subjects in both listening and reading comprehension tests. The results showed that there was no significant difference between the mean scores of dictionary-based definitions and learner-based definitions in the reading test and that there was a significant difference between the mean scores of dictionary-based definitions and learner-based definitions in the listening test. It was concluded that word-association explanations described with words of cues obtained from student-based word association tasks resulted in better comprehension than dictionary-based definitions for EFL learners in listening tasks.

Identification of an isoform with an extremely large Cys-rich region of PC6, a Kex2-like processing endoprotease

AbstractIn the previous study [1993, J. Biochem. (Tokyo) 113, 132-135] we identified PC6, a member of the Kex2 family of processing endoproteases. In this study, we identified another cDNA encoding an isoform of PC6, and designated it as PC6B and redesignated the originally identified PC6 as PC6A. PC6B had a very large Cys-rich region consisting of 22-times repeats of a Cys-rich motif, and a putative transmembrane domain which is not present in PC6A. A PC6B transcript was found mainly in the intestine, while PC6A transcripts were in various tissues. These results suggest distinct roles of PC6A and PC6B in endoproteolytic processing of precursor proteins

Word associations by Japanese Iearners of EngIish: analyses of response type distribution

This research conducted a word association for the purpose of examining the typical word associations of Japanese English learners. An experiment was conducted by means of word association tasks with concrete noun target words. We found that language learners associate certain words more frequently than others and that the types of these associations were different from those of native speakers. The coefficient correlation between the difficulty levels of the associated words and their frequency of occurrence was relatively low, and some of the associations were based on the learners\u27 cultural or daily life experiences. The phenomena observed in this study must be examined further both by co1lecting data for a larger rumber of target words and by using learners of differing backgrounds. The subject of this study were Japanese university freshmen majoring in technology, and it is possible that the subjects\u27learning stage and social and cultural backgrounds affect the results of association task. Word association research with a limited number of key words may, however, be useful in finding some portions of language learners\u27 associations, some of which could suggest cue words for other learners\u27 improved comprehension. Some of the frequent associations by learners who know the meaning of words could become effective cues for learners who do not know the meaning of the target word.

Localization of Kex2-like processing endoproteases, furin and PC4, within mouse testis by in situ hybridization

AbstractBy in situ hybridization analysis, we show here the localization of furin and PC4, which are both members of a growing family of endoproteases structurally related to the yeast precursor processing protease Kex2, within mouse testis. Furin transcript was detected in both germ and somatic cells, while PC4 transcript was found only in round spermatids. Proenkephalin transcript was also localized in round spermatids. These observations suggest that, within testis, PC4 is involved in processing of peptide precursors such as proenkephalin and may play a role in regulation of sperm maturation. while furin may serve as a more general processing endoprotease

Social prescribing from the patient’s perspective: a literature review

Social prescribing (SP) has aroused widespread interest across countries. SP is a way of linking patients in primary care with sources of support within the community by empowering patients to coproduce solutions to improve their health and well-being. While previous research has demonstrated that SP contributes to reducing the total cost of the National Health Service, the analysis of its effects on patients is still inadequate. This literature review critically evaluated SP from the patient's perspective through the lens of medical anthropology. The review was made with respect to the three key concepts: treatment evaluation, coproduction, and empowerment. The study revealed that SP services in the UK enabled patients to feel comfort in many cases, but general practitioners, link workers, and patients should be collaborative with each other, and their interrelationships should not be hierarchical. Nevertheless, certain modifications may be needed to introduce SP in other healthcare systems

Bench Testing of New Polarimeter with Silicon Photoelastic Modulator for Short Wavelength FIR Laser

A short wavelength laser whose wavelength is about 50 μm is preferable for a polarimeter and an interferometer in large fusion devises. This paper reports the development of a polarimeter with a photoelastic modulator(PEM) for a CH3OD laser (wavelengths of 57.2 and 47.6 μm). The PEM with a high-resistive silicon as a photoelastic element has been newly developed. The transmissivity of the high-resistive silicon is high in a far infrared region. The polarimeter with the Si PEM has been tested and the polarization angle is successfully measured. Noise sources (a multi-reflection of the laser beam in the photoelastic element, a measurement error of amplitude of a detector output and an estimation error of the retardation) of the measured angle are also discussed

新規アルドース還元酵素阻害剤M16209の抗高血糖効果の研究

取得学位：博士(理学)，学位授与番号：博乙第105号，学位授与年月日：平成7年9月26日,学位授与年：199

Risk Factors for Nosocomial Infection in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit by the Japanese Nosocomial Infection Surveillance (JANIS)

We evaluated the infection risks in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) using data of NICU infection surveillance data. The subjects were 871 NICU babies, consisting of 465 boys and 406 girls, who were cared for between June 2002 and January 2003 in 7 medical institutions that employed NICU infection surveillance. Infections were defined according to the National Nosocomial Infection Surveillance (NNIS) System. Of the 58 babies with nosocomial infections, 15 had methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infection. Multiple logistic regression analysis demonstrated that the odds ratio for nosocomial infections was significantly related to gender, birth weight and the insertion of a central venous catheter (CVC). When the birth weight group of more than 1, 500g was regarded as the reference, the odds ratio was 2.35 in the birth weight group of 1,000-1,499g and 8.82 in the birth weight group of less than 1,000g. The odds ratio of the CVC () for nosocomial infection was 2.27. However, other devices including artificial ventilation, umbilical artery catheter, umbilical venous catheter, and urinary catheter were not significant risk factors. The incidence of MRSA infection rapidly increased from 0.3% in the birth weight group of more than 1,500g to 2.1% in the birth weight group of 1,000-1,499g, and to 11.1% in the birth weight group of less than 1,000g. When the birth weight group of more than 1,500g was regarded as the reference, multiple logistic regression analysis demonstrated that the odds ratio was 7.25 in the birth weight group of 1,000-1,499g and 42.88 in the birth weight group of less than 1,000g. These odds ratios were significantly higher than that in the reference group. However, the application of devices did not cause any significant differences in the odds ratio for MRSA infection.</p