The Importance of Cohesion in Academic Writing

This paper analyzes academic essays written by Japanese university students. One of their weak points lies on a lack of coherence in their writings. In order to investigate the characteristics of their writings in English, I conducted a micro-level analysis based on a student\u27s essay and a macro-level analysis by using learner corpus consisting of 21 students\u27 essays. The findings show that Japanese students have difficulty with using cohesive devices such as reference and conjunction

Student-Initiated Student-Repair in Classroom

This paper analyzes a classroom data of English class on short-term study abroad programme, and focuses on how Japanese students repair their mistakes. Although teachers usually play an important role in correcting students\u27 mistakes in a classroom, students occasionally do amend their utterances. The data shows how the student cooperates with other student in order to repair own mistake by using Japanese Aizuchi (backchannelling). Through the analysis of repairs using Aizuchi in class, it helps teachers understand why communication breakdown occurs and prompts students to achieve communicative competence in their target language

Motivation and identity development through short-term study abroad : a positioning theory analysis

This dissertation probes into the evolving nature of motivation. The study focuses on the shifting motivations of Japanese students learning English, during and after a brief study abroad (SA) programme. The research design is primarily qualitative, with a supplementary quantitative component involving survey data and corpus-based evaluation of interview data. The principal theoretical instrument utilised during the qualitative examination of interview content is Barkhuizen’s (2009) Positioning Theory. Qualitative data illustrate that the students’ motivation for learning English was largely shaped by their interpretations of events that happened during their SA. Their interpretations were in turn shaped through the lens of their personal values and identities, informed by their past experiences. Intriguingly, their history of interactions with their parents, together with their family values and discipline, played a crucial role in influencing their motivation for learning English and their positive or negative reflections on their SA. During the SA, when students experienced unpleasant feelings towards their non-Japanese peers, some were able to use this as motivation to be more active in English class, while others failed to do so. The key differentiator was in their interpretation of these experiences: their own language skills and previous experiences with English learning, etc. The impact of these perceptions was long-lasting, and was still evident even more than three years later. This study demonstrates the value of using Positioning Theory to analyse and track students’ emotional shifts and identity construction affecting their motivational trajectories. This is due to its alignment with the motivational frameworks of Dörnyei and Ottó’s (1998) process model and Dörnyei’s L2 Motivational Self System (2005, 2009). Additionally, by utilising Positioning Theory, the significant impact of the researcher’s positionality and reflexivity on the research process becomes especially evident. This groundbreaking application of Positioning Theory provides deeper insights into the complex and dynamic nature of identity and motivation

Semi-metallic bulk generated spin-orbit torques in disordered topological insulator

Spin-orbit torque (SOT) induced by the transfer of orbital angular momentum from a lattice to a spin system offers an efficient route for manipulating spin-based devices. Among various potential candidates, three-dimensional topological insulators (TIs) with inherently strong spin-orbit coupling promise to be a powerful source of SOTs. While the huge SOTs observed in ferromagnet (FM)/TI bilayers are generally claimed to be of topological surface states (TSS) nature, the contributions from the surface and bulk states in realistic systems are undistinguishable, rendering the underlying physics elusive. Here, we provide direct evidence that the bulk spin-Hall effect dominates the SOTs generated by disordered TIs. We show that sizable SOTs with clear bulk feature are generated by bismuth antimonides, in which the semi-metallic bulk state intermediately couples to the surface states. From our analysis based on a drift diffusion approach, the lower limit of spin Hall conductivity turns out to be $0.66 \times 10 ^{5} (\hbar/2e)$ $\Omega$$^{-1}$m$^{-1}$, which is comparable to the reported values against the general belief in TSS origin. Furthermore, the complementary results of SOT generation and Gilbert damping enhancement suggest an essential role of band bending near the FM/TI interface upon modifying the relative magnitude of the real and imaginary parts of spin mixing conductance. Together with the bulk spin Hall effect, our finding may alter the landscape of the field of spin-orbitronics in TI based systems and develop new applications such as SOT transistors

Effectiveness of catch-up and routine program of the 9-valent vaccine on cervical cancer risk reduction in Japan

Yagi A., Nakagawa S., Ueda Y., et al. Effectiveness of catch-up and routine program of the 9-valent vaccine on cervical cancer risk reduction in Japan. Cancer Science 115, 916 (2024); https://doi.org/10.1111/cas.16055.In 2013, the national human papillomavirus (HPV) immunization program began. However, in June 2013, Japan's Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare (MHLW) announced a “temporary” suspension of its recommendation for the human papillomavirus vaccine. Finally, in November 2021, the MHLW ended its suspension of the recommendation of the HPV vaccine. To address the 9-year gap in HPV vaccinations the suspension had caused, the MHLW conducted a program of catch-up vaccinations from April 2022 to March 2025. Finally, in April 2023, the 9-valent HPV vaccine was approved for both the routine and catch-up vaccination programs in Japan. In this study, we investigated the potential effects of the introduction of the 9-valent vaccine on the increased risk of cervical cancer in females born after fiscal year (FY) 2000. We estimated the lifetime relative risk of cervical cancer incidence and death using the improved routine and catch-up vaccination rates after the recent resumption of the governmental recommendation for women and girls to have the HPV vaccination. These relative risks were calculated using a lifetime risk of 1.000 for cervical cancer incidence and death for females born in FY 1993. We predicted that even if a 90% vaccination rate were to be achieved by FY 2024 with the 9-valent vaccine among women born between FY 2000 and FY 2005, the risk would remain higher than for the vaccination generation. Therefore, for women born between FY 2000 and FY 2005, it will be necessary to significantly improve the cervical cancer screening rate to compensate for this increased risk

Germination of photoblastic lettuce seeds is regulated via the control of endogenous physiologically active gibberellin content, rather than of gibberellin responsiveness

Phytochrome regulates lettuce (Lactuca sativa L. cv. Grand Rapids) seed germination via the control of the endogenous level of bioactive gibberellin (GA). In addition to the previously identified LsGA20ox1, LsGA20ox2, LsGA3ox1, LsGA3ox2, LsGA2ox1, and LsGA2ox2, five cDNAs were isolated from lettuce seeds: LsCPS, LsKS, LsKO1, LsKO2, and LsKAO. Using an Escherichia coli expression system and functional assays, it is shown that LsCPS and LsKS encode ent-copalyl diphosphate synthase and ent-kaurene synthase, respectively. Using a Pichia pastoris system, it was found that LsKO1 and LsKO2 encode ent-kaurene oxidases and LsKAO encodes ent-kaurenoic acid oxidase. A comprehensive expression analysis of GA metabolism genes using the quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction suggested that transcripts of LsGA3ox1 and LsGA3ox2, both of which encode GA 3-oxidase for GA activation, were primarily expressed in the hypocotyl end of lettuce seeds, were expressed at much lower levels than the other genes tested, and were potently up-regulated by phytochrome. Furthermore, LsDELLA1 and LsDELLA2 cDNAs that encode DELLA proteins, which act as negative regulators in the GA signalling pathway, were isolated from lettuce seeds. The transcript levels of these two genes were little affected by light. Lettuce seeds in which de novo GA biosynthesis was suppressed responded almost identically to exogenously applied GA, irrespective of the light conditions, suggesting that GA responsiveness is not significantly affected by light in lettuce seeds. It is proposed that lettuce seed germination is regulated mainly via the control of the endogenous content of bioactive GA, rather than the control of GA responsiveness

Tobacco Smoke: Involvement of Reactive Oxygen Species and Stable Free Radicals in Mechanisms of Oxidative Damage, Carcinogenesis and Synergistic Effects with Other Respirable Particles

Tobacco smoke contains many toxic, carcinogenic and mutagenic chemicals, as well as stable and unstable free radicals and reactive oxygen species (ROS) in the particulate and the gas phase with the potential for biological oxidative damage. Epidemiological evidence established that smoking is one of the most important extrinsic factor of premature morbidity and mortality. The objective of this study was to investigate oxidative and carcinogenic mechanisms of tobacco and synergistic action with other respirable particles in the respiratory system of smokers. Electron Paramagnetic Resonance (EPR) and spin-trapping techniques were used to study stable free radicals in the cigarette tar, and unstable superoxide anion (O2•−) and hydroxyl (HO•) radicals in the smoke Results showed that the semiquinone radical system has the potential for redox recycling and oxidative action. Further, results proved that aqueous cigarette tar (ACT) solutions can generate adducts with DNA nucleobases, particularly the mutagenic 8-hydroxy-2’-deoxyguanosine (a biomarker for carcinogenesis). Also, we observed synergistic effects in the generation of HO•, through the Fenton reaction, with environmental respirable particles (asbestos fibres, coal dust, etc.) and ambient particulate matter (PM), such as PM10, PM2.5 and diesel exhaust particles (DEP). The highest synergistic effects was observed with the asbestos fibres (freshly grounded), PM2.5 and DEP. Finally, we discuss results from our previous study of conventional cellulose acetate filters and “bio-filters” with hemoglobin impregnated activated carbon, which showed that these filters do not substantially alter the free radical content of smoke in the particulate and in the gaseous phase

Personal protective equipment use by health-care workers in intensive care units during the COVID-19 pandemic in Japan: comparative analysis with the PPE-SAFE survey

AimWe investigated personal protective equipment (PPE) use and supply shortage, training, and adverse events among health-care workers (HCWs) in the intensive care unit (ICU) during the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic in Japan and compared the results with an international survey that used the same methodology.MethodsThis Web-based survey was carried out from 14 April to 6 May, 2020, in Japan and included HCWs directly involved in ICU management of COVID-19 patients. A survey invitation was emailed using the Japanese Society of Intensive Care Medicine’s mailing list.ResultsWe analyzed 460 valid responses from among 976 responses. The N95/FFP2 mask (77%) was the most frequently used, although half of our respondents reported reuse of single-use N95/FFP2 masks. The median duration (1 h) of uninterrupted PPE use per shift was less than that in the international study. The most common PPE-related adverse event was experiencing intense heat (75%). Logistic regression analysis revealed that being a nurse was independently associated with experiencing intense heat.ConclusionShortage of PPE and frequent mask reuse were prevalent during the COVID-19 pandemic in Japan. Intense heat is the most significant symptom, especially for nurses, even with short-duration PPE use. Strategies to protect HCWs from dehydration and intense heatstroke are needed