Examining Japanese EFL University Students’ Speaking Self-Confidence and Perceptions of Satisfaction in a Reading and Discussion Course

This exploratory study is designed to shed light on the perceptions and experiences of a group of first-year Japanese EFL university students taking part in a Reading and Discussion course with two goals in mind: 1) to measure the effects of instruction on learners’ confidence to speak in English and 2) to provide university course planners with assessment information that can help them develop practices to improve their ability to teach a specific reading and discussion course in the future. To this end, three online questionnaires were distributed to a cohort of 104 first-year Japanese EFL university students belonging to the School of Global Humanities and Social Sciences at Nagasaki University. The first questionnaire, which was designed to measure students’ confidence to perform speaking tasks over time, was distributed at the start of the semester and again at the end of the semester four months later. The second and third questionnaires, which were designed to assess students’ satisfaction with the course and the coursebook, were administered only at the end of the course. The findings indicate that students’ selfconfidence in performing oral tasks in English greatly improved across the board over the course of the semester. Moreover, the students expressed a high level of satisfaction with the course and the coursebook. Additionally, the three instructors of the Reading and Discussion I course provided their impressions of the course and where they think they can improve. Some of their suggestions included implementing more up to date materials and providing students with more communication opportunities. The authors discuss the implications of these findings and offer some suggestions moving forward. First and foremost, the authors stress the importance of monitoring students’ perceptions throughout a course. In addition, course planners should always strive to use materials that are up-todate and relevant to their students. Finally, instructors need to make concerted efforts to choose materials that best adhere to the specific needs and proficiency levels of the students in their contexts

Stage at diagnosis of colorectal cancer through diagnostic route: Who should be screened?

Background: Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a global health concern, with advanced-stage diagnoses contributing to poor prognoses. The efficacy of CRC screening has been well-established; nevertheless, a significant proportion of patients remain unscreened, with > 70% of cases diagnosed outside screening. Although identifying specific subgroups for whom CRC screening should be particularly recommended is crucial owing to limited resources, the association between the diagnostic routes and identification of these subgroups has been less appreciated. In the Japanese cancer registry, the diagnostic routes for groups discovered outside of screening are primarily categorized into those with comorbidities found during hospital visits and those with CRC-related symptoms. Aim: To clarify the stage at CRC diagnosis based on diagnostic routes. Methods: We conducted a retrospective observational study using a cancer registry of patients with CRC between January 2016 and December 2019 at two hospitals. The diagnostic routes were primarily classified into three groups: Cancer screening, follow-up, and symptomatic. The early-stage was defined as Stages 0 or I. Multivariate and univariate logistic regressions were exploited to determine the odds of early-stage diagnosis in the symptomatic and cancer screening groups, referencing the follow-up group. The adjusted covariates were age, sex, and tumor location. Results: Of the 2083 patients, 715 (34.4%), 1064 (51.1%), and 304 (14.6%) belonged to the follow-up, symptomatic, and cancer screening groups, respectively. Among the 2083 patients, CRCs diagnosed at an early stage were 57.3% (410 of 715), 23.9% (254 of 1064), and 59.5% (181 of 304) in the follow-up, symptomatic, and cancer screening groups, respectively. The symptomatic group exhibited a lower likelihood of early-stage diagnosis than the follow-up group [P < 0.001, adjusted odds ratio (aOR), 0.23; 95% confidence interval (95%CI): 0.19-0.29]. The likelihood of diagnosis at an early stage was similar between the follow-up and cancer screening groups (P = 0.493, aOR for early-stage diagnosis in the cancer screening group vs follow-up group = 1.11; 95%CI = 0.82-1.49). Conclusion: CRCs detected during hospital visits for comorbidities were diagnosed earlier, similar to cancer screening. CRC screening should be recommended, particularly for patients without periodical hospital visits for comorbidities

Impact of human-derived hemoglobin based oxygen vesicles as a machine perfusion solution for liver donation after cardiac death in a pig model.

The recent clinical application of perfusion technology for the machine preservation of donation after cardiac death (DCD) grafts has some advantages. Oxygenation has been proposed for the preservation of DCD liver grafts. The aim of this study is to clarify whether the use of HbV-containing preservation solution during the subnormothermic machine perfusion (SNMP) of the liver graft improves the graft function of DCD porcine livers in an ex vivo reperfusion model. Pig livers were excised after 60 minutes of warm ischemic time and were preserved under one of three preservation conditions for 4 hours. The preservation conditions were as follows: 4°C cold storage (CS group; N = 5), Hypothermic machine preservation (HMP) with UW gluconate solution (HMP group; N = 5), SNMP (21°C) with UW gluconate solution (SNMP group; N = 5), SNMP (21°C) with HbVs (Hb; 1.8 mg/dl) perfusate (SNMP+HbV group; N = 5). Autologous blood perfusion was performed for 2 hours in an isolated liver reperfusion model (IRM). The oxygen consumption of the SNMP and SNMP+HbV group was higher than the HMP groups (p < 0.05). During the reperfusion, the AST level in the SNMP+HbV group was lower than that in the CS, HMP and SNMP groups. The changes in pH after reperfusion was significantly lower in SNMP+HbV group than CS and HMP groups. The ultrastructural findings indicated that the mitochondria of the SNMP+HbV group was well maintained in comparison to the CS, HMP and SNMP groups. The SNMP+HbVs preservation solution protected against metabolic acidosis and preserved the liver function after reperfusion injury in the DCD liver

Effects of acute aerobic exercise on arterial stiffness in transgender men

Testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) in transgender men (TM) results in side effects such as elevated triglycerides and increased arterial stiffness. Exercise may be useful to ameliorate such effects, but no studies have examined the effects of acute aerobic exercise in TM. This study aimed to investigate the effects of acute aerobic exercise on arterial stiffness in TM. Thirty-six participants were included, comprising 12 TM (duration of TRT: 57.4 ± 30.3 months), 12 males and 12 females. All participants performed acute aerobic exercise on a treadmill at 50% heart rate reserve for 30 min. Arterial stiffness as measured by brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV) was measured before exercise (Pre), 30 min after exercise (Post30), and 60 min after exercise (Post60). Serum sex hormone levels, and serum lipid profile were determined only before exercise. Serum low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) levels before exercise were significantly higher in TM than in males or females (males: p &lt; 0.01; females: p &lt; 0.05). At all points, baPWV in TM was significantly higher than in females (p &lt; 0.05) and significantly lower than in males (p &lt; 0.05). However, when comparing changes in baPWV over time in each group, significant decreases in Post30 and Post60 were seen in males compared to Pre (both p &lt; 0.05), but no significant change after aerobic exercise was seen in TM or females. These results suggest that acute aerobic exercise yield different effects in TM than in males, but is unlikely to reduce arterial stiffness in TM receiving TRT

Investigating Japanese EFL University Students’ Needs, Motivations and Perceptions of the New EAP Program

The School of Global Humanities and Social Sciences (SGHSS) at Nagasaki University introduced a new curriculum for English for Academic Purposes (EAP) courses in 2022. “The KEY Program: Academic English for Unlocking Futures” breaks with tradition; unlike the General English Courses at Nagasaki University, the courses in the KEY program explore innovative ways to build communicative competence, especially academic English competence in the target language. In addition to English classes that meet once a week, some of the core classes of the newly introduced KEY program meet twice a week for 90 minutes. The program is designed to empower SGHSS students so that they progress in their English to meet the language requirement to register for upper-level course subjects taught in English (TOEFL ITP 500 or equivalent). This paper, based on students’ progress and program experience, reports on the implemented KEY program, students’ needs, motivations, and perceptions of their first year in the Program. Pre-(n=101) and post-program surveys (n=84) have been conducted to understand students’ learning experiences, as well as to design, analyze, and assess the overall curriculum. The primary findings provide fresh insight into the current state of EAP courses in higher education. The results of the first-year program help identify areas for improvement so that SGHSS students’ learning experience in the KEY program is enriched as we take a several steps toward our goal of “unlocking futures.

Impact of human-derived hemoglobin based oxygen vesicles as a machine perfusion solution for liver donation after cardiac death in a pig model.

The recent clinical application of perfusion technology for the machine preservation of donation after cardiac death (DCD) grafts has some advantages. Oxygenation has been proposed for the preservation of DCD liver grafts. The aim of this study is to clarify whether the use of HbV-containing preservation solution during the subnormothermic machine perfusion (SNMP) of the liver graft improves the graft function of DCD porcine livers in an ex vivo reperfusion model. Pig livers were excised after 60 minutes of warm ischemic time and were preserved under one of three preservation conditions for 4 hours. The preservation conditions were as follows: 4°C cold storage (CS group; N = 5), Hypothermic machine preservation (HMP) with UW gluconate solution (HMP group; N = 5), SNMP (21°C) with UW gluconate solution (SNMP group; N = 5), SNMP (21°C) with HbVs (Hb; 1.8 mg/dl) perfusate (SNMP+HbV group; N = 5). Autologous blood perfusion was performed for 2 hours in an isolated liver reperfusion model (IRM). The oxygen consumption of the SNMP and SNMP+HbV group was higher than the HMP groups (p < 0.05). During the reperfusion, the AST level in the SNMP+HbV group was lower than that in the CS, HMP and SNMP groups. The changes in pH after reperfusion was significantly lower in SNMP+HbV group than CS and HMP groups. The ultrastructural findings indicated that the mitochondria of the SNMP+HbV group was well maintained in comparison to the CS, HMP and SNMP groups. The SNMP+HbVs preservation solution protected against metabolic acidosis and preserved the liver function after reperfusion injury in the DCD liver