New Approach to Teaching Japanese Pronunciation in the Digital Era - Challenges and Practices

Pronunciation has been a black hole in the L2 Japanese classroom on account of a lack of class time, teacher\u2019s confidence, and consciousness of the need to teach pronunciation, among other reasons. The absence of pronunciation instruction is reported to result in fossilized pronunciation errors, communication problems, and learner frustration. With an intention of making a contribution to improve such circumstances, this paper aims at three goals. First, it discusses the importance, necessity, and e ectiveness of teaching prosodic aspects of Japanese pronunciation from an early stage in acquisition. Second, it shows that Japanese prosody is challenging because of its typological rareness, regardless of the L1 backgrounds of learners. Third and finally, it introduces a new approach to teaching L2 pronunciation with the goal of developing L2 comprehensibility by focusing on essential prosodic features, which is followed by discussions on key issues concerning how to implement the new approach both inside and outside the classroom in the digital era

The Elucidation of Reaction Mechanism of Organic Photochemistry Using DMPO Spin Trapping Method

博士(理学)Doctor of Philosophy in Science広島大学Hiroshima Universit

Effect of Pre-Surgical Orthopedic Treatment on Hard and Soft Tissue Morphology in Infants with Cleft Lip and Palate

The frequency of cleft lip and palate births in Japan is approximately 0.146%. The study aimed to compare the effects of NAM on restoring nasal morphology and improving extraoral nasal morphology in children with cleft lip and palate in the first stage of treatment using 3D imaging and oral model analysis. The subjects were five infants (37.6 ± 14.4 days old) with unilateral cleft lip and palate. The images taken with the 3D analyzer and oral model used for constructing the NAM at the first examination (baseline) and at the completion of the pre-surgical orthodontic treatment (157.8 ± 37.8 days old) were analyzed. The cleft distance was measured at the upper, middle, and lower points on the 3D images. On the model, the cleft jaw width at the maximum protrusion of the healthy and affected sides of the alveolar bone was measured. After the pre-surgical orthopedic treatment, the measured value on the model decreased significantly by a mean of 8.3 mm from baseline, and the cleft lip width narrowed by an average of 2.8 ± 2.2, 4.3 ± 2.3, and 3.0 ± 2.8 mm at the upper, middle, and lower points of the cleft, respectively. Pre-surgical orthopedic treatment using NAM can help narrow the width of the cleft jaw and lip. The sample size is stated at the study limit in the paper

Design and Synthesis of Two-Photon Responsive Chromophores for Near-Infrared Light-Induced Uncaging Reactions

C.K. acknowledges the HPC resources of CINES and IDRIS under the allocations 2016- [x2016080649] made by GENCI.International audienceNear-infrared two-photon (TP)-induced photorelease (uncaging) of bioactive molecules such as drugs has attracted considerable attention because of its ability to elucidate mechanistic aspects of biological processes. This short review summarizes recent developments in the design and synthesis of TP-responsive chromophores

β-Thujaplicin Enhances TRAIL-Induced Apoptosis via the Dual Effects of XIAP Inhibition and Degradation in NCI-H460 Human Lung Cancer Cells

Background: β-thujaplicin, a natural tropolone derivative, has anticancer effects on various cancer cells via apoptosis. However, the apoptosis regulatory proteins involved in this process have yet to be revealed. Methods: Trypan blue staining, a WST-8 assay, and a caspase-3/7 activity assay were used to investigate whether β-thujaplicin sensitizes cancer cells to TNF-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL)-mediated apoptosis. Additionally, western blotting was performed to clarify the effects of β-thujaplicin on X-linked inhibitor of apoptosis protein (XIAP) in NCI-H460 cells and a fluorescence polarization binding assay was used to evaluate the binding-inhibitory activity of β-thujaplicin against XIAP-BIR3. Results: β- and γ-thujaplicins decreased the viability of NCI-H460 cells in a dose-dependent manner; they also sensitized the cells to TRAIL-induced cell growth inhibition and apoptosis. β-thujaplicin significantly potentiated the apoptosis induction effect of TRAIL on NCI-H460 cells, which was accompanied by enhanced caspase-3/7 activity. Interestingly, β-thujaplicin treatment in NCI-H460 cells decreased XIAP levels. Furthermore, β-thujaplicin was able to bind XIAP-BIR3 at the Smac binding site. Conclusions: These findings indicate that β-thujaplicin could enhance TRAIL-induced apoptosis in NCI-H460 cells via XIAP inhibition and degradation. Thus, the tropolone scaffold may be useful for designing novel nonpeptidic small-molecule inhibitors of XIAP and developing new types of anticancer drugs

HINOTORI and Its Perspectives in the Black-Hole Jet Study

Simultaneous multi-band very long baseline interferometry (VLBI) observations at millimeter wavelengths have huge potential for various science cases. However, there exist difficulties in expanding the scientific targets, as the sensitivity of radio telescopes at millimeter wavelengths is typically lower compared to that at centimeter wavelengths. In order to realize high-sensitivity mm-VLBI observations in the East Asia region, we are promoting the HINOTORI (Hybrid Installation project in NObeyama, Triple-band ORIented) project, which aims to launch the wide-band and simultaneous triple-band (22/43/86 GHz) VLBI system with the Nobeyama 45 m Radio Telescope (NRO45). The simultaneous 22/43 GHz observation mode has already been operated for the open-use program. We have recently completed the performance evaluation of the receiver and observing system at 86 GHz. In addition, a new wide-band VLBI back-end system has been installed on the NRO45 and the performance of this receiving system has been found to be sufficient to meet scientific requirements. Currently, we are performing commissioning observations to establish regular VLBI operation with simultaneous triple-band mode together with the Korean VLBI Network. The participation of the NRO45 is expected to strengthen the mm-VLBI observation network in the East Asia region and to be a very powerful addition with respect to the science of of black hole jets