Florence Sasajima Graduation Address, 1944

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Language teacher cognition in the case of Japanese teachers of English at secondary school in Japan: an exploratory study

Japanese non-native English-speaking EFL (English as a foreign language) teachers in secondary education (JEFL teachers) work in a different educational context from language teachers in Europe. The purpose of this exploratory research is to identify the distinctive ways in which JEFL teachers think, know, believe and do. These concepts are subsumed under the general heading of JEFL teacher cognition, particularly as this applies to teaching and teacher education in Eigo Kyoiku (English education in Japan). The overall purpose of exploring JEFL teachers’ cognitions is reflected in four research guiding questions (RQs): 1) to identify the nature of JEFL teacher cognition; 2) to see any particular influences that might help shape JEFL teacher cognition; 3) to learn to what extent JEFL teachers’ cognitions are consistent with their actual practice of teaching; and 4) to discuss the ways in which the concept of language teacher cognition (LTC) may be understood and situated in the Japanese context. The research consisted of two studies: a) a quantitative Preliminary Study administered to 62 JEFL teachers and 81 modern foreign language (MFL) teachers in Scotland, in order to identify any areas regarding JEFL teacher cognition; and b) an in-depth Main Study based on a qualitative and ethnographic approach, featuring 10 JEFL teachers. This made use of qualitative data analysis and the applied KJ method, and also drew on complexity theory, through reflective and reflexive processes with particular reference to retrodictive qualitative modelling (RQM). The results of the Main Study are presented as 16 concept maps, each of which represents a featured aspect of JEFL teacher cognition (ATC). It represents the signature dynamics of each ATC and points to the variation and tension which JEFL teachers experienced in relation to each ATC. The research suggests that, although LTC have certain universal characteristics, it needs to be explored on the assumption that it is situated socially, culturally, locally and personally

Modern Foreign Languages in England : A View from Japan

Modern foreign languages are taught and learned in primary and secondary education in England. However, how to teach and learn them seems to be unfamiliar and misunderstood sometimes. In this paper, I describe the realities of foreign language learning in England compared with other European Union (EU) countries and Japan. To identify how pupils are learning foreign languages at school, I carried out a survey and found that the subject pupils had good motivations to learn foreign languages. Based upon these data, I discuss how foreign languages are taught and learned in England as well as in Japan. Finally, I suggest that Japanese pupils should have a lot more opportunities to learn foreign languages other than just English

Re-endothelialisation in autogenous vein grafts

Objectives:To clarify the course of re-endothelialisation (Re-E) in an entire graft and to establish the effect of immersion media for the preservation of endothelial cells.Methods:Autogenous femoral veins of dogs were immersed in heparinised saline solution (n = 18) or heparinized autogenous blood (n = 18). After immersion, the grafts were implanted into bilateral femoral artery, and were retrieved 1 day to 4–8 weeks after implantation.Results:For the grafts immersed in the heparinised saline solution, the values for %area of endothelial cell coverage before implantation, and at 1 day, 1 week, and 4 weeks after implantation were 44.9%, 6.2%, 14.5%, and 81.3%, respectively. For the grafts immersed in heparinised autogenous blood, the values were 73.5%, 20.6%, 79.2% and 95.5%, respectively. However, such relatively rapid speed of Re-E slowed down considerably after 1 week following implantation in this group.Conclusions:The use of heparinized autogenous blood is strongly recommended as a preparation media for autogenous vein grafts. Almost all of the endothelial cells fall away in the earlier period after implantation and regenerate multifocally and irregularly. Re-E is incomplete even at 8 weeks after surgery, and we suggest that the area of incomplete Re-E may develop into intimal hyperplasia

Hepatic artery aneurysm involving the proper hepatic and gastroduodenal artery treated using a gastroepiploic artery in situ bypass

We herein present the first known case of common hepatic artery aneurysm involving the proper hepatic artery treated with in situ bypass by using right gastroepiploic artery. A 55-year-old man was hospitalized after the incidental discovery of a low-echogenic mass with blood flow in the hepatic artery. Selective visceral arteriography demonstrated a hepatic artery aneurysm that filled via the superior mesenteric artery. The most proximal part of the common hepatic artery was occluded. A resection of aneurysm was performed, and the arterial blood flow was restored to the liver by mobilizing the right gastroepiploic artery and anastomosing the proper hepatic artery. This technique is preferable to grafting in that only one anastomosis is necessary and predicts that the results may be at least as good as with vein or prosthetic grafts

High accumulation of plasminogen and tissue plasminogen activator at the flow surface of mural fibrin in the human arterial system

AbstractPurpose: We assessed the fibrinolytic activity of the organized mural thrombus lining of aneurysms and prosthetic grafts. Methods: Between May 1995 and April 1998, the full-thickness mural thrombi of aneurysms and the pseudointima lining of vascular grafts were obtained from 12 patients, ranging from 55 to 78 years in age, who underwent elective surgery. These included five aortic arch aneurysms, four abdominal aortic aneurysms, and three patent synthetic vascular grafts. The specimens were subjected to sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE)/immunoblot and immunohistochemistry for human plasmin/plasminogen, tissue plasminogen activator (tPA), and fibrin degradation product (D-dimer). Results: In the SDS-PAGE/immunoblot, 25- and 27-kd bands appeared specifically in experimental fibrin plates after limited digestion by plasmin and were also recognized in the mural thrombi. The presence of bands at 25 and 27 kd, which were most prominent in sections near the flow surface layer, was consistent with the hypothesis that the mural fibrin was digested by the endogenous plasmin. Apparent immunoreactivity was found at the flow surface of the masses at a thickness of 10 to 400 μm, suggesting the presence of a plasminogen and tPA-rich layer, with D-dimer as a consequential product of fibrinolysis. Conclusion: The hypothesis that fibrin surfaces in the arterial system acquire fibrinolytic activity because of digestion by circulating endogenous plasmin was confirmed; this may contribute to the antithrombogenicity of these flow surfaces. (J Vasc Surg 2000;32:374-82.