The Sooner, the Better for English Education in Japan? : A Case Study on English Education at a Private School in the Tokyo Metropolitan area

This paper compares English proficiency levels between students who started English education in the first grade (the elementary one [E1] group) and those that started in the fifth grade (the elementary five [E5] group) at a private school in the Tokyo metropolitan area. The study uses a C-test and the participants’ pass rate in English proficiency tests, according to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages A2 level. The results showed that there were no significant differences in the English proficiency levels between the E1 and E5 groups. The pass rate for A2 level tests revealed that a greater number of E5 group members passed the tests compared to those from the E1 group. In conclusion, the findings showed that in the final year of high school, the E5 group showed more improvement in their English proficiency than the E1 group in terms of the C-test and English proficiency tests.2020年度より, 小学３年生から「外国語活動」が始まり, 小学校５年生から「英語」が必修科目となる。今後もより早期の英語教育が小学校のカリキュラムに導入されることが予想される。そこで本研究では, 小学１年生から英語学習経験がある高校３年生と(早期学習群), 現在の英語教育の標準開始時期である小学５年生から英語学習経験がある高校３年生(通常学習群)の英語力に差異があるかどうかを検証した。本研究結果では, 高校３年生の時点で早期学習群は, 通常学習群と比べてC-test の点数には有意差はなかった(t (85)= -1.581, p > .01)。また, 英検取得の割合は通常学習群の方が高かった(通常学習群 = 86%: 早期学習群 ＝ 56%)。それゆえ,早く英語学習を始めたとしても,高校３年生の段階では差はなくなるということが示唆された

Low-Temperature Characteristics of an AlN/Diamond Surface Acoustic Wave Resonator

Phonons confined in mechanical resonators can be coupled to a variety of quantum systems and are expected to be applied to hybrid quantum systems. Diamond surface acoustic wave (SAW) devices are capable of high efficiency in phonon interaction with color centers in diamond. The temperature dependence of the quality factor is crucial for inferring the governing mechanism of coupling efficiency between phonons and color centers in diamond. In this paper, we report on the temperature dependence of the quality factor of an AlN/diamond SAW device from room temperature to 5 K. The temperature dependence of the quality factor and resonant frequency suggests that the mechanism of SAW dissipation in the AlN/diamond SAW resonator at 5 GHz is the phonon-phonon scattering in the Akheiser region, and that further cooling can be expected to improve the quality factor. This result provides a crucial guideline for the future design of AlN/diamond SAW devices.Comment: 10 pages, 5 figure

足関節運動とアキレス腱の緊張がアキレス腱と踵骨間の接触圧に与える影響

Impingement between the Achilles tendon and the posterosuperior prominence of the calcaneus is considered to be a cause of insertional Achilles tendinopathy. The corresponding treatment intends to reduce tensile stress from calf muscles and avoid hyper-dorsiflexion of the ankle joint for decreasing the contact pressure; however, no study has reported on whether these treatments can decrease impingement. Thus, this study investigated the hypothesis that the tensile stress of the Achilles tendon and ankle motion affect the contact pressure between the Achilles tendon and the posterosuperior prominence of the calcaneus. Six fresh-frozen cadaveric lower leg specimens were procured. Each specimen was set to a custom foot-loading frame and loaded with a ground reaction force of 40 N and a tensile load of 70 N along the Achilles tendon. The contact pressure between the Achilles tendon and the posterosuperior prominence of the calcaneus was measured using a miniature pressure sensor under different tensile loadings of the Achilles tendon at the neutral ankle position. Similarly, the contact pressures during the ankle motion from a neutral position to maximum dorsiflexion were measured. The tensile load of the Achilles tendon and ankle motion affected the contact pressure between the Achilles tendon and the posterosuperior prominence of the calcaneus. The contact pressure increased with tensile load or ankle dorsiflexion. Conditions with increasing the tensile load of the Achilles tendon or under ankle dorsiflexion increase the contact pressure between the Achilles tendon and the posterosuperior prominence of the calcaneus.博士（医学）・甲第806号・令和3年12月21日Copyright © 2021 the American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved

Glutei Paralysis and Tendon Transference. An Evaluatian of A Method

A method of tendon transference is employed to relieve the poliomyelitic gluteus limp. We believe that in order to remedy the gluteus limp, opposite sacrospinalis muscle is the best choice as a power source because it works synergistic with the affected glutei. On this belief, we have operated on twenty poliomyelitic patients with affected glutei since 1958. The short term results of this experiment have been found to be satisfactory. There remains, however, much problems to be studied in order to find techniques for building up muscle bulk and its size as a power source

Distribution of Japanese Eel Anguilla japonica Revealed by Environmental DNA

絶滅危惧種ニホンウナギの分布域を環境DNA解析で推定. 京都大学プレスリリース. 2021-03-03.The abundance of Japanese eel Anguilla japonica has rapidly decreased in recent decades. Following a re-evaluation of the possibility of extinction, the Japanese Ministry of the Environment and the International Union for Conservation of Nature listed the Japanese eel as an endangered species in 2013 and 2014, respectively. However, their abundance and precise distribution have never been clarified owing to their nocturnality and difficulty in their capture. In this study, the distribution of Japanese eels was investigated by monitoring for environmental DNA (eDNA), a non-invasive and efficient detection method. A total of 365 water samples were collected from 265 rivers located throughout Japan. High concentrations of eDNA of Japanese eels were detected in rivers on the Pacific side, but were low in the Sea of Japan side. In particular, very little eDNA amplification was confirmed from Hokkaido and the north of the Sea of Japan. The eDNA distribution in Japanese rivers coincides with the transport of the larvae in the ocean, as estimated by numerical simulations. Generalized linear mixed models were developed to explain the distribution of eDNA concentrations. The total nitrogen concentration emerged as an important factor in the best model. These results indicate that the distribution of Japanese eel is mostly determined by the maritime larval transport, and their survival and growth depend on the abundance of food in the river. The findings of the present study are useful for the management of populations and in the conservation of Japanese eels

Reconstructive Surgery of Poliomyelitic Disabled Hand and Arm with particular Reference to Opponens Plasty

The purpose of this report is to give light on problems concerning surgical reconstruction of the hand and arm disabled by poliomyelitis. Before any surgical intervention, too much attention cannot be placed to the over-all gain sought for the patient. With regard to opponens plasty, it must be emphasized that there are inherent obstacles against the complete reconstruction of poliomyelitic thumb. Authors have come to conclude that no stereotyped measure can be made for any weak thumb

Involvement of CD11b+ GR-1low cells in autoimmune disorder in MRL-Faslpr mouse

金沢大学医薬保健研究域医学系Objective: Myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) have been identified as immunosuppressive cells in tumor-related inflammation. However, the pathogenesis of MDSCs for autoimmune disease has not been investigated as yet. The aim of this study was to address whether MDSCs contribute to autoimmune organ injury in lupus-prone mice. Methods: MDSCs were analyzed by flow cytometric staining of CD11b+ GR-1+ in MRL-Faslpr mice. CD4+ T-cell proliferation assay was performed by coculture with CD11b+ GR-1+ splenocytes. The percentage of immunosuppressive cells was examined during disease progression. Expression of chemokine receptor on immunosuppressive cells was analyzed, and chemotaxis assay was performed. Results: CD11b+ GR-1low cells had a suppressive effect on CD4+ T-cell proliferation, which was restored by an arginase-1 inhibitor. CD11b+ GR-1low cells increased in percentage during disease progression in kidney and blood. The number of migrated CD11b+ GR-1low cells increased in the presence of monocyte chemoattractant protein-1/CCL2. Conclusion: We assessed the involvement of CD11b+ GR-1low cells in autoimmune disorder in MRL-Faslpr mice. These cells regulate immunological responses via CCL2/CCR2 signaling. The regulation of immunosuppressive monocytes may provide novel therapeutic strategy for organ damage in autoimmune diseases. © 2010 Japanese Society of Nephrology.

The joint impact on being overweight of self reported behaviours of eating quickly and eating until full : cross sectional survey

Objective To examine whether eating until full or eating quickly or combinations of these eating behaviours are associated with being overweight