Non-Consensual Sex among Japanese Women in the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Large-Scale Nationwide Survey-Based Study

Background: Non-consensual sex including rape and sexual assault has been a global concern and may have been influenced by the COVID-19 pandemic, however the information on this topic is limited. Therefore, our objective was to survey the incidence rate of non-consensual sex among Japanese women aged 15-79 years between April to September 2020, following the COVID-19 pandemic in Japan.Materials and Methods: We utilized the data obtained from a nationwide, cross-sectional internet survey conducted in Japan between August and September 2020. Sampling weights were applied to calculate national estimates, and multivariable logistic regression was performed to identify factors associated with non-consensual sex. Data was extracted from a cross-sectional, web-based, self-administered survey of approximately 2.2 million individuals from the general public, including in men and women.Results: Excluding men and responses with inconsistencies, the final analysis included 12,809 women participants, with 138 (1.1%) reporting experiencing non-consensual sex within a five-month period. Being aged 15–29 years and having a worsened mental or economic status were associated with experiencing non-consensual sex.Conclusions Early intervention to prevent individuals from becoming victims of sexual harm should be extended to economically vulnerable and young women, especially during times of societal upheaval such as the COVID-19 pandemic. Additionally, Japan should prioritize the implementation of comprehensive education on the concept of sexual consent

The Development of Japanese Language Lessons to Foster Reading Literacy in Elementary Schools

本プロジェクトは，小学校において読書リテラシーを育成するために有効な授業開発について研究することを目的としている。そのために，これまで行われてきた読書教育や読書活動に関する資料を収集し，授業開発の際に活用していく。その際，読書に必要な広義の資質・能力である読書力を授業づくりに位置づける。また，読書リテラシーを育成するために有効な授業について検討し，実践を行いながら検証することにした。この検証のために，小学校の低学年，中学年，高学年で文学的文章を教材として授業実践を行う。　　 この研究を通して，身に付ける読書力を授業の中に位置づけることにより，児童を主体的な学びに導くことができるということが明らかになった。その際，児童は，それぞれの読書による成果をもちより，積極的に考えを交流し，目的をはっきりさせながら読書に向かうことができた。　　 今後さらに小学校段階で読書リテラシーを育成するためには，身に付けたい読書力の系統性を考えたカリキュラムづくりをする必要がある。In this project, we aimed to develop useful lessons for fostering reading literacy at the elementary school level. First, we collected and examined existing literature about reading instruction and activities. Further, we applied this research to develop our lessons. We considered the broad reading qualifications and abilities of students when shaping the lessons. Then, we conducted literature lessons for students in Grades 1-6, and examined the effect of these lessons on reading literacy. From the results, we were able to establish that it is important to clarify the goals that one aims at fostering in a lesson. This encourages students to apply independently formed attitudes toward reading and learning. Furthermore, it helps students to set up definite aims and to achieve specific outcomes in relation to reading and discussing books as well as encouraging the students to continue reading. In future, we plan to develop a reading program that considers the sequence and scope of students’ reading qualifications and abilities at each developmental stage

Changes in Exhaled Nitric Oxide Measured by Two Offline Methods Predict Improvements in Bronchial Hyperresponsiveness after Inhaled Steroid Therapy in Japanese Adults with Asthma

Background: The fraction of exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO) is a useful marker of eosinophilic airway inflammation in asthmatics. No studies have examined the relationship between the change in FeNO levels measured offline and changes in bronchial hyperresponsiveness (BHR) in asthmatic patients treated with inhaled corticosteroids (ICS). The objective of this study was to investigate the relationship between the change in FeNO levels measured offline and the change in BHR to acetylcholine in asthmatic patients taking ICS. Methods: The study population comprised 41 ICS-treated asthmatics from our outpatient clinic. We measured FeNO levels by two methods—with a Sievers kit (“FeNOs”) and with a kit from the Center for Environmental Information Science, Japan (“FeNOc”) at baseline and after 1 year of regular treatment. We also used spirometry to test BHR to acetylcholine (PC20Ach). Results: The mean of duration of observation was 406 days. There were significant relationships between ∆logPC20Ach and logPC20Ach (r = −0.877, P < 0.001), FeNOs (r = 0.465, P = 0.002), and FeNOc (r = 0.524, P = 0.004) at baseline, but not with age, the dose of ICS, FEV1, or %FEV1. Moreover, there was a significant relationship between ∆logPC20Ach and ∆FeNOs (r = −0.386, P = 0.013) and ∆FeNOc (r = −0.473, P = 0.004), but not with ∆FEV1. Conclusions: Changes in FeNOs and FeNOc correlated with improvements in BHR to acetylcholine in adult asthmatics after ICS therapy. Our findings suggest that offline monitoring of FeNO will facilitate the management of bronchial asthma in patients treated with ICS