Current Conditions and Issues in Quality Assurance of Preservice Teacher Education in Japan: Suggestions from a Domestic Research Trend

The actual conditions and issues of quality assurance of preservice teacher education in Japan were identified by analyzing trends in domestic studies of quality assurance. The evaluation system for future preservice teacher education was examined. Therefore, the following two results were identified: (1) Not only the development of agreed standards and the improvement of the curriculum were related to preservice teacher training, but the ways in which internal and external parties participate were also issues; (2) Collaboration between internal and external parties should be encouraged to promote autonomous quality assurance in Japan, where external institutions are slow to improve their system for assessing the quality of the university. In addition to these factors, it was suggested that investigation of quality assurance in private universities is also necessary because most previous studies and practices were implemented in public universities.本研究の一部は，日本学術振興会科学研究費補助金（基盤B）課題研究番号JP18H0102401，研究代表者・嘉数健悟の補助を受けて行われた

Current Situation and Issues in Physical Education Teaching Methods at Provincial Teacher Training Colleges in Cambodia: Case Studies of Sihanoukville and Kampot Provinces

This study focused on clarifying the current situation and problems physical education teaching methods at provincial teacher training colleges (PTTC) in Cambodia. Three tasks were set to achieve the study aims: i.e., (1) to characterize the syllabus for physical education teaching methods in the PTTC curriculum; (2) to identify commonalities between this syllabus and the Cambodian National Curriculum of Physical, Health and Sport Education for Primary School 2006‒2007 and determine whether the syllabus was in accordance with the National Curriculum; and (3) to clarify the current situation and issues in physical education teaching methods in Cambodia by observing PTTC classes using these methods and by interviewing the involved people. The physical education teaching methods in the Cambodian PTTC curriculum were structured systematically and systemically, and well in accordance with the Cambodian National Curriculum. In addition, the PTTC classes were conducted in accordance with the syllabus of physical education teaching methods in the PTTC curriculum. Our future challenges are: (1) to clarify which department of the Cambodian Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport should take the initiative to revise the PTTC curriculum; (2) to help revise the syllabus based on an accurate determination of the current PTTC situation; and (3) to determine whether PTTC graduates can properly teach physical education classes using a follow-up survey.本研究の一部は，JSPS科研費JP17K13122の助成を受けて実施された

A Case Study of Efforts to Introduce “CLIL Taiiku” at Public Elementary School: Practice as “Vaulting horse with exclamation”

The purposes of this study are following two points; (1) to report a practice of “CLIL Taiiku” in elementary school, (2) to clarify achievements and issues of the practice, and the possibility of “CLIL Taiiku”. “Taiiku” means physical education in Japanese, and the reason why we use Japanese word is to look for Japanese way for CLIL in PE. Specifically, the practice was carried out for 6th and 5th grades. In order to clarify the results and issues of these classes, we conducted a group interview survey with teachers who practiced these classes and observers. The contents were analyzed using the KJ method (Kawakita, 1986). As a result, CLIL and “Taiiku” are compatible, and it can be suggested that “CLIL Taiiku” has a positive effect on community creation between pupil and pupil, pupil and teacher, and also teacher and teacher in the school. On the other hand, there were some issues about teacher, such as English level and burden on “CLIL Taiiku”

The Effect of “Tactics-type Long-distance Races” on Students’ Attitudes toward Long-distance Races in Junior High School Physical Education Classes: Focusing on the Students Who Are Not Good at Long-Distance Races

This study conducted “Tactics-Type Long-Distance Races (TTLDR)” for first-year junior high school students to examine the effect of this practice on the attitudes of students who are not good at long-distance races. As a result, the following two points were clarified: 1) It was clarified that TTLDR have a positive effect on the attitudes of “collaboration” and “favorable” in students who are not good at long-distance races. 2) The students who were not good at long-distance races had a negative attitude toward “collaboration” and “unpleasant” compared with other students, but it was clear that the difference between them reduced through TTLDR

Exploratory Study on the Conditions of Japan Overseas Cooperation Volunteers Returning to Japan Following the Spread of COVID-19: Through Interviews for Volunteers in the Field of Physical Education

In 2020, COVID-19 has raged around the world, having a significant impact on international volunteers working in various developing countries. The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) decided to send the Japan Overseas Cooperation Volunteers (JOCV), who had been dispatched to various countries, back to Japan in March 2020 as an emergency measure. The present situation and the sentiments of the JOCV will not only help their activities after the resumption of deployment but also contribute to the improvement of the JICA’s support system for JOCV in future emergency situations. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to investigate the circumstances and feelings of JOCV who had to return to Japan due to the emergency of COVID-19, using the case of JOCV in the field of physical education (PE volunteers), and to discuss the characteristics of JOCV and the volunteer support system of the JICA in emergency situations. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with five PE volunteers, and the interview data were analyzed using Steps for Coding and Theorization (SCAT). As a result, the following three points were suggested: (1) many JOCV regret that they were not able to say goodbye to the people in their assignments, (2) many JOCV have a desire to help those in need and are curious, and (3) a system must be built that allows JOCV to maintain a relationship with their assignments even in Japan

Compositional dependence of the apatite formation ability of Ti–Zr alloys designed for hard tissue reconstruction

Ti–Zr alloys are expected to be novel biomaterials with low stress shielding owing to their lower Young’s moduli than pure Ti. The drawback of metallic biomaterials is that their bone-bonding abilities are relatively low. NaOH and heat treatments have been performed to provide Ti–50Zr with apatite-forming ability in the body environment, which is essential for bone bonding. However, the systematic compositional dependence of apatite formation has not been revealed. In the present study, NaOH treatment of Ti–Zr alloys with various compositions and bone-bonding abilities was assessed in vitro by apatite formation in simulated body fluid (SBF). The corrosion current density in NaOH aqueous solution and the amount of Na incorporated into the surface tended to decrease with increasing Zr content. The apatite-forming ability of the treated alloy significantly decreased when the Zr content was ≥60 atom%. This phenomenon is attributed to the (1) low OH content on the surface, (2) low Na incorporation into the treated alloy surface, which enhances apatite formation, and (3) low ability of P adsorption to the Ti–Zr alloy in SBF following Ca adsorption to trigger apatite nucleation. Although the adhesion of the titanate/zirconate layer formed on the surfaces to the substrates increased as Zr content increased, the adhesion between the apatite and the substrate was still low

Alteration of the immune environment in bone marrow from children with recurrent B cell precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia

Due to the considerable success of cancer immunotherapy for leukemia, the tumor immune environment has become a focus of intense research; however, there are few reports on the dynamics of the tumor immune environment in leukemia. Here, we analyzed the tumor immune environment in pediatric B cell precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia by analyzing serial bone marrow samples from nine patients with primary and recurrent disease by mass cytometry using 39 immunophenotype markers, and transcriptome analysis. High-dimensional single-cell mass cytometry analysis elucidated a dynamic shift of T cells from naïve to effector subsets, and clarified that, during relapse, the tumor immune environment comprised a T helper 1-polarized immune profile, together with an increased number of effector regulatory T cells. These results were confirmed in a validation cohort using conventional flow cytometry. Furthermore, RNA transcriptome analysis identified the upregulation of immune-related pathways in B cell precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia cells during relapse, suggesting interaction with the surrounding environment. In conclusion, a tumor immune environment characterized by a T helper 1-polarized immune profile, with an increased number of effector regulatory T cells, could contribute to the pathophysiology of recurrent B cell precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia. This information could contribute to the development of effective immunotherapeutic approaches against B cell precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia relapse

Selective electrochemical CO 2 conversion with a hybrid polyoxometalate

A multi-component coordination compound, in which ruthenium antenna complexes are connected to a polyoxotungstate core is presented. This hybrid cluster effectively promotes the electrochemical conversion of CO2 to C1 feedstocks, the selectivity of which can be controlled by the acidity of the media

Vascular RAGE transports oxytocin into the brain to elicit its maternal bonding behaviour in mice

金沢大学医薬保健研究域医学系Oxytocin sets the stage for childbirth by initiating uterine contractions, lactation and maternal bonding behaviours. Mice lacking secreted oxcytocin (Oxt -/-, Cd38 -/-) or its receptor (Oxtr -/-) fail to nurture. Normal maternal behaviour is restored by peripheral oxcytocin replacement in Oxt -/- and Cd38 -/-, but not Oxtr -/- mice, implying that circulating oxcytocin crosses the blood-brain barrier. Exogenous oxcytocin also has behavioural effects in humans. However, circulating polypeptides are typically excluded from the brain. We show that oxcytocin is transported into the brain by receptor for advanced glycation end-products (RAGE) on brain capillary endothelial cells. The increases in oxcytocin in the brain which follow exogenous administration are lost in Ager -/- male mice lacking RAGE, and behaviours characteristic to abnormalities in oxcytocin signalling are recapitulated in Ager -/- mice, including deficits in maternal bonding and hyperactivity. Our findings show that RAGE-mediated transport is critical to the behavioural actions of oxcytocin associated with parenting and social bonding.3082047