Promoting Active Citizenship and Participation among Foreign Residents: Exploring the Local Potential in a Small Japanese Municipality in the Context of Globalization

This is a case study about promoting active citizenship and participation among foreign migrants in a small municipality in Japan. This research originated from my interest in the absence of literature on the situation of foreigners in a small rural community in Japan. The focus is on so-called 'newcomer foreigners' who have migrated to Japan for employment opportunities since the 1980s. The aim of this research is to study participatory approaches to engaging newcomer migrant foreigners, local government and local communities in Japan, whilst taking account of the limitations arising from wider global structural forces and processes. It reflects on the mutual reactivity between the local and the global and the ways in which positive local experiences, community cohesion and community development can occur in response to global migration movements. It also argues that such positive developments are in turn limited by the ripple effects of the very global process they are trying to address. This is qualitative research involving a case study. At the same time, this research draws upon the findings of multiple data collection techniques, including those that are closely associated with quantitative research as well as qualitative research. It involves reviewing official documents published by multiple sources, snowball sampling and data collection through interviews and questionnaire-based surveys. The structure of the thesis includes an introduction, a literature review chapter that discusses the changing dynamics of citizenship in the context of globalization, three context chapters that examine the complexity of different factors that characterize foreign populations and their host communities in Japan and two chapters that discuss the original research findings of my case study. Finally, a concluding chapter discusses the findings and their potential implications and reflects on my learning from the research process

Expression and biological-clinical significance of hTR, hTERT and CKS2 in washing fluids of patients with bladder cancer

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>at present, pathogenesis of bladder cancer (BC) has not been fully elucidated. Aim of this study is to investigate the role of human telomerase RNA (<it>hTR</it>), human telomerase reverse transcriptase (<it>hTERT</it>) and CDC28 protein kinase regulatory subunit 2 (<it>CKS2</it>) in bladder carcinogenesis and their possible clinical significance;</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>the transcript levels of <it>hTR</it>, <it>hTERT </it>and <it>CKS2 </it>were quantified by Real time reverse transcriptase chain reaction in exfoliated cells from bladder washings of 36 patients with BC and 58 controls. The statistical significance of differences between BC bearing patients and control groups, in the general as well as in the stratified analysis (superficial or invasive BC), was assessed by Student's t test. Non parametric Receiver Operating Characteristics analysis (ROC) was performed to ascertain the accuracy of study variables to discriminate between BC and controls. The clinical value of concomitant examination of <it>hTR</it>, <it>hTERT </it>and <it>CKS2 </it>was evaluated by logistic regression analysis;</p> <p>Results</p> <p>a significant decrease in <it>hTR </it>and a significant increase in <it>hTERT </it>or <it>CKS2 </it>gene expression were found between BC bearing patients and controls, as well as in the subgroups analysis. The area under the curve (AUC) indicated an average discrimination power for the three genes, both in the general and subgroups analysis, when singularly considered. The ability to significantly discriminate between superficial and invasive BC was observed only for <it>hTR </it>transcript levels. A combined model including <it>hTR </it>and <it>CKS2 </it>was the best one in BC diagnosis;</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>our results, obtained from a sample set particularly rich of exfoliated cells, provide further molecular evidence on the involvement of <it>hTR, hTERT </it>and <it>CKS2 </it>gene expression in BC carcinogenesis. In particular, while <it>hTERT </it>and <it>CKS2 </it>gene expression seems to have a major involvement in the early stages of the disease, <it>hTR </it>gene expression, seems to be more involved in progression. In addition, our findings suggest that the studied genes have a clinical role in discriminating between BC and controls in the general as well as in the stratified analysis, when singularly considered. A combined model improved over the single marker BC diagnosis.</p

Promoting active citizenship and participation among foreign residents : exploring the local potential in a small Japanese municipality in the context of globalization

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Pressure stress delays cyclooxygenase-2 expression induced by interleukin-1β in cultured human pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells

Introduction: Pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells (PASMCs) play an important role in the sequence of events leading to the formation of pulmonary hypertension (PH). However, little is known about the direct effects of high pressure on the function and intercellular signaling pathways of PASMCs. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of pressure stress that simulates PH on interleukin (IL)-1β- or angiotensin II-induced cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) expression in cultured human PASMCs. Methods: Either 20 or 60 mmHg atmospheric pressure was applied to PASMCs by a pressure-loading apparatus. Protein expression and phosphorylation were analyzed by western blotting. mRNA expression was analyzed by quantitative real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. Results: IL-1β-induced COX-2 protein expression peaked at 6 h in non-pressurized cells, whereas COX-2 expression was delayed, peaking at 12 h, in 20 and 60 mmHg pressurized cells. Both pressures also delayed the time to peak COX-2 mRNA expression induced by IL-1β. In addition, pressure stress delayed the time to peak mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) phosphorylation induced by IL-1β. In contrast, angiotensin II-induced transient COX-2 mRNA expression and MAPK phosphorylation were not affected by pressure stress. Conclusion: These results suggest that pressure stress delays IL-1β-induced COX-2 expression via the delayed activation of MAPKs in PASMCs, and the effects of pressure stress differ according to the bioactive substance being stimulated. Our results demonstrate that the application of pressure stress to PASMCs directly alters cell function, which may provide a basic insight into our understanding of the pathogenesis of PH

Bladder cancer with urinary diversion by a sigmoid colon conduit after transverse colon stoma

Introduction Sigmoid conduit is one of the methods for achieving urinary diversion, but it is performed less frequently than ileal conduit and ureterostomy. Herein, we report a case in which a sigmoid colon conduit was performed after nephrostomy and transverse colostomy. Case presentation A 70‐year‐old man was referred to our hospital because of a bladder tumor. Computed tomography and transurethral biopsy revealed advanced bladder cancer with ureteral and rectal invasion. Despite drug therapy, the tumor progressed. Thus, nephrostomy and transverse colostomy were performed for urinary and fecal diversion, respectively. Subsequently, chemotherapy was administered for 8 months. As nephrostomy‐related complications occurred frequently during chemotherapy, a sigmoid colon conduit was performed instead of nephrostomy for urinary diversion to improve the patient's quality of life. Conclusion In patients with advanced bladder cancer requiring a double stoma of the urinary and fecal tracts, sigmoid colon conduit may be selected as a urinary diversion method