Validation of the EIKEN Tests in Japanese University’s English Foundation Course — A Case Study on Teaching EFL Students at NUIS

In October 2019, the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology(MEXT) announced postponing the scheduled introduction of private-sector Englishproficiency tests as part of standardized university entrance examinations in the first quarterof 2020 (Kyodo, 2019a). In the original plan, the new test is to replace the current NationalCenter Test for University Admission, jointly administered by the state-affiliated NationalCenter for University Entrance Examinations and universities. While the current standardizedentrance exam only evaluates takers’ English reading and listening skills, the private-sectortest could also evaluate writing and speaking skills in a more comprehensive manner (Kyodo,2019b). Johnston (2019) pinpoints that criticism about the private-sector test in multipleaspects, the test location, higher fees, and one operator of “Test of English for InternationalCommunication (TOEIC)” has withdrawn from participation. Finally, the National Associationof Upper Secondary School Principals in September requested the cancellation, or at least arevision of the planned introduction of the English proficiency tests in 2020 for the lack ofinformation that MEXT needs to, in fact, take corrective measures.A researcher has been utilizing the EIKEN Tests (Test in Practical English Proficiency,known as EIKEN below) on university first-year students as a kind of self-learning in thecompulsory course at Niigata University of International and Information Studies (knownas NUIS below) since 2014. Although the potential value and effectiveness of the test areproved by quantitative findings and analysis of students’ results, it still carries meanings tostudy further about the influences of EIKEN tests on EFL class in Japan. In this paper, theresearcher is going to look at some positive reviews from test takers at NUIS, which has beenawarded the MEXT Minister Prize for two continuous years the largest number of EIKENtests’ passers. Also, the researcher is going to see the validation of EIKEN Tests among EFLlearners in Japan territory educational institutes

A Comparative Study of MOOCs among Higher Education Institutions in Asian Countries: The instructor’s perspectives

Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) is regraded as “educational democratic revolution,” (JMOOC, 2016) or “a new textbook in 21 century” (Kanenari, 2014), have borderless, free educational resources and materials for all learners- at all times, wherever they are, whatever they want, and whoever they are. MOOCs were started mainly in the United States in 2012 (JMOOC, 2016), and there are 101 million MOOC learners all over the world in 2018 (Shah, 2018). The implementation of MOOCs in English as a Foreign Language (EFL) class, however, was hardly known in Japan in 2014. The researcher have been utilizing the appropriate MOOCs to 1st-year students as a kind of self-directed learning in the required course at Niigata University of International and Information Studies (NUIS) since 2014. Although the potential value and effectiveness of MOOCs are clarified by the data findings and analysis of questionnaires done by NUIS students, further challenge should be done to utilize MOOCs in EFL class in Japan. In this paper, focus is put on the comparison of MOOCs called“ a life-long learning model for the next generation” among four Asian countries – China, Korea, Malaysia, and Japan

≪Research Note≫ An Analysis of Effectiveness of TOEIC Practice with Computer Adaptive Testing (u-CAT) as a Web-Based CALL System

This paper investigates the effects of TOEIC practice with a Web-Based CALL System, which is called u-CAT (you, university, and ubiquitous Computer Adaptive Testing) as the way to enhance a student’s motivation and to improve his/her scores. This author will define u-CAT as it is used in the Business English I to VI courses at Niigata University of International and Information Studies. This paper examines the pros and cons of u-CAT in the International Business English courses. Finally, the effectiveness of u-CAT in those courses will be discussed in this paper

The Effectiveness of Peer-Response Groupwork in CLIL and EFL Classroom Settings: A Collaborative Work in Writing Courses in Japan

A researcher has been utilizing the EIKEN Tests (Test in Practical EnglishProficiency, known as EIKEN) on university first-year students as a kind of selflearningin the compulsory course at Niigata University of International andInformation Studies (known as NUIS) since 2014. Although the potential valueand effectiveness of the test are proved by quantitative findings and analysis ofstudents’ results, it still carries meanings to study further about the influences ofEIKEN tests on EFL class in Japan. In this paper, the researcher pinpointed theeffectiveness of peer-response groupwork in CLIL and EFL classroom settingsbased on ESL/EFL writing to acquire the basic writing skills for passing EIKENtests. Particularly, four different topics based on Process Writing Approach(White & Arndt, 1991) were discussed in terms of ESL/EFL writing instruction,which puts more focus on learners’ sense of independence and initiatives in peerresponsegroupwork: 1) groupwork both in English 101 & 102 (Introduction toWriting) in university in USA & Block 3 ESL (low intermediate to intermediatelevel) in a language school affiliated with the university, 2) psycholinguisticargument of groupwork instructed under the theory of Second LanguageAcquisition (SLA), 3) educational argument of peer-response groupwork – pros& cons- ;4) the effectiveness of peer-response groupwork in Japanese ESL/EFLwriting course

Diet of the minimal armhook squid (Berryteuthis anonychus) (Cephalopoda: Gonatidae) in the northeast Pacific during spring

The stomach contents of the minimal armhook squid (Berryteuthis anonychus) were examined for 338 specimens captured in the northeast Pacific during May 1999. The specimens were collected at seven stations between 145−165°W and 39−49°N and ranged in mantle length from 10.3 to 102.2 mm. Their diet comprised seven major prey groups (copepods, chaetognaths, amphipods, euphausiids, ostracods, unidentified fish, and unidentified gelatinous prey) and was dominated by copepods and chaetognaths. Copepod prey comprised four genera, and 86% by number of the copepods were from the genus Neocalanus. Neocalanus cristatus was the most abundant prey taxa, composing 50% by mass and 35% by number of the total diet. Parasagitta elegans (Chaetognatha) occurred in more stomachs (47%) than any other prey taxon. Amphipods occurred in 19% of the stomachs but composed only 5% by number and 3% by mass of the total prey consumed. The four remaining prey groups (euphausiids, ostracods, unidentified fish, and unidentified gelatinous prey) together composed <2% by mass and <1% by number of the diet. There was no major change in the diet through the size range of squid examined and no evidence of cannibalism or predation on other cephalopod species

Solution properties of amylose tris(3,5-dimethylphenylcarbamate) and amylose tris(phenylcarbamate): Side group and solvent dependent chain stiffness in methyl acetate, 2-butanone, and 4-methyl-2-pentanone

Five amylose tris(3,5-dimethylphenylcarbamate) (ADMPC) samples ranging in weightaverage molecular weight M w from 1.7 × 10 4 to 3.4 × 10 5 were studied by light and small-angle X-ray scattering, sedimentation equilibrium, and viscometry in methyl acetate (MEA), 2-butanone (MEK), and 4-methyl-2-pentanone (MIBK) at 25 °. Seven amylose tris(phenylcarbamate) (ATPC) samples whose M w ranges between 2 × 10 4 and 3×10 6 were also investigated in MEK at 25 °. The radii of gyration, particle scattering functions, and intrinsic viscosities determined as a function of M w were analyzed in terms of the cylindrical wormlike chain model mainly to determine the Kuhn segment length λ -1 and the contour length h (or the helix pitch) per residue. While the obtained h values (0.36-0.38 nm) of ADMPC are quite insensitive to the solvents, the λ -1 value not only is 1.5-3 times larger than that of ATPC in the corresponding solvent but also significantly increases with an increase of the molar volume of the solvent, and it reaches 73 nm in MIBK, which is the highest value for previously investigated phenylcarbamate derivatives of polysaccharides. This high stiffness is most likely due to the steric hindrance of the solvent molecules H-bonding with the NH groups of the polymer. © 2010 American Chemical Society.Tsuda M., Terao K., Nakamura Y., et al. Solution properties of amylose tris(3,5-dimethylphenylcarbamate) and amylose tris(phenylcarbamate): Side group and solvent dependent chain stiffness in methyl acetate, 2-butanone, and 4-methyl-2-pentanone. Macromolecules, 43(13), 5779-5784, June 11, 2010. Copyright © 2010, American Chemical Society. https://doi.org/10.1021/ma1006528

Developmental changes and organelle biogenesis in the reproductive organs of thermogenic skunk cabbage (Symplocarpus renifolius)

Sex-dependent thermogenesis during reproductive organ development in the inflorescence is a characteristic feature of some of the protogynous arum species. One such plant, skunk cabbage (Symplocarpus renifolius), can produce massive heat during the female stage but not during the subsequent male stage in which the stamen completes development, the anthers dehisce, and pollen is released. Unlike other thermogenic species, skunk cabbage belongs to the bisexual flower group. Although recent studies have identified the spadix as the thermogenic organ, it remains unclear how individual tissues or intracellular structures are involved in thermogenesis. In this study, reproductive organ development and organelle biogenesis were examined during the transition from the female to the male stage. During the female stage, the stamens exhibit extensive structural changes including changes in organelle structure and density. They accumulate high levels of mitochondrial proteins, including possible thermogenic factors, alternative oxidase, and uncoupling protein. By contrast, the petals and pistils do not undergo extensive changes during the female stage. However, they contain a larger number of mitochondria than during the male stage in which they develop large cytoplasmic vacuoles. Comparison between female and male spadices suggests that mitochondrial number rather than their level of activity correlates with thermogenesis. Their spadices, even in the male, contain a larger amount of mitochondria that had greater oxygen consumption, compared with non-thermogenic plants. Taken together, our data suggest that the extensive maturation process in stamens produces massive heat through increased metabolic activities. The possible mechanisms by which petal and pistil metabolism may affect thermogenesis are also discussed

Characterization of hemin-binding protein 35 (HBP35) in Porphyromonas gingivalis: its cellular distribution, thioredoxin activity and role in heme utilization

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The periodontal pathogen <it>Porphyromonas gingivalis </it>is an obligate anaerobe that requires heme for growth. To understand its heme acquisition mechanism, we focused on a hemin-binding protein (HBP35 protein), possessing one thioredoxin-like motif and a conserved C-terminal domain, which are proposed to be involved in redox regulation and cell surface attachment, respectively.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>We observed that the <it>hbp35 </it>gene was transcribed as a 1.1-kb mRNA with subsequent translation resulting in three proteins with molecular masses of 40, 29 and 27 kDa in the cytoplasm, and one modified form of the 40-kDa protein on the cell surface. A recombinant 40-kDa HBP35 exhibited thioredoxin activity <it>in vitro </it>and mutation of the two putative active site cysteine residues abolished this activity. Both recombinant 40- and 27-kDa proteins had the ability to bind hemin, and growth of an <it>hbp35 </it>deletion mutant was substantially retarded under hemin-depleted conditions compared with growth of the wild type under the same conditions.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p><it>P. gingivalis </it>HBP35 exhibits thioredoxin and hemin-binding activities and is essential for growth in hemin-depleted conditions suggesting that the protein plays a significant role in hemin acquisition.</p

VISUAL-CC system uncovers the role of GSK3 as an orchestrator of vascular cell type ratio in plants

The phloem transports photosynthetic assimilates and signalling molecules. It mainly consists of sieve elements (SEs), which act as "highways" for transport, and companion cells (CCs), which serve as "gates" to load/unload cargos. Though SEs and CCs function together, it remains unknown what determines the ratio of SE/CC in the phloem. Here we develop a new culture system for CC differentiation in Arabidopsis named VISUAL-CC, which almost mimics the process of the SE-CC complex formation. Comparative expression analysis in VISUAL-CC reveals that SE and CC differentiation tends to show negative correlation, while total phloem differentiation is unchanged. This varying SE/CC ratio is largely dependent on GSK3 kinase activity. Indeed, gsk3 hextuple mutants possess many more SEs and fewer CCs, whereas gsk3 gain-of-function mutants partially increase the CC number. Taken together, GSK3 activity appears to function as a cell-fate switch in the phloem, thereby balancing the SE/CC ratio. Tamaki et al. develop VISUAL-CC to study SE-CC (sieve elements-companion cells) complex formation. They show that the balance in the SE/CC ratio is dependent on GSK3 activity using different genetic backgrounds. Their work provides insights on the role of GSK3 as a cell-fate switch in the phloem.Peer reviewe