Group approximation in Cayley topology and coarse geometry, Part III: Geometric property (T)

In this series of papers, we study correspondence between the following: (1) large scale structure of the metric space bigsqcup_m {Cay(G(m))} consisting of Cayley graphs of finite groups with k generators; (2) structure of groups which appear in the boundary of the set {G(m)}_m in the space of k-marked groups. In this third part of the series, we show the correspondence among the metric properties `geometric property (T),' `cohomological property (T),' and the group property `Kazhdan's property (T).' Geometric property (T) of Willett--Yu is stronger than being expander graphs. Cohomological property (T) is stronger than geometric property (T) for general coarse spaces.Comment: 20 pages, Appendix withdrawn due to the error in the proof of Theorem A.2 (v3); 24 pages, Appendix added (v2); 20 pages, no figur

Changes in qualities and abilities of Japanese teachers through participation in Global Lesson Study on mathematics

[Purpose] The authors aim to determine the effects of Global Lesson Study (GLS) - a two-year, one-cycle program defined as “international cooperative lesson study through international exchange among teachers using ICT” - on intercultural competence for lesson study based on pre- and post-survey conducted for Japanese teachers. [Design/methodology/approach] In accordance with the GLS program, mathematics lesson studies on mathematics between Japanese and Singaporean elementary school teachers were conducted over a two-year period. Questionnaire surveys on intercultural competence for lesson study was conducted using 7-point Likert scale and descriptive questions with Japanese teachers (N 5 5). Analysis of Wilcoxon’s signed rank test and correlation analysis were conducted. [Findings] Followings are identified as the effects of GLS for Japanese teachers: (1) Japanese participants felt improvement of their competence in areas of attitude, internal outcomes and outward impact. (2) Participating in a GLS led to the improvement of Japanese teachers’ qualities and abilities for subject teaching related tomathematics education. (3) Improvement of intercultural competence for lesson study was related to each other, and GLS led to improvement of these competences. (4) It was meaningful to have a two-year period to assimilate and adjust to independent experience of the host and guest. [Originality/value] The GLS led to teacher empowerment among this sample, not only as cooperative research, but also at the individual level of teachers where participants continued to develop lessons based on the GLS learning after study completion. This has important implications for the implementation and dissemination of the GLS

Transformation of Mathematics Classes through Global Lesson Studies

In this study, based on the Global Lesson Study (GLS) program, a mathematics lesson study was conducted between teachers in Japan and Singapore, with Singapore as the host school. During the GLS process, the childrenʼs ideas̶diff ered greatly between the two countries̶were shared, and the lesson plans were improved to move toward integrated learning, which could not have been conceived during the in-school research discussions in Singapore, and then, the improvements were refl ected in the lessons. This suggests that GLS is eff ective in improving the teaching of Mathematics

The Potential of the Global Lesson Study as PDCA+E : Verification through a Case Study in Mathematics

In this study, based on the Global Lesson Study (GLS) program, an mathematics lesson study was conducted between teachers in Japan and Singapore, with Japan as the host school. In the process of the GLS, it was confi rmed that the GLS functions as a Plan-Do-Check-Act (PDCA) cycle and that it is eff ective to implement the GLS in a two-year cycle when it is implemented among in-service teachers. As an “Extension”, we proposed the following two points: (1) the possibility of action research by combining survey research and classroom practice, and (2) the possibility of a “GLS package” in the context of international educational cooperation

Mothers\u27 Perceptions of the Sexual Development and Behavior of their Children and Persons with Autism in General

In order to ascertain and evaluate mothers\u27 perceptions of the sexual development and behavior of their children with autism, we conducted a questionnaire survey on participants in meetings held in Nagasaki. From among 172 persons who consented to participate in the survey and responded to the self-administered questionnaire, we selected 71 mothers of sons with autism (aged 6 years or over) as the study subjects. The questionnaire included items on children\u27s sexual behaviors, the appearance of secondary sexual characters/sexual development, the mothers\u27 perceptions of the children\u27s sexual development and behavior, and assessments of their own child and persons with autism in general with respect to masturbation, romantic relationships, and marriage. According to the severity of the children\u27s autism, subjects were classified into severe and non-severe groups and the above-mentioned items were compared between the two groups. No significant difference was observed between the two groups in terms of the age at first appearance of secondary sex characters; however, the age at which interest in the opposite sex was first shown was significantly earlier in the non-severe group (p = 0.031). Among 58 children aged 120 months or over, 29 (50.0%) were masturbating and the proportion of such children was significantly larger in the severe group (p = 0.014). Regarding problem sexual behavior, no significant difference was observed in the frequency of worried mothers between the two groups (p = 0.80), while "talking about sex in public" was more frequent in the non-severe group (p = 0.018). Approximately 80% of the mothers in both groups had positive views about masturbation both for their own child and for persons with autism in general; however, the proportion of mothers showing positive views about romantic relationships or marriage was significantly smaller in the severe group (p<0.0001). The present study demonstrated that mothers\u27 perceptions of sexual development and behavior in their children with autism vary according to the disease severity. This finding indicates the necessity for healthcare professionals to actively concern themselves with the mothers

Recent global movement on mental health

The Mental Health Gap Action Programme (mhGAP) proposed by the World Health Organization (WHO) is a planned action that aims at providing uniform medical care, especially mental health care and services, to all people worldwide, regardless of economic status. Because not only the levels of medical care, but also the political and economic situations vary among countries, it is extremely difficult for a plan to be successfully implemented in every country with standardized methodology, even if the directionality is ethically correct and ideal. Against this background, authorized personnel provide mental health care activities across the globe, and they report on activities and promote mutual understanding at the WHO mhGAP Forum, an informal meeting convened yearly in Geneva. The 5th mhGAP meeting was attended by 48 member states and 58 partner organizations. From Japan, 5 professionals attended the meeting and presented different viewpoints. Among various policies proposed at the Forum, one in particular about training and recruiting health professionals for low-income countries has gained a special consensus. In addition, the importance of training medical professionals who are not specialized in psychiatry and the importance of developing educational programs for educators were emphasized. It is important for Japan to proactively participate in mhGAP to contribute to global mental health initiative

Clinical and Biological Overlap between Schizophrenia, Autism Spectrum Disorder, and Trauma and Stress-Related Disorders: The Three-Tree Model of SCZ-ASD-TSRD

There is significant overlap in the clinical and neurobiological profiles of schizophrenia (SCZ), autism spectrum disorder (ASD), and trauma- and stress-related disorders (TSRDs); moreover, they often co-occur as comorbid disorders. Although current international classification criteria and those in the psychiatry/psychology field recognize such comorbidities, the assessment and treatment of these patients are provided as independent disorders. In this chapter, we summarize the current understanding of the attributes shared by the three disorders and discuss the possible contributors to the development of SCZ, ASD, and TSRD, which include environmental, genetic, and biological factors. We also propose a three-tree model that represents the clinical and biological relationships among the three diseases as a new perspective for assessing and treating these disorders. A comprehensive understanding of these disorders will enable improvements in medical care for patients with these illnesses

The prevalence of insomnia and restless legs syndrome among Japanese outpatients with rheumatic disease: A cross-sectional study

The prevalence of symptomatic insomnia and the prevalence of restless legs syndrome (RLS) are known to be higher among patients with rheumatic diseases compared to the general population. The prevalences of insomnia and RLS reported in a questionnaire by Japanese patients with rheumatic diseases at an outpatient clinic were analyzed herein. The association between the patients\u27 disease activity and their sleep quality was analyzed. Of 121 rheumatic disease patients, 70 were enrolled. The median (interquartile range) age at enrollment was 62.0 (47.8-68.0) years. There were 58 women (82.9%) and 12 men (17.1%), and 43 patients (61.4%) with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), nine (12.9%) with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), and 18 (25.7%) with other rheumatic diseases. Twenty patients (28.6%) had one or more moderate-to-severe insomnia symptoms, and 10 (14.3%) were diagnosed with RLS. Among the patients with RA, the swollen joint count based on a 28-joint assessment (SJC28) was significantly higher in the insomnia group (n = 13) compared to the non-insomnia group (n = 30) (p = 0.006). A classification and regression tree (CART) analysis showed that the cut-off points of ?3 mg/day prednisolone (PSL) treatment and <16.54% as the transferrin saturation (TSAT) value would best predict RLS in rheumatic disease. Patients with rheumatic disease had a high prevalence of symptomatic insomnia and RLS. A higher dose of PSL and lower TSAT were associated with the occurrence of RLS. Copyright