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Sensitizers are used to prepare photosensitive materials for ink-printing and thermal-recording media. Typical sensitizers contain an aromatic ring and exhibit aryl hydrocarbon receptor-mediated activity. They can accumulate in aquatic biota, leading to the disruption of ecosystems. Effluent from paper recycling plants has been identified as a source of contamination, and the presence of sensitizers in toilet paper may represent a new source of contamination in aquatic environments. To examine possible sources of contamination by sensitizers, this study investigated the levels of sensitizers in recycled toilet paper. We also studied the prevalence of sensitizers in rivers receiving effluents from sewage treatment plants in Japan, from 2020 to 2022. We detected eight sensitizers and related compounds in both toilet paper and river water samples; their total concentrations ranged from 0.78 to 34 µg/g (mean: 12 µg/g) in toilet paper and 58–1167 µg/L (median: 77 µg/L) in water. In the water samples, sensitizers were partitioned between liquid and suspended solid phases, and in suspended solids, sensitizers accounted for an average of 42% of the total. Correlation analysis showed a high correlation between sensitizer composition in the water from a river receiving sewage treatment plant effluents and toilet paper. Since these compounds were also detected in the river water analyzed in this study, toilet paper should be considered a novel source of sensitizers contamination in sewage treatment systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The properties of handmade paper used for mounting and conservation of paintings and calligraphy on paper is crucial to the quality and lifespan of such objects. Mounting papers from China, Korea, and Japan vary greatly in performance due to different papermaking methods and fibre materials. In this study, eight types of handmade paper widely used in China, Korea, and Japan were selected for comprehensive comparative analysis investigating their pH as well as optical, mechanical, and ageing properties. The study showed that traditional hanji, improved hanji, and thin Mino paper made of pure kozo fibres performed best in terms of mechanical properties. Among the additives mixed with kozo fibres, clam shell powder was identified as a substance that improves pH and stability of optical properties. Xuan paper Mianliao was found to be a suitable material for mounting hand scrolls and hanging scrolls due to its softness and ageing properties. Traditional hanji, improved hanji, and thin Mino paper are less flexible than xuan paper Mianliao and are considered more suitable for uses other than for mounting scrolls. This study will provide a reference for improving the quality of handmade paper and a theoretical basis for the selection of such papers for the conservation of paintings and calligraphy on paper. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The frequency‐domain dielectric spectroscopy (FDS) of humid insulating paper has been measured at different temperatures. The data show three independent dielectric processes: electrode polarization, hopping conductivity and interfacial polarization. The dielectric properties of humid insulating paper are composed of hopping conductivity and interfacial polarization, and its equivalent dielectric model can be represented by a Havriliak‐Negami (HN) relaxation branch parallel hopping conductivity. At high temperatures and low frequencies, the measured dielectric spectroscopy bends downward, which is caused by the electrode polarization. In this case, the equivalent dielectric model is composed of the body impedance of insulating paper and the electrode polarization in series. According to the equivalent dielectric model, the components of electrode polarization, hopping conductivity, and interface polarization can be separated, thereby eliminating the parasitic effect of electrode polarization on the dielectric properties of insulating paper. Both of hopping conductivity and interface polarization of insulating paper move toward high‐frequency direction with temperature increasing. For humid insulating paper with a moisture content of 5.9%, the activation energies of hopping conductivity and interface polarization are 1.18 and 0.99 eV, respectively. This difference in activation energies results in the inability of the spectrums of insulating paper to overlap with each other at different temperatures. Based on the insulating paper without oil immersion, the results obtained in this article are not affected by oil or oil‐immersion operations. This provides a reference for exploring the dielectric properties and physical mechanisms of oil‐paper composite insulation materials widely used in high‐voltage equipment. © 2023 Institute of Electrical Engineer of Japan and Wiley Periodicals LLC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Assessment of the aging of oil‐paper insulation is analyzed in this article, based on an improved fractional Poynting‐Thomson model, which includes dc and hopping conductivity (P‐T model2). Based on samples of oil paper produced in laboratories with different thermal aging times, it has been found that the proposed improved model provides a better fit and a higher index of coincidence concerning the measured values than the traditional P‐T model and the model that only incorporates the effect of dc conductivity (P‐T model1). Nevertheless, comparing the proposed improved P‐T model with the traditional Cole–Cole (C‐C), Davidson–Cole (D‐C), and Havriliak–Negami (H‐N) models, the improved P‐T model2 also demonstrated a superior fit for the measured value and a higher coincidence index than another model. In addition, there was an excellent exponential relationship between the quantities εa, εb and τ of the improved model and the furfural content of the samples. Consequently, these characteristic quantities could be utilized to estimate the furfural content in the oil‐paper insulation and evaluate the insulation's condition. © 2023 Institute of Electrical Engineer of Japan and Wiley Periodicals LLC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Traditional papermaking was a significant innovation that intrigued the information-sharing society in a wide range of the globe. The importance of finding the historical background hidden behind the historical traditional paper is critical to understanding societies in history. Advanced molecular biological research is applied to many forensic studies to identify the origin and criminal events. Yet, biological research refrained from the heritage science of traditional papers due to its damage to the samples. The current study explores the Pearson correlation between DNA in traditional paper and non-destructive measurement of characteristics of traditional paper. DNA concentration and purity were found to have a proportional relationship based on the CIEL*a*b* color system. The color of the traditional paper was assessed assessment shows green and yellow rather than red and blue. The DNA concentration demonstrated a positive linear correlation with the peaks of 992 cm−1, 1599 cm−1, and 1628 to 1638 cm−1 region, which were lignin-specific functional groups. The presence of lignin in traditional paper defines the colors green and yellow, which is related to the presence of a cell wall. The quantity of cell walls present is linked to DNA survival during the traditional papermaking process. Furthermore, the partial least square (PLS) regression model is established. The prediction model based on DNA, paper properties, and smoothing + the second derivative preprocessed attenuated total reflection-Fourier-transform infrared (ATR-FTIR) spectral data demonstrated valid purity predictions. The evaluation parameter of the cross-validated prediction model contains a low Root Mean Square Error of Cross-Validation (RMSECV) of 0.091 for DNA purity. The determination coefficient was close to 1. However, the further establishment of a validated DNA extraction methodology is required for the consistency of the prediction model for DNA concentration. The hierarchical clustering analysis demonstrated the agglomerative dendrogram on traditional paper samples. For the dendrogram, the Nasu paper mulberry (originating in northern Japan) was distinguished from another paper mulberry (originating in southwestern Japan) by clustering. By multivariate statistical analysis, the DNA presence and quality were predictable from the Japanese traditional papers. In addition, the clustering analysis provided the possible origin of paper mulberry materials for traditional papers. Based on the preliminary information, the need for DNA analysis on historical traditional paper can be determined. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The partial discharge in the converter transformer will cause the carbonization of the insulating paper. The high concentration of free carbon particles generated from the insulating paper during the operation of the converter transformer will cause partial discharge, which will aggravate the insulation performance deterioration. For the bi‐directional interaction of carbon particles and partial discharge, the mechanism of insulating paper carbonization caused by partial discharge and the effect of carbon particles on the dielectric strength of oil paper are studied. In this paper, we construct a simulation system of amorphous cellulose to study the carbonization mechanism of insulating paper from the microscopic level. Furthermore, we build a DC voltage experimental platform to carry out partial discharge damage tests of oil‐paper insulation models and to measure the changes in the breakdown voltage with different carbon particle concentrations and diameters. The results show that partial discharge speeds up the cleavage rate of cellulose, generates low molecular hydrocarbon gas and water molecules, and the carbon atoms rearrange into PAH‐like molecules with aliphatic side chains. The surface of the insulating paper will carbonize, then form free carbon particles after peeling off. Afterward, the carbon particles in insulating oil accumulate in the high electric field area and attach to the insulating paper, which will cause electric field distortion and reduce the dielectric strength of oil‐paper insulation. With the increase of carbon particle concentration and diameter, the breakdown voltage of oil‐paper insulation decreases gradually. © 2023 Institute of Electrical Engineer of Japan and Wiley Periodicals LLC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The XY model of oil‐paper insulation connects the dielectric properties of oil, paper and oil‐paper system. Its equivalent circuit is the basis of the application of dielectric response technology in the state diagnosis of transformer oil‐paper insulation. To better apply the XY model to the study of the dielectric properties of oil‐paper insulation, the dielectric properties of the coaxial oil‐paper insulation system built in the laboratory, XY model and its equivalent circuits are compared. Then an improved circuit of XY model which can reflect the properties of the oil‐paper insulation more truly is proposed. The results show that there is no difference between the XY model and the coaxial model, and both can well characterize the oil‐paper insulation system. The two equivalent circuits of XY model, "Series to Parallel" circuit and "Parallel to Series" circuit, ignore the current tangential component and the electric field distortion in oil‐paper insulation, respectively, resulting in deviations from the XY model. By introducing a new branch C*XY, the improved circuit can reflect the tangential current and electric field distortion in oil‐paper insulation, which can be completely equivalent to XY model. In addition, there is a characteristic frequency point in the oil‐paper insulation system, where the dielectric loss factor tan δ of oil, paper and oil‐paper system are the same. There is no difference between the XY model and its two equivalent circuits at this point. The characteristic frequency is determined by the dielectric properties of oil and paper, and not affected by the insulation structure. © 2022 Institute of Electrical Engineers of Japan. Published by Wiley Periodicals LLC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rice-paper plant, Tetrapanax papyrifer is a woody plant native to Taiwan and widely distributed in western Japan. Due to its low commercial value, little is known about its interactions with microorganisms. Here, we isolated Neofusicoccum parvum, a known causal agent of grape stem rot and mango stem-end rot, from leaf blight on T. papyrifer. Compared to mango isolate, N. parvum from rice-paper plant showed comparable virulence on grape stem and mango fruit. N. parvum strains exhibited pathogenicity on a variety of common weeds, which may act as disease reservoirs and boost N. parvum prevalence in commercially grown mango and grape. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

When toilet paper disappeared from store shelves across Japan in November 1973, the housewives who searched their neighborhood markets and stood in long lines for the scarce packs were described as unwitting perpetrators of a "toilet paper panic." The word "panic" evoked well-established notions of a social frenzy, irrational and overwrought. This article overturns a conception of panic laden with condescension and adopts, instead, a more empathetic approach to examining why a run on toilet paper and other daily necessities occurred in late 1973, and why it resonated so deeply across Japan as a "panic." In the broader context of the early 1970s, the toilet paper scare and its characterization as a "panic" can be understood as responses to sweeping and multifaceted economic challenges that destabilized daily life and threatened to upend middle-class lifestyles. After more than fifteen years of high economic growth, that sense of middle-class comfort and security was shaken by shortages and inflation as well as mounting evidence of government ineptitude and corporate profiteering. Buffeted by insecurity and uncertainty, Japanese "middle-classness" as both an experience and an ideal had never seemed as vulnerable as it did in the early 1970s. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since deep low‐frequency tremors are considered to be associated with large earthquakes that occur adjacently on the same subducting plate interface, it is important to investigate tremors that occurred before the establishment of modern seismograph networks such as the High Sensitivity Seismograph Network (Hi‐net). We propose a deep‐learning solution to detect evidence of tremors in scanned images of paper seismogram records from over 50 years ago. In this study, we fine‐tuned a convolutional neural network (CNN) based on the Residual Network, which was pre‐trained using images of synthetic waveforms from our previous study, using a data set comprised of images generated from real seismic data recorded digitally by Hi‐net to facilitate a supervised analysis. The fine‐tuned CNN was able to predict the presence or absence of tremors in the Hi‐net images with an accuracy of 98.64%. Gradient‐weighted Class Activation Mapping heatmaps created to visualize model predictions indicated that the CNN's ability to detect tremors is not degraded by the presence of teleseisms. Once validated using the Hi‐net images, the CNN was applied to paper seismograms recorded from 1966 to 1977 at the Kumano observatory in southwest Japan, operated by Earthquake Research Institute, The University of Tokyo. The CNN showed potential for detecting tremors in scanned images of paper seismogram records from the past, facilitating downstream tasks such as the creation of new tremor catalogs. However, further training using an augmented data set to control for variables such as inconsistent plotting pen thickness is required to develop a universally applicable model. Plain Language Summary: In 2002, deep low‐frequency tremors, which periodically occur with much smaller amplitudes and longer durations than common earthquakes, were discovered owing to the establishment of dense seismic arrays in Japan. These tremors are considered to be associated with megathrust earthquakes because they occur in deeper regions of plate boundaries compared with common earthquakes. Investigating tremors that occurred before the establishment of dense seismic arrays is important since megathrust earthquakes recur on intervals of 100–200 years, and digital records from modern seismic arrays cover only a fraction of that time. In this study, we developed a convolutional neural network based on the Residual Network (ResNet) that extracts tremors from images of waveforms recorded more than 50 years ago, when seismometers drew waveforms directly on drum‐rolled paper using a pen. The proposed ResNet, which was trained on seismogram images generated from synthetic waveforms and real data recorded digitally by modern seismic arrays, was applied to scanned images of paper seismograms recorded from 1966 to 1977 at an observatory in southwest Japan. A list of tremors was successfully obtained; however, further training using data that accounts for variables such as inconsistent plotting pen thickness is required to develop a universally applicable model. Key Points: Convolutional neural network model for detection of deep low‐frequency tremors from seismogram images is proposedThe model trained with seismogram images converted from real seismic data successfully detects tremorsThe detection performances of the trained model for the paper records at the Kumano observatory in southwest Japan are discussed [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Some macroalgae drift on the ocean and are stranded on coasts, and these stranded brown macroalgae are regarded to be degraded by organisms. Alginate is a major component of brown macroalgae. An uncovering of how carbon is cycled through brown macroalgae is needed to deeply understand coastal ecosystems. In this study, to gain insights into metabolism of brown macroalgae and alginate in the organisms, we initially confirmed that supralittoral talitrid amphipods (beach fleas or sandhoppers collected on the Shibagaki coast in Ishikawa Prefecture, Japan) fed on the brown macroalgae. We then isolated bacteria such as Vibrio sp. with alginate-assimilating capability from the gut of the amphipods. Metagenomic analysis of the gut of amphipods housed in several conditions (e.g. macroalgae or paper as feed, non-sterilized or sterilized environment) showed no condition-dependent compositions of bacteria and fungi, but Vibrio sp. were detected at high frequency, in good agreement with the isolation of Vibrio sp. An intervention study using antibiotics showed that amphipods fed on algae or paper at about the same rate in the presence or absence of antibiotics, and that the antibiotics had no effects on the life span. Moreover, intervention with antibiotics completely killed Vibrio sp. and some other bacteria, and had significant effects on the composition of the flora in the gut, with elimination of the variations observed in the guts of amphipods housed without antibiotics. These data suggest that microbes that were killed by antibiotics, including Vibrio sp., in the gut of talitrid amphipods are not essential for assimilation of brown macroalgae. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This position paper prepared by the Japanese Working Group on Integrated Nutrition for Dysphagic People (JWIND) aims to summarize the need for nutritional management in adult patients with dysphagia, the issues that nutrition professionals should address, and the promising approaches as well as to propose a vision for the future of nutritional care for adult patients with dysphagia. JWIND is a joint certification system recognized by the Japan Dietetic Association and the Japanese Society of Dysphagia Rehabilitation; its members are mostly experts known as "Certified Specialist of Registered Dietitian for Dysphagia Rehabilitation." Malnutrition and dysphagia are associated with each other. Therefore, malnutrition detection and intervention are essential for patients with dysphagia. However, evidence on the usefulness nutritional assessment and intervention to ensure appropriate nutritional care remains insufficient. Here, we present current knowledge of the relationship between primary diseases causing dysphagia and malnutrition, the indicators used for nutritional assessment, and nutritional interventions such as texture-modified diet (TMD) quality improvement, oral nutritional supplementation, and comprehensive intervention. We also discuss the current status and issues in nutritional care for adult patients with dysphagia. Furthermore, we have proposed measures that nutrition professionals should consider based on 3 perspectives: nutritional assessment, TMD, and nutritional intervention. Individualized and specialized nutritional management by registered dietitians (RDs) through appropriate assessment of the nutritional status of adult patients with dysphagia is needed. To maintain and improve swallowing function and nutritional status, RDs should intervene from the state of risk or early dysphagia onset, providing individualized care per their expertise as part of a multidisciplinary team. However, systematic clinical practice and research regarding the association of nutrition with dysphagia are currently insufficient. Therefore, further clinical practice and evidence building, including the verification of the efficacy on nutritional support through intervention research, are needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and aims: The excellent physical and chemical properties of Abacá and Japan papers make them one of the most used materials in restoration of cultural assets on paper. The objective of this work is to characterize the fibers that compose them and identify plant genera or species that were used in their manufacture. M&M: Fibers from samples of each paper and previously collected reference plant material were disintegrated. The diagnostic characters of the fibers were observed with a photomicroscope and photomicrographs were taken. Subsequently, the homologous characters were compared by relating the Abacá paper fiber samples with those of Musa sp. and the Japan paper samples with Broussonetia sp. and Euonymus sp. Results: There were coincidences between the diagnostic characters of the paper fibers of Abacá and Musa sp. Regarding the Japan paper samples, there were results consistent with Broussonetia sp. but not with Euonymus sp. Conclusions: According to the results observed between the Abacá paper fibers and the samples of the collected living material, we infer that the Abacá paper contains fibers of Musa sp. In the Japan paper samples, the similarities observed between the diagnostic characters of the fibers with respect to the reference plant samples indicate the presence of Broussonetia sp. fibers. There is no evidence of fibers of Euonymus sp. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The transformer is a core device of the power system, and it is generally considered that the aging of insulating paper is important to the transformer. The aging process of insulating paper is the degradation process of cellulose. If it can be detected regularly, the aging of oil–paper insulating systems can be monitored conveniently. 5‐hydroxymethylfurfural is an important chemical substance produced by cellulose decomposition. It has broad prospects because of its many advantages. The oil–paper insulation system was thermally aged at 80, 90, 100, and 110 °C to measure the concentration of 5‐hydroxymethylfurfural on insulating paper and in transformer oil. In this paper, the concentration of 5‐hydroxymethylfurfural is detected by high‐performance liquid chromatography. The linear correlation coefficient of this method can reach 0.99, and the minimum detected concentration can be reduced to 10 µg/l. Experiments show that the concentration of 5‐hydroxymethylfurfural increases with the aging time, and when degree of polymerization (DP) decreased, the concentration of 5‐hydroxymethylfurfural increased. The correlation coefficient is greater than 0.92, which shows that there is an experimental relationship between the concentration of 5‐hydroxymethylfurfural and DP. The parameters of regression curves are different at different temperatures, but in actual operation, the temperature is low and remains stable. Therefore, 5‐hydroxymethylfurfural is expected to be a new indicator of the aging degree of oil–paper insulation system. © 2020 Institute of Electrical Engineers of Japan. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Inc. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Insulation aging of oiled paper is a common malfunction of transformers. It is of great value to recognize the insulation aging status of oiled paper and predict the service life of transformers using appropriate methods. In this study, an aging state recognition method based on partial discharge was proposed. Partial discharge signals were collected, the feature values were obtained through analysis of the principle component factor, and the state was identified by using a support vector machine. A Weibull distribution‐based method was proposed for the prediction of service life, and the residual life of transformers was determined using failure rate function. Through analysis, it was found that the fault analysis method had an accuracy rate of 80.55% in the recognition of the aging state, which was higher than that of Hidden Markov Model (HMM). In the case analysis, the accuracy rate of the method in recognizing the aging state of 100 transformers reached 82.06%. The accuracy of the failure rate function was also verified in the prediction of service life. This study provides some new ideas for the effective recognition of insulation aging of oiled paper in transformers and the prediction of service life. © 2019 Institute of Electrical Engineers of Japan. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Inc. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the production of facial oil blotting papers, a certain number of papers must be counted before packaging. Currently, the papers are counted by hand, and this is hard work. Also, there are risks of adhesion of dust and wrinkles. In order to solve these problems, we propose a vision‐based approach. After the papers, which are arranged by shifting, are captured, the proposed image processing steps detect the boundaries of the papers. By counting the detected boundaries, the number of papers can be counted. Since the parameters for the proposed image processing are optimized by genetic algorithm, prior setting by a user is not necessary. For the experiments, an image dataset was constructed with six types of facial oil blotting papers. The proposed method achieved higher F‐measure than in other related works. © 2019 Institute of Electrical Engineers of Japan. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Inc. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: To explore the health beliefs of clinical and academic nurses from Japan, Australia and China regarding wearing paper masks to protect themselves and others, and to identify differences in participants' health beliefs regarding masks. Background: The correct use of face masks and consensus among health professionals across the globe is essential for containing pandemics, and nurses need to act according to policy to protect themselves, educate the public and preserve resources for frontline health workers. Paper masks are worn by health professionals and the general public to avoid the transmission of respiratory infections, such as COVID‐19, but there appear to be differences in health beliefs of nurses within and between countries regarding these. Methods: This qualitative descriptive study used content analysis with a framework approach. Findings: There were major differences in nurse participants' beliefs between and within countries, including how nurses use paper masks and their understanding of their efficacy. In addition, there were cultural differences in the way that nurses use masks in their daily lives and nursing practice contexts. Conclusion: Nurses from different working environments, countries and areas of practice hold a variety of health beliefs about mask wearing at the personal and professional level. Implications for nursing policy and health policy: The COVID‐19 pandemic has sparked much discussion about the critical importance of masks for the safety of health professionals, and there has been considerable discussion and disagreement about health policies regarding mask use by the general public. Improper use of masks may have a role in creating mask shortages or transmitting infections. An evidence‐based global policy on mask use for respiratory illnesses for health professionals, including nurses, and the general public needs to be adopted and supported by a wide‐reaching education campaign. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper reflects on the findings of a study that examined the negotiation strategies employed by Filipino and Indonesian caregivers in addressing the challenges encountered as caregivers in Japan. A total of 20 caregivers have been interviewed, 11 of which were from Indonesia, and the remaining nine were from the Philippines. Results reveal that the challenges these caregivers experienced can be rooted to cultural and linguistic and status differentials. To manage these differences, caregivers employ negotiation strategies. Negotiating differences requires the presentation of the self in a likable manner to achieve relational goals. The cultural underpinnings of caregiving led Filipino and Indonesian caregivers view their work positively, thus, device self-negotiation strategies. This paper contributes to the body of knowledge regarding social work in the context of migration, and how economic disparities between host and sending countries recast caregiving work. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly impacted Japanese society, including its relationship with cultural heritage. This paper shares findings of a large-scale web-based survey conducted from January to February 2022, reaching over 10,000 respondents using a smartphone questionnaire system, aimed at answering the following questions: 'What impact has the pandemic had on societies and local communities in Japan?' and 'What policies should be implemented to protect cultural heritage in response to this new situation in Japan?'. A cross-cutting analysis of the collected responses and respondent attributes was performed. The paper offers four recommendations for long- and short-term cultural heritage policies to enhance future protection. Firstly, it emphasizes increasing cultural heritage awareness, targeting youth and the economically disadvantaged. Secondly, it recommends a reassessment of the prevailing policy structures related to temples and shrines. This recognises the traditional role these institutions have played as community gathering places. Thirdly, it emphasizes supporting smaller, rural festivals with financial aid for repairs, promotions, and bridging migrant gaps. Finally, it suggests integrating the younger generation into the cultural heritage discourse through educational initiatives and digital resources, ensuring continued relevance and intergenerational connection to cultural heritage in Japan. These policy suggestions stand as the linchpin for perpetuating cultural heritage and fostering intergenerational engagement therein. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In response to a globalised education context that places increasing pressure on higher education institutions for pedagogical innovation and reform, universities are attempting to carve out more meaningful identities through reimagining campus design. As universities introduce more decentralised spaces, from strictly learning environments to a more collaborative organisation, the boundaries between these and other spaces become more fluid, redefining universities as learning environments. The concept of the Sticky Campus has been gaining currency recently. Emulating trends in 'third places' and popular urban co-working spaces, a Sticky Campus blurs the boundaries between study and living by incorporating areas for relaxation, social interaction, group learning, eating or study. Moreover, Sticky Campuses offer opportunities for shared meaning-making amongst faculty, students and the broader community. This paper introduces the contemporary concept of the Sticky Campus and explores its viability in Japanese institutional settings. Given the Sticky Campus concept has emerged from a predominantly Western lens, this paper provides a commentary on whether the concept is transferable into non-Western cultural settings such as Japan. Such a discussion is crucial for Japanese university transformations in the twenty-first century, as the higher education sector considers its options in transitioning to post-COVID conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

PurposeMethodology/approachFindingsResearch implicationsPractical implicationsOriginalityExtensive research has been conducted on cross-cultural comparisons between Eastern and Western organizational cultures in major trading domains. However, there is a lack of examination of intra-comparative management nuances within Asian regions. This research paper focuses on the under-explored topic of the values, beliefs, and attitudes (VBAs) that influence the outcomes of East Asian (e.g. Japan) marketing strategies and operations when implemented in South Asian (e.g. India) markets and organizational contexts. The study aims to analyze the impact of VBAs on marketing effectiveness and provide insights for marketers in cross-cultural settings. The article analyzes the customer satisfaction orientation (CSO) of Japanese business executives and draws insights that offer lessons related to cultural VBAs for overall marketing strategy and foreign investors.The paper employs a social constructivist paradigm and gathers empirical research through multiple interviews. These facilitate novel and normally rare access and insights into Japanese business leaders’ lived experience of CSO in B2B Indian intercultural situations.Interpretivist data analysis reveals several push-pull factors that influence CSO practice. The research identifies shared values such as long-termism and harmony that have the potential to boost CSO as a marketing strategy in India.The paper develops a conceptualization of cultural VBAs that lead to successful CSO practice in India and is of relevance to foreign investors.This study suggests that East Asian marketers should carefully consider the impact of VBAs on their marketing strategies. Our research sheds light on the ongoing discussion on static versus evolving nature of culture and highlights the need to pay attention to cultural change, particularly congruence and confluence in workplace values.The intercultural study contributes to the literature on international marketing strategy by highlighting the nature and importance of understanding traditional and evolving cultural VBAs for appreciating receptivity to adoption and thereby efficacy of home country marketing strategy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractDespite a clear and common threat from North Korea, why has the security cooperation between Japan and South Korea been less developed than the security cooperation between Australia and Japan? This paper explains this puzzle by focusing on policymakers’ perceptions of the rise of China. The paper concludes that, not only historical issues between Japan and South Korea, but different threat perceptions of China between Australia, Japan, and South Korea can best explain why Australia-Japan security cooperation has developed more than Japan-South Korea security cooperation in terms of the degree of institutionalization and the scope of cooperation. Throughout the post-Cold War era, Australian and Japanese policymakers were increasingly concerned about the rise of Chinese power and influence. This has ultimately led Tokyo and Canberra to strengthen their bilateral and trilateral cooperation with the United States as a means of hedging or balancing against the rise of China. On the other hand, South Korean policymakers were less concerned about China and more concerned about North Korean threat. Indeed, some Korean policymakers understood China as the indispensable power to maintain peace and stability in the Korean Peninsula. Thus, many Korean policymaker were reluctant to enhance security cooperation with Japan in areas beyond Northeast Asia. However, with rapidly changing security environments and the intensifying U.S.-Sino rivalry, as well as deteriorating relations with China, Korean policymakers’ perceptions of China have become increasingly closer to those of Australia and Japan. Accordingly, there has been growing momentum for stronger security cooperation between Japan and South Korea not only in Northeast Asia, but also in broader Indo-Pacific. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper critically considers the concept of 'productive aging,' maintaining that although the term emerged as an effort to aid older people, it may be normative and potentially coercive. The paper illustrates this premise through an examination of Japan, through analysis of interviews conducted over decades, and, more fully, an analysis of advice books for Japanese seniors over the past twenty years. These advice books show how seniors in Japan are now increasingly urged to find contentment in old age as they themselves see fit, without concern over 'contributing to society.' In crucial respects, Japan has been moving from 'productive aging' to 'happy aging' as a guide for how to age. The paper then considers the judgment inherent in the term 'productive aging'—are some forms of aging better than other forms of aging?—by examining competing conceptions of happiness, advocating on the basis of this examination that the term 'productive aging' be replaced by 'happy aging.' [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Concentrations of product gases CO, H 2 , and hydrocarbons varied by feedstock. • Concentrations of CH 4 and tar were similar for different feedstocks. • Higher ER showed lower tar concentration. It ranged 2.5–14.0 g/Nm3 -dry. • ER of 0.4 was an optimal gasification condition for a GE power generation. Energy recovery from small and medium scale waste thermal treatment facilities in the municipalities of Japan is challenging, owing to low power generation efficiency and high economic demands. Gas Engine (GE) generation is considered an efficient resource utilization method in these facilities. In this study, new and consistent feedstock, Refuse Paper and Plastic Fuel (RPF), and wood pellets were tested in an air-blown Fluidized Bed Gasifier (FBG) for syngas utilization in a GE. With temperatures ranging from 700 to 940 °C and varying Equivalence Ratios (ER) of 0.3–0.5, some of the most important product gas characteristics were analyzed, including the Lower Heating Value (LHV) and tar concentration levels. Gas composition results revealed that the concentration tendencies varied for the product gases CO, H 2 , and hydrocarbons, depending on the feedstock type, whereas the same tendencies were observed for CH 4 and tar concentrations. Through the ER range, the LHV of product gas for RPF and wood pellets was 3.4–5.9 MJ/Nm3. Tar concentrations decreased to 2.5–14.0 g/Nm3 -dry as the ER was raised. The optimal ER for LHV performance in GE generation was approximately 0.4 for RPF and wood pellets, and remaining tar concentrations were about 5.0 g/Nm3 -dry at the gasifier exit. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Travertines are hot spring carbonate deposits that exhibit characteristic fabrics, including a paper-thin raft and a coated bubble formed by the calcification of water and bubble surfaces, respectively. A previous study interpreted that compared with the water surface, the bubble surface displays more active CO 2 degassing and resultant active CaCO 3 precipitation. However, considering the CO 2 partial pressure and the volumes of atmosphere and bubbles, it is possible that more active CO 2 degassing occurs on the water surface. In addition, the surfaces of water and bubbles at the travertine-depositing sites are negatively charged, but it is still unclear whether the CaCO 3 nucleation on these surfaces occurs via amorphous precursors, like the CaCO 3 nucleation on negatively charged organic matter. This study provides a solution to these uncertainties by examining the aragonitic travertines formed in the Nagayu area of Japan. Through field observations, two types of paper-thin rafts were recognized: one with a smooth surface and formed in approximately 1 h, and the other with a rough surface and formed in approximately 3 h. In addition, the bubbles generated on the microbial mat during the daytime were covered with white minerals within an hour, and with ivory-colored minerals over 8 h after sunset, forming firm coated bubbles. Microelectrode measurements revealed that the active CO 2 degassing on the water surface significantly increased the CaCO 3 saturation state to cause active CaCO 3 precipitation. In contrast, less active CO 2 degassing on the bubble surface did not increase the saturation state, and moderate CaCO 3 precipitation occurred due to the moderately high saturation state of the hot spring water. Various microscopic observations revealed that the smooth-surfaced paper-thin raft comprises a micritic layer of approximately 10–20 μm, which represents tightly arranged submicron-sized granular aragonite. At the lower surface of this layer, hemispherical aragonite partially grew toward the hot spring water. In addition, the rough-surfaced paper-thin raft and coated bubble comprise bundled and acicular aragonites arranged along the surfaces of water and bubble, from which hemispherical aragonite grew toward the hot spring water. Neither the paper-thin raft nor the coated bubble contains primary amorphous CaCO 3. These results suggest that the smooth-surfaced paper-thin raft is formed by active CaCO 3 nucleation on the water surface and subsequent crystal growth, and that the water surface is unfavorable for preserving the amorphous precursors potentially involved in the nucleation. The rough-surfaced paper-thin raft and the coated bubble could have been formed by the attachment of externally formed acicular aragonite to the water/bubble surface and subsequent crystal growth. The revealed formation processes of the paper-thin raft and coated bubble provide valuable information for interpreting their formation mechanism in other travertine deposits, including those in the geological past. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Numerous socio-legal factors make the process of surrogate decision-making for people living in dementia very complicated in Japan. In this discussion paper, we argue that the lack of early consultation between patients, surrogate decision-makers and healthcare providers and the overreliance of patients and their families on doctors to assume the decision-making role lead to healthcare practices that may not align with the patient's wishes. Further, we argue that lack of laws on surrogate decision-making, changing family structure and the liabilities associated with the care of people living with dementia contribute to the complexity of the decision-making process in Japan. Finally, given the rapidly changing social and healthcare norms in Japan, we call for greater involvement of nurses and care workers in the decision-making process to ensure patient-centric treatment and care are adopted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aromatic sensitizers and related compounds (SRCs) originating from thermal recording material as impurities in waste paper have been detected in aquatic environments near cities where the paper industry is flourishing. In the present study, the levels of exposure to such SRCs and the stable isotope ratios (δ13C and δ15N) in different fish species ( Konosirus punctatus, Takifugu niphobles, and Tribolodon hakonensis) were analyzed. These fish species were collected from the vicinity of waste paper recycling plants in Japan. Eleven SRCs were identified in fish muscle at total concentration levels (ΣSRCs) of 64 to 818 ng/g wet weight (mean 181 ng/L wet wt). The dominant SRCs in the fish samples were 1,1-di(4-methylphenyl)ethane, 1,2-bis(3-methylphenoxy)ethane, and 1,4-dibenzyloxybenzene. Stable isotope ratios showed that, although three species feed on the same trophic level, K. punctatus and T. niphobles live in waters farther offshore than those in which T. hakonensis live. The contributions of various factors to the accumulation were also assessed. The lipid content ( r2 = 0.512, p < 0.001) was found to be the significant factor that influenced accumulation of SRCs in fish. The results also revealed significant positive correlation between the accumulation patterns and SRC components in water ( r2 = 0.512-0.658, all p values <0.05), but they showed negative correlations between the SRCs in fish and log KOW values. This suggests that the aqueous route is the predominant route for the accumulation of SRCs in fish. This is the first study on the accumulation of aromatic sensitizers in aquatic biota. Environ. Toxicol. Chem. 2012;31:1202-1208. © 2012 SETAC [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The increasing presence of e-books (electronic books) has become a major focus in countries around the world. In the United States, e-books represented 28% of the total book sales for 2012. In Japan, the conversion from paper books to e-books is expected to accelerate by the prevalent use of smartphones and tablet PCs. It is therefore important to quantitatively evaluate the environmental load of paper books and e-books for a sustainable society. In this study, paper books are compared to e-books read on different electronic devices (e-ink tablets, tablets, cell phones, smartphones, laptop computers, desktop computers and portable music players) through a case study on a 224-page book. The study is based on key primary data such as use time and reading speed for each device and aims to minimize assumptions made in other studies. GHG emissions for paper books are 1.24 kg-CO 2 e/book, and are reduced to 1.11 kg-CO 2 e/book when the effect of paper recycling is taken into consideration. The results for e-books under average use-time conditions range from 0.25 to 0.91 kg-CO 2 e/book with the e-ink tablet having the lowest emissions. When the average use time of each e-book device is applied, the paper book has a higher impact than all the e-books. However, sensitivity analysis shows that the impact of paper books can be lower than that of e-books for larger screen devices such as tablets, laptops and desktops when the reuse of books is considered or the e-book reading device is hardly used during its life cycle. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This report was written by the Japanese Society of Dysphagia Rehabilitation, the Japanese Association of Rehabilitation Nutrition, the Japanese Association on Sarcopenia and Frailty, and the Society of Swallowing and Dysphagia of Japan to consolidate the currently available evidence on the topics of sarcopenia and dysphagia. Histologically, the swallowing muscles are of different embryological origin from somatic muscles, and receive constant input stimulation from the respiratory center. Although the swallowing muscles are striated, their characteristics are different from those of skeletal muscles. The swallowing muscles are inevitably affected by malnutrition and disuse; accumulating evidence is available regarding the influence of malnutrition on the swallowing muscles. Sarcopenic dysphagia is defined as dysphagia caused by sarcopenia of the whole body and swallowing‐related muscles. When sarcopenia does not exist in the entire body, the term "sarcopenic dysphagia" should not be used. Additionally, sarcopenia due to neuromuscular diseases should be excluded; however, aging and secondary sarcopenia after inactivity, malnutrition and disease (wasting disorder and cachexia) are included in sarcopenic dysphagia. The treatment of dysphagia due to sarcopenia requires both dysphagia rehabilitation, such as resistance training of the swallowing muscles and nutritional intervention. However, the fundamental issue of how dysphagia caused by sarcopenia of the swallowing muscles should be diagnosed remains unresolved. Furthermore, whether dysphagia can be caused by primary sarcopenia should be clarified. Additionally, more discussion is required on issues such as the relationship between dysphagia and secondary sarcopenia, as well as the diagnostic criteria and means for diagnosing dysphagia caused by sarcopenia. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2019; 19: 91–97. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In nonclinical safety studies for new drug development, healthy animals have been commonly used. However, in some cases, the use of animal models of human disease is considered to be more favorable in evaluating risks in patients. To elucidate the current status of the use of animal models for nonclinical safety assessment, an internal questionnaire from the Japan Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Association and surveys (questionnaire period: August 27 to September 30, 2015) of both common technical documents and review reports of approved drugs (approval period: May 1999 to May 2017) disclosed by the Pharmaceutical and Medical Devices Agency were conducted. Although there were some concerns and limitations raised, the survey results revealed that animal models have been used in nonclinical safety assessment on a case-by-case basis and that nonclinical safety studies using animal models were included in the data packages of several approved drugs in Japan. The survey results also revealed that nonclinical safety studies using animal models have become more frequent in the past few years. In almost all cases, useful information, such as signs of toxicity under disease conditions and mechanisms of toxic change, was obtained from the results of nonclinical studies using animal models. Note: This is an opinion article submitted to the Toxicologic Pathology Forum. It represents the views of the author(s). It does not constitute an official position of the Society of Toxicologic Pathology, British Society of Toxicological Pathology, or European Society of Toxicologic Pathology, and the views expressed might not reflect the best practices recommended by these Societies. This article should not be construed to represent the policies, positions, or opinions of their respective organizations, employers, or regulatory agencies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We conducted an event study on the concealment of the blending ratio of waste paper with virgin pulp in Japan. By investigating 10 companies in the paper industry between May 30, 2007 and January 18, 2008, we clearly show that stock prices of the relevant companies were affected by the news on the concealment of the blending ratio of waste paper. In addition, the impact of the second event was found to be greater than that of the first event. Therefore, the concealment of major companies negatively affects the stock prices of non-major companies, which did not conceal information during this period. Thus, bad news is negatively assessed by the market, and this influence has spread in the paper industry in general. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: A novel carbon paper has been prepared by pyrolysis from traditional Japanese paper called washi in Japan, which is mainly composed of cellulose microfibers. The washi was iodine-treated before pyrolysis. The effect of iodine-treatment on pyrolysis of the washi was investigated using thermogravimetric analysis. The structural and electrical properties of the carbon papers were also investigated using Raman scattering, X-ray diffraction, electron microscopy, and resistivity measurements. The iodine-treatment prevents cellulose from thermally decomposing and is effective in increasing the carbon yield and retaining its fibrillar structure. Porous carbon papers consisting of many micro and nanofibrils were prepared by the pyrolysis of the iodine-treated washi at 800°C. Those prepared at 800°C and then heat-treated at higher temperatures than 1800°C show electrical conductivities of 3Scm−1 and 24–27Scm−1. The degree of crystallinity and the electrical conductivity of the papers are improved by the heat treatment at higher temperatures. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The advent of electronic medical records brought image filing systems to many hospitals, as well as electronic endoscopic medical records. However, data integration among multiple different vendors has not yet been accomplished. We start the Japan Endoscopic Database ( JED) Project endorsed by Japan Gastroenterological Endoscopy Society ( JGES) from January 2015. The purposes of this project are as follows: (i) developing the world's largest endoscopic database generated from daily use of the reporting system; (ii) capturing the actual performance of endoscopic practice in Japan; and (iii) standardizing the terminology and fundamental items for registry of clinical studies. Moreover, the JED project has the potential to automatically collect data about adverse events, competency and evaluation of residents, and actual numbers of procedures on a nationwide scale, certification for the specialty board system, and so on. We believe that this design paper will be helpful not only for future nationwide research but also for international research ( UMIN000016093). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Electromagnet coil is mainly composed of enameled wire which wound on the coil skeleton, and the function is to convert the electrical signal into a magnetic signal, which is a very important electric‐magnetic conversion element. When designing the electromagnet coil, usually only the total winding turns and winding inner diameter can be calculated, and the specific design parameters such as the diameter of copper wire, paint layer thickness, and winding turns of each layer can only be selected through experience, indicating that the design method should be improved. In addition, the unreasonable design parameters will seriously affect the power consumption and cost of coil, so it is highly necessary to improve the optimization design method. In order to solve the above problems, an optimization design method for DC electromagnet coil is proposed in this paper. This method simultaneously takes into account both power consumption and manufacturing cost, and can achieve the optimal matching of design parameters. In this paper, the structure of electromagnet coil is introduced, and the theoretical calculation model of resistance is improved first. Then, according to the expected requirements of electromagnet coil for steady current, the optimization design method is proposed and the optimal design parameters are obtained. Finally, the effectiveness of the proposed optimization design method is verified by the test platform of electromagnet coil. The results show that the electromagnet coil designed by the optimization design method fully meets the expected requirements. The relevant research results can provide reference for the optimization design of electromagnet coil, which has a certain engineering practical value. © 2024 Institute of Electrical Engineers of Japan and Wiley Periodicals LLC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While scholars have increasingly focused on the intersectional analysis of tourism and geopolitics, the material and affective dimensions underlying the geopolitical implications of tourism remain underexplored. This paper analyses the Memorial Hall of the Victims in Nanjing Massacre by Japanese Invaders (MH-VNM-JI) in Nanjing, China, focusing on how it sustains and intensifies geopolitical narrations of militarism, fascism, and massacres inflicted by Japanese invaders during WWII through the creation of an affective environment while enacting dark tourism experiences. Drawing on the recent debates on the geopolitics of tourism, affective geopolitics, and the materiality of geopolitics, this paper delineates how the MH-VNM-JI significantly shapes popular geopolitical relations between China and Japan by engineering visitors' affective experiences and, by extension, geopolitical subjectivities. The MH-VNM-JI serves not only as a static tourism infrastructure that transmits fixed and dogmatic geopolitical knowledge through its exhibits but also as a dynamic space that actively preserves and transforms Sino-Japanese geopolitical knowledge through the structuring of tourists' embodied and affective experiences. In this vein, this study also contributes to the broader research agenda of exploring the connections between museums, tourism, and geopolitics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Oil‐immersed transformers as one of the most important equipment in the power system, the fault prediction of it in advance can effectively reduce the subsequent harm. Aiming at the selection of input features and data sample imbalance in the transformer fault diagnosis model, this paper adopts the recursive feature elimination (RFE) method combined with SMOTETomek comprehensive sampling method to optimize the above problems. First, RFE is used to traverse all the features and filter the optimal combination of them as input features, then SMOTETomek is used to perform balancing operation on the samples of the train set, and finally, whale optimization algorithm (WOA) is used to find the best hyperparameters for support vector machine (SVM), and the results are compared with the diagnostic models operated without processing and after single processing operation, respectively. After several sets of experiments, it is proved that the optimized comprehensive fault diagnosis model performs better on the test set than both the untreated and the singly processed models, which proves the effectiveness of the methodology used in this paper. © 2024 Institute of Electrical Engineers of Japan and Wiley Periodicals LLC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper proposes an effective control synthesis strategy to stabilize grid forming converters in the presence of disturbances. The conventional control system for a grid forming converter is based on paralleled and cascaded proportional‐integral (PI) controllers, which are widely used in the industry due to their simplicity and reliability. However, the sequential adjustment of PI gains in different control loops, without consideration of dynamic interconnections limits their performance and capability. To address this limitation, the present paper introduces a control design method based on static output feedback theory. The proposed control scheme reduces the dynamic control design problem to an effective gain scheduling problem. In the proposed methodology, without removing the existing practical control structure, its dynamic parts are moved to the open‐loop system, and simultaneous scheduling of all remaining control gains is achieved during one control design process. MATLAB simulations were conducted to evaluate the performance of the designed control system, and compare it with the conventional control one in terms of step response characteristics. The results demonstrate the superiority of the proposed controller, ensuring system stability and exhibiting improved performance. The proposed control framework provides several advantages, including keeping stability in various disturbance conditions, simultaneous tuning of all control parameters, and no need to change the existing simple control structure. © 2024 Institute of Electrical Engineers of Japan and Wiley Periodicals LLC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wireless power transfer (WPT) technology can completely isolate the equipment from the power supply, and has been widely used. However, the transmission efficiency of WPT system is optimal only as the transmitting coil was completely aligned with the receiving coil. But in practical applications, the mobile devices are all dynamic system, and perfectly alignment of the coils is a very demanding condition. In order to solve this problem, the paper proposed a coil position adaptive adjustment control scheme of WPT system with lateral misalignment or angular misalignment. Firstly, the relationship between transmission efficiency and lateral misalignment and angular misalignment was analyzed. And the research results show that if there is a lateral misalignment between the coils, the transmission efficiency can be optimized by adjusting the angular misalignment. Secondly, based on the hill climbing algorithm, a coil position adaptive adjustment control method was proposed. Finally, a coil position adaptive adjustment WPT system experimental platform was built, and the experimental researches are carried on. The results of the experiment show that as the transfer distance is 0.10 m and the lateral misalignment is 0.12 m, the transfer efficiency can be increased from 38.38% to 55.61% through the proposed control scheme. And the results verify the feasibility and effectiveness of control scheme proposed in the paper. © 2024 Institute of Electrical Engineers of Japan and Wiley Periodicals LLC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The accumulation of snow is one of the essential reasons for the significant decrease in the power generation efficiency of PV stations in winter. For this reason, this paper firstly provides a detailed review of the current research into the physical processes and shedding reasons for the natural melting of snow on PV module surfaces. Then, several common techniques to promote snow and ice melting on PV surfaces are discussed, and the feasibility and shortcoming of ultrasonic technology in removing high‐density snow and ice are analyzed in detail. Finally, this paper proposes two snow sensing technologies for PV modules, namely, image processing method and interdigital capacitance method. Among them, the image method based on fixed camera and UAV detection is more suitable for wide area PV power stations, while the interdigital capacitance method is helpful in obtaining snow characteristic parameters, such as icing type and LWC. The relevant research has certain reference significance for PV power stations to formulate a more reasonable snow removal plan and power generation forecast. © 2024 Institute of Electrical Engineers of Japan and Wiley Periodicals LLC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the semi‐airborne frequency domain electromagnetic detection, strong noise will be generated due to the attitude change of the receiving coil sensor. However, the existing attitude measurement system cannot be directly used in the semi‐airborne frequency domain electromagnetic system because of the requirement on the volume and accuracy of the instrument. In order to reduce the effect of attitude noise, this paper analyzes the cause and influence of attitude noise in the semi‐airborne frequency domain electromagnetic system, and presents the attitude noise correction method based on coefficient rotation matrix and Kalman algorithm. A high‐performance attitude sensor based on (Micro‐Electro‐Mechanical System (MEMS) technology is used to design an attitude measurement system for the semi‐airborne frequency domain electromagnetic system. The calculated result shows that the required accuracy of the roll angle and pitch angle of the attitude measurement system is less than 0.1°, whereas the required accuracy of the yaw angle is lower. In the field application, the apparent resistivity results show that the imaging profile corrected by attitude error is more consistent with local geological data than that without correction. Consequently, the attitude measurement system and correction method proposed in this paper can improve the detection accuracy of the semi‐airborne frequency domain electromagnetic system significantly. © 2024 Institute of Electrical Engineer of Japan and Wiley Periodicals LLC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: The aim of this study is to analyse the risk factors for unplanned readmissions within 1 month after hospital discharge to develop a seamless support system from discharge to home care. Background: With shorter hospital stay lengths, understanding the characteristics of patients with multiple risk factors is important to prevent rehospitalization. Design: This is a single‐centre retrospective descriptive study. Methods: Logistic regression and decision tree analyses were performed using eight items from the records of 3117 patients discharged from a university hospital between April–September 2017 as risk factors. Results: Unplanned readmission risk was significantly associated with emergency hospitalization (odds ratio [OR]: 3.12, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 2.04–4.77), malignancy (OR: 2.16, 95% CI: 1.44–3.24), non‐surgical admission (OR: 1.76, 95% CI: 1.07–2.88), hospital stay of ≥ 15 days (OR: 1.66, 95% CI: 1.14–2.43) and decline in activities of daily living owing to hospitalization (OR: 1.68, 95% CI: 1.06–2.64). The highest risk combinations for rehospitalization were as follows: emergency hospitalization and malignancy; emergency admission, non‐malignancy and a hospital stay of ≥15 days; and scheduled hospitalization, no surgery and a hospital stay of ≥15 days. Conclusions: Patients with multiple risks for unplanned readmission should be accurately screened and provided with optimal home care. Summary statement: What is already known about this topic? Although the characteristics of patients at high risk of rehospitalization include malignancy, heart failure, conditions such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and other diseases prone to recurrence, old age, reduced activities of daily living and emergency hospitalization, few studies have reported on cases with multiple risks. What this paper adds? The most frequent risk types for unplanned readmissions within a month were emergency admissions for malignant tumours, emergency admissions for non‐malignant tumours with a hospital stay of 2 weeks or more and scheduled admissions for non‐surgical purposes with a length of stay of 2 weeks or more. The implications of this paper: The risk of unplanned readmission within 1 month of discharge increased due to a combination of multiple risks.This study helps us identify patients who are at high risk for readmission early in the hospitalization process and in providing nursing support for transition to their homes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper studies the diffusion of battery electric vehicle (BEV) technology in Japan. The diffusion process in this study refers to both the innovation and adoption of BEV technology. While previous studies on BEV technological diffusion focus on policy selection, especially domestic policy, little is known about the connectedness between international and domestic factors in the BEV technological diffusion process. This paper aims to enrich the discussion of technology diffusion by expanding the argument that technology diffusion is not only a domestic problem but also an international relations problem using a case study of BEV technology diffusion in Japan. The findings indicate that two international factors push Japan to diffuse BEV technology: Japanese commitment to the global environmental regime and global competition in BEV manufacturing. However, the domestic institution factor hinders the BEV technology diffusion. The production structures of automobile industries and political economy relations between the automobile industry and the government further complicate the diffusion process of BEV technology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In response to the challenges posed by a rapidly aging society and its associated socio-economic difficulties, the Japanese government has encouraged the adoption of AI and robotics technologies for care. Conspicuous investments in these technologies in Japan underscore the dominance of techno-politics of innovation and the advocacy for the robotization of care practices. Such narratives — disseminated by the Japanese state, industry, media, and academia — often overlook the perspectives of the expected users of these technologies. This paper, rooted in a 14-month-long ethnographic study conducted at robotics labs in Japan and the UK in 2022–2023, examines the performance and ethical implications of technoscientific imaginaries portraying Socially Assistive Robots (SARs) as already reliable, safe, and efficient. It sheds light on the intricate relationship between science, technology, the state, and society, emphasizing their use as instruments of power for state-led national development objectives. Moreover, it exposes how technology is presented, creating an illusion of efficiency while neglecting the necessity of involving society in co-designing and co-producing these technologies. The paper ultimately advocates for responsible innovation, emphasizing in particular the need for user involvement to ensure these technologies are not only more efficient and reliable, but also more accessible, inclusive, and fairer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines how AI ethics has been developed at the national level in Japan, and what this process reveals about broader Japanese state imaginaries of how advanced technology should be developed and used, and what a future with these technologies should look like. Key developments in the Japanese government's approach to AI ethics and governance between 2014 and 2023 are laid out, based on an analysis of official reports and policy documents supplemented by data collected via semi-structured interviews with three expert members of the committees that formulated several key sets of ethical principles. The paper considers Japan's positioning in the global race to develop AI ethics principles over this period, as well as the imaginary of AI within the wider historical context of imaginaries about the knowledge society in Japan. I suggest three ways in which AI ethics has been understood and instrumentalized in the Japanese context, and argue that the main methodology used to date—ELSI—complements the government's utopian and techno-determinist imaginaries of the future while concealing a deeply conservative approach that serves to reproduce structural inequalities and discrimination despite the apparent internationalism and progressive values that are repeatedly expressed in state-promoted ethical principles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In Polistes paper wasps, haploid early males can mate with early emerging females and leave viable offspring. In contrast, diploid early males are eventually sterile because they contribute triploid offspring via diploid sperm. Clarifying the ploidy of early males is important for determining whether early male production is a reproductive strategy for the species. We examined the mating behavior and the ploidy of early males in the Japanese paper wasp, Polistes rothneyi iwatai van der Vecht. Thirteen early males from four colonies were all diploid. Two of the nine early males (22.2%) attempted to mate with females, but only one individual (11.1%) was successful (the female's spermatheca contained spermatozoa). These results suggest that although most early males of P. rothneyi iwatai do not produce offspring, their mating may be linked to the occasional production of triploid females. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Given the Great East Japan Earthquake in 2011, Japan is at a major point to reevaluate its policies on the public communication of science. However, the government's self-reflection on their measures and policies of science communication has been inadequate. This study reviewed and analyzed descriptions of science-related public communication in the successive Japanese white papers on science and technology (S&T) from 1958 to 2015 with quantitative-qualitative hybrid approaches. Traditional enlightenment activities have always been given higher priority, even after the S&T Basic Plan aimed at two-way science communication, and have used such justifications as "the shying-away of young people from S&T," "accountability for research investment," and "problem-solving on issues related to S&T and society," without considering the reality of science communication. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The shift in medical professionalism now considers the well-being of physicians, given the prevalence of burnout and the importance of work-life balance. To reconsider the question 'Why do doctors work for the patient?' and explore the meaning of working as a physician, this study adopts the concept of 'yarigai,' which represents fulfillment and motivation in meaningful work. The authors' research questions are: How do doctors recount experiences of yarigai in caring for patients? What kind of values are embodied in their stories about yarigai? Method: They adopted narrative inquiry as the methodology for this study. They interviewed 15 doctors who were recognized by their colleagues for their commitment to patient-centered care or had demonstrated yarigai in caring for patients. The semi-structured interviews were conducted face-to-face with each participant by the Japanese researchers, yielding 51 cases of patient-doctor interactions. After grouping the interview data, they translated the cases into English and identified four representative cases to present based on the set criteria. Results: From the 51 case studies, they constructed four representative narratives about the yarigai as a physician. Each of them spoke of (1) finding positive meaning in difficult situations, (2) receiving gifts embodying ikigai, (3) witnessing strength in a seemingly powerless human being, and (4) cultivating relationships that transcend temporal boundaries, as being rewarding in working as a physician. The main results of the study, which are the narratives, are described in the main body of the paper. Conclusion: The stories on yarigai gave intrinsic meanings to their occupational lives, which can be informative for students, residents, and young physicians when contemplating the meaning of their work as doctors. Rather than demanding selfless dedication from physicians towards patients, they believe it more important to foster yarigai, derived from the contribution to the well-being of others through patient care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Local knowledge is recognised as a critical element of global energy transition and energy justice. This paper explores the roles local knowledge in the formation of a community organisation responsible for monitoring the nuclear facility operations, governance, and public risk communication. Our case study examines a local nuclear oversight organisation in the Kashiwazaki-Kariwa region in Japan, where suggestions have been made to consider nation-wide institutionalisation of organisations similar to French Commissions Locales d'Information (Local Information Commissions). Our findings reveal the critical roles of three forms of local knowledge, with a particular emphasis on the nuanced yet crucial impact of everyday-life knowledge (seikatsu-chi), a facet not extensively explored in existing studies, in facilitating the establishment of the local organisation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]