Search

要旨 本研究は、1971 年の「『国民教育制度』計画」（NESP) の背景解明の一端として、1960 年代のネパールにおける国民教育制度整備構想について、「国家教育審議会」(ARNEC) 報告書における初等中等教育令を地方教育行政制度の整備に留意しつつ読み解き、再検討することを目的とする。ネパールの教育行政制度の変遷について、1951 年から1971 年は一般に「地方分権化傾向の時代」と表される。しかし、1960 年代初めの教育法規や教育計画の内容に鑑みれば、同国の地方教育行政制度の変遷についてより複雑な側面を確認することができる。すなわち、初等中等教育令は、学校委員会および校長の権限や職務を明確化することで、地方教育における彼らに一定の自律性を確保している。しかし、同法規ならびに教育法に定められる教育行政制度は、総体としては中央集権化されたピラミッド型組織である。こうした1960 年代の教育法規や教育計画に従って整備された教育行政制度は、1971 年以後における教育の高度な中央集権化の礎になったと考えられる。, As part of the clarification of the background of the National Education System Plan (NESP) in 1971, the purpose of this study is to interpret and reconsider the plans for the development of the national education system in Nepal in the 1960s, while paying attention to the development of the local educational administration system in the Primary and Secondary education Code. The period from 1951 to 1971 is generally referred to as the "tendency of decentralization" in regards to the changes in Nepal's educational administration system. However, a closer look at the educational laws and plans of the early 1960s reveals more complex aspects of the changes in the country's local educational administration system. In other words, the Primary and Secondary Education Code clarifies the authority and duties of school managing committees and principals, ensuring them a certain degree of autonomy in local education. However, the education administration system stipulated in this Code and the Education Act is, as a whole, a centralized pyramid-shaped organization. The educational administrative system developed according to the educational laws and educational plans of the 1960s is considered to have been the foundation for the highly centralized education since 1971.

現在の学校には、「障害者の権利に関する条約」に掲げられている教育の理念の実現に向けた合理的配慮への対応が求められている。このことは、「令和の日本型教育」を実現させていくうえでも不可欠である。しかし、各教科の授業と比べると、教科外の教育活動（特別活動等）では、特別な支援が必要な児童生徒への教育支援の在り方が十分ではない。そこで本論文では、特別支援学校における合理的配慮を取り入れた教育方法を対象とし、特別支援学校の実践事例を検討することで、通常級においても援用可能な教育方法について分析、考察を行う。それを踏まえ、すべての児童生徒の発達を促進させる特別支援教育の視点を生かした教育方法について論じる。

The ACUTE HF score is a simple risk score that predicts the prognosis of patients with acute heart failure (HF) using clinical and echocardiographic parameters. As this score was developed for a small European population, we aimed to validate this score in an external population.This retrospective observational cohort analysis included patients hospitalized with acute HF during 2015-2019. Of 744 patients, 703 patients with available ACUTE HF scores were analyzed (75 ± 13 years; 61% male; left ventricular ejection fraction [LVEF] 49 ± 17%). Approximately one-third (34.4%) of the patients had reduced LVEF (40%), and 51.4% exhibited preserved LVEF (≥50%). During a median follow-up of 452 days, primary and secondary outcomes were observed in 110 and 204 patients, respectively. The ACUTE HF score successfully stratified patients for primary (all-cause mortality) and secondary endpoints (a composite of all-cause mortality and heart failure rehospitalization) in Kaplan-Meier analyses (log-rank test, P 0.001). Multivariable Cox proportional hazards models showed that the score was significantly independently associated with both primary and secondary endpoints after adjusted by covariates (P 0.001).We validated the risk prediction ability of ACUTE HF score in an Asian population. This score may be applicable in clinical practice.

The purpose of this study was to investigate axial load resistance of the tibia depending on the thickness of tibial tuberosity osteotomy in medial open-wedge distal tuberosity proximal tibial osteotomy (OWDTO). The hypothesis is that a thin tibial tuberosity osteotomy shows high axial load resistance of the tibia.The OWDTO model was constructed from imitation bones of the tibia. Distal tibial tuberosity osteotomy was performed with thicknesses of 7, 14, and 21 mm (n = 5 for each group). Cyclic axial-load fatigue tests were performed to investigate the strain at five measurement points on the OWDTO model. An axial-load failure test was also performed to investigate the maximum strain for failure.The 7-mm OWDTO model showed a significantly lower stain range than the 14-mm model at the middle part of the lateral hinge (P = 0.0263, mean difference: -852.6 με), posterior part (P = 0.0465, mean difference: -1040.0 με), posterior tibial cortex (P 0.0001, mean difference: -583.4 με), and plate (P = 0.0029, mean difference: -121.6 με). There were no significant differences in the strain at the tibial tuberosity between the groups. The axial load for complete failure was significantly higher in the 7-mm model than in the 21-mm model (P = 0.0010, mean difference: 2577.0 N). The failure points were at the lateral hinges.Thinner distal tibial tuberosity osteotomy is more resistant to axial load and may be recommended for the prevention of tibial and lateral hinge fractures after OWDTO.

Purpose: The effect of the posterior tibial slope (PTS) in cruciate-retaining total knee arthroplasty (CR-TKA) on clinical outcomes remains unclear. We aimed to investigate 1) the effect of alteration of the PTS on clinical outcomes, including patient satisfaction and joint awareness, and 2) the relationship between the patient-reported outcomes, the PTS, and compartment loading. Methods: Based on the alteration of the PTS after CR-TKA, 39 and 16 patients were stratified into increased and decreased PTS groups, respectively. Clinical evaluation was performed by the Knee Society Score (KSS) 2011 and the Forgotten Joint Score-12 (FJS-12). Compartment loading was intraoperatively assessed. Results: KSS 2011 (symptoms, satisfaction, and total score) was significantly higher (p = 0.018, 0.023, and 0.040, respectively), and FJS (“climbing stairs?”) was significantly lower (p = 0.025) in the increased PTS group compared with the decreased PTS group. The decrease in both medial and lateral compartment loading of Δ45°, Δ90°, and Δfull was significantly greater in the increased PTS group than in the decreased PTS group (p < 0.01 for both comparisons). Medial compartment loading of Δ45°, Δ90°, and Δfull significantly correlated with KSS 2011 for “symptom” (r = -0.4042, -0.4164, and -0.4010, respectively; p = 0.0267, 0.0246, and 0.0311, respectively). ΔPTS significantly correlated with medial compartment loading differentials of Δ45°, Δ90°, and ΔFull (r = -0.3288, -0.3792, and -0.4424, respectively; p = 0.0358, 0.01558, and 0.0043, respectively). Conclusion: Patients with increased PTS showed better symptoms and higher patient satisfaction compared with those with decreased PTS following CR-TKA, possibly due to a greater decrease in compartment loading during knee flexion.

Iodine-containing formulations have been widely used to treat iodine deficiency and as antiseptics. Lecithin-bound iodine (LBI) has been approved to treat allergic diseases in Japan; however, its underlying mechanism remains unknown. In this study, we show that LBI ameliorated disease symptoms in an ovalbumin (OVA)-induced allergic rhinitis mouse model. LBI suppressed OVA-specific IgE production by attenuating germinal center (GC) reaction in the draining lymph nodes. The antiallergic effect of LBI is most likely attributed to increased serum iodine levels but not thyroid hormone levels. In vitro treatment of activated B cells with potassium iodide induced ferroptosis by increasing intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) and ferrous iron in a concentration-dependent manner. Accordingly, LBI diets increased ROS levels in GC B cells of the draining lymph nodes. This study suggests that iodine directly promotes ferroptosis in activated B cells and attenuates GC reactions, leading to the alleviation of allergic symptoms.

Mibyou has been defined in traditional oriental medicine as a certain physiological condition whereby an individual is not ill but not healthy; it is also often referred to as a sub-healthy condition. In a society focused on longevity, “Mibyou-care” becomes of primary importance for healthy lifespan expenditure. Functional foods can play crucial roles in Mibyou-care; thus, the search for novel resources of functional food is an important and attractive research field. Mushrooms are the target of such studies because of their wide variety of biological functions, such as immune modulation and anti-obesity and anticancer activities, in addition to their nutritional importance. Basidiomycetes-X (BDM-X; Shirayukidake in Japanese) is a mushroom which has several attractive beneficial health functions. A metabolome analysis revealed more than 470 components of both nutritional and functional interest in BDM-X. Further isolation and purification studies on its components using radical scavenging activity and UV absorbance identified ergosterol, (10E,12Z)-octadeca-10,12-dienoic acid (CLA), 2,3-dihydro-3,5-dihydroxy-6-methyl-4H-pyran-4-one (DDMP), formyl pyrrole analogues (FPA), including 4-[2-foemyl-5-(hydroxymethyl)-1H-pyrrole-1-yl] butanamide (FPAII), adenosine and uridine as major components. Biological activities attributed to these components were related to the observed biological functions of BDM-X, which suggest that this novel mushroom is a useful resource for Mibyou-care functional foods and medicines.

Renal dysfunction includes glomerular dysfunction (GD) and tubular dysfunction (TD); however, there is limited information regarding the prevalence, coexistence, and prognostic relevance of TD and GD among patients with acute heart failure (AHF).Methods and Results:This study reviewed 489 patients with AHF who had undergone testing at the time of their admission to identify GD (estimated glomerular filtration rate60 mL/min/1.73 mAs a significant proportion of patients with AHF had isolated TD and an increased risk of mortality, patients with AHF should be screened for TD even if they do not have GD.

兵庫県立但馬やまびこの郷は公的教育相談機関であり、不登校児童生徒の宿泊体験活動のプログラム（4 泊5 日）を有するユニークな施設である。この先駆けとなる不登校児童生徒の宿泊体験活動を合宿として取り組んできたのが開善塾教育相談研究所である。本論文では、開善塾教育相談研究所がこれまでに取り組んできた合宿に注目し、家庭から合宿参加までどのように不登校生徒をつなぎ、どのような効果を機能させているのかについて検討した。研究方法はエスノグラフィーにより、参与観察者は第2 筆者及び第1 筆者である。分析の結果、参加者の多くは、リアルな生活における様々な体験活動をとおして自信を高め、自尊感情をはぐくむ効果が見られた。

従来、学校で展開される指導・援助の大部分は教師が担ってきた。それが、平成7 年度以降に導入されたスクールカウンセラー関連事業以降、〈教育の専門家である教師〉とは異なる心理や福祉の専門家が新たに学校の職員として位置付けられた。しかし、困難や課題を抱えている生徒やその保護者の援助ニーズに、心理的及び福祉的サービスが適切に利用されているのかを考えると、学校による差が極めて大きい。そこで本研究では、生徒指導及び教育相談に関する教員の意識に着目し、第2 筆者の半構造化面接により収集された定性的データを分析することにより、学校教育における生徒やその保護者等に対する心理・福祉的支援援助の在り方について検討した。

This paper investigates the influence of adding an upper body to a bipedal robot on its stable walking behavior. The robot’s parts are mutually interconnected through an actuator network system. Therefore, the movement pattern of the upper body depends on the type of interactions created with other limbs. Throughout the experiments, various interactions among the different body parts were tested. The results showed that a robot with a motionless upper body exhibited unstable walking behavior. However, once the same upper body was involved and interacted properly, with other body parts, its movement significantly helped to stabilize the behavior of the robot.

Aims Urinary liver‐type fatty acid‐binding protein (L‐FABP) is expressed in proximal tubular epithelial cells and excreted into the urine during tubular injury. We hypothesized that high urinary L‐FABP is associated with poor prognosis in patients with acute heart failure (AHF). Methods and results We analysed 623 patients (74 ± 13 years old; 60.0% male patients) with AHF. Urinary L‐FABP levels were measured at the time of admission and adjusted for the urinary creatinine concentration. The primary endpoint was all‐cause mortality. The median value and interquartile range of urinary L‐FABP levels were 6.66 and 3.37–21.1 μg/gCr, respectively. Urinary L‐FABP levels were significantly correlated with both beta‐2 microglobulin and cystatin C levels; the correlation with the former was higher than that with the latter. During the follow‐up of 631 (interquartile range: 387–875) days, 142 deaths occurred. A high tertile of urinary L‐FABP level was associated with high mortality; this association was retained after adjusting for other covariates (second tertile hazard ratio 1.40, P = 0.152 vs. first tertile; third tertile hazard ratio 1.94, P = 0.005 vs. first tertile). Conclusions Urinary L‐FABP is more closely associated with tubular dysfunction than with glomerular dysfunction. Tubular dysfunction, which was evaluated based on urinary L‐FABP levels, in patients with AHF is associated with all‐cause mortality and is independent of pre‐existing risk factors. L‐FABP should be considered for use in the prognosis of AHF.

Background Although population studies have implicated emotional burden in asthma severity, the underlying genetic risk factors are not completely understood. We aimed to evaluate the genetic influence of a functional single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) in the stress-related μ-opioid receptor gene (OPRM1; A118G SNP, rs1799971) on asthma severity. Methods We initially assessed disease severity in asthmatic outpatients carrying A118G. Using an ovalbumin-induced experimental asthma rodent model harboring the functionally equivalent SNP, we investigated the mechanism by which this SNP influences the allergic immune response. Results Among 292 outpatients, 168 underwent airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR) to methacholine testing. Compared with patients carrying the AA and AG genotypes, those carrying the GG genotype exhibited enhanced AHR. The stress levels were presumed to be moderate among patients and were comparable among genotypes. Compared with Oprm1 AA mice, GG mice demonstrated aggravated asthma-related features and increased pulmonary interleukin-4+CD4+ effector and effector memory T cells under everyday life stress conditions. Intraperitoneal naloxone methiodide injection reduced effector CD4+ T cell elevation associated with increased eosinophil numbers in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid of GG mice to the levels in AA mice, suggesting that elevated Th2 cell generation in the bronchial lymph node (BLN) of GG mice induces enhanced eosinophilic inflammation. Conclusions Without forced stress exposure, patients with asthma carrying the OPRM1 GG genotype exhibit enhanced AHR, attributable to enhanced Th2 cell differentiation in the regional lymph node. Further research is necessary to elucidate the role of the OPRM1 A118G genotype in the Th2 cell differentiation pathway in the BLN.

Recent developments in conversational technologies have attracted researchers to study their applications in recommending items through conversations. It is considered that physical robots, rather than virtual ones, are effective in situations in which robots talk about items near participants. However, in real situations, robots may be required to recommend items that are present but invisible in the scene of the communication. In this study, we conducted a field experiment in a shopping mall to investigate the effects of robot embodiment on recommendation tasks. The robots recommended a dish after talking to participants about their food preferences. We developed a conversational recommendation system and implemented it using physical and virtual robots. The field experiment was conducted in a shopping mall; the visitors were encouraged to participate. The experiment lasted a total of 99 hours (9 hours per day for 11 days) inside and in front of a food court. Although no significant difference in the behavioral aspect was confirmed, the results obtained from 272 conversations suggested that having physical bodies enhanced the satisfaction and agreement with the robots' recommendations.

In a static Lucas tree economy, we propose a model that the representative agent is sensitive to regret, that is, the agent is affected by not only the actual outcome but also value-differences between actual and foregone consequences. Our model generalizes the classical simple regret model pioneered by Bell (1982) and Loomes and Sugden (1982), and makes it possible to derive the equilibrium asset price and to see when the regret effect decreases the price. To verify that our model predicts sufficient decreases of the equilibrium price to explain the empirically high risk premium, we analyze the data of U.S. stock market and GDP growth rates during 1871–2018. The numerical calculation indicates that the estimated equilibrium price is small enough to explain the equity premium puzzle.

Robots are required to be significantly compliant and versatile to work in unstructured environments. In a number of studies, robots have positively exploited the environments during interactions and completed tasks from a morphological viewpoint. Modular robots can help realize real-world adaptive robots. Researchers have been investigating the actuation, coupling, and communication mechanisms among these robots to realize versatility. However, the diverse force transmission among modules needs to be further studied to achieve the adaptive whole-body dynamics of a robot. In this study, we fabricated a modular robot and proposed the realization of force transmission on this robot, by constructing fluid transferable network systems on the actuation modules. By exploiting the physical property variations of the modular robot, our experimental results prove that the robot’s motion can be changed by switching the connection pattern of the system.

Timber frame structures are commonly used in housing construction that use squared-off timber beams, columns, and walls as lateral load-bearing members. A small-size viscous damper can be applied to timber frame houses to reduce damage caused by major earthquakes. Dampers are normally installed inter-story (between adjacent floors) to absorb vibration energy and reduce seismic response. Another method is the cross-story installation wherein a damper is installed between the rooftop and base of the structure across intermediate floors. This study investigated the effectiveness of cross-story installation of a viscous damper by conducting eigenvalue analyses of 2DOF models and earthquake response analyses of a two-story timber frame house subjected to the 2016 Kumamoto earthquake and other major earthquakes. We compared the damping factors and response reduction effects of the cross-story installation with those of conventional inter-story installations. The results showed that the cross-story installation of dampers was more effective than the inter-story installation in terms of reducing story drift. Furthermore, the cross-story installation reduced the number of dampers required for preventing severe damage by half. Finally, the cross-story installation allowed the viscous damper in the first story to absorb vibration energy nearly twice as much as that of the inter-story installation. Therefore, while the cross-story damper is typically installed on an outer frame fixed to the house, our results conclude that it can be applied to an existing house as a seismic retrofitting measure.

Background Echocardiography is a first-line tool for the screening of patients with cardiac dysfunction. However, the mastery of echocardiography requires significant training, and not all medical teams involve an echocardiography specialist. Telemedicine approaches can potentially improve the quality of echocardiography in resource-limited situations. Methods We used a novel tablet-based hand-held ultrasound device that enables tele-ultrasound— a real-time video telecommunication with remote control for ultrasound images. A trainee scanned patients with various cardiovascular diseases and interpreted the images. Subsequently, the same trainee re-scanned the same patients and re-interpreted the same images using tele-ultrasound with an echocardiography specialist. An examination on the same patients by a blinded specialist was considered the gold standard. Results We included 31 patients (median 77 [interquartile range 68–84] years old, 42% women). Mean absolute errors in left ventricular (LV) end-diastolic and end-systolic diameters, visual LV ejection fraction, and tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion decreased significantly after tele-ultrasound advice (5.9 mm, 5.8 mm, 8.6%, and 4.5 to 1.6 mm, 2.8 mm, 0.7%, and 1.8 mm, respectively, all p 50%, 50–35%, or > 35%) and identifying significant valvular heart diseases. Conclusion Real-time tele-ultrasound improved a trainee’s echocardiography results to those of a specialist-level examination. This approach might be helpful in resource-limited medical teams where echocardiographic specialists are not readily available.

In this paper, we present an electrically driven childlike android named ibuki equipped with a wheeled mobility unit that enables it to move in a real environment. Since the unit includes a vertical oscillation mechanism, the android can replicate the movements of the human center of mass and can express human-like upper-body movements even when moving by wheels. Moreover, providing 46 degrees of freedom enables it to perform various human-like physical expressions. The development of ibuki, as well as the implementation and testing of several functions, is described. Finally, we discuss the potential advantages and future research direction of a childlike mobile android.

Food allergy is a type I allergic reaction induced by mast cells and is mainly activated by allergen-specific immunoglobulin (Ig)E. Spi-B is an E26-transformation-specific (Ets) family transcription factor essential for the differentiation and functional maturation of several immune cell subsets, including mast cells. However, the possible involvement of Spi-B in food allergy remains unclear. In this study, we found that Spi-B-deficient mice were highly susceptible to food allergy to ovalbumin (OVA), as indicated by the exacerbation of diarrhea and elevation of serum IgE levels. These pathological changes were associated with enhanced mast cell infiltration into the intestinal lamina propria. Activation of mast cells in the intestinal mucosa was observed in Spib−/− mice, even under physiological conditions. Accordingly, Spi-B deficiency increased the translocation of fluorescently labeled dextran from the lumen to the serum, suggesting increased intestinal permeability in Spib−/− mice. Moreover, Spib−/− mice showed defects in oral tolerance induction to OVA. These data illustrate that Spi-B suppresses the development of food allergies by controlling the activation of intestinal mast cells and by inducing immune tolerance to food allergens.

Computer networks are facing serious threats from the emergence of sophisticated new DGA bots. These DGA bots have their own dictionary, from which they concatenate words to dynamically generate domain names that are difficult to distinguish from human-generated domain names. In this letter, we propose an approach for identifying the callback communications of DGA bots based on relations among the words that constitute the character string of each domain name. Our evaluation indicates high performance, with a recall of 0.9977 and a precision of 0.9869.

Intestinal microbiota-derived metabolites have biological importance for the host. Polyamines, such as putrescine and spermidine, are produced by the intestinal microbiota and regulate multiple biological processes. Increased colonic luminal polyamines promote longevity in mice. However, no direct evidence has shown that microbial polyamines are incorporated into host cells to regulate cellular responses. Here, we show that microbial polyamines reinforce colonic epithelial proliferation and regulate macrophage differentiation. Colonisation by wild-type, but not polyamine biosynthesis-deficient, Escherichia coli in germ-free mice raises intracellular polyamine levels in colonocytes, accelerating epithelial renewal. Commensal bacterium-derived putrescine increases the abundance of anti-inflammatory macrophages in the colon. The bacterial polyamines ameliorate symptoms of dextran sulfate sodium-induced colitis in mice. These effects mainly result from enhanced hypusination of eukaryotic initiation translation factor. We conclude that bacterial putrescine functions as a substrate for symbiotic metabolism and is further absorbed and metabolised by the host, thus helping maintain mucosal homoeostasis in the intestine., Polyamines produced by intestinal bacteria are thought to have beneficial effects on the host. Here the authors show that these polyamines increase regulatory macrophage abundance and are taken up by colonic epithelial cells to enhance colonic barrier function and immunity in mice.

文部科学省が不登校の捉え方を変えてから28 年が経つ。その後、不登校者数は増加を続け、現在なお増加している。この背景には、教員の生徒指導力不足、学校教育問題に係る行政施策、不登校児童生徒への支援・援助のあり方、社会の風潮の変化と共に変わってきた保護者の意識等、様々な要因を挙げることできる。本論文では、スクールカウンセラー及び不登校ひきこもりの訪問相談を専門とする開善塾教育相談研究所の立場から、教員に不可欠な〈教育相談力〉とはどうあるべきかを検討する。方法は、筆者らが関わった事例分析を通して、不登校児童生徒をいかに学校復帰させ、一人一人の進路保障や社会的自立・自己実現をかなえていくかを検討する。

新しい中学校学習指導要領は2021 年度から完全実施されているが、学校における安全教育は学校教育法21 条第8 項「健康、安全で幸福な生活のために必要な習慣を養うこと」に掲げられた目標を達成するために教科・領域において行われる。安全教育の一つである防災教育は、総合的な学習の時間では「地域や学校の特色に応じた課題」として探究課題に例示され、特別活動では学級活動や学校行事に「地域防災」が題材例として示されている。これらを踏まえ本論文では、川口市立鳩ヶ谷中学校における防災教育を柱とした安全教育カリキュラム開発に係る実践研究について報告するとともに、実践された学習活動についてカリキュラムマネジメントの視点から検討した。

The seismic isolation mechanism of the core-suspended isolation (CSI) system comprises a double layer of inclined rubber bearings installed on top of a reinforced core structure. A multilevel structure is then suspended from a hat truss or umbrella girder constructed on the seismic isolation mechanism. The first building to use the CSI system was the Safety and Security Center in Tokyo, Japan, whose structural health monitoring system has detected and recorded 231 earthquake motions since 2006, including the 2011 Tohoku Pacific Earthquake (2011-TPE). The present study estimates the dynamic characteristics of this CSI-equipped building in earthquakes, and the effects of the CSI system are revealed via the observed earthquake records. The temporal changes of the fundamental period and damping factor are estimated from the 2011-TPE; the fundamental period increases with the deformation of the isolation level, whereas the fundamental damping factor is only related weakly to that deformation. The 231 observed earthquake records reveal that the CSI system performs seismic isolation by reducing the response acceleration of the suspended structure by roughly a half for peak ground accelerations exceeding 30 cm/s2. Daily microtremor observations are used to diagnose earthquake damage; the fundamental frequencies in each direction remain almost constant and were not changed by the 2011-TPE.

This research develops a conversational robot that stimulates users’ dialogue satisfaction and motivation in non-task-oriented dialogues that include opinion and/or preference exchanges. One way to improve user satisfaction and motivation is by demonstrating the robot’s ability to understand user opinions. In this paper, we explore a method that efficiently obtains the concept of user preferences: likes and dislikes. The concept is acquired by complementing a small amount of user preference data observed in dialogues. As a method for efficient collection, we propose a dialogue strategy that creates utterances with the largest expected complementation. Our experimental results with a female-type android robot suggest that the proposed strategy efficiently obtained user preferences and enhanced dialogue satisfaction. In addition, the strength of user motivation (i.e., long-term willingness to communicate with the android) is only positively correlated with the android’s willingness to understand. Our results not only show the effectiveness of our proposed strategy but also suggest a design theory for dialogue robots to stimulate dialogue motivation, although the current results are derived only from a female-type android.

Humans can express their emotions with not only facial expressions or gestures but also whole-body motion, even while walking, which are essential for our interpersonal relationships and our interaction with others. Communication with people is also considered an important task for robots, however emotional expressions by wheeled mobile humanoid robots when moving has not been well studied. In this paper, we implemented emotional human-like gait-induced upper body motion in a mobile android ibuki. We hypothesize that the gait-induced upper body motion with vertical oscillation enhances the human perception of a mobile robot’s emotional expressions. ibuki is a mobile robot, which has a vertical oscillation mechanism, which enables the robot to move its body with a human gait-induced upper body motion. We ran two experiments in which participants watched videos of ibuki moving in a room expressing different emotions - anger, happiness, and sadness–, before answering how they perceived the emotion and their respective confidence level in their answer. Our results show that for motions with vertical oscillation, recognition rates were: 56.0 % for anger, 77.7 % for happiness, and 97.0 % for sadness. We also found that the recognition rate and confidence level of motions expressing happiness with vertical oscillation were higher. Our results play an important role in opening up avenues for more natural ways of interaction between humans and robots. For example, by approaching humans closer while expressing emotions, a robot can naturally provide an opportunity to get started conversation with them.

PDF, 要旨 本研究は、1960 年代のネパールにおける国民教育制度整備構想について、「国家教育審議会」(ARNEC) の教育行政計画および教育法規案、さらに当時の公文書等を、地方教育行政制度の整備に留意しつつ読み解き、再検討することを目的とする。 ARNEC は、必ずしも体系的な教育行政計画を示していない。しかし、教育行政における基本方針からは、政府による財政援助の強調、監査と視学を通じた中央による地方教育の管理など、その既存制度の継承および中央集権的傾向が看取できる。 教育法規案においてこの傾向はより顕著である。すなわち、教育法規案に規定される地方教育行政制度とは、教育省内の公教育局長－県教育局長－郡視学官－学校運営委員会・校長に至るピラミッド組織である。下部機関の自律性は強くなく、また、一般行政の教育行政への優越も明示される。, The purpose of this paper is to reconsider national education system development conception in Nepal in the 1960s by analyzing educational administration plan of ARNEC, drafts of education act, document of MoE, and so forth. ARNEC did not provide a systematic educational administration plan. However, from the basic policy in education administration, the inheritance of the existing system and the centralized tendency can be seen, such as the emphasis on financial assistance by the government and the central management of local education through audits and inspections. This tendency is more pronounced in drafts of educational act. The local ducation administration system stipulated in it was a pyramid organization from the Director of Public Instruction to the school management committee and headmaster. The autonomy of the subordinate institutions was not strong, and the superiority of the general administration to the educational administration was also clearly shown.

Hypertrophic scars and keloids tend to cause serious functional and cosmetic impediments to patients. As these scars are not life threatening, many patients do not seek proper treatment. Thus, educating physicians and patients regarding these scars is important. The authors aimed to develop an algorithm for a scar screening system and compare the accuracy of the system with that of physicians. This algorithm was designed to involve health care providers and patients.Digital images were obtained from Google Images (Google LLC, Mountain View, Calif.), open access repositories, and patients in the authors' hospital. After preprocessing, 3768 images were uploaded to the Google Cloud AutoML Vision platform and labeled with one of the four diagnoses: immature scars, mature scars, hypertrophic scars, and keloid. A consensus label for each image was compared with the label provided by physicians.For all diagnoses, the average precision (positive predictive value) of the algorithm was 80.7 percent, the average recall (sensitivity) was 71 percent, and the area under the curve was 0.846. The algorithm afforded 77 correct diagnoses with an accuracy of 77 percent. Conversely, the average physician accuracy was 68.7 percent. The Cohen kappa coefficient of the algorithm was 0.69, while that of the physicians was 0.59.The authors developed a computer vision algorithm that can diagnose four scar types using automated machine learning. Future iterations of this algorithm, with more comprehensive accuracy, can be embedded in telehealth and digital imaging platforms used by patients and primary doctors. The scar screening system with machine learning may be a valuable support tool for physicians and patients.Diagnostic, II.

This study aimed to retrospectively investigate (1) the reproducibility of gap measurements by manual stress using the Z-shaped retractor depending on the surgeon's experience with this maneuver and (2) the consistency of the gap distraction force produced by manual stress throughout the range of motion (ROM) in the robotic-assisted total knee arthroplasty (TKA). It was hypothesized that the joint gap produced by manual stress is not reproducible depending on the surgeon's experience, and the distraction force applied by manual stress throughout the ROM is not constant.Medial and lateral joint gaps were obtained throughout the ROM by manual stress or a tensioner by two surgeons with different levels of experience in robotic-assisted TKA. The association between the differences in gap measurement by the two surgeons and the preoperative radiographic parameters, including the hip-knee-ankle (HKA) angle and absolute and relative varus/valgus laxities were analyzed.The experienced surgeon produced significantly greater gaps than the inexperienced surgeon from 0° to 100° flexion, with a mean difference of 0.35 ± 0.12 mm in the medial gap (p 0.0001), and from 10° to 120° flexion with a mean difference of 0.57 ± 0.13 mm in the lateral gap (p 0.0001). The tensioner produced a significantly greater medial gap from 70° to 110° flexion with a mean difference of 0.32 ± 0.01 mm in the medial gap (p 0.0001) and from 0° to 110° flexion with a mean difference of 1.12 ± 0.26 mm in the lateral gap (p 0.0001). The differences in gap distance by manual stress between experienced and inexperienced surgeons were moderately correlated with the HKA angle in the lateral gap (r = 0.40, p = 0.01). The gap differences due to manual stress and a tensioner showed moderate negative correlation with the HKA angle in the medial gap (r = - 0.50, p = 0.001) and weak negative correlation with the absolute valgus laxity in the lateral gap (r = - 0.35, p = 0.03).The joint distraction force by manual stress may differ depending on the surgeon's experience and tended to be smaller in deep flexion; therefore, the flexion gap may be underestimated. Surgeons should determine implant positioning considering gap balance by manual stress, taking into account these characteristics of the manual stress maneuver.Level III, retrospective cohort study.

Developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH) is characterized by anatomical abnormalities of the hip joint, ranging from mild acetabular dysplasia to hip subluxation and eventually dislocation. The mechanism underlying the cartilage degeneration of the hip joints exposed to reduced dynamic loads due to hip dislocation remains unknown. We established a rodent hip dislocation (disarticulation; DA) model of DDH (DA-DDH rats and mice) by swaddling. Expression levels of periostin (Postn) and catabolic factors, such as interleukin-6 (IL-6) and matrix metalloproteinase 3 (Mmp3), increased and those of chondrogenic markers decreased in the acetabular cartilage of the DA-DDH models. Postn inducedIL-6andMmp3expression in chondrocytes through integrin αVβ3, focal adhesion kinase, Src, and nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) signaling. The microgravity environment created by a random positioning machine induced Postn expression in chondrocytes through signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) signaling. IL-6 stimulated Postn expression via STAT3 signaling. Furthermore, cartilage degeneration was suppressed in the acetabulum ofPostn−/−DA-DDH mice compared with that in the acetabulum of wild type DA-DDH mice. In summary, reduced dynamic loads due to hip dislocation induced acetabular cartilage degeneration via IL-6 and MMP3 through STAT3/periostin/NF-κB signaling in the rodent DA-DDH models.

Objectives We investigated whether the locomotive syndrome (LS) severity affects future fragility fractures in osteoporosis patients. Methods In this retrospective cohort study, 315 women with osteoporosis (mean follow-up period, 2.8 years) were reviewed, of whom 244 were included in the analysis. At baseline, we obtained medical information, bone mineral density of the lumbar spine and femoral neck, and sagittal vertical axis. Additionally, LS risk was assessed using the two-step test, stand-up test, and 25-question geriatric locomotive function scale scores. The LS risk test results were used to classify LS severity, which was rated on a 4-point scale from stage 0 (robust) to 3 (worsening). Cox proportional hazards regression analysis was used to determine the association of the severity with future fragility fracture. Results Fragility fractures occurred in 37 of 315 participants (11.8%). This study showed that sagittal vertical axis (hazard ratio = 1.014; 95% confidence interval, 1.005–1.023; p value = 0.003) and LS severity (hazard ratio =1.748; 95% confidence interval, 1.133–2.699; p = 0.012) were independent risk factors for incidence of fragility fracture. Conclusions This study revealed the LS severity to predicted fragility fractures. We suggested that the progression of LS associated with osteoporosis increases the fracture risk.

Modelling the cognitive process is a challenging task. Contextual conditions and the scope of the options are critical factors that influence human decisions. We propose and formulate an attention-based network to model the various choices made by humans based on the various factors that predict the possible option in each scope. To evaluate our proposed method, we conducted a user choice experiment in which a user chose an option from among limited choices. Our results showed that our model successfully extracted the hidden context on the attention layer and even outperformed the chance level in terms of prediction accuracy.

Infectious colitis is one of the most common health issues worldwide. Microfold (M) cells actively transport luminal antigens to gut-associated lymphoid tissue to induce IgA responses; however, it remains unknown whether M cells contribute to the induction of cellular immune responses. Here we report that M cell-dependent antigen transport plays a critical role in the induction of Th1, Th17, and Th22 responses against gut commensals in the steady state. The establishment of commensal-specific cellular immunity was a prerequisite for preventing bacterial dissemination during enteropathogenic Citrobacter rodentium infection. Therefore, M cell-null mice developed severe colitis with increased bacterial dissemination. This abnormality was associated with mucosal barrier dysfunction. These observations suggest that antigen transport by M cells may help maintain gut immune homeostasis by eliciting antigen-specific cellular immune responses.

学校教育は教科指導と生徒指導を両輪としている。平成29 年3 月に告示された「中学校学習指導要領」では授業における生徒指導の必要性が明示された。これを踏まえ本論文では、国語科の授業において生徒指導の機能を作用させるためのルーブリック評価表を作成し、その有効性について検討する。研究方法は、第2 筆者が実践した授業における振り返り及び学習者である生徒からのリアクションペーパー等に記述されたテキストを質的データとし、教科指導と生徒指導の機能を一体的に捉えた授業分析を行い、その結果について考察する。

In diverse situations, humans produce natural and adaptable bipedal locomotion by cooperatively manipulating the interactions among the different parts of their bodies and the environment. Therefore, to realize a robot with adaptable behavior, it should be enabled to adjust its morphology accordingly in response to environmental changes. From this perspective, this study introduces the development of a bipedal robot with adaptive morphology. By implementing an actuator network system (ANS), the robot is able to manipulate the physical characteristics of its legs and the way they interact with each other. Two experiments have been conducted: main and supplementary experiments. The main experiment examined how effective is adjusting the robot’s morphology on changing the robot’s behavior. The experiment was conducted on different ground materials and under different connection patterns between the robot’s legs. During the experiment, the robot’s behavior was evaluated in reference to four aspects: walking style, stability, speed, and moving direction. The supplementary experiment took the results of the main experiment and used it to improve the robot’s behavior during locomotion. The robot was enabled to automatically switch between the different connection patterns of the ANS, which in turn changed the interaction between the robot’s legs and generated a more suitable dynamics for the surrounding environment.

PDF, 要旨 本研究は、1971 年の「『国民教育制度』計画」（NESP）の背景解明の一端として、1960 年代後半のネパールにおける国民教育制度整備上の課題について、K.R.Aryal の“Education for Development of Nepal” など当時の諸文献を主たる対象にして、「教育を通じた国民形成」や「教育の普遍化」に留意しつつ追究することを目的とする。Aryal（1970）は、当時のネパールにおける教育的ニーズとして以下を挙げた：①経済開発のための教育計画策定、②適正な社会秩序のための教育計画策定、③国家の文化遺産を保存するための教育計画策定、④国家のニーズや教育的ニーズを充足するための教育環境の創出、⑤国家の目標を充足するための既存の教育施設の再建。同書では、既存の教育計画や教育制度がこうしたニーズに全く応じていないとして、教育制度の刷新が強く提言された。こうした同書における提言は、少なからずNESP へ影響を与えたと考えられる。, The purpose of this study is to examine the effects of project-based learning on student attitude toward learning English. Quite a few students enter university feeling uninterested in learning English. Some may have feelings of helplessness due to past failures in their English learning. Others may have trauma from having to cram grammar knowledge for entrance examinations. The true purpose of learning English is to learn the language as a means of communication to connect with people of different linguistic and cultural backgrounds. Thus, learning grammar knowledge itself should not be the ultimate goal. Project-based learning (PBL) provides students with opportunities to discover that for themselves by experiencing language use for meaningful purposes. In this study, students worked in collaboration with peers to create a YouTube video to introduce Japanese culture to the outside world. Quantitative analysis of questionnaires taken from students indicated that there was no significant change in student attitude toward English learning. However, qualitative analysis of students’ self-reflection after the PBL suggested that many of the students noticed the importance of looking at things from multiple perspectives and communicating with peers in collaboration towards the same goal.