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The development of the vehicles powered by photovoltaic (PV) is desirable and very important for reducing CO2 emissions from the transport sector to realize a decarbonized society. Although long‐distance driving of vehicle‐integrated PV (VIPV)‐powered vehicles without electricity charging is expected in sunny regions, driving distance of VIPV‐powered vehicles is affected by climate conditions such as solar irradiation and outside temperature, and the power consumption of the air conditioners. In this article, analytical results for system efficiency of VIPV‐powered vehicles and the effects of usage of air conditioner are presented by using power losses estimated from the electric mileage by using the driving distance data for Toyota Prius and Nissan Van demonstration cars installed with high‐efficiency InGaP/GaAs/InGaAs three‐junction solar cell modules with a module efficiency of more than 30%. The potential of VIPV‐powered vehicles to be deployed in major cities in Japan and the world is also analyzed. Mild weather cities such as Miyazaki in Japan and Sydney in Australia are thought to have longer driving range even under usage of air conditioners. The other power losses for the VIPV such as temperature rise of VIPV modules and partial shading estimate the previous data and some reference as well as effects of usage of air‐conditioners are also discussed in this article. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The spread of the photovoltaic‐powered electric vehicle (PV‐EV) is desirable and is essential for reduction in CO2 emissions, increasing electric range, and creating a new clean energy infrastructure based on PVs. Development of highly efficient PV modules with reasonable cost is necessary to realize a longer PV‐driving range of passenger cars. Herein, the potential of various solar cell modules for vehicle‐integrated photovoltaic (VIPV) applications is analyzed. This article shows that the use of highly efficient solar cell modules with an efficiency of higher than 35% enables longer than 30 km day−1 PV driving under average irradiance of 4 kWh m−2 day−1 without external charging. Cost reduction of VIPV modules is also very important for spreading the PV‐powered vehicles. By considering electricity charging cost saving and reduction in CO2 emission of electric vehicles, the cost target of VIPV is discussed. The cost targets of the solar cell modules for the PV‐EV by considering only electricity charging cost saving, $2.6/Wp for a module with conversion efficiency of 20% and $3.7/Wp for a module with that of 40%, are estimated in the case of electric mileage of 10 km kWh−1. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this symposium is to provide readers with a general understanding of Japanese art and aesthetics education and its interaction with other cultures. The essays cover a variety of topics, including historical, cross-cultural, theoretical, and practical perspectives. Following an introduction by Ako Okazaki, the following papers are presented: (1) "A Historical Overview of Art Education in Japan" (Kingo Masuda); (2) "The Concept of Freedom in Art Education in Japan" (Takuya Kaneda); (3) "Restriction and Individual Expression in the 'Play Activity/Zokei Asobi'" (Yoko Hino); (4) "A Sense of Reality" (Yasuaki Okamoto); (5) "Does Art Education Dream of Disneyland?" (Kinichi Fukumoto); (6) "Encounter between Hyper-Media and Art Education: A Retrospection of Jean-Jacques Rousseau or Memories of Art and Education" (Motoki Nagamori); (7) "Evolution in Qualitative Factors Used to Evaluate Japanese Students" (Kazumi Yamada); (8) "Media Literacy Education in Art: Motion Expression and the New Vision of Art Education" (Kenta Motomura); (9) "Postmodern Approach to Art Appreciation for Integrated Study in Japan" (Kazuhiro Ishizaki); (10) "Music-Picture: One Form of Synthetic Art Education" (Masashi Okada); (11) " Arthur Wesley Dow's Address in Kyoto, Japan (1903)" (Akio Okazaki); (12) "Japanese Painting and Johannes Itten's Art Education" (Yoshimasa Kaneko); (13) "Art Education in Lower Secondary Schools in Japan and the United Kingdom" (Toshio Naoe); (14) "A Comparative Study of Artistic Play and 'Zoukei-Asobi'" (Mitsuru Fujie); and (15) "Art as Part of Daily Life--A Cross-Cultural Dialogue between Art and People" (Masako Iwano). (Contains 2 figures, 4 tables, and 200 notes.)

Photovoltaic (PV)‐powered vehicles are expected to play a critical role in a future carbon neutral society because it has been reported that the onboard PVs have great ability to reduce CO2 emission from the transport sector. Although the demonstration car with a III−V‐based solar cell module has shown the PV‐powered driving range of 36.6 km day−1 at solar irradiance of 6.2 kWh m−2 day−1, practical driving ranges of PV‐powered vehicles are shown to be lower than estimated values due to some losses such as nonradiative recombination and resistance losses of solar cell modules under sunshine condition. This article presents analytical results for the effects of illumination intensity properties of various solar cell modules on the PV‐powered driving range to develop highly efficient solar cell modules for vehicle‐integrated applications. The analysis shows that improvements in shunt resistance and saturation current density of solar cell modules are necessary to improve illumination intensity properties of solar cell modules under low intensity sunshine condition. The calculations show that the III−V‐based 3‐junction solar cell modules with an efficiency of more than 30% have a potential PV‐powered driving range of 30 km/day average and more than 50 km day−1 on a clear day. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Development of vehicles that are powered by photovoltaics (PV) is desirable, and is crucial for reduction in CO2 emissions from the transport sector to realize a decarbonized society. Our investigations show that the majority of the passenger cars that cruise only with solar energy can be realized by installing a high-efficiency PV module. Although the Toyota Prius demonstration car, which is equipped with a 860 W rated-output power PV module, has shown a 36.6 km dâˆ'1 PV-powered driving range at solar irradiance of 6.2 kWh mâˆ'2 dâˆ'1, practical driving ranges of PV-powered vehicles are shown to be shorter than the estimated values due to some losses of solar cell modules, such as temperature rise under sunny conditions. In this paper, we conduct a systematic analysis of the effects of these losses on the PV-powered driving range in order to obtain guidelines for the development of highly efficient solar cell modules for vehicle integrated applications. The analytical results show that the IIIâ€"V compound solar cell modules have more suitable properties compared to other cells because of their higher potential conversion efficiencies of 37% with a smaller temperature coefficient of âˆ'0.19% °Câˆ'1 compared to âˆ'0.29% °Câˆ'1 for Si back contact solar cell modules and âˆ'0.26% °Câˆ'1 for Si heterojunction solar cell modules. Our theoretical calculations that take these losses into account suggest that installing the IIIâ€"V-based triple-junction solar cell modules provides a potential PV-powered driving range of 30 km dâˆ'1 on average, and more than 50 km dâˆ'1 on a sunny day under the irradiation conditions in Japan. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Development of high‐efficiency solar cell modules and new application fields are significant for the further development of photovoltaics (PVs) and the creation of new clean energy infrastructure based on PV. Notably, the development of PV‐powered vehicle applications is desirable and very important for this end. According to the NEDO's Interim Report "PV‐Powered Vehicle Strategy Committee," a new broader PV markets with more than 10 GW and 50 GW in 2030 and 2040, respectively, are expected to be established when PV‐powered vehicles are developed. Cumulative PV capacity for PV‐powered vehicles will be 50 GW and 0.4 TW in 2030 and 2040, respectively. This paper presents impacts on efficiency and cost for PV‐powered vehicles. According to our survey, the use of more than 30% of high‐efficiency PV enables 30 km per day driving without external charging and the society that the majority of the family cars run by the sunlight and without supplying gas. Thus, we are developing high‐efficiency and low‐cost solar cells and modules for automobile applications. In this paper, our analytical results for the efficiency potential of various solar cells for choosing candidates of high‐efficiency solar cell modules for automobile applications. This paper also presents our recent approaches: demonstration car (Toyota Prius PHV) by using Sharp's high‐efficiency III‐V triple‐junction solar cell modules with an output power of 860 W, static low concentrator InGaP/GaAs/InGaAs triple‐junction solar cell module with efficiency of 32.84%, and so forth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Saito, Mamoru. 2007. Notes on East Asian argument ellipsis. Language Research 43. 203–227 argues that argument ellipsis (AE) is available only in languages that lack phi-feature agreement. Accordingly, Japanese, but not English, permits AE. Under Saito's theoretical framework, this paper compares experimental data from L1 Japanese learners of L2 English (J-EFL) and L1 English learners of L2 Japanese (E-JFL). Given that sloppy and quantificational reading arises from an ellipsis operation (Hankamer, Jorge & Sag, Ivan. 1976. Deep and surface anaphora. Linguistic Inquiry 7. 391–426, Takahashi, Daiko. 2008. Noun phrase ellipsis. In Miyagawa, Shigeru & Saito, Mamoru (eds.), The Oxford handbook of Japanese linguistics, 394–422. Oxford: Oxford University Press, among others), we hypothesize that J-EFL learners, but not E-JFL learners, allow the reading in point with null arguments: AE is available only in the grammar of J-EFL learners, forced by the lack of phi-features in their L2 English grammar, due to L1 transfer. The results from our main study adopting a truth value judgement task supported the hypothesis. Based on our finding, we suggest that correct L2 phi-feature specification can ultimately be obtained when no phi-features are present in L1 (Ishino, Nao. 2012. Feature transfer and feature learning in universal grammar: A comparative study of the syntactic mechanism for second language acquisition. Doctoral dissertation: Kwansei Gakuin University, Miyamoto, Yoichi. 2012. Dainigengo-ni okeru hikenzaiteki-na yōso-ni kansuru Ichikōsatsu [A study on null elements in second language acquisition]. Paper presented at the 84th ELSJ annual general meeting: Senshu University, 26 May). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The turning point where DHA compositions were exchanged in maternal and umbilical cord blood was 6.6%. • It was observed that if DHA levels in maternal erythrocytes were greater than this turning point, DHA transfer from mother to fetus was through 'bioattenuation'. • If DHA composition in maternal erythrocyte was lower than the turning point, the transfer was under 'biomagnification'. • This corroborates the findings of previous research. Previous reports have shown that the transfer of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) from mother to fetus during pregnancy is important for development of the child's nervous and visual functions. The amount of DHA passing through the placenta varies depending on the relative DHA compositions of the erythrocytes in the maternal blood and the umbilical cord. Prior research has reported that if the DHA composition of the maternal erythrocytes is over 5.6 g%, DHA in the erythrocytes of the child undergoes bioattenuation, whereas it undergoes biomagnification if the maternal erythrocyte composition is lower than 5.6 g%. The relationship between DHA levels in maternal erythrocytes during pregnancy and in umbilical cord erythrocytes at delivery was assessed in Japanese pregnant women. This study was performed as an adjunct study of the Japan Environment and Children's Study. DHA compositions of maternal erythrocytes at 24–30 weeks of pregnancy and of umbilical cord erythrocytes at delivery were determined in 1368 mother-infant pairs. Median DHA values were 7.41% in the maternal erythrocytes and 6.84% in the umbilical cord erythrocytes, indicating significantly lower levels in the umbilical cord. When DHA composition in maternal erythrocytes was lower than 6.6%, DHA was theoretically higher in umbilical cord erythrocytes than in maternal erythrocytes. Conversely, when DHA composition in maternal erythrocytes was higher than 6.6%, DHA in umbilical cord erythrocytes was theoretically lower than in maternal erythrocytes. We therefore consider that there is a turning point of around 6% in the DHA composition of maternal and umbilical cord blood that is exchanged between mother and fetus: if the composition in the maternal blood is higher, then bioattenuation in DHA transfer from the maternal circulation to the umbilical cord occurs, while if it is lower, then biomagnification occurs. This corroborates the findings of previous research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: TAIP2 was isolated as one of the homologous genes of TAIP3 (TGF-β-up-regulated apoptosis-inducing-protein chromosome 3). The transcript of the mouse counterpart of TAIP2, designated mTaip2, was detected in several tissue specimens from embryos to adults, while mTaip2 was dominantly expressed in the embryonic brain. The overexpression of the full-length mTaip2 induced cell death in various cell lines. An analysis of mTaip2 deletion mutants revealed that the N-terminal half of mTaip2, but not the C-terminal half, had nuclear localization and cell death-inducing activities. The results indicate that mTaip2 is a novel cell death-related gene dominantly expressed in the embryonic brain, thus suggesting that mTaip2 may play a role in development of the brain. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The gene encoding arylsulfatase (Ars; EC 3.1.6.1) as well as two Ars pseudogenes were isolated from sea urchin genomic libraries. The Ars gene was 20-kbp long and contained six exons interrupted by five introns. Four polypyrimidine repetitive sequences were dispersed in its upstream-flanking region. Comparison of the amino acid sequence of sea-urchin arylsulfatase with those of human sterol sulfatase, human arylsulfatase A and bacterial arylsulfatase revealed that they have two similar sequences in common. The position of the transcription-start site of the A rs gene was determined to be approximately 40-bp upstream from the 5' end of the protein-coding region, and the nucleotide sequence of the 5'-flanking region was determined up to 3.3 kbp upstream from the transcription start point. Putative TATAA box and CCAAT consensus sequences were located at positions -28 and -82, respectively. A highly conserved hexamer motif, CTCTTT, localized near the transcription-start site of the sea-urchin Ars gene, was also detected in similar regions of other sea urchin genes such as CyIIIa, Spec 1, Spec 2a, Spec 2c, Spec 2d, and SM50, but not in the histone genes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Arylsulfatase is known to be synthesized in large amounts at the early gastrula stage of sea urchin development. We determined the amino acid sequence of a portion of the purified sea urchin embryonic arylsulfatase, and then isolated a cDNA clone for arylsulfatase by screening a sea urchin plutei λgtl0 cDNA library with an oligodeoxynucleotide probe synthesized according to the determined amino acid sequence. The longest cDNA clones were selected and the nucleotide sequence determined. The cDNA is 2422 nucleotides long and encodes 551 amino acids. The deduced amino acid sequence has no sequence similarity with any of the peptides registered in NBRF peptide databank. Northern blot analysis revealed that the arylsulfatase cDNA hybridizes to a 2.9-kb mRNA. This mRNA exists in the unfertilized egg in small amounts, but markedly increases after the blastula stage preceding the increase of the arylsulfatase activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: In Japan, the current standard waist circumference cutoff value for persons with multiple cardiovascular risk factors remains controversial. In this study we aimed to analyze the health-check examination data from a large Japanese population and propose a revised waist circumference cutoff value., Methods: Subjects of this study were 12,725 adults who underwent a health-check by thorough medical examination between April 2006 and March 2007. Medical examinations included measurement of waist circumference, fasting blood triglycerides, HDL cholesterol, glucose concentrations, blood pressure and collection of demographic characteristics. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was utilized to find appropriate waist circumference cutoff values in relation to multiple cardiovascular risk factors with two or more of the following: dyslipidemia (hypertriglyceridemia or low HDL cholesterol), hypertension, and hyperglycemia defined by the Japanese criteria of metabolic syndrome., Results: The average age of the subjects was 50.7 years (standard deviation [SD]: 8.8) for men and 49.7 years (SD: 8.6) for women. ROC curve analysis showed maximum sensitivity plus specificity at a waist circumference of 87 cm in men (0.66 and 0.62, respectively) and 83 cm in women (0.73 and 0.70). When analyzed by ten-year age groups, the ROC curves for younger age groups were shifted up and to the left compared to older age groups, but associations between cutoff values and age were not clear., Conclusion: In Japan, the appropriate cutoff value of waist circumference for persons with multiple cardiovascular risk factors is 87 cm for men and 83 cm for women.

Objective: To study the magnetic resonance imaging characteristics of the ovarian involvement of small round cell tumors., Methods: Magnetic resonance imaging findings were retrospectively reviewed in 5 patients seen at this institution and in 7 patients reported in the literature with ovarian small round cell tumors. Laterality, signal intensity, existence of hemorrhage, calcification, necrosis, septa, cerebroid appearance, and peripheral cysts were evaluated., Results: Seven patients had bilateral disease, and the others had unilateral disease. The signal intensity was low on T1-weighted imaging (T1WI) in all cases. Signal on T2-weighted imaging (T2WI) and the degree of contrast enhancement varied. No case showed hemorrhage or calcification. Only 1 case demonstrated necrosis. Septa were observed in 3 cases, and a cerebroid appearance was observed in 5 cases. Six patients of reproductive age had multiple small cysts at the periphery of the masses., Conclusion: Despite the limited number of cases, peripheral small cysts in the large lobulated solid mass seemed to be a characteristic of the ovarian small round cell tumors in patients of reproductive age.

A marked increase in the Na + , K + -ATPase activity of sea urchin embryos occurred following an elevation of its mRNA level, revealed by Northern blotting analysis, in developmental period between the swimming blastula and the late gastrula stage. cDNA clone of Na + , K + -ATPase α-subunit, obtained from γgt10 cDNA library of sea urchin gastrulae, was digested with EcoRl ad Hindlll. The obtained 268 bp cDNA fragment, hybridized to a 4.6 Kb RNA, was used as probe for Northern blotting analysis. The level of Na + , K + -ATPase mRNA was higher in embryo-wall cell fraction isolated from late gastrulae (ectoderm cells) than the level in the bag fraction, containing mesenchyme cells (mesoderm cells) and archenteron (endoderm cells). The activity of Na + , K + -ATPase and the level of its mRNA were higher in animalized embryos obtained by pulse treatment with A23187 for 3 hr, starting at the 8-16 cell stage and were considerably lower in vegetalized embryos induced by 3 hr treatment with Li + than that in normal embryos at the post gastrula corresponidng stage. Augmentation of Na + , K + -ATPase gene expression can be regarded as a marker for ectoderm cell differentiation at the post gastrula stage, which results from determination of cell fate in prehatching period.