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Spotlight synthetic aperture radar (SAR) achieves a high azimuth resolution with long integration times. Meanwhile, the long integration times also cause defocused and smeared images of moving objects such as cruising ships This is a typical imaging mechanism for moving objects in Spotlight SAR images. Conversely, ships can be classified as stationary or moving from the amount of smearing, and this classification method is, in general, based on manual observation. This paper proposes an automatic method for detecting cruising ships using deep learning known as the "You Only Look Once (YOLO) v5 model", which is one of the frameworks of the YOLO family. In this study, ALOS-2/PALSAR-2 L-band Spotlight SAR images over the waters around the Miura Peninsula, Japan, were analyzed using the YOLO v5 model with a total of 53 ships' images and compared with Automatic Identification System (AIS) data. The results showed a precision of approximately 0.85 and a recall rate of approximately 0.89 with an F-measure of 0.87. Thus, sufficiently high values were achieved in the automatic detection of moving ships using the deep learning method with the YOLO v5 model. As for false detections, images of breakwaters were classified as ships cruising in the azimuth direction. Further, range moving ships were found to be difficult to detect. From the present preliminary study, it was found that the YOLO v5 model is limited to ships cruising predominantly in the azimuth direction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article gathered and analyzed the Daodejing (DDJ) translations in Korean that appeared after the liberation from Japan and classified them into four perspectives: the perspective continuing Gyeonghak 經學 (Traditional Confucian exegetics), the literary and linguistic perspective, the religious perspective, and the philosophical perspective according to the academic perspective and methodology of translation. Simultaneously, this paper clarified the translation characteristics by comprehensively examining the formation process of each perspective in their historical contexts. Although Daoism had been excluded from the academic curriculum during the pre-liberation era along with Buddhism as heresy, it was later hastily embraced within the category of Oriental Studies to build a cultural consensus when the modern and contemporary educational system was established. In the post-liberation era, the formation of each DDJ translation perspective is directly related to the academic status of Daoism during the modernization of the Korean educational system—a process in which the years 1990 and 2015 stand out as essential turning points. The characteristics of DDJ translations in Korean can be analyzed from five perspectives depending on the Ur-text, ideological perspective, linguistic methodology, national characteristics, and relation to Christianity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: A growing body of research demonstrates that adapting the popular entertainment activity "escape rooms" for educational purposes as an innovative teaching method can improve the learning experience. Escape rooms promote teamwork, encourage analytical thinking, and improve problem solving. Despite the increasing development and use of escape rooms in health sciences programs and academic libraries, there is little literature on the use of this method in health sciences libraries with health professions students. Case Presentation: Staff at a health sciences library collaborated with faculty to incorporate escape rooms into library instruction in a variety of settings (in-person, hybrid, online) and formats (team, individual) with health professions students from various disciplines (optometry, pharmacy, medicine). The escape rooms described in this paper offered unique experiences for students through active learning. Discussion: Important considerations when planning escape rooms for health sciences library instruction include deciding on team-based or individual design, calculating potential costs in time and money, deciding on an in-person, hybrid, or online format, and determining whether grades should be assigned. Escape rooms can be an effective strategy for library instruction in the health sciences, working in multiple formats to bring game-based learning to a variety of health professions students. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hospital ethics committees (HECs) are expected to play extremely broad and pivotal roles such as case consultation, education of staffs on healthcare ethics, and institutional policy formation. Despite the growing importance of HECs, there are no standards for setup and operation of HECs, and composition and activities of HECs at each institution are rarely disclosed in Japan. In addition, there is also a lack of information sharing and collaboration among HECs. Therefore, the authors established the Consortium of Hospital Ethics Committees (CHEC) in October 2020, which has been regularly hosting a couple of core activities. One is the Healthcare Ethics Forum, held monthly online for CHEC members to freely discuss HECs and healthcare ethics consultation. The other is the Collaboration Conference of Hospital Ethics Committees, intended to provide a place for HEC members and administrative officers from across Japan to exchange information of their HECs, learn from each other, and cooperate to operate HECs appropriately. In this paper, the authors introduced CHEC as well as reported the results of a questionnaire survey conducted at the first conference among participating facilities, suggesting the diverse structures and activities of HECs in Japan. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A wide-band band-pass filter (BPF) using coupled lines, rectangular stubs and Stepped-Impedance Resonators (SIRs) is presented in this paper. The proposed BPF operates over a large pass-band from 3.15 to 6.05 GHz covering 5G New Radio (NR) frequency Bands n77, n79 and 5G Wi-Fi, which includes the G band of US (3.3 to 4.2 GHz), 5G band of Japan (4.4 to 5 GHz) and 5G Wi-Fi (5.15 to 5.85 GHz). The presented filter has a maximum pass-band Insertion-Loss (IL) of 2 dB, a sharp roll-off rate and suppresses all the unwanted harmonics from 4.2 GHz up to 12 GHz with a 15 dB attenuation level. The performance of each section can be analyzed based on lumped-element circuit models. The electrical size of the BPF is 0.258 λg × 0.255 λg, where λg is the guided wavelength at the central frequency. The design accuracy is verified through implementing and testing the final BPF. The pass-band band-width can be controlled by adding the varactor diodes. A good relationship between the band-width and the varactor diodes are extracted by the curve fitting technique. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cross-language information cognitive retrieval has grown in importance as a study area due to the multilingual character of Internet resources and the diversifying languages spoken by users. This paper analyses and illustrates the key characteristics of Japanese literature from three aspects: ideological structure, structural form, and emotional expression, and makes a straightforward comparison with Chinese literature using a number of well-known Japanese literary masterpieces as examples. An important aspect of this literature is that it is full of lingering feelings, leaving room for the readers to imagine. The lingering charm is endless, obscure, and meaningful, which is the traditional style of Japanese literature. It also focuses on the depoliticization of Japanese literature, that is, the relative separation between literature and politics. The subjectivity of Japanese writing, which goes beyond just conveying feelings but involves less objective description, is related to this. The process of cross-language information retrieval in foreign nations is primarily separated into three stages, according to the changes in research objects. Currently, adding a language conversion mechanism to a monolingual information retrieval system serves as the primary language information retrieval solution. Currently, nearly 40% of the global popularity of literature comes from Japan. In this article, the background and concept of cross-language information retrieval are introduced, and its types, system models, and several key cross-language information retrieval methods are explained, and some solutions to the factors influencing the cross-language information retrieval effect are suggested. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To understand the longer-term consequences of natural disasters for global value chains, this paper examines trade in the automobile and electronic sectors after the 2011 earthquake in Japan. Contrary to widespread expectations, we find that the shock did not lead to reshoring, nearshoring, or diversification across non-Japanese suppliers; and trade in intermediate products was disrupted less than trade in final goods. Imports did shift to new suppliers, especially where dependence on Japan was greater. But production relocated to developing countries rather than to other top exporters, and to larger countries. The results, showing relative inertia in intermediate goods and the dominance of economic fundamentals (cost and scale) in determining sourcing decisions, may help us understand supply chain adjustment after other natural disasters, like the COVID-19 pandemic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The beginning of the construction of Japan's first large-scale Buddhist temple, Asukadera 飛鳥寺, in 588, marks an important turning point in the ancient history of Japan. The construction of a Buddhist temple was a major event through which Japanese people, who had believed in traditional indigenous religion, came to embrace Buddhism, one of the major world religions. Inscribed śarīra reliquaries were discovered from the wooden pagoda site at the Wanghŭng-sa 王興寺 in Puyŏ. According to these inscriptions, Wanghŭng-sa was built in 577, 11 years before the establishment of Asukadera in 588. Based on this data, both Korean and Japanese academics have raised the possibility that Wanghŭng-sa might have provided inspiration or even a model for Asukadera in Japan. In this paper, I briefly examine reliquaries and roof tiles that have been excavated from the wooden pagoda site within the Wanghŭng-sa site and the arrangement and characteristics of the temple's building sites, including the sites of the main hall and corridors. Next, I discuss the similarities and differences between ancient Buddhist temples in Korea and Japan by comparing Wanghŭng-sa with ancient Japanese temples such as Asukadera. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The role of social ties, other-regarding preferences, and cultural traits in boosting community resilience and minimizing citizens' vulnerability to crises such as COVID-19 is increasingly being recognized. However, little is presently known about the possible routes through which such personal preferences and cultural norms pertinent to social behaviors are formulated. Thus, in this paper, factors that can be potentially associated with individuals to self-regulate strict hand hygiene practices before the pandemic, during the state of emergency, and after the state of emergency was lifted in Japan are investigated. Focus is given to the handwashing education in primary school, a cultural practice originating from the old Shinto tradition, and individuals' reciprocal inclinations. As people in Japan are known to be highly conscious of hygiene in all aspects of their daily life and are less likely to contract an infection, evidence obtained in this specific context could contribute to the better understanding of individuals' health-related behaviors in general, and during crises in particular.Methods: Using the data derived from a four-wave nationwide longitudinal online survey, we examined the extent to which elementary school education, childhood cultural experiences at shrines, and individual other-regarding preferences are associated with self-regulating hand hygiene practices prior to the pandemic and people's efforts to comply with the government-imposed measures aimed at preventing the spread of COVID-19 infection during the state of emergency. We also investigated the long-term trends in the relationships among these factors (i.e., after the abolishment of the state of emergency) using panel data.Results: Our findings reveal that childhood education and cultural experiences related to handwashing practices, as well as reciprocal inclinations, are significantly associated with Japanese attitudes toward personal hygiene (beyond handwashing practices) prior to, during, and after the state of emergency. In recognition of the possible effects of recall bias and measurement errors, several important attempts to mitigate these issues were made to strengthen the value of our findings.Conclusions: The importance of school education received during childhood, as well as culture and other-regarding preferences, in the individual attitudes toward hand hygiene in adulthood highlighted in this study contributes to the better understanding of the role that these factors play in the variations in voluntary compliance with strict hand hygiene practices before and during an uncertain and prolonged crisis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we present a prototype transmitter and receiver with set partitioning (SP)-64 amplitude and phase shift keying (APSK) coded modulation we developed for expanding satellite transmission capacity. SP-multi-level coded modulation is a transmission scheme that can improve noise immunity by properly combining a modulation scheme, bit allocation, and error-correction codes. We designed SP-64APSK coded modulation on the basis of channel capacity for expanding satellite transmission capacity. We confirmed that it has higher robustness to additive white Gaussian noise (AWGN) than DVB-S2X’s 64APSK modulation with Gray mapping through computer simulation. We also developed a prototype transmitter and receiver to implement our SP-64APSK coded modulation and evaluated its transmission performances in an AWGN channel and in a non-linear channel simulating 12-GHz-band satellite transponder characteristics. We describe the method of designing our SP-64APSK coded modulation through computer simulation, the modulation/demodulation process, and transmission performances of the prototype transmitter and receiver. We also indicate that 8K ultra-high definition television (UHDTV) with an encoded bit rate of 150 Mbps can be transmitted using the prototype within 34.5 MHz, which is the bandwidth of a single transponder for satellite broadcasting in Japan. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The ultrasonic fatigue testing method was standardized in the Japan Welding Engineering Society. Scope of this standard is limited for metallic materials tested at room temperature. This standard applies not only to axial loading by longitudinal oscillation but also to torsional loading by torsional oscillation. The stipulated specimens are an hourglass‐shaped type, while other types of specimens are also acceptable. Explanation attached to this standard discloses data and theories behind each requirement. In particular, massive data are disclosed for a frequency effect with comparisons of the data between ultrasonic and conventional fatigue testings. The data are disclosed on low‐ and high‐strength steels, austenitic stainless steels, cast irons, titanium alloys, and aluminum alloys. These data suggest that the ultrasonic fatigue testing is well suited to high‐strength materials but not low‐strength materials. In addition to the introduction of the standard, studies using the ultrasonic fatigue testing are exampled in this paper. Highlights: The ultrasonic fatigue testing method was standardized.Explanation attached to this standard discloses massive data for the frequency effect.The testing method has been applied to various studies as in "examples of studies." [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The legend of Empress Jingū's conquest of the Korean peninsula is well-known for its many divine elements. However, the legend's successful conquest of a foreign enemy has also been key to its longevity. In particular, the Mongol Invasions of the late thirteenth century inspired a renaissance of the Jingū legend in the fourteenth, with the addition of several new motifs. One such motif is Jinrin, a red demon with multiple heads and immense power from the continent who threatens Japan before being slain by Jingū's husband Emperor Chūai. In this paper, I argue that the Jinrin motif plays an important role in reenvisioning Jingū's conquest as a war against evil. Though Jinrin may have antecedents in the Buddhist Canon and Japanese mythology, this "fierce god" emerges in the medieval Hachiman tradition in origin narratives and later in regional kagura. Jinrin serves as a visual representation of the threat of the Korean kingdoms and an opportunity for Chūai's heroism and honorable death, creating a clear juxtaposition between a depraved Korean peninsula and an ethical Japan. Thus, Jinrin provides a vibrant example of how the belief in Japan as land of the gods (shinkoku shisō) galvanized a reinterpretation of Japan, its world, and its history. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Clinically amyopathic Dermatomyositis (CADM) is a rare subtype of idiopathic inflammatory myositis, associated with no muscular manifestations, which is more frequent in Asian women. Anti-melanoma differentiation-associated gene 5 (MDA5) antibodies are a recently discovered type of specific autoantibodies associated with myositis. The anti-MDA5 DM was initially described in Japan and later it was discovered that the target antigen was a protein implicated in the innate immune response against viruses, that is encoded by the melanoma differentiation-associated gene 5. Anti-MDA5 DM is characteristically associated with distinguished mucocutaneus and systemic manifestations, including skin ulcerations, palmar papules, arthritis, and interstitial-lung disease. Patients with anti-MDA5 positivity have a high risk of developing rapid progressive interstitial-lung disease (RP-ILD), with a poor outcome. As a result, despite high mortality, diagnosis is often delayed, necessitating increased awareness of this possible condition. Despite a severe course of lung disease and an increased mortality rate, there is currently no standard treatment. Recent insights based on observational studies and case reports support combined therapy with immunosuppressive drugs and corticotherapy, as soon as the symptoms appear. The aim of this paper is to describe anti-MDA5 DM, focusing on the recent literature about the unique clinical manifestations and therapeutic options, starting from a severe clinical case diagnosed in our Rheumatology Department. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• RF conditioning of RFQ of IFMIF/EVEDA accelerator (LIPAc) reached stable CW at 80 % of nominal voltage at the end of 2021. • Conditioning towards nominal voltage at CW was stopped in March 2022 because of vacuum leak from one of the O-Ring of the RF windows, damaged by high temperature. • Several coupled RF and thermal simulations of the couplers of the RFQ were performed with FEM codes. Thermal weak point was identified in the contact between the anchor of the RF window and the cooled inner conductor of the coupler. • A solution to improve cooling of the RF window that could be implemented quickly with minor modifications of the RF windows parts of the couplers was found. • After the testing and validation of the modification in a prototype, the couplers with the modified parts were successfully installed in RFQ and RF conditioning of RFQ resumed in June 2023. Under the Broader Approach (BA) agreement, the Accelerator Facility validation activities aim at demonstrating the acceleration of 125 mA D+ beam up to 9 MeV. This is the main goal of the Linear IFMIF Prototype Accelerator (LIPAc) under installation and commissioning in Rokkasho, Japan [ 1 , 2 ]. The LIPAc commissioning by accelerating the beam through the entire line is currently on-going at Rokkasho Fusion Institute [ 3,4 ]. Other than the beam commissioning, in 2021 and 2022 extensive conditioning experimental campaigns have been carried out on the Radio Frequency Power System (RFPS)-RFQ system to reach CW [5]. The RFPS-RFQ is composed of 8 RF-RFQ tetrode based chains injecting RF power into the RFQ by 8 couplers. The target of the RFQ conditioning campaigns is to reach CW operation at nominal vane-voltage of 132 kV. RFQ could achieve CW field of 105 kV at the end of 2021 [ 5,8 ]. During the RFQ conditioning campaigns in 2022, the conditioning was stopped because of abnormal increase of vacuum pressure due to a leak from one O-Ring of the couplers. The 8 couplers are equipped with a ceramic window (vacuum barrier) using O-ring for sealing purposes [ 9 ]. Extensive simulation and design studies have been carried out and an upgraded design of the parts near the RF window of RFQ coupler has been proposed and validated for implementation. This paper will focus on the RFQ couplers technical issue, analysis of the design upgrade, implementation of the upgraded solution and perspective for future improvements of the RFQ couplers designs in view of FNS and DONES application. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents comprehensive parametric analyses on the behavior of damage-repaired steel-concrete composite girders using CFRP sheets. Cross-sectional loss was considered on the lower steel flange at midspan to replicate corrosion damage in the girder. Damage was repaired using CFRP sheets to the underside of the lower flange. Non-linear Finite Element (FE) analyses were conducted on the repaired and intact composite girders. The FE models were validated using experimental results and a parametric study was carried out considering the variables such as number of CFRP sheets, CFRP elastic modulus, damage amount, epoxy resin elastic modulus, concrete strength, flange strength, and CFRP bonding area. The effect of parameters on failure components was studied for Limit States 1, 2, and 3 defined in the revised Design Specification for Highway Bridges in Japan (JSHB) (2017). Limit States 1 and 3 correspond to the service limit and ultimate Limit States in AASHTO, respectively. However, Limit State 2 is JSHB unique Limit State located between 1 and 3 in terms of functionality. Regression models were proposed to determine the load-carrying capacity of the repaired composite girder for 3 Limit States. Comparison between the proposed equation and FE-predicted values showed good agreement with prediction errors of ±10% to ±19%. The study showed that to restore the stiffness and load capacities for Limit State 1 high-modulus CFRP sheets and resins are more suitable options than the low-modulus sheets and resins. Finally, the study proposes the optimal repair method for damaged composite girder considering the Limit States. • Parametric analyses of damage repaired steel-concrete composite girder were conducted using CFRP sheets. • Effect of various parameters has been investigated. • Equations for loadcapacities of repaired composite girders for Limit States 1, 2 and 3 have been proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Estuaries are dynamic environments which are driven by various natural processes like river discharge, tides, waves, influx of saline water and sediments, etc. These ecosystems are the most sensitive to sea level rise and fluctuations in river discharge associated with climate change. A direct response of sea level rise and river discharge can be observed in the water level of estuaries. However, existing models have not considered these parameters for forecasting water level. This paper focuses on developing a water level forecast model for the Chikugo River estuary in Japan using Nonlinear Autoregressive with Exogenous inputs (NARX Model). NARX neural network was used to do the one-step-ahead prediction of water level considering the various parameters that can very well be influenced by climate change: previous water level, river discharge, and salinity. Accordingly, three models were developed: (i) Model I considering previous water level; (ii) Model II additionally considering river discharge; and (iii) Model III additionally considering salinity. All the models showed appreciable performance in forecasting the water level. Model III had the best correlation with the water level with a cross-correlation value of 0.6030, while the river discharge had only a cross-correlation of 0.1113 indicating that the Chikugo River estuary is tide-dominated. The model was trained using different combinations of available data - previous water level, river discharge, and salinity. Cross-correlation results showed a better correlation between water level and salinity than various other combinations trained. Therefore, tidal intrusion influences the water level in the estuary, thereby depicting that sea level rise can affect the water level, and its influence can be well predicted by the developed model. The water level significantly affects the flora and fauna and the predictability of future estuarine floods can help in taking necessary mitigation strategies. • Water Level of Chikugo estuary forecasted using NARX model. • Analyzed the influence of previous water level, discharge and salinity. • Water level has more cross-correlation with salinity than discharge. • Forecasted the water level for various river discharge and salinity. • Model capable to analyse the influence of climate change on water level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Because transport in the port hinterlands heavily depends on roads with negative externalities, much social interest has been in modal shifts (MSs) to rail and shipping with lower environmental impact. Currently, leading industry sectors to ambitiously embrace technological innovations to decarbonize—consequently, in line with these changes, the significance of MSs should change; however, no previous studies have comprehensively presented the overall CO 2 emissions and transport mode shares for future regional cargo transport. This paper presents a scenario analysis of CO 2 emission reductions in the Japanese domestic hinterland of international maritime container transport based on future scenarios of technological innovation and change in shipper behavior. The simulation results using the global logistics intermodal network simulation model showed that up to 87% CO 2 reduction is possible, and the primary driver for this is technological innovation. Moreover, the significance of MSs fluctuates depending on the advancement of technological innovation, suggesting that MSs hold a degree of import as a decarbonization measure during the transitional phase toward carbon neutrality (CN) as technological innovation advances. The results of this study, which fluctuated considerably by scenario and timing, have policy implications with respect to the path to be followed toward CN, including whether to promote MSs. • Scenario analysis of CO 2 emission reductions in Japanese maritime transportation. • Up to 87% CO 2 reduction possible using technological innovation. • Significance of modal shifts fluctuated with the degree of technological innovation. • Policy implications suggesting that the path toward carbon neutrality is crucial. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ongoing climate change has increased the impact of landslides and related slope disasters on infrastructure and human lives. Microwave satellite remote sensing, particularly interferometric analysis of synthetic aperture radar (InSAR) data, is a powerful tool for routine monitoring of the displacement of slopes on small wavelength scales, independently from solar illumination and cloud coverage. Although various sophisticated techniques for time-series InSAR have been developed, practical application in conjunction with geological analysis to reveal intrinsic and triggering factors of slope displacement is still limited. In this paper, we describe a practical case of time-series InSAR analysis with a special focus on its geological implications in northwestern Kyushu, a high-risk area for slope-related disasters in Japan. The extracted susceptible polygons from the InSAR results show accuracy comparable with that of other recent research on landslide mapping. Intrinsic factor analysis based on a geographic information system reveals that the displacement occurs on relatively gentle slopes instead of steep areas, corresponding to the transient zone of Paleogene-Neogene sedimentary rocks and basalt. Triggering factor analysis based on correlation coefficients reveals a significant link between some displacement areas with mean and/or maximum precipitation for each observation duration. Those findings confirm the importance of carefully accounting for the geological background for landslide susceptibility assessment and policy making, apart from topographic and meteorological conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The blanket testing facility for WCCB TBM was newly built in Rokkasho Fusion Institute, Japan. • An apparatus for flow accelerated corrosion testing under coolant condition of TBM was installed. • An apparatus for high heat flux testing under cooling with pressurized water using electron beam gun was installed. • An apparatus for ingress testing of pressurized water inside TBM was installed. • An apparatus for evaluating characteristics of beryllium-water reaction was installed. Intensive research and development activities have been conducted for designing a water-cooled ceramic breeder (WCCB) blanket system. In this system 325 °C/15.5 MPa of pressurized water removes heat injected and accumulated in blanket containers made of a reduced activation ferritic/martensitic steel, F82H. The container has lithium ceramics and beryllium pebbles as tritium breeder and neutron multiplier, respectively. In order to demonstrate performance of the system, especially for high-temperature pressurized water coolant, experimental apparatus have been installed in Rokkasho Fusion Institute, National Institutes for Quantum Science and Technology, Japan. These apparatuses enable to conduct the following experiment on full-scale mockups: 1) high heat flux (HHF) test to demonstrate heat removal of surface heat flux by electron beam gun simulating plasma, 2) flow assisted corrosion, 3) coolant ingress into dummy pebble beds, and 4) beryllium-water reaction between the coolant and the pebbles. In this paper, overviews, specifications, early results of these apparatus are reported. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Broflanilide is a newly-developed meta-diamide insecticide, proposed for the control of a wide variety of chewing pests on many crops. In view of the proposed use of broflanilide and its environmental fate, it may be exposed to consumers and non-target organisms, which adversely affect human and the environment. In this paper, a rapid, sensitive and valid UPLC-MS/MS method was established for simultaneous analysis of broflanilide and its two major metabolites, DM-8007 and S (PFP-OH)-8007, in cauliflower. Then, the dissipation behaviors and final residues of broflanilide and its two major metabolites in cauliflower from eight sites with different climatic conditions in China were studied via the described analytical method. In addition, the acute toxicity test of 9.5 % suspension concentrate of broflanilide, broflanilide standard, DM-8007 and S (PFP-OH)-8007 were conducted to non-target terrestrial organisms. Risk assessment for human and non-target terrestrial organisms in cauliflower production was evaluated based on the maximum annual application rates and intervals. The results showed that the highest residue of broflanilide detected in cauliflower samples was all lower than the corresponding MRLs (2 mg/kg) in Japan. Chronic food dietary risk estimates for broflanilide do not exceed 50 % for all the Chinese population groups. Moreover, broflanilide is of low acute toxicity to birds and earthworm, while broflanilide and its metabolites is classified as highly toxic to adult honeybees. Acute risks of broflanilide to birds and earthworms were deemed to be acceptable in a realistic worst-case scenario, while its risk to adult honeybees and ladybug was unacceptable. A protection statement for honeybees and ladybug is required to recognize the high toxicity of broflanilide on related product labels. The study will be conducive to provide guidance for the rational application of broflanilide in cauliflower production. [Display omitted] • Chronic food dietary risk does not exceed 50 % for all the Chinese population. • Broflanilide is of low acute toxicity to birds and earthworm. • Broflanilide and its metabolites is highly toxic to adult honeybees. • Acute risk to adult honeybees and ladybug was unacceptable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite severe economic damage, full-service restaurants and bars have been closed in hopes of suppressing the spread of SARS-CoV-2 worldwide. This paper explores whether the early closure of restaurants and bars in February 2021 reduced symptoms of SARS-CoV-2 in Japan. Using a large-scale nationally representative longitudinal survey, we found that the early closure of restaurants and bars decreased the utilization rate among young persons (OR 0.688; CI95 0.515–0.918) and those who visited these places before the pandemic (OR 0.754; CI95 0.594–0.957). However, symptoms of SARS-CoV-2 did not decrease in these active and high-risk subpopulations. Among the more inactive and low-risk subpopulations, such as elderly persons, no discernible impacts are observed in both the utilization of restaurants and bars and the symptoms of SARS-CoV-2. These results suggest that the early closure of restaurants and bars without any other concurrent measures does not contribute to the suppression of SARS-CoV-2. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The OLMAR method, which stands for the on-line moving average reversion method, is reported to be one of the most powerful among portfolio selection algorithms in the stock markets. In this research, we use intensive statistical and simulation analyses of long-term data on stock market changes to uncover the secrets of why and when the superiority appears. We find that there have been long-lasting fluctuations in the stock markets and that the OLMAR method actively makes use of such characteristics. In this paper, we analyze long-term stock data from Japan and the United States. The analyses confirm the following points. 1) The OLMAR method yields superior returns. 2) By using the moving average divergence rate provided by the OLMAR method, it is possible to detect specific fluctuation characteristics in long-term stock data from Japan and the United States. 3) Superior returns cannot be obtained from data in which specific fluctuation characteristics have been corrected. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The construction direction of Japanese teaching evaluation system based on hybrid teaching mode is to give full feedback to teaching process, diversify evaluation subjects and evaluation methods, and obtain comprehensive and objective evaluation results. Compared with most similar studies, more EEG data of teachers' emotional stress relief and healthy people in Japanese teaching process were collected, and a large number of features were extracted. An experiment of teachers' emotional stress relief recognition in Japanese teaching process based on EEG signal was designed. The feature selection algorithm was used to screen the EEG feature combinations of teachers' emotional stress relief and healthy subjects, and the classification experiment was carried out to verify the difference. Finally, this paper uses the feature selection algorithm of tree model and the random forest model classifier to establish the recognition model of teachers' emotional stress discharge in Japanese teaching process based on EEG signals and achieves the effect of more accurate recognition of teachers' emotional stress discharge in Japanese teaching process. First, the connotation, value, and influencing factors of teachers' emotion management ability are logically integrated and systematically expounded. Second, based on emotional psychology, emotional intelligence theory, psychotherapy theory, and management theory, teachers' emotional management ability is constructed according to the three-dimensional structure theory of intelligence and information processing theory. It is constructed from three dimensions: object dimension (teachers themselves, students, and students), content dimension (positive and negative emotions), and operational dimension (emotional perception, emotional understanding, emotional expression, and emotional regulation). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current energy trend indicates a strong thrust toward transforming renewable energy as a major power source. To achieve this mission, battery energy storage systems (BESSs) are indispensable. Although BESSs are expensive, cost reduction can be achieved by using BESSs for multiple purposes, such as load leveling, business continuity planning, frequency control, capacity market, arbitrage, and emergency power. In this paper, various applications of BESSs are classified. The possibility of achieving conflict-free combination of different applications is demonstrated. The total required energy storage capacity in Japan is estimated to be 150–200 GWh by 2030. The present status of NaS batteries for multipurpose use and new trends in battery-based businesses are introduced. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Observations and theoretical analysis on the night-time mid-latitude ionospheric irregularities support the postulation of frequently coupled E and F regions. In this paper, we attempt at asserting this notion while using total electron content (TEC) measurements. The TECs are from a dense GNSS receiver network over Japan with more than 1200 stations and a mean distance of ~ 25 km between receivers; thus, ideal for analyzing small-scale perturbations in ionospheric electron density. We take an ansatz that mid-latitude night-time plasma instabilities concentrate at E and F layers. Then the integrated three-dimensional density perturbations are parameterized with a double-thin-shell model. At each shell, perturbation components are assumed identical at any point within a given grid block. Two days with events of night-time medium-scale traveling ionospheric disturbances (MSTIDs), but with different amplitudes, were investigated. Results show that the newly developed technique can infer several horizontal characteristics on E–F coupled instabilities; the coexistence of northwest–southeast (NW–SE) aligned irregular structures in E and F regions is evident. Both E- and F-region irregularities share similar propagation parameters, a shred of clear evidence of strong coupling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

If the Christian Church prioritizes its existence and expansion, it will turn to the entity that approves of it and protects it. When the Modern Japanese emperor's state approached the church as his grace, the Japanese Christian Church showed its gratitude and pledged its allegiance to the emperor. In the Sino-Japanese War, which assisted modern Japan in becoming an imperial-ist country, the Japanese Christian community was in favor of a war under the pretext of a "righteous war" to maintain a lasting peace in the East. However, during the Russo-Japanese War, when most of the Christians were actively in favor of the war, there were a few anti-war voices among small groups of Christians that had not been heard during the Sino-Japanese War. There was a tension that could not be easily resolved in the Japanese Christian Church. In particular, Gokyō, a Christian journal published by the Japanese Methodist Church, one of the major Protestant denominations, simultaneously presented two interesting and conflicting stances regarding the Russo-Japanese War (just war vs. anti-war). In this paper, we examine the diverging perspectives presented in Gokyō and explore various patterns of religion–war relations. Through this, we can see an example of two opposing arguments of just war and anti-war that coexisted and competed on the grounds of Christianity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, an ecologically extended ethic of authenticity is developed in dialogue with the Norwegian environmentalist Arne Naess and the Japanese ethicist Watsuji Tetsurō. More specifically, Naess's concept of Self-realization is supplemented and supported with Watsuji's ethic of authenticity (æœæ¥æ€§) and phenomenology of climate (é¢åœ). And the ecological potential of Watsuji's thought is realized in relation to Naess's ideas of human responsibility and symbiosis. After establishing an ecologically extended ethic of authenticity, the practical application of this concept is then demonstrated in relation to satoyama and the preservation of nature in Japan. Whilst the intended outcome is to develop an ecologically extended ethic of authenticity, a secondary aim is to illustrate the benefit and importance of cross-cultural dialogue to advance philosophical thought and understanding. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One of the characteristic features of the gravity recordings produced by the superconducting gravimeter CT #036 at Ishigakijima, Japan, is that it indicates gravity increase when a typhoon (hurricane) approaches the island. Since we are trying to detect small gravity signals associated with the long-term slow slip events in this region, it is very important in the interpretation of the observed data whether such gravity changes are of natural or instrumental origin. In this paper, we investigate whether or not nonlinearity in the sensor of the superconducting gravimeter is responsible for this phenomenon. Here we take the same theoretical approach as taken by our previous study which investigated the effect of coupling between horizontal and vertical components of the gravity sensor in order to understand the noise caused by the movements of a nearby VLBI antenna. From theoretical and experimental approaches, we prove that the gravity increase observed by CT #036 at the times of high background noise level cannot be explained by instrumental effects, such as the nonlinearity in the vertical component or the coupling between horizontal and vertical components of the gravity sensor. This implies that the observed gravity increases are real gravity signals of natural origin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Herbarium specimens are dried plants mounted onto paper. They are used by a limited number of researchers, such as plant taxonomists, as a source of information on morphology and distribution. Recently, digitised herbarium specimens have begun to be used in comprehensive research to address broader issues. However, some specimens have been misidentified, and if used, there is a risk of drawing incorrect conclusions. In this study, we successfully developed a system for identifying taxon names with high accuracy using an image recognition system. We developed a system with an accuracy of 96.4% using 500,554 specimen images of 2171 plant taxa (2064 species, 9 subspecies, 88 varieties, and 10 forms in 192 families) that grow in Japan. We clarified where the artificial intelligence is looking to make decisions, and which taxa is being misidentified. As the system can be applied to digitalised images worldwide, it is useful for selecting and correcting misidentified herbarium specimens. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we introduce an agent-based model together with a particle filter approach to study the spread of COVID-19. Investigations are mainly performed on the metropolis of Tokyo, but other prefectures of Japan are also briefly surveyed. A novel method for evaluating the effective reproduction number is one of the main outcomes of our approach. Other unknown parameters are also evaluated. Uncertain quantities, such as, for example, the probability that an infected agent develops symptoms, are tested and discussed, and the stability of our computations is examined. Detailed explanations are provided for the model and for the assimilation process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In bibliographic and authority data of materials in Japanese, it is necessary to represent kanji (Chinese characters) and its reading as a pair. Readings, called "yomi" in Japanese, are represented in katakana or the alphabet (romanization form). The readings in Japanese language have many variations depending on the context, so Japanese bibliographic information needs to provide both kanji and its reading as a pair to avoid misunderstandings. The JAPAN/MARC is a machine readable version of the Japanese National Bibliography and provides sets of kanji, katakana-yomi and romaji-yomi (romanization form) of bibliographic and authority data. This paper introduces how readings of bibliographic and authority data in Japanese have been expressed and handled mainly in JAPAN/MARC, compared with international standards. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper analyzes the development of libraries in Japan, resulting in the establishment of the National Diet Library. The history of libraries is closely connected with the history of printing, which dates back to the 8th century in that country. The oldest libraries in Japan were archives of official documents or private collections of nobles and aristocrats. Later on, as Buddhist monks dealt with printing technology, libraries appeared near temples. In the Middle Ages, special attention was paid to the literacy of the nation, which directly encouraged the culture of reading. However, the beginning of modern librarianship in Japan is linked to the end of the 19th century and the increasingly rapid modernization of the country in all spheres of society. The first modern library - the Book Institute (Shojaku-kan, 1872), later known as the Imperial Library, is one of three pillars on which the present National Diet Library in Japan was formed in 1948. Today, the NDL consists of two main facilities: the Main Building in Tokyo and the Kansai-kan in Kyoto, as well as the following branches: the International Library of Children's Literature, the Oriental Library, and 27 other libraries. NDL is the only library in Japan, which has the characteristics of a national library: it is founded by the government; in terms of capacity it is larger than other libraries in the country; it supports other libraries with training programs, etc.; it is the depository library and as such it is looking for mandatory copies, because its duty is to collect and preserve the literary heritage of the nation and to preserve rare, valuable and significant works, etc. In addition, the Japanese National Parliamentary Library manages to cope with the increasingly stressed demands of modern society, focused on information technologies. This includes, above all, the growing need for digitalization, as well as, for the remote use of all types of resources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper investigates how young Japanese women in contemporary Soka Gakkai (SG) navigate Japan's continuous gender stratified society that remains culturally rooted in the 'salaryman-housewife' ideology. How are young SG members reproducing or contesting these hegemonic gender norms that few seek to emulate? While SG has long proclaimed that it stands for gender equality, its employment structure and organization in Japan until recently reflected the typical male breadwinner ideology that came to underpin the post-war Japanese nation-state and systemic gender division of labor. As shown here, this did not mean that SG women were without power; in fact, in many ways they drove organizational developments in the Japanese context. The recent imposition of the global framework for Sustainable Development Goals of 2015 has enabled SG to more substantially challenge its own patriarchal public front. Based on long-term fieldwork, in-depth interviews and multiple group discussions with SG members in their 20s, this article explores how SG-Japan is being challenged to follow its own discourse of 'globalism' and 'Buddhist humanism', promoted by Daisaku Ikeda since the 1990s. Using Bourdieu's analysis of symbolic power, the research shows how Japan's powerful doxa of 'genderism' that held sway over earlier generations is currently being challenged by a glocalized Buddhist discourse that identifies Nichiren Buddhism as 'humanism' rather than Japanese 'genderism'. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Centimeter level augmentation system (CLAS) of the quasi-zenith satellite system (QZSS) is the first precise point positioning-real time kinematic (PPP-RTK) augmentation system of the global navigation satellite system (GNSS), which is currently providing services for Japan. CLAS broadcasts the state-space representation of correction messages along with integrity messages regarding satellite faults and the quality index of each correction. In other GNSS augmentation systems, such as the space-based augmentation system (SBAS) of GNSS, the quality indices of correction messages are used to generate fault-free protection levels that represent a position bound containing a true user position with a probability of missed detections. Although the protection level equations are well defined for the SBAS, a protection level equation for the CLAS PPP-RTK service has not been rigorously discussed in the literature. This paper proposes a fault-free protection level equation for the PPP-RTK methods that considers the probability of correct integer ambiguity fixes in the GNSS carrier phase measurements as well as the CLAS correction quality messages. The computed protection levels with position errors were experimentally compared by processing the GNSS measurements from the GNSS Earth Observation Network (GEONET) stations in Japan and the L6 messages from the CLAS broadcast using the virtual reference station-real time kinematic (VRS-RTK) techniques. Our results, based on the GEONET dataset spanning 7 days, showed that the computed protection levels using the proposed equations were larger than the position errors for all epochs. In the dataset, the RMS errors of the CLAS VRS-RTK position were 4.6 and 14 cm in the horizontal and vertical directions, respectively, whereas the horizontal protection levels ranged from 25 cm to 2.3 m and the vertical protection levels ranged from 50 cm to 5.2 m based on fault-free integrity risk of 10 − 7 . [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The major eruption of volcano Hunga Tonga‐Hunga Ha'apai in Tonga on 15 January 2022 generated atmospheric Lamb waves that propagated over the world. This seemed the first volcanic Lamb wave event that was clearly captured by the state‐of‐the‐art geostationary meteorological satellites. This paper provides visualization of the waves using thermal infrared images from geostationary satellite Himawari‐8. The second time derivatives of 10‐min interval images clearly illustrated the waves propagating at about 310 m s−1. The waves could be tracked for more than a week while they propagated five times round the earth. Automated wavefront identification illustrated nonuniform propagation speed. The signals in the satellite images well matched the surface pressure observations in Japan. Plain Language Summary: The major eruption of volcano Hunga Tonga‐Hunga Ha'apai in Tonga on 15 January 2022 generated atmospheric pressure pulses that propagated over the world. This seemed the first event that was clearly captured by the state‐of‐the‐art geostationary meteorological satellites, such as Himawari‐8. Taking the time difference of Himawari‐8's 10‐min interval images twice, the waves that propagated at about 310 m s−1 could be tracked for more than a week while they propagated five times round the earth. This was not possible with the previous‐generation geostationary meteorological satellites. Visualized waves also illustrated how the propagation speed changes in space and time. The signals in the satellite images well matched the surface pressure observations in Japan. Key Points: Lamb waves from an eruption were clearly visualized by the second time derivative of satellite infrared images every 10 minThe waves could be tracked for more than a week while they propagated at least five times round the earth at a speed of about 310 m s−1The signals in the satellite images matched the surface pressure changes quantitatively [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The emergence of the novel coronavirus disease of 2019 (COVID-19) has led to huge disruptions in the medical field and society. The significance of training and education for experts has been increasingly acknowledged in Japan, where the number of infectious disease (ID) specialists is reportedly insufficient. In this paper, we report the results of a web-based survey that was conducted to reveal the ways in which the COVID-19 pandemic has influenced medical students' awareness of ID specialists and future career choices. Method: This cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted in March 2021 and targeted 717 medical students belonging to Medical School of Okayama University, Japan. The questionnaire consisted of four questions meant to assess students' knowledge and future intentions of becoming ID specialists. Results: We obtained 328 eligible questionnaires (response rate: 45.7%). Of 227 (69.2%) students who were aware of ID specialists, 99 (43.6%) answered that they came to know about them only after the pandemic, 12 (3.7%) answered that their interest in being an ID specialist arose during the pandemic, while 36 (11.0%) responded that they would rather not become ID specialists. At the time of the survey, 5 students (1.5%) were aiming to become ID specialists. Conclusion: We observed a very low rate of interest to be an ID specialist among medical students. The experience of the pandemic does not seem to have influenced Japanese medical students to choose ID as a specialty for their careers. Continuous efforts to increase the number of ID specialists are necessary in Japan as a countermeasure against the coming pandemic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A microscale ecological study using the closure approach to understand the impact of productivity controlled by geographical and seasonal variations on the intermittency of phytoplankton is done in this paper. Using this approach for a nutrient–phytoplankton model with Holling type III functional response, it has been shown how the dynamics of the system can be affected by the environmental fluctuations triggered by the impact of light, temperature, and salinity, which fluctuate with regional and seasonal variations. Reynold's averaging method in space, which results in expressing the original components in terms of its mean (average value) and perturbation (fluctuation) has been used to determine the impact of growth fluctuation in phytoplankton distribution and in the intermittency of phytoplankton spreading (variance). Parameters are estimated from the nature of productivity and spread of phytoplankton density during field observation done at four different locations of Tokyo Bay. The model validation shows that our results are in good agreement with the field observation and succeeded in explaining the intermittent phytoplankton distribution at different locations of Tokyo Bay, Japan, and its neighboring coastal regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

People are obtaining more and more information from social media and other online sources, but the spread of misinformation can lead to social disruption. In particular, social networking services (SNSs) can easily spread information of uncertain authenticity and factuality. Although many studies have proposed methods that addressed how to suppress the spread of misinformation on SNSs, few works have examined the impact on society of diffusing both misinformation and its corrective information. This study models the effects of effort to reduce misinformation and the diffusion of corrective information on social disruption, and it clarifies these effects. With the aim of reducing the impact on social disruption, we show that not only misinformation but also corrective information can cause social disruption, and we clarify how to control the spread of the latter to limit its impact. We analyzed the misinformation about a toilet-paper shortage and its correction as well as the social disruption this event caused in Japan during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. First, (1) we analyzed the extent to which misinformation and its corrections spread on SNS, and then (2) we created a model to estimate the impact of misinformation and its corrections on the world. Finally, (3) We used our model to analyze the change in this impact when the diffusion of the misinformation and its corrections changed. Based on our analysis results in (1), the corrective information spread much more widely than the misinformation. From the model developed in (2), the corrective information caused excessive purchasing behavior. The analysis results in (3) show that the amount of corrective information required to minimize the societal impact depends on the amount of misinformation diffusion. Most previous studies concentrated on the impact of corrective information on attitudes toward misinformation. On the other hand, the most significant contribution of this study is that it focuses on the impact of corrective information on society and clarifies the appropriate amount of it. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the evaluation of concrete sustainability, what constitutes "sustainable" to one region may vary from another. This often leads to methodological forms of uncertainties that makes the evaluation process more complex. As such, this paper aims to quantify the effect of uncertainties in the regional context on the sustainability evaluation of concrete materials. This is carried out by quantifying the regional context through establishing a weighting scheme and then integrating the obtained weights into the sustainability analysis of concrete materials in tandem with uncertainty analysis. Japan is used as a case study because although it relatively appears as a homogeneous country, its prefectures possess unique characteristics that may make the sustainability evaluation of concrete materials vary across prefectures. Cluster analysis is carried out in the 47 prefectures of Japan using a set of regional context indicators. Five clusters are identified with varying characteristics and these are translated into different weighting schemes. The established weights are used in the sustainability evaluation of concrete materials using multi-criteria decision-making analysis. The results showed that one mix is the most sustainable for four of the clusters and a different mix is the most sustainable for the remaining cluster. When uncertainty analysis is conducted, the effect of the weights in the sustainability evaluation is explained by examining the average scores of the concrete mixes and the variance of the scores across the five clusters. This investigation facilitated the understanding of how regional differences and the uncertainties associated with it impact the evaluation of concrete sustainability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the evaluation of concrete sustainability, what constitutes "sustainable" to one region may vary from another. This often leads to methodological forms of uncertainties that makes the evaluation process more complex. As such, this paper aims to quantify the effect of uncertainties in the regional context on the sustainability evaluation of concrete materials. This is carried out by quantifying the regional context through establishing a weighting scheme and then integrating the obtained weights into the sustainability analysis of concrete materials in tandem with uncertainty analysis. Japan is used as a case study because although it relatively appears as a homogeneous country, its prefectures possess unique characteristics that may make the sustainability evaluation of concrete materials vary across prefectures. Cluster analysis is carried out in the 47 prefectures of Japan using a set of regional context indicators. Five clusters are identified with varying characteristics and these are translated into different weighting schemes. The established weights are used in the sustainability evaluation of concrete materials using multi-criteria decision-making analysis. The results showed that one mix is the most sustainable for four of the clusters and a different mix is the most sustainable for the remaining cluster. When uncertainty analysis is conducted, the effect of the weights in the sustainability evaluation is explained by examining the average scores of the concrete mixes and the variance of the scores across the five clusters. This investigation facilitated the understanding of how regional differences and the uncertainties associated with it impact the evaluation of concrete sustainability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since the appearance and evolution of earthquake ionospheric precursors are expected to show a nonlinear and complex behaviour, the use of nonlinear predictor models seems more appropriate. This paper proposes a new approach based on deep learning as a powerful tool for extracting the nonlinear patterns from a time series of ionospheric precursors. A Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM) network as a type of Recurrent Neural Network (RNN) was used to investigate 52 six-month time series, deduced from the three Swarm satellite (Alpha (A), Bravo (B) and Charlie (C)) measurements, including electron density (Ne), electron temperature (Te), magnetic scalar and vector (X, Y, Z) components, Slant and Vertical Total Electron Content (STEC and VTEC), for day and night periods around the time and location of a seismic event. This new approach was tested on a strong Mw = 7.1 earthquake in Japan on 13 February 2021, at 14:07:50 UTC by comparing the results with two implemented methods, i.e., Median and LSTM methods. Furthermore, clear anomalies are seen by a voting classification method 1, 6, 8, 13, 31 and 32 days before the earthquake. A comparison with atmospheric data investigation is further provided, supporting the lithosphere–atmosphere–ionosphere coupling (LAIC) mechanism as a suitable theory to explain the alteration of upper geolayers in the earthquake preparation phase. In other words, using multi-method and multi-precursor analysis applied to 52 time series and also to the orbit-by-orbit investigation, the observed anomalies on the previous day and up to 32 days before the event in normal solar and quiet geomagnetic conditions could be considered as a striking hint of the forthcoming Japan earthquake. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Setting out from Okakura Kakuzō and Ernest Fenollosa's famous "discovery" of the Yumedono Kannon, this article will trace the contested construction of the categories of "religion" (shūkyō) and "fine art" (bijutsu) in Meiji Japan. In religious studies circles, it has become commonplace to think of "religion" as the only disciplinary master category with issues. However, not only was "religion" invented in Japan, but "fine art" was invented there too. Indeed, categories from "culture" to "society" to "politics" have similar issues. Attending to these will help refocus crucial debates away from an obsession with translation and onto more fundamental issues about "cultural categories" as such. This paper will advance the debate by explaining the attendant constructions of "religion" and "fine art" as process social kinds. In doing so, it will showcase the museum and the temple as central sites of materialized disputation over global categories and their local instantiation. It will show how assimilation to the world-system in the long nineteenth century was a complex multi-generational process of negotiation and contestation, producing new hybrid spaces, returns, transformations, and innovations that then reflected back on global systems, changing them in subtle but profound ways. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In Japan, where a prominent gap exists in what is considered a patient's best interest between the medical and patient sides, appropriate decision-making can be difficult to achieve. In Japanese clinical settings, decision-making is considered an act of choice-making from multiple potential options. With many ethical dilemmas still remaining, establishing an appropriate decision-making process is an urgent task in modern Japanese healthcare. This paper examines ethical issues related to shared decision-making (SDM) in clinical settings in modern Japan from the psychocultural-social perspective and discusses the ideal decision-making process in present Japan. Specifically, we discuss how five psychocultural-social tendencies – "surmise (Sontaku)," "self-restraint (Jishuku)," "air (atmosphere or mood, Kuuki)," "peer pressure (or tuning pressure, Docho-Atsuryoku)," and "community (Seken)"—which have often been referred to as characteristics of present-day Japanese people, may affect the ideal practice of SDM in Japanese clinical settings. We conclude that health care professionals must be aware of the possible adverse effects of the above Japanese psychocultural-social tendencies on the implementation of SDM and attempt to promote autonomous decision-making, thereby allowing patients to make treatment choices that sufficiently reflect their individual and personal views of life, experiences, goals, preferences, and values. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines whether the COVID-19-induced employment shocks are associated with increases in suicides and safety net use in the second and third quarters of 2020. We exploit plausibly exogenous regional variation in the magnitude of the employment shocks in Japan and adopt a difference-in-differences research design to examine and control for possible confounders. Our preferred point estimates suggest that a one-percentage-point increase in the unemployment rate in the second quarter of 2020 is associated with, approximately, an additional 0.52 suicides, 28 unemployment benefit recipients, 88 recipients of a temporary loan program, and 10 recipients of public assistance per 100,000 population per month. A simple calculation based on these estimates suggests that if a region experienced a one-percentage-point increase in the unemployment rate caused by the COVID-19 crisis in the second quarter of 2020, which is roughly equivalent to the third-highest regional employment shock, this would be associated with 37.4%, 60.5%, and 26.5% increases in the total, female, and male suicide rates respectively in July 2020 compared with July 2019. These results are primarily correlational rather than causal due to the limitation of our data and research design, but our baseline findings are robust to several different model specifications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the past decade, Korea and Japan have increasingly exhibited different strategic priorities in trade in face of China's rising global economic prowess and worsening USChina trade conflict. Japan's trade policy decisions have worked to reinforce its economic and security ties with the US as a means to counter China. Japan has used both bilateral and multilateral means to secure its ties with the US against China. In contrast, Korea's trade policy positions have been one of 'strategic ambiguity'. Korea has been more conciliatory towards China, reluctant to take actions that would counter China's interest. Korea has mainly resorted to bilateral channels to maintain favorable relations with both China and the US. Korea's reluctance to clearly ally with the US against China has been observed across different administrations with opposing political orientations. This paper examines Korea and Japan's diverging strategic priorities in trade through the 2017 World Trade Organization Ministerial Conference; the 2017 US imposition of Section 232 on steel; the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership, the Korea-US FTA renegotiation and the Korea-China FTA Phase Two Negotiation; and the 2019 Japan-US Trade Agreement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer (JUICE) is a science mission led by the European Space Agency, being developed for launch in 2023. The Ganymede Laser Altimeter (GALA) is an instrument onboard JUICE, whose main scientific goals are to understand ice tectonics based on topographic data, the subsurface structure by measuring tidal response, and small-scale roughness and albedo of the surface. In addition, from the perspective of astrobiology, it is imperative to study the subsurface ocean scientifically. The development of GALA has proceeded through an international collaboration between Germany (the lead), Japan, Switzerland, and Spain. Within this framework, the Japanese team (GALA-J) is responsible for developing three receiver modules: the Backend Optics (BEO), the Focal Plane Assembly (FPA), and the Analog Electronics Module (AEM). Like the German team, GALA-J also developed software to simulate the performance of the entire GALA system (performance model). In July 2020, the Proto-Flight Models of BEO, FPA, and AEM were delivered from Japan to Germany. This paper presents an overview of JUICE/GALA and its scientific objectives and describes the instrumentation, mainly focusing on Japan's contribution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines Japanese female Christians' writings published during the 1970s in a Japanese ecumenical periodical, Gospel and World , to explore their relationship to second wave feminism in Japan, ūman ribu , as a religious minority's complex way to engage politics and other Asian women. These feminist Christians are an example of women located in-between colonizers and the colonized as well as among the racial and religious majorities and minorities of the time; illuminating their activism allows us to consider effective and discursive forms of engaging women, politics, and religion. On the one hand, Japanese Christian feminists expanded their sense of agency both by relocating the oppression of women in the church within the larger issues of Japanese colonial legacy and by reimagining social justice within sacred space. On the other hand, their lack of reflection on race and their reliance on the majoritarian identity of onna (middle-class Japanese women) blurred their vision and invitation to activism around "pan-Asian solidarity." [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Employee engagement has become a critical issue in Japanese companies. One way to develop it is to improve the relationship among employees through gratitude expressions. In the post-COVID-19 remote work environment, digital devices are essential. This paper confirms that expressions of gratitude delivered via digital devices enhance the relationship between employees. We experimented in a small-town government office where participants (n = 88) were asked to (1) use the Thanks App, an app we developed to express gratitude, for two months and (2) respond to an engagement survey we developed before and after the experimental period. Through cross-analysis of the data from the app and questionnaire, we found that the "trust in colleagues" factor had a strong correlation (r = 0.80, p < 0.001) with our new index computed by the app's data. The results suggest that the use of the Thanks App may help visualize the trust relationship among teams. This study has a practical value in providing a new team management tool for visualizing team trust. In addition, it provides a new research method for emotional and social psychology using digital devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We have examined the attitude and moral perception of 228 college students (63 Japanese and 165 non-Japanese) towards artificial intelligence (AI) in an international university in Japan. The students were asked to select a single most significant ethical issue associated with AI in the future from a list of nine ethical issues suggested by the World Economic Forum, and to explain why they believed that their chosen issues were most important. The majority of students (n = 149, 65%) chose unemployment as the major ethical issue related to AI. The second largest group of students (n = 29, 13%) were concerned with ethical issues related to emotional AI, including the impact of AI on human behavior and emotion. The paper discusses the results in detail and concludes that, while policymakers must consider how to ameliorate the impact of AI on employment, AI engineers need to consider the emotional aspects of AI in research and development, as well. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Our paper presents detailed evolutionary analyses of narcissus viruses from wild and domesticated Narcissus plants in Japan. Narcissus late season yellows virus (NLSYV) and narcissus degeneration virus (NDV) are major viruses of Narcissus plants, causing serious disease outbreaks in Japan. In this study, we collected Narcissus plants showing mosaic or striped leaves along with asymptomatic plants in Japan for evolutionary analyses. Our findings show that (1) NLSYV is widely distributed, whereas the distribution of NDV is limited to the southwest parts of Japan; (2) the genomes of NLSYV isolates share nucleotide identities of around 82%, whereas those of NDV isolates are around 94%; (3) three novel recombination type patterns were found in NLSYV; (4) NLSYV comprises at least five distinct phylogenetic groups whereas NDV has two; and (5) infection with narcissus viruses often occur as co-infection with different viruses, different isolates of the same virus, and in the presence of quasispecies (mutant clouds) of the same virus in nature. Therefore, the wild and domesticated Narcissus plants in Japan are somewhat like a melting pot of potyviruses and other viruses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]