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This study delves into the dynamics of dyadic communication within a predefined acting scenario by analyzing how the utterance and behavior of paired participants change over time and influence each other. Assigned specific roles and objectives within this preset context, participants focus on and verbalize each other's actions. Prior research, which compared verbal characteristics between professional actors and novices, underlines the importance of shifting focus from self to partner in attaining naturalistic performances, referring to authentic communication in an acting setting. The present study incorporates pose estimation into the video analysis of acting training, assessing behavioral dynamics in a natural state. By extracting the correlations in movement changes of the paired participants during role-playing, the dynamic process of interaction in a specific context is traced, elucidating how natural performances develop through intensive mutual attention and interaction. Additionally, examining concurrent changes in utterance provides insights into the reasons behind behavioral changes. Overall, this research not only sheds light on the nuances of performing arts training but also makes a contribution to the broader understanding of action patterns and communication dynamics within specific social roles and interactions.

It is believed that there is a significant difference between the use of technology in technologically advanced and advancing countries, and the users in the former act far better with technology than the users in the latter. However, there is not enough report on how this usage differs in terms of the independent use of technology in a foreign language or for learning that language. Therefore, the present cross-cultural case study was conducted to compare and contrast the patterns of using technology in two Asian universities, one in Japan (a technologically advanced country) and another in Iran (a technologically advancing country). The participants were 248 Japanese and 235 Iranian students. The data were collected through an online questionnaire that gained information about students' use of technology in everyday life in their L1 (Japanese & Persian) and in L2 (English), students' use of discipline-specific technology in English, and their attitudes toward the use of technology for language learning. The findings revealed that there is not a very significant difference between the patterns of using technology in Japan and Iran in both L1 and L2. The major difference was that the Japanese tended to use more information technologies in L1, while the Iranians leaned toward communication technologies. It was also found that Iranian students used technology in L2 more than the Japanese, especially in terms of communication technologies.

In creativity, the importance of interaction with the environment through bodily movement and perceptual information acquired therein has been discussed anecdotally. However, past creativity studies have mainly focused on the connection of creativity with memory and knowledge and the relationship between creativity and cognitive manipulations. The above process of bodily movement and environment was not sufficiently discussed. In this study, we developed a model of the above process and partially checked its validity through an experiment. Our model and the results of our experiment suggested the following processes. The interaction with the environment through the bodily movement changes the content and quality of the ideas generated. That interaction also changes the content of the cognitive manipulations in the idea generation. The above change in the cognitive manipulations partially described the change in the content and quality of the ideas. In these processes, the acquisition of perceptual information that differs greatly from the prediction has an important function. The dynamical relationship between the bodily movement, perception, and cognition in creative activities will require further investigation.

To explain the importance of interaction for a truthful performance in acting, the present study captures the characteristics of interaction and attempts to probe the underlying intrapersonal changes through interaction during an acting course which emphasizes paying attention to a partner. Novice participants tend to change their way of communication as the course progresses, the pattern of which further differs from that of professional actors. While actors devote themselves more to the connection with their partner and demonstrate more balanced communication, novices rely on general inference to speculate about others’ affective states. This study offers a new perspective to elucidate the construction of interaction in acting, and emphasizes the significance of involvement in interaction when applying acting approaches to general training with the aim of improving social understanding.

This study aimed to translate the Short Scale of Creative Self (SSCS) into Japanese and examine its psychometric properties. In total, 1,436 participants (Study 1: N = 957, Study 2: N = 479) completed the questionnaires. In Study 1, confirmatory factor analyses for Japanese versions of the scales resulted in bi‐factor structures comprising one general factor and two subfactors; namely, creative self‐efficacy (CSE) and creative personal identity (CPI). However, the Japanese version of the SSCS (SSCS‐J) was essentially unidimensional, and scoring based on CSE and CPI lacked support. Therefore, it was necessary to calculate the total SSCS‐J item scores to measure the creative self. Study 2 provided evidence for the concurrent, convergent, and discriminant validity of the scale. The current study also found that the SSCS‐J had adequate test–retest reliability. The present findings suggest that the SSCS‐J has sufficient reliability and validity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study was to develop the Japanese version of the Creative Mindset Scale (CMS‐J) and examine its psychometric properties using classical test theory (CTT) and item response theory (IRT). Three surveys were conducted to examine the psychometric properties. Study 1 (n = 700) confirmed the conceptual structure of the CMS‐J. Confirmatory factor analyses of the CMS‐J suggested a two‐factor structure, as in the original scale. The test–retest reliability was examined based on data from 143 participants who responded to the CMS‐J questionnaire after a 7‐week interval. Study 2 (n = 1,114) confirmed the convergent and discriminant validities, as well as the internal consistency, of the CMS‐J. Finally, Study 3 (n = 1,300) confirmed the effective measurement of growth and fixed mindset of the CMS‐J using IRT analyses. The present findings suggest that the CMS‐J has a fundamental psychometric property. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to translate the Short Scale of Creative Self (SSCS) into Japanese and examine its psychometric properties. In total, 1,436 participants (Study 1: N = 957, Study 2: N = 479) completed the questionnaires. In Study 1, confirmatory factor analyses for Japanese versions of the scales resulted in bi‐factor structures comprising one general factor and two subfactors; namely, creative self‐efficacy (CSE) and creative personal identity (CPI). However, the Japanese version of the SSCS (SSCS‐J) was essentially unidimensional, and scoring based on CSE and CPI lacked support. Therefore, it was necessary to calculate the total SSCS‐J item scores to measure the creative self. Study 2 provided evidence for the concurrent, convergent, and discriminant validity of the scale. The current study also found that the SSCS‐J had adequate test–retest reliability. The present findings suggest that the SSCS‐J has sufficient reliability and validity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We previously demonstrated hepatic, cardiac, and skin inflammation in a high-fat diet-induced steatotic liver disease (SLD) model. However, the molecular mechanism in the kidneys in this model remains unclear. It has been recently reported that SGLT2 inhibitors improve chronic kidney disease (CKD). Therefore, we used this model to evaluate the effects of tofogliflozin on renal lipid metabolism and inflammation. Male 8-10-week-old C57Bl/6 mice were fed a high-fat/high-cholesterol/high-sucrose/bile acid (HF/HC/HS/BA) diet with 0.015% tofogliflozin (Tofo group) or an HF/HC/HS/BA diet alone (SLD group). After eight weeks, serum lipid profiles, histology, lipid content, and mRNA/microRNA and protein expression levels in the kidney were examined. The Tofo group showed significant reductions in body (26.9 ± 0.9 vs. 24.5 ± 1.0 g; p < 0.001) and kidney weight compared to those of the SLD group. Renal cholesterol (9.1 ± 1.6 vs. 7.5 ± 0.7 mg/g; p < 0.05) and non-esterified fatty acid (NEFA) (12.0 ± 3.0 vs. 8.4 ± 1.5 μEq/g; p < 0.01) were significantly decreased in the Tofo group. Transmission electron microscopy revealed the presence of fewer lipid droplets. mRNA sequencing analysis revealed that fatty acid metabolism-related genes were upregulated and NFκB signaling pathway-related genes were downregulated in the Tofo group. MicroRNA sequencing analysis indicated that miR-21a was downregulated and miR-204 was upregulated in the Tofo group. Notably, the expression of PPARα, which has been known to be negatively regulated by miR-21, was significantly increased, leading to enhancing β-oxidation genes, Acox1 and Cpt1 in the Tofo group. Tofogliflozin decreased renal cholesterol and NEFA levels and improved inflammation through the regulation of PPARα and miR-21a.

Aim: A twin study is a valuable tool for elucidating the acquired factors against lifestyle diseases such as dyslipidemia, diabetes mellitus, and obesity. We aimed 1. to investigate the factors that affect low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) in monozygotic (MZ) twins, and 2. to identify genes which expression levels changed in pairs with large differences in LDL-C or HDL-C levels., Methods: The registered database at the Center for Twin Research, Osaka University, containing 263 pairs of MZ twins, was analyzed. 1. The effects of smoking, exercise, nutritional factors, and anthropometric and biochemical parameters on LDL-C or HDL-C levels were examined in MZ twins. 2. RNA sequencing in the peripheral blood mononuclear cells of 59 pairs was analyzed for large differences of LDL-C or HDL-C groups., Results: 1. The ΔLDL-C levels were significantly associated with an older age, the ΔTG levels, and ΔBMI. ΔHDL-C levels were associated with the ΔBMI, ΔTG, ΔTP, and ΔLDL-C levels. The HDL-C levels were affected by smoking and exercise habits. The intakes of cholesterol and saturated fatty acids were not associated with the LDL-C or HDL-C levels. 2. An RNA sequencing analysis revealed that the expression of genes related to the TLR4 and IFNG pathways was suppressed in accordance with the HDL-C levels in the larger ΔHDL-C group among the 59 pairs., Conclusion: We identified the factors affecting the LDL-C or HDL-C levels in monozygotic twins. In addition, some types of inflammatory gene expression in peripheral blood mononuclear cells were suppressed in accordance with the HDL-C levels, thus suggesting the importance of weight management and exercise habits in addition to dietary instructions to control the LDL-C or HDL-C levels.