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The aim of this study is to advance understading of teachers' and researchers' work, in particular its cultural specificities, from a resource perspective by exploring the issues and challenges faced during the translation of a theoretical framework, the Documentational Approach to Didactics (DAD), from Western (English and French) to East Asian languages (Chinese and Japanese). A basic assumption is that the challenges encountered while translating are driven by the cultural and linguistic differences that exist between the West and East. Adopting the perspective of the "Anthropological Theory of the Didactic" (ATD), we frame the translation work as a transposition process of research praxeology (a model of the researchers' practices and knowledge) from a Western to an Eastern institution. We investigate this process to identify cultural elements at different levels (school, society, civilization, etc.) using the ATD framework. After translating a DAD article into Chinese and Japanese separately, we then worked collaboratively to identify similar or diverse translation issues and investigated their origins. Consequently, the results revealed a considerable difference between the West and East, and ample similarities between China and Japan, especially in terms of the researchers' work and its relationship with the teachers' work.

Despite an extensive body of literature scrutinising international students' short-term and long-term mobility experiences, little is known about the connection between the two. To address this gap, this study looks into the perception of a group of Chinese international students on how participation in their short-term mobility (STM) experience affects their navigation of subsequent full-degree experiences. Based on a qualitative investigation into 31 participants, drawing on the ABC theoretical model, this study manifests that penetrating diverse fabrics, the STM experience revealed impacts on the students' preparation for, operating and imagining their long-term study trajectory and beyond. These impacts are embodied in affective, behavioural and cognitive learning gains that are predominantly perceived as positive forces that facilitate navigation of a longer course. The study suggests some implications for stakeholders involved in students' international mobility programs and concludes with directions for future research.

By using the methods of document literature, induction and synthesis, this paper makes a literature review and comparative study on the relevant research of school physical education laws and regulations in China and Japan. Japan is a developed country of school physical education in the world. In the process of building school physical education laws and regulations, there are some methods and ideas to solve school physical education problems. Therefore, it is of great practical significance to analyze the relevant research on Japanese school physical education laws and regulations and to sum up their experience and lessons. This paper quotes the viewpoints of Chinese and Japanese experts and scholars, and makes a literature review on the research of school physical education laws and regulations in Japan from the aspects of the course of construction of school physical education laws and regulations, the system of laws and regulations, legislation, justice, law enforcement, law abiding, content and problems, and comparative study.

Creativity is generally considered a personal attribute, which is individualist and cognitive and less as a relational construct situated culturally and collectively. Past comparative cultural studies of creativity involving East Asian contexts focus on an individualist and cognitive perspective with relatively limited research investigating the cultural and collective aspects of creativity. This is a phenomenographic investigation of how creativity in the Visual Arts is conceptualized by Japanese adolescents. Participants included 14 students of Art and Shodo (Traditional Japanese Calligraphy) attending a co-educational school in Tokyo. Students were interviewed individually or within a focus group to explore their understanding of creativity. Creativity in this context was associated primarily with "thinking" as a process rather than product-orientated notions of creativity typical in the Western context. Our findings challenge understandings of creativity as a set of characteristics predominantly associated with tangible and quantitatively measurable cognitions regardless of context and suggest that understanding the richness of creativity should engage the socio-cultural environment. In particular, Japanese cultural norms and language significantly influence how creativity is constituted and discerned. Students' complex, varied, and personal conceptualizations of creativity were mediated through their experiences with traditional or non-traditional art.

The growing interest in classroom discourse reflects a wide recognition within the mathematics education community of the critical role of social interactions in the joint construction of mathematics knowledge. An extensive body of empirical and theoretical work has been undertaken in the last two decades to characterise the types of classroom talk that are conducive to learning. Yet, a key challenge remains for mathematics teachers to orchestrate whole-class discussions so that student responses to instructional tasks can be utilised to advance the disciplinary understanding of the entire class. This is especially the case when the mathematics task in focus is both open and cognitively challenging. Drawing upon a complementary accounts methodology, we analysed the Learner's Perspective Study (LPS) classroom and interview data from two classrooms in the United States and Japan to explore teacher orchestration of student responses to rich mathematics tasks. Significantly influenced by a body of literature on classroom microculture in mathematics education, this paper employed two complementary conceptual tools, coherence and meta-discursive rules, to develop an analytical framework for the purpose of exploring epistemic coherence of classroom discourse across diverse settings. The findings demonstrated that both teachers' orchestration of whole-class discussion supported the macro-structuring of students' experience at the level of topic coherence and contextual, organisational and conceptual connectedness, whilst the meta-narratives allowed the teacher to connect their goals for mathematics teaching and learning with the ongoing classroom activities and interactions.

Hikikomori has been recognized as a significant social issue in Japan. It is a Japanese term that refers to young people (aged 18-39 years) who have been in an asocial state of social withdrawal and social isolation for over six months. The Cabinet Office of Japan suggests that the number of hikikomori youth has reached approximately 700,000 and is still growing. In addition, recent surveys suggest that hikikomori has a prolonged influence, such that more than 610,000 middle-aged people (aged 40-65 years) have remained in a hikikomori state which began at a younger age. The major challenge of this issue facing experts is that Hikikomori individuals usually repulse external support or interventions, either consciously or unconsciously. Hence, psychological therapies reliant on external interventions have inevitable limitations in curing hikikomori. Our methodology of C-BED (Community-Based Enterprise Development), on the other hand, has proven effective in overcoming this challenge, based on the results of our pilot study supported by Japanese NGO and TOYOTA Foundation. C-BED is a peer-to-peer learning process in which hikikomori share their thoughts with peers in similar situations through online dialogues. In developing the original program, we adopted the Dialectic Behavior Therapy (DBT) to the C-BED and produced 10 online modules for participants to interact by using online SNS group chat. The results of the online workshops (online C-BED) for five Hikikomori youth suggested that their psychological anxiety has been decreased and their willingness to participate socially has been strengthened after attending a 3-course module. In addition, C-BED has incomparable advantages in approaching hikikomori in remote areas at a meager cost, and in bringing positive changes to those who are struggling with psychological problems, no matter their cultural or economic backgrounds.

This study used a consensual qualitative research method to explore academic adaptation experiences of international students (N = 13) from East Asian countries at a U.S. university. The analysis yielded five domains from the data (challenges, feelings, strategies, suggestions, and self-reflections). Implications for college counselors, university administrators, and future research are discussed.

This study aimed to examine sex and age-level differences in preschool children with respect to walking times on a course and on a balance beam with obstacles. Subjects were 324 healthy preschool children: 4-year-old boys (51) and girls (51), 5-year-old boys (50) and girls (60), and 6-year-old boys (62) and girls (50). A 5- or 10-cm-high obstacle (depth, 11.5 cm; width, 23.5 cm) was set at the halfway point of a course (length, 200 cm; width, 10 cm) that was drawn on the floor and a balance beam (length, 200 cm; width, 10 cm; height 30 cm). The children walked to the end of the course and on a balance beam, and returned as quickly as possible under three conditions: no obstacle, low obstacle, and high obstacle. In all obstacle conditions, children aged 4-4.5 years walked on the course and the balance beam significantly slower than children aged 5 and 6 years, and children aged 4.5-5 years walked more slowly than children aged 5.5-6 years and children aged 6 years. Both walking was significantly slower in children aged 5-5.5 years than children aged 6 years (course: aged 6.5-7 years) in the high-obstacle condition, and was lower in the high-obstacle condition than in the no-obstacle condition in children aged 4 years. No significant sex difference was found in children in either walking time in all obstacle conditions. The walking time on the course showed a significant curvilinear regression with age in boys except for the no- and low-obstacle conditions. All balance beam walking times showed a significant curvilinear regression with age in both sexes in all obstacle conditions. Finally, 4-year-old children walked more slowly than 5- and 6-year-old children on a course and on a balance beam regardless of the presence of the obstacles. Both walking abilities develop markedly in 4-year-old children, and children between 5.5 and 6 years walk at a similar speed. The two forms of walking, regardless of the presence of an obstacle, showed little difference based on sex in children aged 4-6 years. A 10-cm-high obstacle affects walking in 4-year-old children, but not in children older than 5 years.

How to compute and report subscores for a test that was originally designed for reporting scores on a unidimensional scale has been a topic of interest in recent years. In the research reported here, we describe an application of multidimensional item response theory to identify a subscore structure in a test designed for reporting results using a unidimensional scale. This research also dealt with the problem of planned missing data due to low levels of item overlap among multiple test forms. Furthermore, we provided evidence for the generalizability of the multidimensional structure using multiple forms of the same test. We also compared the subscores from multiple groups to show the usefulness of the subscores. The research provides evidence that subscores can be identified and produced to provide useful information about different constructs for multiple examinee groups even though the test data were well fit by a unidimensional model.

An interactive computer-based learning tool with multiple sessions is proposed in this paper, which teaches students to think and helps them recognize the merits and limitations of simulation tools so as to improve their practical abilities in electrical circuit simulation based on the case of a power converter with progressive problems. The common problem of fast simulation and differential equation solver convergence are discussed in detail for the simulation of nonlinear power electronic circuits. Another special ratio for ripple restriction is proposed, taking practical work into consideration. Some design and simulation tradeoffs for corresponding problems are also presented. Such a learning tool can improve students' programming skills and inspire their interest in practical work as well. The practical tests--carried out at the Aichi Institute of Technology, Toyota, Japan, and Southeast University, Nanjing, China--validate the effectiveness of the learning tool. (Contains 2 tables and 12 figures.)

The following is a review of creativity courses and programs offered at universities in Europe, North America, Japan, and China. Creativity courses and programs occur in a variety of disciplines, but are found most frequently in fields such as business; education and psychology; and engineering, science, and technology. This paper provides information about course and program titles, characteristics, and instructors. (Contains 1 table.)

The topic of teacher credentials and student performance is revisited in an international setting using the TIMSS-99 data. The lack of consistent positive link between credentials and performance can be explained via three routes: measurement problem of ''teacher quality'' input, measurement problem of ''student outcomes'', and the production function form that is assumed to link the input and the output. Although there is a small literature focusing on student outcome measurement problems, suggesting the use of cognitive achievements rather than test scores, in most cases those cognitive measures are nothing but math and science scores. This study contributes to the literature by borrowing from the measurement and psychometrics theories to decompose single scores into three categories of cognitive abilities. The hypothesis is that teachers may play a crucial role in the development of some student cognitive skills while not in the others. Using a ''rule-space'' model, this article identifies three cognitive skills: the process skill, the reading skill and the mathematical think skill. The study finds that: (1) in general teacher credentials have no effect on any type of cognitive skill development as well as on the test score, and (2) the within-teacher variance of student performance is much larger than between-teacher variance in Japan and Korea, whereas the reverse is true in the US and the Netherlands. The phenomenon of ''private tutoring'' is quoted as an explanation of this pattern.

The South China Block (SCB) and Proto-Japan (includes Honshu, Kyushu, and Shikoku) are the important geological units in Eastern Eurasia. Their relationship in the Early Mesozoic is contentious, understanding it is crucial for understanding East Asia's evolutionary history and reconstructing the paleo-continent. We present a detrital zircon and provenances study of the Late Triassic Xiaoping Formation, the Genkou Group, and the Wenbinshan Formation on the southeast margin of the SCB. All have similar detrital zircon U Pb age distributions, and three main age groups: 200–300 Ma, 400–500 Ma, and 700–1000 Ma. The primary provenances of the study area are the Yunkai Massif to the west, Hainan Island to the south, and northern Fujian, eastern Hunan, Wuyi Terrane, and Jiangnan Orogen to the north. The distribution of detrital zircons in the southeast margin of the SCB and Proto-Japan is further compared by applying various methods such as multidimensional scaling and Chi-square tests, which shows significant differences in the age distribution patterns of detrital zircons between the two areas. Further provenance analysis reveals significant differences between the southeast margin of the SCB and Proto-Japan during the Late Triassic, suggesting a lack of affinity between the two regions. Therefore, the Late Triassic Proto-Japan likely not located to the southeast margin of the SCB and moving closer to its current position. • Presenting a provenance system of the southeast margin of the South China Block • Compare the detrital zircons of South China Block and Proto-Japan • Proto-Japan was not adjacent to South China Block in the Late Triassic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The pesticide application method is one of the important factors affecting its effectiveness and residues, and the risk of pesticides to non-target organisms. To elucidate the effect of application methods on the efficacy and residue of cyenopyrafen, and the toxic effects on pollinators honeybees in strawberry cultivation, the efficacy and residual behavior of cyenopyrafen were investigated using foliar spray and backward leaf spray in field trials. The results showed that the initial deposition of cyenopyrafen using backward leaf spray on target leaves reached 5.06–9.81 mg/kg at the dose of 67.5–101.25 g a.i./ha, which was higher than that using foliar spray (2.62–3.71 mg/kg). The half-lives of cyenopyrafen in leaves for foliar and backward leaf spray was 2.3–3.3 and 5.3–5.9 d, respectively. The residues (10 d) of cyenopyrafen in leaves after backward leaf spray was 1.41–3.02 mg/kg, which was higher than that after foliar spraying (0.25–0.37 mg/kg). It is the main reason for the better efficacy after backward leaf spray. However, the residues (10 d) in strawberry after backward leaf spray and foliar spray was 0.04–0.10 and < 0.01 mg/kg, which were well below the established maximum residue levels of cyenopyrafen in Japan and South Korea for food safety. To further investigate the effects of cyenopyrafen residues after backward leaf spray application on pollinator honeybees, sublethal effects of cyenopyrafen on honeybees were studied. The results indicated a significant inhibition in the detoxification metabolic enzymes of honeybees under continuous exposure of cyenopyrafen (0.54 and 5.4 mg/L) over 8 d. The cyenopyrafen exposure also alters the composition of honeybee gut microbiota, such as increasing the relative abundance of Rhizobiales and decreasing the relative abundance of Acetobacterales. The comprehensive data on cyenopyrafen provide basic theoretical for environmental and ecological risk assessment, while backward leaf spray proved to be effective and safe for strawberry cultivation. [Display omitted] • The efficacy of cyenopyrafen by backward leaf spray was notably greater than that of foliar spray. • Cyenopyrafen by backward leaf spray had higher deposition and longer half-life than foliar spray. • Cyenopyrafen alters the relative abundance of Rhizobiales and Acetobacterales in honeybee gut. • Host-microbiota interactions resist cyenopyrafen through both immune and metabolic pathways. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With population aging, increasing numbers of elderly people in Japan are expected to enter aged care facilities (ACFs). Although research has shown that access to community gardens (CGs) is generally beneficial to older people's psychological well-being, the mechanisms by which the usage and quality of CGs influence the well-being of older adults in ACFs remain insufficiently studied. Therefore, this study aims to explore the associations between garden factors (i.e., garden visit frequency and perceived garden quality) and older adults' psychological well-being outcomes (i.e., positive well-being and self-rated health) and to investigate the mediating role of neighborhood social environment factors (i.e., outing frequency, social participation, perceived neighborhood social cohesion, and perceived neighborhood attachment) in these associations. We conducted a questionnaire survey with 322 older adults from twelve elderly housing with care services (EHCSs) in the Tokyo metropolitan area (TMA) of Japan. The multiple regression models showed that both garden factors were positively associated with positive well-being and self-rated health. The parallel mediation models showed that higher garden visit frequency and perceived garden quality were associated with higher outing frequency and perceived neighborhood social cohesion and, in turn, with higher positive well-being. Moreover, higher garden visit frequency and perceived garden quality were associated with greater social participation and thereby with better self-rated health; higher perceived garden quality was also associated with higher perceived neighborhood attachment and thus with better self-rated health. Our findings elucidate the potential mechanisms underlying the beneficial associations between CGs and the psychological well-being of older adults in ACFs, emphasizing the important role of cultivating friendly social environments in CGs in enhancing healthy aging. • Garden factors were positively correlated with positive well-being and self-rated health. • Outing frequency and neighborhood social cohesion mediated the associations of garden factors with positive well-being. • Social participation mediated the association of garden visit frequency and perceived garden quality with self-rated health. • Perceived neighborhood attachment mediated the association of perceived garden quality with self-rated health. • Links between CGs and the psychological well-being of EHCS residents were not moderated by socioeconomic variables. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigated the relationship between different domains of cultural adaptation among international students in Japan and the moralization of culture-specific norms. Newcomers may adapt certain norms of the host culture and ascribe moral meanings to initially nonmoral activities or objects. Building on the existing model of sociocultural adaptation, we investigated how different types of sociocultural adaptation are associated with the moralization of Japanese cultural norms. For international students in Japan, there are three aspects of sociocultural adaptation: academic, daily living, and interpersonal. Our results showed that cultural adaptation in the interpersonal domain, but not in the academic and daily living domains, predicted harsher moral judgments of behaviors that violated Japanese cultural norms. These findings suggest that international students who are well adjusted in the interpersonal domain gain an understanding of what is sanctioned in the Japanese cultural context and come to see certain behaviors as morally appropriate. We discuss several implications for further investigating the moralization of certain behaviors within the context of acculturation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Cognitive Discrepancy Model of Loneliness (CDML) postulates that people experience loneliness when they perceive a difference between their desired (or expected) and actual levels of social relationships. Although the model has been widely cited, only a few empirical studies support this statement in Face-to-Face context. In the present study, we re-evaluate and expand the CDML in the digital context in two representative East Asian countries, Japan and China. The results partially support the idea of CDML that besides quantity and quality of SNS social activities, the self-defined and socially defined cognitive discrepancies are also potential predictors of feelings of satisfaction and loneliness, but the patterns may differ depending on communication purposes and cultural orientations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The "precautionary principle" is an important and forward-looking principle. Its advancement lies in surmount any time lag in scientific knowledge. As the importance of protecting against unknown hazards has increased, the precautionary principle has been widely accepted by international and domestic legal instruments. By examining international legal documents and judicial practices, it can be found that the legal effect and legal connotation of the precautionary principle have been constantly improved in international law. At the same time, the Precautionary principle in international judicial practice has also changed from initial hesitation and caution to acceptance, even promotion. Japan's decision to release radioactive contaminated water clearly violates the precautionary principle. However, due to normative deficiencies in the precautionary principle itself, it remains unclear which acts should be performed byobligatory parties to be regarded as fulfilling their precautionary obligation. These deficiencies may cause the precautionary principle cannot be truly implemented in international judicial practice. Despite some vagueness, it is still possible to extract the two most basic responsibilities from international judicial practice, and their legal connotations in fulfillment of the precautionary principle: first, to consult with other stakeholders and second, to stop potentially dangerous behaviors that may cause serious and irreversible damage to the environment. At a legal level, to address Japan's decision, the precautionary principle can regulate pollution discharge in two forms: customary international law and the general principle of international law. From the perspective of people's survival, safety, and development sustainability, it is imperative to apply the precautionary principle to this incident. The decision of the Japanese government to discharge nuclear-polluted water into the Pacific Ocean is a serious breach of international law, because it was only considered in terms of technical feasibility and not in terms of international legal implications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, we evaluated 16 Japanese and Chinese rice cultivars in terms of their main chemical components, iodine absorption curve, apparent amylose content (AAC), pasting property, resistant starch content, physical properties, sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis analysis, and enzyme activity. Based on these quality evaluations, we concluded that Chinese rice varieties are characterized by a high protein and the grain texture after cooking has high hardness and low stickiness. In a previous study, we developed a novel formula for estimating AAC based on the iodine absorption curve. The validation test showed a determination coefficient of 0.996 for estimating AAC of Chinese rice cultivars as unknown samples. In the present study, we developed a novel formulae for estimating the balance degree of the surface layer of cooked rice (A3/A1: a ratio of workload of stickiness and hardness) based on the iodine absorption curve obtained using milled rice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A nested double neuston net was prepared and used to collect samples from the surface of coastal waters around Japan to obtain information about the properties of both small microplastics (SMPs; <350 μm) and large microplastics (LMPs; >350 μm). The SMP concentrations ranged from 1000 to 5900 pieces m−3 in the open ocean and averaged approximately 3000 pieces m−3 in the inner part of Tokyo Bay. The SMP concentrations were around 20–60 times greater than the LMP concentrations. By analyzing the seawater, we obtained a microplastic size distribution that spanned 50–5000 μm. The LMPs mainly comprised packaging-related plastics, such as polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene, while the SMPs were dominated by paint-related plastics. SMPs derived from packaging materials (e.g., PE) may have gradually sank down from the sea surface when they were smaller than 600 μm. [Display omitted] • A double neuston net was made to collect small microplastics from sea surface water. • Composition and size distribution of small microplastics around Japan were determined. • Small microplastic concentrations were approximately 1000–5900 pieces L−1. • Many of the small microplastic particles were derived from paint. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Urban resilience is being increasingly recognized by scholars as the approach to healthier and more sustainable cities facing various challenges. Among the characteristics of urban resilience, there is a wide consensus that the capability of capital building for local areas is an indispensable attribute. Based upon this understanding, this paper takes the example of Kesennuma City, a small coastal town in Miyagi Prefecture of Japan that was severely damaged by the aftermath of the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami (EJET), to illustrate how the pursuit of building local capital was incorporated into the agenda of its reconstruction planning. The research relies on the on-site field work together with meetings of local stakeholders and the analysis of various documents and reports. Kesennuma City, facing problems of declining fishery industry, long-time depopulation and severe tsunami damages, has been vigorously exploring for new approaches of diversifying its economy and sustaining its future development, as reflected in the goals of the city's reconstruction plan devised in October of 2011, and other machi-zukuri projects. Besides, the evidence of capital building is also discovered in the planning process with high degree of involvement from and cooperation between various stakeholders, including the government, citizens, NGOs and incoming wisdoms, such as universities. In regard of this, this paper scrutinizes the agenda of reconstruction plans together with their functioning mechanisms. It finally concludes with the lessons from this specific case to similar cities with limited resources that face challenges of building local capitals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Japanese government's attempt to discharge the water contaminated by the Fukushima nuclear reactor into the sea raises some international legal issues. International law prescribes settlement mechanisms for disputes relating to transboundary environmental damage; however, legal challenges have appeared in the disposal of the Fukushima contaminated water discharge. This paper argues that despite the uncertainty of the potential pollution damage of the discharge plan, Japan's decision has already violated multiple obligations arising from international conventions, customary international laws, and the general principles of law. This paper, after a wide examination of the possible international dispute settlement mechanisms, proposes that certain actions will be beneficial for potentially affected states: applying for an advisory procedure or requesting provisional measures under a contentious procedure. Furthermore, the Fukushima incident presents the international community with an opportunity to consider legal questions related to the consequences of nuclear accidents in the future, including the disposal standards and procedures of nuclear-contaminated materials particularly. Furthermore, to concretize the procedural and substantive requirements according to the international laws, a new international cooperative mechanism is needed. [Display omitted] • Japan's decision to discharge the radioactive water violates international law. • Opposing States may benefit from the advisory procedure and provisional measures. • Existing dispute settlement mechanisms are applicable, but not sufficient. • A new cooperative mechanism dedicated to the disposal of nuclear contaminants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Japanese government's decision to discharge nuclear wastewater from the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant into the sea on April 13, 2021 has aroused widespread concern around the world. The Japanese people, especially the fishermen, have expressed their long and strong dissatisfaction with this decision. Motivated by this background, this paper discusses an evolutionary game considering the impact of participants' emotions to explore the evolutionary stable strategies of both the Japanese government and Japanese fishermen. The results show that (i) the evolutionary stability strategies of the two sides of the game are different under different emotion combinations. Under the optimism of the fishermen, the fishermen's decision making is irrational, and the equilibrium strategy of the game between the two sides is not conducive to fishermen. (ii) The emotions of the players will not only affect their own strategic choices but also affect the strategic choice intentions of other players. (iii) Reducing the cost of nuclear wastewater treatment is currently the most feasible way to reduce the probability of the Japanese government's discharge policy. Under the premise that the government chooses to discharge, no matter what the fishermen's emotions are, it is the fishermen's dominant strategy to strive for more subsidies for their own interests. The abovementioned findings can provide a decision-making reference for the Japanese government to formulate discharge strategies and for Japanese fishermen to protect their rights and interests. [Display omitted] • Emotions affect the strategic choices of game players. • When there is emotional influence, irrational choices will occur. • A player's emotions affect the strategies of all players in the system. • The equilibrium strategy of the game is not conducive to optimistic fishermen. • Useful political insights for the Japanese government/fishermen are given. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Ko-g and Ma-f~j tephras are two key isochronous marker layers in northern Japan, which are from the largest Plinian eruptions of Komagatake volcano (VEI = 5) and Mashu caldera (VEI = 6), respectively. Despite extensive radiocarbon studies associated with the two tephras, individual calibrated results show considerable variations and thus accurate ages of these important eruptions remain controversial. Bayesian statistical approaches to calibrating radiocarbon determinations have proven successful in increasing accuracy and sometimes precision for dating tephras, which is achieved through the incorporation of additional stratigraphic information and the combination of evidence from multiple records. Here we use Bayesian approaches to analyse the proximal and distal information associated with the two tephra markers. Through establishing phase and deposition models, we have taken into account all of the currently available stratigraphic and chronological information. The cross-referencing of phase models with the deposition model allows the refinement of eruption ages and the deposition model itself. Using this we are able to provide the most robust current age estimates for the two tephra layers. The Ko-g and Ma-f~j tephras are hereby dated to 6657-6505 (95.4%; 6586±40, μ±σ) cal yr BP, and 7670-7395 (95.4%; 7532±72, μ±σ) cal yr BP, respectively. These updated age determinations underpin the reported East Asian Holocene tephrostratigraphic framework, and allow sites where the tephra layers are present to be dated more precisely and accurately. Our results encourage further applications of Bayesian modelling techniques in the volcanically active East Asian region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Magnitude-scaling rates (MSR5; the rates of increase in predicted response spectra with increasing moment magnitude) are evaluated for three ground-motion prediction equations for response spectra from subduction interface earthquakes, including two empirical models developed for data from Japan and a model based on synthetic records generated by using a stochastic finite-fault model. MSR5 vary significantly among the three models, and the difference between the two empirical models is unacceptably large. A set of 2100 strong-motion records from subduction interface events with a magnitude of 6.5 or larger from Japan, including the 11 March 2011 magnitude 9 earthquake, were compiled. The earthquakes were grouped according to magnitude, so that the magnitude spread in each group is less than 0.2 magnitude units. Each earthquake group was treated as a single event with magnitude equal to the average magnitude for the group. A simple attenuation model was fitted to the normalized and grouped data. The model has a constant term for each earthquake group to represent the effect of magnitude. Three separate functions of magnitude (a linear model for events with a magnitude greater than 7, a bilinear model, and a curved model) were then fitted to the constants, and MSRs were derived from these functions. At short periods, the derived MSRs are only a fraction of those from two of the three attenuation models. At spectral periods greater than 0.5 s, the derived MSRs are between about 1/3 and 1/2 of those of the two empirical models but are closer to those based on a set of synthetic records. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The great tsunami and secondary disasters caused by Ms9.0 strong earthquake occurred in northeastern Japan on March 11, 2011 has attracted widely public attention from all over the world. In this paper, gravity anomaly is calculated in the region between east longitude 132°and 145°, north latitude 35°and 50° by using satellite gravity gradiometry data observed by GOCE(Gravity field and steady-state Ocean Circulation Explorer). The computed gravity anomaly is compared with the topographical data and location of seismic activity in this region. The results show that gravity anomaly has great consistency with the regional tectonic distribution and Ms9.0 strong earthquake occurred in the steep gravity gradient zone. The spatial distribution of the gravity anomaly has obviously correspondence with extrusion action from the Pacific plate. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Heading date of 26 native japonica rice cultivars in southwest China was investigated, and their basic vegetative growth (BVG), photoperiod-sensitivity (PS) and temperature-sensitivity (TS) were analyzed under artificial short-day and natural long-day conditions in Nanjing, as well as artificial high-temperature and natural low-temperature conditions in winter in Hainan. The results showed that the PS and TS varied among different cultivars. The BVG of all the japonica cultivars was well situated, but differed within cultivars. Regression analysis showed a significant correlation between heading date and PS, indicating that PS was the main factor affecting heading date of japonica cultivars in southwest China. Genetic analysis was conducted on these 26 cultivars using a set of heading date near isogenic lines as test lines. All the japonica cultivars carried the dominant early-heading gene Ef-1 or Ef-1 t, and most of these cultivars carried the dominant photoperiod sensitivity allele E1 or E1 t, the PS of which was slightly weaker than E1 . For the Se-1 locus, these cultivars mainly carried recessive photoperiod insensitivity gene Se-1 e. In addition, the PS of 22 japonica cultivars could be repressed or weakened by the recessive allele hd2, inhibiting the expression of E1 and Se-1. These results indicated that the genotypes of heading date determined different PS and well situated BVG in japonica rice cultivars in southwest China. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: For natural analogue study of CO2 leakage, the Matsushiro field in central Japan was selected to investigate hydrogeochemical behavior due to CO2 leakage from a fault zone during the period of the Matsushiro Earthquake Swarm between 1965 and 1967. One of the main objectives of the modeling study is to understand effects of hydrogeological characteristics of shallow aquifers and seal mechanism due to mineral precipitation in a fault zone. Reactive geochemical transport simulations were carried out using TOUGHREACT. Based on the historical data including discharge rate, chemical composition of water and seismic activity, we developed a numerical model to reproduce the geochemical behavior during and after the swarm earthquakes. A two-dimensional model (2000 m×1800 m) for the fault zone using the Multiple Interacting Continua (MINC) method was set up to evaluate geochemical effects during degassing and mixing of brine upwelling along the fault zone. The simulation results can capture the observed trend at the Matsushiro field. Supercritical and gaseous CO2 occur in the deep and the shallow fracture zones, respectively. During the earthquake swarm, CO2 saturated brine moves up along the fracture zone and CO2 degassing occurs in the shallow zone. Subsequently, water pH increases and a small amount of calcite precipitates. Lateral groundwater flow in shallow aquifers, which transports the CO2 away from the fault zone, makes CO2 surface discharge small. At the same time, calcite dissolves after the swarm due to lateral fresh water recharge. The result is consistent with the fact that no calcite observed in the core from the 80 m borehole drilled during the course of this study, indicating that CO2 discharge is likely affected by lateral shallow groundwater flow. Measurements of surface CO2 flux and soil gas indicated that little seepage of CO2 occurs in the area of the fan deposits at present, 40 years after the earthquake swarm. Using the same model, long term leakage simulations (if supercritical CO2 leaked along fault zone from the storage reservoir) were carried out to test whether CO2 surface leakage occurs or not. Two simulations were performed, with CO2 upflow rates of 50,000 and 100,000 kg/year in an area of 25 m×25 m. CO2 surface leakage does not occur in the first case, while CO2 leakage occurs in the second case. CO2 surface leakage is reduced because CO2 dissolves in groundwater flowing laterally in shallow aquifer. These simulations indicate that it is important to understand hydrogeological characteristics of aquifers underlain by reservoir as well as cap rocks. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Emissions of sulfur (S) and nitrogen (N) compounds in East Asia has drastically changed over the last two decades. To assess the influence of the drastic changes in air pollution on ecosystems in Japan, we investigated the trends of S and N deposition during 2003–2017 at remote sites of Acid Deposition Monitoring Network in East Asia (EANET). We measured wet deposition and inferentially estimated dry deposition of S and N using monitoring data from 2003 to 2017 at eight sites. We estimated dry deposition using the inferential method with an updated parameterization for gaseous surface resistance. The linear regression method and nonparametric Mann–Kendall test was used to analyze the temporal trends based on the monthly data sets. High S and N deposition amounts over 10 kg ha−1 year−1 were frequently found at most sites. There were significant increase trends in N deposition to S deposition (N/S) ratio at all sites throughout the 15-year period. Some trends were significantly found when the 15-year period was divided into three: 2003–2007, 2008–2012, and 2013–2017. S deposition had significantly decreased over a wide area in Japan, especially at Sado-seki, Happo, Oki, Hedo, and Ogasawara, in 2013–2017. Significant decreases in oxidized N deposition at Sado-seki and Oki were also found in 2013–2017. Because of almost flat N deposition mainly contributed by reduced N deposition, the N/S ratio clearly increased. These trends were associated with the recent reductions in SO 2 and NO x emissions in China. The NO x emission reduction of China has not caught up with that of SO 2 , and NH 3 emissions have not been reduced. This caused the significant increases in the N/S ratio not only in 2013–2017 but also in 2003–2017. [Display omitted] • Long-term trends of sulfur (S) and nitrogen (N) deposition were investigated. • S deposition had significantly decreased over a wide area in Japan in 2013–2017. • N/S deposition ratio had significantly increased in many sites in 2013–2017. • These trends were associated with recent emission reductions in China. The ratio of nitrogen deposition to sulfur deposition had significantly increased in Japanese remote areas in 2013–2017, associated with emission reductions in China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The changing characteristics of landscape structure in the Lake Kusumigaura Basin, Japan from 1979 to 1996 were investigated using time-series high-quality GIS datasets. We used FRAGSTATS software to calculate landscape indices to characterize the landscape structure. We found that human-modified landscapes, such as artificial fields and golf courses, increased rapidly during the study period, while forests and croplands decreased rapidly in the same period. From 1979 to 1996, forestland decreased by 8.4%, in which 44% turned into artificial fields, 37.6% turned into golf courses, and 6.8%, 6.4%, and 4.1%, turned into plowed fields, residential areas, and urban areas, respectively. Increased patch number and decreased mean patch area indicated that the most significant characteristic of land use/cover change in the Lake Kusumigaura Basin is the fragmentation of the landscape. Both Shannon''s diversity and Shannon''s evenness indices increased considerably during the study period, also suggesting the landscapes in the study area became more fragmented and heterogeneous. This fragmentation trend is most likely to continue due to the increasing population in the Lake Kusumigaura Basin in recent years. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Studies chicken lysozyme fused serine-rich hepapeptides by researchers from Japan. Examination on the structural and functional properties of chicken lysozymes; Modification of the gene to improve the functional properties of lysozyme; Indications for the possibility of the fused serine-rich hepapeptides.

Bacteria in the family Geobacteraceae have been proven to fill important niches in a diversity of anaerobic environments and global biogeochemical processes. Here, three bacterial strains in this family, designated Red875T, Red259T, and Red421T were isolated from river sediment and paddy soils in Japan. All of them are Gram-staining-negative, strictly anaerobic, motile, flagellum-harboring cells that form red colonies on agar plates and are capable of utilizing Fe(III)-NTA, Fe(III) citrate, ferrihydrite, MnO 2 , fumarate, and nitrate as electron acceptors with acetate, propionate, pyruvate, and glucose as electron donors. Phylogenetic analysis based on the 16S rRNA gene and 92 concatenated core proteins sequences revealed that strains Red259T and Red421T clustered with the type strains of Geomonas species, whereas strain Red875T formed an independent lineage within the family Geobacteraceae. Genome comparison based on  average nucleotide identity (ANI) and digital DNA–DNA hybridization (dDDH) values clearly distinguished these three strains from other Geobacteraceae members, with lower values than the thresholds for species delineation. Moreover, strain Red875T also shared low average amino acid identity (AAI) and percentage of conserved proteins (POCP) values with the type species of the family Geobacteraceae. Based on these physiological, chemotaxonomic, and phylogenetic distinctions, we propose that strain Red875T (=NBRC 114290T = MCCC 1K04407T) represents a novel genus in the family Geobacteraceae , namely, Geomesophilobacter sediminis gen. nov., sp. nov., and strains Red259T (=NBRC 114288T = MCCC 1K05016T) and Red421T (=NBRC 114289T = MCCC 1K06216T) represent two novel independent species in the genus Geomonas , namely, Geomonas propionica sp. nov. and Geomonas anaerohicana sp. nov., respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An outbreak of COVID-19 occurred on the Diamond Princess cruise ship in January and February 2020 in Japan. We analysed information on the cases of infection to infer whether airborne transmission of SARS-CoV-2, the causative agent of COVID-19, had occurred between cabins. We infer from our analysis that most infections in passengers started on 28 January and were completed by 6 February, except in those who shared a cabin with another infected passenger. The distribution of the infected cabins was random, and no spatial cluster of the infected can be identified. We infer that the ship's central air-conditioning system for passenger's cabins did not play a role in SARS-CoV-2 transmission, i.e. airborne transmission did not occur between cabins during the outbreak, suggesting that the sufficient ventilation was provided. We also infer that the ship's cabin drainage system did not play a role. Most transmission appears to have occurred in the public areas of the cruise ship, likely due to crowding and insufficient ventilation in some of these areas. [Display omitted] • No cross-room transmission between cabins during the quarantine period. • Most infections occurred before quarantine. • The central air-conditioning system and drainage system of cabins did not play a role. • SARS-CoV-2 transmission in public areas may explain the outbreak. • Intervention in public areas, such as sufficient ventilation, is important. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Various organizations and societies around the globe have issued guidelines in response to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) and virus (SARS-CoV-2). In this paper, heating, ventilating, and air-conditioning-related guidelines or documents in several major countries and regions have been reviewed and compared, including those issued by the American Society of Heating Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers, the Federation of European Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning Associations, the Society of Heating, Air-Conditioning and Sanitary Engineers of Japan, Architectural Society of China, and the Chinese Institute of Refrigeration. Most terms and suggestions in these guidelines are consistent with each other, although there are some conflicting details, reflecting the underlying uncertainty surrounding the transmission mechanism and characteristics of COVID-19 in buildings. All guidelines emphasize the importance of ventilation, but the specific ventilation rate that can eliminate the risk of transmission of airborne particulate matter has not been established. The most important countermeasure, commonly agreed countermeasures, the conflicting content from different guidelines, and further work have been summarized in this paper. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the method and process of using 3S technology on a landscape engineering project. Through a case study on the Bailin landscape construction project in Tsukuba, Japan, this paper argues that strengthening the drafting capabilities of 3S technology (e.g., comprehensive database management, mapping, landscape simulation, and data updating) will create the type of integrated platform for engineering design and management needed to increase the efficiency of landscape engineering projects [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The fate and behavior of the Sanchi oil spill during January–February 2018 was simulated by coupling an oil spill model and satellite observations with meteo-oceanographic forcing. Extensive validation tests were performed for winds, currents, surface slick, stranded oil and oil fate. A series of hindcast experiments was designed to take into account the uncertainties in oil amount, environmental forcing and model parameters. The simulations confirmed that the stable large-scale Kuroshio acted as the primary driving force. Most oil followed the Kuroshio's large-meander path, rapidly passing through the East China Sea to the waters south of Japan. The wind, appearing as the secondary transport factor, did not change the path of this large-scale current, but did contribute to the drift of surface oil. The different fates for heavy fuel oil and condensate in the accident were also compared quantitatively and discussed in this study. • The fate and behavior of the Sanchi oil spill during January-February, 2018 was simulated by coupling an oil spill model and satellite observations with meteo-oceanographic forcing. • Extensive validation tests were performed for winds, currents, surface slick, stranded oil and oil fate. • A series of hindcast experiments was designed to take into account the uncertainties in oil amount, environmental forcing and model parameters. • The roles of current and wind to transport the spilled oil were revealed. • The different fates for heavy fuel oil and condensate in the accident were compared quantitatively and discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Systematic simulations were performed in a city block in Yokohama, Japan, on a clear summer day to study the effects of building surface thermal properties on their radiative and thermal exchange with the atmosphere, and the surface energy balance (SEB) model sensitivity to these thermal properties. To study this practically and systematically, the thermal properties used were determined from a database of commonly used materials for building surfaces in urban Japan, characterizing the typical thermal property values and their combinations. Using suitable simplification and assumption, the main findings included: (a) a combined modification of thermal properties enlarges the cooling effects of individual modifications, reaching 131%–149% of the accumulated reduction in the emitted sensible heat flux (Q H); (b) the difference in the cooling effects of a high-albedo strategy applied to roofs between various thermal properties is up to 76 [W m−2] in Q H ; (c) the SEB model sensitivity of the surface temperature (T s) to thermal properties for the façade is close to that of the albedo, at up to approximately 0.1 °C for a thermal conductivity Δ λ c of 1 [W m−2 K−1] and a heat capacity Δ C a of 1 [kJ m−2 K−1]; (d) the range in root mean square error of the simulated daily, daytime, and noon Q H caused by generalizing the roof thermal properties is estimated to be 6%–41%, 7%–50%, and 7%–38%, respectively. Overall, the thermal properties of building surfaces are important for their thermal and radiative behavior, and therefore cannot be ignored in SEB modeling. • Importance of thermal property for surface heat balance is verified systematically. • Combined modification of thermal properties enlarges individual cooling effects. • Thermal properties cannot be ignored to evaluate the cooling effect of cool roofs. • Generalizing the thermal properties causes nonnegligible errors in SEB modeling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The cruise industry has become one of the most rapidly developing segments of the entire tourism market. Although, globally, the cruising sector is comprised of predominately North American and European companies, the Asia Pacific region's cruise industry has reported exciting growth rates in recent years. Especially in an emerging cruise market, it is critical to continuously attract potential cruisers by improving service quality and tourist satisfaction. The purpose of this article is to evaluate cruiser satisfaction with shore excursions or activities through an empirical study on a China-Japan itinerary starting from Shanghai Wusongkou International Cruise Port in China. First, we identify a satisfaction index system based on a broad literature review. Based on data collected from a questionnaire distributed to cruisers embarking from Shanghai, we use a multiple criteria decision-making method to evaluate and identify the gaps between the cruisers' average satisfaction and the aspired level of satisfaction with various criteria for a high-quality shore experience are identified. Finally, we propose some managerial implications for ports of call working to improve the quality of their shore excursions and activities. The results derived from the current study could significantly contribute to cruise itinerary planning. • This article offers a case study on the China-Japan cruise itinerary starting from Shanghai, the largest cruise port in China. • An index system is established for evaluating Chinese cruisers' satisfaction with shore experience. • The gaps between the cruisers' average satisfaction and the aspired level of satisfaction with various criteria for a high-quality shore experience are identified. • Improving the quality of shore excursions and activities to enhance cruise liners competitive advantages are provided.. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates how multi-airport privatization in a tourism region would affect the regional air transport market. An optimization model is developed to formulate the objectives of the three stakeholders, namely airports, airlines, and travelers, to evaluate the market outcomes in different cases. Leisure trip-chain travelers are specifically considered in the presented model, as such a group-level privatization approach has a greater impact on the decisions of trip-chain travelers. As a case study, we select the Hokkaido region in Japan, which is planning to privatize seven airports as a group in 2020, and estimate demand, the profits of airports and airlines, the consumer surplus, and the total surplus in the cases of public operation, airport profit maximization, and single-till and dual-till approaches. The results show that (1) multi-airports privatization enables operator to coordinate airport charges among the group to improve the total surplus. The optimal pattern of airport charges can vary according to the proportion of potential leisure demand. (2) The positive impact of airports' pricing coordination in a dual-till approach is more limited than that in a single-till approach. (3) Airport charges may not be coordinated in the case of airport profit maximization, even when potential leisure demand is very high; this decreases the consumer surplus and total surplus. • We investigate the effects of multi-airport privatization in the Hokkaido region. • A profit-oriented group operation may not improve the total surplus. • High trip-chain demand cannot eliminate the negative impact of profit maximization. • Pricing coordination within the group occurs when the total surplus is maximized. • Single-till outperforms dual-till under the total surplus maximization approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Importance: Occupational exposure to carcinogens has been shown to pose a serious disease burden at the global, regional, and national levels. Based on epidemiologic studies and clinical observations, working environment appears to have important effects on the occurrence of human malignant tumors; however, to date, no systematic articles have been published that specifically investigated cancer burden due to occupational exposure in an individual and collective manner., Objective: To estimate the degree of exposure and evaluate the cancer burden attributable to occupational carcinogens (OCs) individually and collectively by sex, age, year, and location., Design, Setting, and Participants: Cross-sectional study including data on 195 countries from the Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study from January 1, 1990, to December 31, 2017. Data were analyzed from June 24, 2020, to July 20, 2020., Exposures: Thirteen OCs (ie, arsenic, asbestos, benzene, beryllium, cadmium, chromium, diesel engine exhaust, formaldehyde, nickel, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, silica, sulfuric acid, and trichloroethylene)., Main Outcomes and Measures: The degree and change patterns of exposure as well as the attributable cancer burden, including deaths and disability-adjusted life years (DALYs), by sex, age, year, and location for 13 OCs. The calculation of the population-attributable fraction was based on past exposure in the population and relative risks., Results: Based on the GBD 2017 study, 13 OCs attributable to 7 cancer types were included. Most summary exposure values for the 13 OCs, particularly those of diesel engine exhaust (35.6% increase; 95% uncertainty interval [UI], 32.4%-38.5%) and trichloroethylene (30.3% increase; 95% UI, 27.3%-33.5%), increased from 1990 to 2017. Only exposure to asbestos decreased by 13.8% (95% UI, -26.7% to 2.2%). In 2017, 319 000 (95% UI, 256 000-382 000) cancer deaths and 6.42 million (95% UI, 5.15 million to 7.76 million) DALYs were associated with OCs combined, accounting for 61.0% (95% UI, 59.6%-62.4%) of the total cancer deaths and 48.3% (46.3% to 50.2%) of the DALYs. Among the 13 OCs, the 3 leading risk factors for cancer burden were asbestos (71.8%), silica (15.4%), and diesel engine exhaust (5.6%). For most OCs, the attributed cancer outcome was tracheal, bronchial, and lung cancer, which accounted for 89.0% of attributable cancer deaths. China (61 644 cancer deaths), the US (42 848), and Japan (20 748) accounted for the largest number of attributable cancer deaths in 2017; for DALYs, China (1.47 million), the US (0.71 million), and India (0.37 million) were the 3 leading countries., Conclusions and Relevance: Results of this study suggest that although OC exposure levels have decreased, the overall cancer burden is continuously increasing.

Social capital in immigrants has drawn considerable attention from social scientists. Previous studies have paid attention to how immigrants' bonding social capital (defined as social networks with co-ethnic residents) and bridging social capital (defined as social networks with native residents) are associated with their economic achievement. However, little attention has been paid to immigrants' different social capital's effects on psychological well-being. Drawing data from Chinese immigrants in Japan, we examined how these Chinese immigrants assimilated into Japanese society and how their bonding and bridging social capital related to their psychological well-being. The results show that bonding social capital directly affected immigrants' psychological well-being, whereas bridging social capital indirectly improved their psychological well-being by improving economic status. This study contributes to previous literature on how immigrants' different social capital is related to their psychological well-being.

The aging of a population structure is an inevitable path of demographic transition, as an inescapable result of decline in fertility rate and extension in life expectancy. Although demographic transition occurred earlier in Japan than in China, the two countries had similar patterns, both of which took a much shorter period of time than Western countries to complete demographic transition, as well as have been aging at a rapid speed that has rarely been seen in the world. Japan has the highest level of population aging in the world, and China has been experiencing a very fast pace of the population aging process and has the largest older population. Drawing upon data from World Population Prospects (2019), this paper compares changes in population aging in both China and Japan. Findings show that Japan's aging process is 30 years ahead of China, but China has been changing in a similar way as Japan. To be specific, both countries experienced four phases of the population aging process: accelerated development period, rapid development period, slow down period and high-level maintained period. In addition, both countries had a quick growing rate of population aging. It will take China 23 years and 10 years respectively for the aging rate increasing from 7% to 14% and then to 20%, while Japan took 24 and 11 years respectively, which is much shorter than developed countries in the West. Furthermore, China has a faster pace than Japan in population aging in the next 25 years. We found that from 2019-2044, China's aging rate, elderly dependency ratio, oldest-old coefficient and median age of population will increase 13.24 percent points, 24.21 percent points, 8.33 percent points, and 8.47 years, while the four indicators of Japan will increase 8.38 percent points, 22.52 percent points, 8.29 percent points, and 6.20 years, respectively.

Recent evidence from several relatively small nested case-control studies in prospective cohorts shows an association between longer telomere length measured phenotypically in peripheral white blood cell (WBC) DNA and increased lung cancer risk. We sought to further explore this relationship by examining a panel of seven telomere-length associated genetic variants in a large study of 5,457 never-smoking female Asian lung cancer cases and 4,493 never-smoking female Asian controls using data from a previously reported genome-wide association study. Using a group of 1,536 individuals with phenotypically measured telomere length in WBCs in the prospective Shanghai Women's Health study, we demonstrated the utility of a genetic risk score (GRS) of seven telomere-length associated variants to predict telomere length in an Asian population. We then found that GRSs used as instrumental variables to predict longer telomere length were associated with increased lung cancer risk (OR = 1.51 (95% CI = 1.34-1.69) for upper vs. lower quartile of the weighted GRS, p value = 4.54 × 10(-14) ) even after removing rs2736100 (p value = 4.81 × 10(-3) ), a SNP in the TERT locus robustly associated with lung cancer risk in prior association studies. Stratified analyses suggested the effect of the telomere-associated GRS is strongest among younger individuals. We found no difference in GRS effect between adenocarcinoma and squamous cell subtypes. Our results indicate that a genetic background that favors longer telomere length may increase lung cancer risk, which is consistent with earlier prospective studies relating longer telomere length with increased lung cancer risk., (Published 2014. This article is a US Government work and, as such, is in the public domain of the United States of America.)

In recent times increasing numbers of high-rate GPS stations have been installed around the world and set-up to provide data in real-time. These networks provide a great opportunity to quickly capture surface displacements, which makes them important as potential constituents of earthquake/tsunami monitoring and warning systems. The appropriate GPS real-time data analysis with sufficient accuracy for this purpose is a main focus of the current GPS research. In this paper we propose an augmented point positioning method for GPS based hazard monitoring, which can achieve fast or even instantaneous precise positioning without relying on data of a specific reference station. The proposed method overcomes the limitations of the currently mostly used GPS processing approaches of relative positioning and global precise point positioning. The advantages of the proposed approach are demonstrated by using GPS data, which was recorded during the 2011 Tohoku-Oki earthquake in Japan.