Forms of written arguments: A comparison between Japan and the United States

Studying cultural differences in argument forms helps us understand the nature of communicative problems that inevitably arise in intercultural conflict and negotiation. Although a number of studies have been conducted in the past to examine cultural differences in arguments, we still do not have sufficient evidence to support that cultural groups actually differ in the manners in which they construct arguments. Given the situation, this study empirically examines whether and how cultural groups differ in forms of written arguments. Based on the theoretical framework of verbal communication styles proposed by Gudykunst and Ting-Toomey, this study employs two dimensions along which two cultural groups, Japan and the United States, are likely to differ: direct–indirect and elaborate–succinct. Five indicators of argument forms that represent values on either of the two dimensions are used to analyze differences in argument forms between the two cultural groups. A survey was conducted in Japan and the United States. A total of 329 responses from college students, including 239 from Japan and 90 from the United States, were analyzed to test the hypotheses offered in this study. Consistent with the hypotheses, results indicate that the arguments written by the Japanese respondents are significantly more indirect and succinct those written by the U.S. counterparts. The implications of these findings for future research are discussed.     

Beyond SumBasic: Task-focused summarization with sentence simplification and lexical expansion

In recent years, there has been increased interest in topic-focused multi-document summarization. In this task, automatic summaries are produced in response to a specific information request, or topic, stated by the user. The system we have designed to accomplish this task comprises four main components: a generic extractive summarization system, a topic-focusing component, sentence simplification, and lexical expansion of topic words. This paper details each of these components, together with experiments designed to quantify their individual contributions. We include an analysis of our results on two large datasets commonly used to evaluate task-focused summarization, the DUC2005 and DUC2006 datasets, using automatic metrics. Additionally, we include an analysis of our results on the DUC2006 task according to human evaluation metrics. In the human evaluation of system summaries compared to human summaries, i.e., the Pyramid method, our system ranked first out of 22 systems in terms of overall mean Pyramid score; and in the human evaluation of summary responsiveness to the topic, our system ranked third out of 35 systems.     

Multiple modulation torque planning for a new golf-swing robot with a skilful wrist turn

A new golf-swing robot that included a feed-forward controller in the shoulder joint and a passive wrist joint was suggested in previous studies to more closely model a skilful golfer. In this study, multiple modulation torque planning for a new golf-swing robot that is capable of modelling a skilful golfer’s swing with a delayed wrist turn was analytically examined. The twostep modulation torque included the effects of whole-body motion on shoulder acceleration, which improved the efficiency index of the swing motion and the club head speed at impact with a correctly timed wrist turn. In addition, it was demonstrated that the optimum moment of inertia and optimum design of club shaft rigidity for several types of golfers could be determined by torque planning in a virtual performance test.     

Pyrolysis Characteristics and Kinetics of Municipal Solid Waste

Based on a systemic survey, the pyrolysis characteristics and apparent kinetics of the municipal solid waste （ MSW） under different conditions were researched using a special pyrolysis reactor, which could overcome the disadvantage of thermo-gravimetric analyzer. The thermal decomposition behaviour of MSW was investigated using thermo-gravimetric （ TG ） analysis at rates of 4.8,6.6,8.4, 12.0 and 13. 2 K/min. The pyrolysis characteristics of MSW were also studied in different function districts. The pyrolysis of MSW is a complex reaction process and three main stages are found according to the results. The first stage represents the degradation of cellulose and hemicellulose, with the maximum degradation rate occuring at 150℃ -200 ℃： the second stage represents dehydrochlorination and depolymerization of intermediate products and the differential thermogravimetric （ DTG ） curves have shoulder peaks at about 300℃： the third stage is the decomposition of the residual big molecular organic substance and lignin at 400 ℃- 600 ℃. Within the range of given experimental conditions, the results of non-linear fitting algorithm and experiment are in agreement with each other and the correlation coefficients are over0. 99. The kinetic characteristics are concerned with the material component and heating rate. The activation energy of reaction decreases with the increase of heating rate.     

公共教育空间：英日两国教育政策比较研究

在20世纪40年代中期、80年代、90年代以后的三个不同历史时期，英国和日本采取一系列教育政策改造传统的公共教育体制，不断扩展公共教育的空间。现在，在全球化背景下，公共的教育空间不是变得规则、协调了．而是在各自的地理环境中变得不规则了。对英国和日本的教育政策进行比较研究，有助于我们深刻地认识英日两国菊在于公共教育空间背后不同的教育特质和教育机制。     

Technological diversity of persistent innovators in Japan: Two case studies of large Japanese firms

We have investigated two large Japanese firms with their patent data, technological histories and product sales data of over 30 years especially in terms of intra-firm technology diversification and interactions between multiple technological trajectories. Patent data showed the process of emergencies of technological trajectories and interactions (cross-fertilization) between them quantitatively. Both persistence and diversity of technology have contributed to product diversification and sales growth. Based on our findings we have demonstrated that taking advantage of economies of scope in technology through persistence and diversification is necessary for a technology-based firm if it is to survive and to grow for a prolonged period of time.     

Scholar-Activism: A Twice Told Tale

What does it mean for individuals to intentionally see themselves as scholar-activists? Moreover, what does navigating a scholar-activist life mean for scholars in the early phases of their academic careers? As emerging scholar-activists the authors of this article are continuing to grapple with these questions, and in this article they present their distinct but overlapping stories of working through and overcoming the false separation of scholarship and activism. By sharing their stories the authors want to both provide readers an opportunity to find resonance in their experiences, and present some points to consider as we all define and live scholar-activism. Scholar-activism is historically situated with sights on the future. The authors have chosen to join the struggle of their predecessors in their scholar-activist work, exploring new possibilities sparked by the confluence of different generations.     

Scaffolding strategies for wiki‐based collaboration: Action research in a multicultural Japanese language program

Wikis can be used to encourage and support collaborative constructivist learning. However, their effectiveness depends upon the use of scaffolding strategies to guide the students in their use. This action research investigated three scaffolding strategies for wiki‐based multicultural Japanese language learning: worked examples, grouping and peer assessment. It was found that the use of a template explaining the learning objectives and expected learning process was more effective than detailed worked examples. It was also found that heterogeneous grouping and internal and external peer review were important factors and that wiki‐based collaborative learning can be culture laden and in conflict with traditional teaching and learning.     

Spontaneous talkers among students with learning disabilities: implications of right cerebral dysfunction

Experimental studies and clinical observations have indicated that right-hemisphere lesions produce impulsive talkative behavior. An exploratory study was conducted to investigate whether right-cerebral dysfunction would be evident in the intelligence test scores of talkative students with learning disabilities. Limitations and implications of the study are discussed.     

Non-targeted metabolomics in sport and exercise science

Metabolomics incorporates the study of metabolites that are produced and released through physiological processes at both the systemic and cellular levels. Biological compounds at the metabolite level are of paramount interest in the sport and exercise sciences, although research in this field has rarely been referred to with the global ‘omics terminology. Commonly studied metabolites in exercise science are notably within cellular pathways for adenosine triphosphate production such as glycolysis (e.g., pyruvate and lactate), β-oxidation of free fatty acids (e.g., palmitate) and ketone bodies (e.g., β-hydroxybutyrate). Non-targeted metabolomic technologies are able to simultaneously analyse the large numbers of metabolites present in human biological samples such as plasma, urine and saliva. These analytical technologies predominately employ nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy and chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry. Performing experiments based on non-targeted methods allows for systemic metabolite changes to be analysed and compared to a particular physiological state (e.g., pre-/post-exercise) and provides an opportunity to prospect for metabolite signatures that offer beneficial information for translation into an exercise science context, for both elite performance and public health monitoring. This narrative review provides an introduction to non-targeted metabolomic technologies and discusses current and potential applications in sport and exercise science.