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.     

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.     

The Role of Gender in Foreign Language Learning Attitudes: Japanese female students' attitudes towards English learning

Originating from a large-scale questionnaire-based study on Japanese high school students' attitudes towards current and long-term English learning, this study attempts to account for one of the findings, female students' superiority in attitudes to English learning over male students. This study problematises the common practice found in questionnaire-based research ending with the statistical identification of gender differences in attitudes without exploring factors influencing those differences. By utilising multidisciplinary extant data and research findings, this study argues that Japanese social elements, such as the status of English as feminised academic and professional choices and women's marginalised status in Japanese mainstream society, underlie many women's positive attitudes towards English learning. This study provides pedagogical implications for those in charge of English-related programmes either in Japan or in English-speaking countries who deal with a significant number of young Japanese female students in the programmes.     

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.     

The Usefulness of Saturated Salt Solution Embalming Method for Oral Surgical Skills Training: A New Cadaveric Training Model for Bone Harvesting

The purpose of this study was to assess the usefulness of saturated salt solution-embalmed cadavers for oral surgical skills training related to bone graft harvesting. Two half-day surgical skills training workshops were held at the Tokyo Medical University utilizing eight cadavers embalmed with the saturated salt solution. A total of 22 participants including oral surgeons, residents, and dentists attended the workshop. Surgical training consisted of six procedures related to intraoral and extraoral bone harvesting. The participants were surveyed to assess self-confidence levels for each surgical procedure before and after completion of each workshop. The Wilcoxon signed-rank test was used to compare the differences between each median score before and after the workshop. There were statistically significant increases in the self-assessed confidence scores in bone harvesting procedures for the zygomatic bone (P = 0.003), maxillary tuberosity (P = 0.002), and other sites (P < 0.001). The anatomical features of saturated salt solution-embalmed cadavers were also examined. The textures of the oral mucosa and skin were similar to those of living individuals. The structure of bone tissues was well-preserved and the hardness was realistic. Consequently, all procedures were performed with sufficient realism. The saturated salt solution method has a relatively low cost of preparation and storage, and almost no odor. The authors suggest that saturated salt solution-embalmed cadavers could provide a new model for oral surgical skills training in bone harvesting.     

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.     

Japanese university students’ longing for an idealized France and encounters with global English in Europe

Higher Education - Japanese college students’ akogare (meaning “longing”) for an idealized West has conventionally been researched and discussed under the assumption that the West...     

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.     

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.