The purpose of this paper is to research for showroomer and reverse showroomer about the relation between the satisfaction with information of SNS and the satisfaction with information in the physical store and about the behavior influenced by information presented by the sales person through SNS. This paper investigate the consumer’s searching information activities and the purchasing behavior for apparel products via web-based survey. The empirical investigation shows the satisfaction with information of SNS is likely to have an influence on the satisfaction with information in the physical store and shows information presented by the sales person through SNS is likely to have an influence on the behavior and the satisfaction. This study suggests the implication for marketing of the apparel retailers and a direction for the future research.

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   Writing ability is determined through two aspects. One is the ability to create sentences from the writer’s view point. The other is the ability to write based on the comprehension of a written text under a certain condition. This study examined the National Assessment of Academic Ability, which measured the latter aspect.

   The ten-year national survey revealed four major problems related to writing ability in Japanese language classes at the elementary school level. The first is how to connect writing to the one’s thought process. The second problem pertained to writing by extracting information in accordance with the purpose of the writing. Writing based on clear reading comprehension of non-linear texts was the third problem area. The last problem pertained to writing in order to correspond to a given condition. It is necessary to examine the cause of each of these problems and improve teaching in alignment with the aims and content of the revised course of study.

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　Japanese is invariably a type of language which is keenly conscious of the configurations of information structure. When verbalizing a state of affairs in an utterance, the theme (or topic) is distinguished sharply from the rheme (or comment) by theme marker wa. In classical Japanese, Kakari-musubi (‘information linking’) constructions come into play to focalize a constituent for a rhetorical effect. Of the two types of focalization, the one involving the set of zo, namu, ya and ka is implemented through theme-rheme inversion, changing an original sentence-final particle into a kakari particle linked with a closing predicate in the prenominal form. The other relates to koso, which freely focalizes a specific constituent in normal order, closing the sentence with a predicate in the completive form that, in turn, is followed by a (typically adversative) coordinate clause. These kakari particles have so far been claimed unconvincingly to designate themes in some senses comparable to wa. In this paper, they instead are identified as the rheme (or focus) markers which may co-occur with multiple themes comprising the postposed subsidiary themes and the newly produced main themes. Secondly, this paper clarifies the distinctive relevance modalities of these particles in terms of utterance content, formation and attitude. Thirdly, it is observed that the subsequent loss of this intricate system presumably may have stemmed from the joint factors of abundant lexicalization, costliness and attainment of generalization over information building. To conclude, the kakari particles are now defined neatly and naturally as the information structure markers subcategorized as either thematic or rhematic.

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   In recent analytical aesthetics, there have been many attempts to revisit the conventional theories of ideal critic and aesthetic value. In this paper, I review the current trends to critically examine the traditional theories, and consider the question of how we should listen to experts' opinions.

   I introduce, firstly, Hume’s arguments in his “Of the standard of taste” and, secondly, review Jerrold Levinson’s some recent papers on ideal critics. Thirdly, I examine the recent objections against hedonism of aesthetic value. I especially focus on Dominic Lopes’s network theory and clarify its merits and motivations. Lastly, I give some answers to the question of how we should read art criticism. We should read art criticism with an eye on what the critics are achieving and which competences of them are shown there.

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　Effects of viscous indigestive polysaccharides on digestive tracts were investigated in 4 week aged male rats. In three experiments, rats fed the diets containing 5% polysaccharides for 24 days.

　In Exp.1, the organ weights, their contents weights and viscosity at 5 hours after feeding cellulose, gellan gum, tamarind gum, psyllium seed gum, guar gum and xanthan gum were determined. The viscosities of stomach and small intestinal contents were highest in xanthan gum group and lowest in guar gum group, and were not associated with the original viscosities of the polysaccharides.

　In Exp.2, the solid contents and the viscosities of stomach and small intestinal contents were determined at 0hr after 5hr fasting and at 2hr after feeding of 5g cellulose, gellan gum, tamarind gum, psyllium seed gum and xanthan gum diets. The solid stomach contents in the xanthan gum group at 2hr was significantly lowest and the viscosity of the contents was highest among the groups.

　In Exp.3, the similar experiment as Exp.2 were conducted at 0hr after fasting and at 2hr and 5hr after 5g feeding of cellulose, psyllium seed gum and guar gum diets. The solid stomach contents at 2hr was lowest and the viscosity was highest in the guar gum group.

　The results of Exp.2 and 3 suggest that the high viscous polysaccharides accelerate the moving of the diets from the stomach to the small intestine. However, the viscosities of original solution, diet emulsions and digestive tract contents were different each other. The results suggest that each polysaccharide interacts with the dietary components and/or digestive components and changed the viscosity and physiological characters.

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   Inflammatory cytokines secreted from adipocytes are known to induce hypertension and insulin resistance resulting in Type 2 diabetes. Mitochondria, which is the keystone of energy metabolism, are continuously controlling cellular states probably including inflammatory states. In this study, we investigated the role of mitochondria on inflammation in 3T3-L1 adipocytes. We cultured 3T3-L1 cells for 17 days after differentiation and treated them with a mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation uncoupler, FCCP (2 μM in culture medium), for 24 hours. In the cells treated with FCCP, mitochondria appeared to divide and spread away from the lipid droplets. The mRNA expression of TNF-α (tumor necrosis factor-α), IL-6 (Interleukin 6) and MCP-1 (monocyte chemotactic protein 1) in those cells was significantly increased, indicating that mitochondrial dysfunction induced inflammatory changes in 3T3-L1 adipocytes.

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   The purpose of this paper is to study su, a colloquial variant form of the copula verb in Japanese. The form has been regarded as an abbreviation of copular verb desu and used mostly by young males in a casual and friendly speech/interaction. For example, they may say 5-ji ssu (it’s 5 o’clock) instead of 5-ji desu. This form has been regarded as a new type of honorifics, showing respect and familiarity at the same time. Through its more popularity and wider use, however, this colloquial form has acquired a new meaning. Instead of showing respect to the hearer, the new type of su may convey an impression that the speaker is a person being carefree and much less polite.

   In this paper, these two types of su are examined and it is assumed that the new type of su is no longer a copula variant but a discourse marker, implying the speaker’s feelings or attitude toward the proposition denoted by the utterance. It is also suggested that the meaning discrepancy between these two types may be accounted for within the Relevance Theory framework.

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　This study has examined the UK Low Pay Commission’s Reports of 2019 and 2020 which reviewed compliance with National Minimum Wage Act of 1998. Since 2016, when UK introduced the National Living Wage rate for workers over 25 years of age, non-compliant employers or underpaid workers have clearly increased. Effective enforcement of the Act is essential to protect workers and to ensure fair competition among businesses. What is more effective or supportive to promote further compliance with National Minimum Wage Act should be examined next.

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　In order to achieve healthy aging, it is important for even the elderly to actively participate in community activities. There have already been many studies on the participation of the elderly in community activities, but there have been few analyses focusing on the sociodemographic characteristics of individuals, and the regions have been limited. In this study, we examined the characteristics of elderly people who actively interact with local people and participate in community activities, based on the results of a web-based questionnaire survey conducted among residents in 13 cities across Japan. The results showed that in many of the interactions with others and community activities, there were marked differences depending on the gender of the residents, with women interacting on a daily basis. Men, on the other hand, participate in community activities with clearly defined roles and objectives, and interact with influential people in the community. There were no notable differences in community participation in terms of years of residence, employment status, or educational background. In order to promote community participation among the elderly in today's Japan, which is said to be in the era of 100 years of life, it is necessary to take these gender differences into consideration and use more effective methods.

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[in Japanese]

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[in Japanese]

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   It is difficult to simultaneously visualize tooth size and shape changes in dental characteristics on a single chart. A chart that includes scales for mesiodistal crown diameter, buccolingual crown diameter, crown module and crown index on a single chart is proposed – the Dental Proportion Chart. The development and use of the chart are described.

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[in Japanese]

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[in Japanese]

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  Based on a review of previous reports and literature records, I examine changes in the freshwater fish fauna of Sado Island. With the addition of two primary and one peripheral freshwater species after the last faunal report in 2012, the number of species in the freshwater fish list of the island has been increased to 46. The fauna is predominantly characterized by a high richness of diadromous species, particularly amphidromous gobiids, and this has remained essentially unchanged over the last 60 years. However, the proportion of primary freshwater species has been increased from one fourth to one third due to anthropogenic introductions, raising concerns about the impact of the introduced species on the aquatic ecosystem. I give a brief discussion on preventive measures to be taken against species introductions, as well as environmental DNA-based monitoring of fish assemblages to be implemented for early detection of invasions.

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   This paper examines the way of “global governance” promoted by international organizations in the field of public health, by focusing on how WHO and the European Union have tackled with public health issues. The COVID-19 pandemic triggered a doubt on the leadership of WHO in the emergency of international public health, and it also triggered a criticism on WHO. However, international organizations usually have restricted power and financial resources, and “global governance” does not indicate a situation that a sole actor controls and governs international problem and concern. We need to consider international organizations in a broad context of the development of global governance in the field of international public health when we examine/evaluate the role of international organizations in the time of COVID-19 pandemic.

   This paper exhibits that WHO has broadened the issues and topics and has also developed collaborations between non-state actors to tackle with such issues and topics in times of peace. But, in times of emergency, the international health regulation (IHR), but not WHO itself, could not overcome its old-fashioned regulatory concepts of “Trade/movement or quarantine”, although the speed and amounts of trade as well as travel/migration have drastically changed after the rising of Chinese economy in the 21st century. The European Union’s case also exhibits that the EU has successfully developed its policy framework in the field of public health in times of peace, but that such policy framework is vulnerable to an emergency, especially the emergency that attributes to external incidents. When the EU was confronted with public health emergency from the outside, its internal market, where free movement of persons, goods, services and capitals are assured, was hardly maintained.

   WHO and the EU have prepared its regulations for the emergency of public health, but they are international law/agreements that require member states’ ratifications as well as implementation/compliance. When we want to reform the current political arrangement on the emergency of international public health, we must talk much about such regulation, rather than international organization itself, and such talks and examinations focus on member states’ readiness and implementation/compliance rather than leadership of international organizations.

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[in Japanese]

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   Although conflict over sex education could be political issue, it has hardly been paid attention to how general people evaluate sex education. Therefore, this paper analyzes (1) how people evaluate sex education they have taken ever and (2) what kind of sex education people expect young people to take, using the survey data of people living in Tokyo. As a result of the analysis, evaluation and expectation for sex education depend on rather their values than whether they are concerned with sex education. The implication of this paper is that it is difficult to solve the conflict over sex education easily, because the evaluation and expectation depend on values.

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   The present research was conducted by Otsuma Grant-in Aid for Individual Exploratory Research. The theme is today’s traditional textiles in Laos and Thailand. The author researched the circumstances surrounding traditional textile weaving and their sales at galleries and stores in Vientiane, Luang Prabang and Chiang Mai in 2019. The result is that the support for traditional weaving techniques is active and there are many stores which benefit from this trend. Some galleries raise their weavers to become experts, and some stores sell traditional textiles through fair trade. This trend supports the traditional skills and saves people from poverty. But as traditional textiles become commodities, the meaning of traditional textiles in the community is also changing. In other words, they make products that are easy to sell and weave trendy textiles for sale. Serious consideration needs to be made to the problem of resolving poverty but also to that of keeping the traditional system.

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   Competent job coaches are vital human resources in implementing a national supported employment program. The supported employment implemented in Malaysia since 2012 aims to create sustainable employment for persons with disabilities (PWDs) nationwide. This research examined the job coach training approaches in Malaysia, its positive impact, challenges and areas for improvement. Job coaches that were trained are mainly practitioners from non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and in-house job coaches who are supervisors and buddies of employees with disabilities in the private companies. Thematic analysis of this research included progress and impact on the development of supported employment in Malaysia; effectiveness of job coach training and additional knowledge as well as skills recommended to be taught. Certification of job coaches based on the Malaysian PWDs Job Coaching National Occupational Skills Standards was recommended to be implemented. The research concluded that though there is room for improvement in the job coach training program implemented in Malaysia, it was recorded that the job coach training in Malaysia has already impacted other countries, such as, China, Myanmar, Jordan and other Middle Eastern countries. It is therefore, crucial for the relevant authorities to further enhance the development of the job coach training in Malaysia, so that the employment for PWDs in Malaysia will progress further and that Malaysia will continue to be a model to other Asian countries on supported employment.

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[in Japanese]

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[in Japanese]

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   The Great Houses, which were residential mansions for the colonial white elites, were regarded as by-products of slavery as they were built with the enormous funds acquired from forced labour in the former British colony of Trinidad. This paper seeks to show what these colonial buildings mean to the modern-day whites who are labelled as abusers and oppressors by the non-white members of society. According to the interviews conducted with the white citizens in Trinidad, although the Magnificent Seven does not hold much significance for them, the Country Club sits at the core of whiteness in Trinidad. The prestigious membership club still works to strengthen the ties amongst the white society in 21^st century Trinidad.

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   The present writer teaches an English class with a native speaker of English. Team teaching is common in elementary schools in Japan. It is, however, not common to have native and non-native teachers in an English class in universities or in junior colleges. It has been made clear that to have a native speaker of English as a teachers in an English class encourage students to listen and speak English more and to have more interest in western society and culture. Non-native speaker teacher has its role as a facilitator to help students properly communicate with a native speaker of English.

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[in Japanese]

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[in Japanese]

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[in Japanese]

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  Historically, “tea smoke” has been seldom talked about, and has never been a theme or spotlight of the tea culture. Moreover, the entry for “tea smoke” included in A Grand Dictionary of Chinese Tea only offers two explanations, i.e. (1) the smoke generated when tealeaves are processed, and (2) the smoke generated when tea is made.

  However, when studying the poems about tea in the Tang, Song and Yuan Dynasties, the writer found that there are seven kinds of “tea smoke” recorded in historical materials besides the said two kinds of “tea smoke”:

（1）The tea smoke that looks like cloud and mist above the tea trees in tea gardens.

（2）The tea smoke generated when tealeaves are processed.

（3）The smoke generated when consumers bake tealeaves to remove the moisture in tealeaves.

（4）The smoke that arises from stoves when tea is made.

（5）The steam that arises from the soup when tea is made or the steam of tea soup is compared to tea smoke.

（6）The marks formed by tea smoke on walls.

（7）The smoke above the surface of crumby-cake tea.

  According to analysis by the writer, the first six kinds of tea smoke were seen in the Tang Dynasty. The 7^th kind of tea smoke was added in the Song Dynasty, indicating the form and quality of crumby-cake tea received more attention in the Song Dynasty. In the Yuan Dynasty, strictly speaking, the 3^rd and 7^th kinds of tea smoke were not seen, and only the other five kinds of tea smoke were mentioned in historical records, with the number of poems about the 1^st, 2^nd and 6^th tea smoke decreasing from that in the Song Dynasty. That is, the poems about tea smoke in the Yuan Dynasty were mainly about the 4^th and 5^th kinds of tea smoke. In addition, the Yuan Dynasty saw more poems about tea smoke than the Tang and Song Dynasties, with the proportion to all poems about tea smoke more than twice that in the Song Dynasty. That implies the tea lovers in the Yuan Dynasty gradually abandoned the pursuit of tea foams as seen in the Song Dynasty and returned to the plain aesthetic interest focused on tea tasting.

  Besides, the analysis of the reasons behind the increasing poems about tea smoke in the Yuan Dynasty also shows the culture about tea smoke not only reflects the aesthetic taste about tea in different times, but also vivified the descriptions about tea drinking scenes and made tea drinking a static and dynamic behavior that goes beyond a single space. Through the analysis, we can believe without hesitation that tea smoke is a very charming part of the Chinese tea culture.

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[in Japanese]

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[in Japanese]

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[in Japanese]

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[in Japanese]

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[in Japanese]

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Objectives

 This study aimed to understand the current status of leisure activities among the elderly and identify the effects of and problems with travel as a regional recreational activity.

Methods

 We performed AND searches with keywords such as “the elderly at home” plus “leisure activities” and “the elderly at home” plus “travel” on Igaku Chuo Zasshi database and analyzed the search results.

Results

 The results revealed that the restoration of humanness was the final goal of recreation. We found that elderly attendees of tours did not aim to maintain or improve their physical functions, but rather they participated in the tours purely to enjoy meals, go sightseeing, and use them as opportunities to go out. For the elderly, travel was one of activities that made them feel that life was worth living.

Discussion

 It is thought that recreation in the elderly is important for restoring humanness and that it plays an important role in establishing new personal relationships among them. We believe that support should be provided to the elderly to connect with local volunteers, establish new personal relationships, and help them lead more fulfilling community lives through travel—one of the regional recreational activities.

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[in Japanese]

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[in Japanese]

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[in Japanese]

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