Journal of The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences Tokyo Medical and Dental University

Beginnings of/in Novels --- Reading Novels of/in the Beginning Period

Keiko Inokuma

2023 Volume 2023 Issue 53 Pages 1-14
Published: 2023
Released on J-STAGE: March 24, 2023

DOIhttps://doi.org/10.11480/kyoyobukiyo.2023.53_1

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It is often said that the linear timeline of early-period novels --- a “beginning” is followed by a “middle” and then an “end,” --- was replaced by some complex and convoluted timelines of the modernist and postmodernist novels. This paper, however, begins its discussion by questioning such a “linear” explanation and shows how novels in the 18th century self-consciously take distance from that straightforward timeline. The discussion thus aims to make clear that every novel, regardless of its strength of commitments to the realism-norms /-conventions, always has an ontological contradiction in its “beginning,” --- “nothing can begin without depending on something that already exists, but nothing can begin without pretending that something has just begun there and then”

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Research trends of Bromelain, a protease from pineapple：biochemistry, extraction and purification

Yoriko Sawano

2023 Volume 2023 Issue 53 Pages 15-24
Published: 2023
Released on J-STAGE: March 24, 2023

DOIhttps://doi.org/10.11480/kyoyobukiyo.2023.53_15

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Bromelain is a major protease extracted from pineapple. It has been variously utilized in food, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals and clinical fields due its proteolytic activity and pharmacological effects. This review presents biochemical properties of this enzyme and research trends on its extraction and purification methods for industrial use and structure-function analysis.

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Chemistry in a liberal arts curriculum for second-year medical and dental students

Yoriko Sawano, Masayuki Nara

2023 Volume 2023 Issue 53 Pages 25-34
Published: 2023
Released on J-STAGE: March 24, 2023

DOIhttps://doi.org/10.11480/kyoyobukiyo.2023.53_25

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We report on Basic Life Science (Chemistry), which has been imposed as a compulsory subject for second-year medical and dental students at Tokyo Medical and Dental University (TMDU) since 2012. This subject will be abolished along with the curriculum reform in 2023. We discuss the role played by this subject as well as Life science (Biophysical chemistry).

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Diurnal and circadian changes in the swimming behavior and melatonin effects in Paramecium

[in Japanese], [in Japanese], [in Japanese]

2023 Volume 2023 Issue 53 Pages 35-42
Published: 2023
Released on J-STAGE: March 24, 2023

DOIhttps://doi.org/10.11480/kyoyobukiyo.2023.53_35

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The paramecium (Paramecium caudatum) uses cilia for swimming, and its locomotion is known to vary diurnally. In this study, we examined diurnal and circadian changes in paramecium swimming behavior and the effects of melatonin on these changes, using the speed of swimming, the frequency of directional changes, and the periodicity of ciliary beating as indicators. Analysis of diurnal changes in the behavior of the paramecium showed that swimming speed significantly decreased during the dark period, at which time the frequency of change of direction significantly increased and the periodicity of ciliary beating lengthened. On the other hand, analysis of the behavior of the paramecium under constant-dark conditions revealed a significant decrease in swimming speed, a significant increase in the frequency of changes of direction, and a lengthening of the ciliary cycle during the subjective dark period. When melatonin, a known internal clock synchronizing factor in mammals, was added, the melatonin treatment group showed a decrease in swimming speed, an increase in change of direction, and a prolongation of the ciliary beating cycle, which were similar to those observed at night. These experimental results suggest that a circadian clock may exist in the paramecium, which may be affected by melatonin.

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Aging initiatives in China for the next five years based on the Plan for the Development of National Undertakings for the Aged and the Elderly Care Service System during the 14th Five-Year Plan 2021-2025

Min Bao

2023 Volume 2023 Issue 53 Pages 43-58
Published: 2023
Released on J-STAGE: March 24, 2023

DOIhttps://doi.org/10.11480/kyoyobukiyo.2023.53_43

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According to the 2020 National Bulletin on Development of Undertakings for the Aged, at midnight on November 1, 2020, the elderly population over the age of 60 in China reached 264.02 million, accounting for 18.7% of the total population. There were 190.64 million people aged 65 and over, or 13.5% of the total population. In the current situation where the speed of societal aging is increasing more than expected, services for the elderly must be enhanced. On February 21, 2022, the State Council of China announced the Plan for the Development of National Undertakings for the Aged and the Elderly Care Service System during the 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-2025) (hereinafter referred to as the plan). This paper introduces the main contents of the plan and considers aging initiatives that will be developed over the next five years in China.

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Exploration of Parataxis in Chinese from Literary Genres Comparison Between News Reports and Novels

Jiaqi Yan

2023 Volume 2023 Issue 53 Pages 59-70
Published: 2023
Released on J-STAGE: March 24, 2023

DOIhttps://doi.org/10.11480/kyoyobukiyo.2023.53_59

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This paper compares the parataxis between news reports and novels in different literary genres in Chinese. The results show that the proportion of zero conjunctions in news reports is 33%, which is about 20% less than that in novels. This shows that the logical relations in news reports tend to be expressed by explicit means. We believe that this stems from the writing requirements of news reports. News reports are required to convey facts concisely and accurately within a limited space, so the use of conjunctions is considered to be an effective and efficient means of expression. Besides, there are editorials in news reports besides fact reports, which is one reason why more conjunctions are used in news reports than in novels.

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Rulemaking and Consensus of Bioethical Problems: Historical Analysis of Japanese End-of-life Care Policies.

Akashi Tanaka

2023 Volume 2023 Issue 53 Pages 71-82
Published: 2023
Released on J-STAGE: March 24, 2023

DOIhttps://doi.org/10.11480/kyoyobukiyo.2023.53_71

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Abstract　This study historically considers Japanese end-of-life care policies from the perspectives of both the libertarian and communitarian consensus. First, the Japan Society for Euthanasia introduced a legislative bill concerning the discontinuation of life-prolonging treatment; however, it was not submitted to Congress. This legislative bill emphasized the right to self-determination; therefore, it is safe to say that it sought libertarian consensus. The Japan Medical Association published several reports based on libertarian thought that mentioned living wills and advance directives, but in 2006, the Ministry of Health, Labour, and Welfare formulated a guideline based on the communitarian consensus, stating the need for medical care that considers the social aspects of patients and family. The Japanese Association for Acute Medicine and the Japan Medical Association also published guidelines in which they refer to living wills and advance directives, indicating that they value libertarian ideas. Specifically, the Japan Medical Association emphasized the necessity of the exemption of liability. Therefore, difficulties concerning responsibility remain at the core of why many medical experts seek a libertarian consensus.

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The Trainability of Machine Translation Models with High School English Textbooks in Japan

Hiroto Noguchi

2023 Volume 2023 Issue 53 Pages 83-90
Published: 2023
Released on J-STAGE: March 24, 2023

DOIhttps://doi.org/10.11480/kyoyobukiyo.2023.53_83

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Machine translation has advanced and now outperforms most language learners. The models for these translation systems are trained with bilingual corpora, whereas most learners with no exposure to their target languages outside classrooms learn them in a traditional method with textbooks. In Japanese high schools, English courses are taught based on the standardized curriculum using textbooks. This study reports that high school English textbooks for reading classes cannot provide sufficient input for a machine translation system and discusses the types of data required.

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Teaching Writing Using Technology

Hiroto Noguchi

2023 Volume 2023 Issue 53 Pages 91-94
Published: 2023
Released on J-STAGE: March 24, 2023

DOIhttps://doi.org/10.11480/kyoyobukiyo.2023.53_91

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The advancement in machine translation and the COVID-19 pandemic have changed how language courses are taught. This paper reports my practices and suggests how to deal with the current situation.

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Self-internal Dialogue in the Process of Self-formation and Development as a Practitioner of Japanese Language Education for Refugees Reflections through Dialogical Self Analysis based on Auto-TEM Analysis Result

Takao Tomono

2023 Volume 2023 Issue 53 Pages 95-112
Published: 2023
Released on J-STAGE: March 24, 2023

DOIhttps://doi.org/10.11480/kyoyobukiyo.2023.53_95

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The current situation regarding the practice of Japanese-language education for refugees is overly dependent on the efforts of NPOs and volunteers, and the environment for human resource development is not yet sufficiently developed. Therefore, the author analyzed and discussed her own self-formation and development process, focusing particularly on internal changes, in order to present an example of the transformation process of a practitioner of Japanese language education for refugees, and to provide a reference material for those who will be involved in Japanese language education for refugees in the future. In this study, the dialogical self (Hermans & Kempen 1993) was used as the analytical method. Through seven periods of time, the self-internal dialogue between various external positions Myself as seen from ◯◯ and internal positions Myself as a volunteer, Myself as an education practitioner targeting refugees, and Myself as a university teacher and researcher various voices within the author were brought together without contradiction, and the author was able to confirm the integrated new internal position of Myself as an expert.

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