Plain language in the healthcare of Japan:a systematic review of“plain Japanese”

Objective:Despite the decrease in the number of foreign visitors and residents in Japan due to the coronavirus disease 2019,a resurgence is remarkable from 2022.However,Japan's medical support system for foreign patients,especially residents,is inadequate,with language barriers potentially causing health disparities.Comprehensive interpretation and translation services are challenging,but“plain Japanese”may be a viable alternative for foreign patients with basic Japanese language skills.This study explores the application and obstacles of plain Japanese in the medical sector.Methods:A literature review was performed across these databases:Web of Science,PubMed,Google Scholar,Scopus,CINAHL Plus,Springer Link and Ichushi-Web(Japanese medical literature).The search covered themes related to healthcare,care for foreign patients,and scholarly articles,and was conducted in July 2023.Results:The study incorporated five papers.Each paper emphasized the language barriers foreign residents in Japan face when accessing healthcare,highlighting the critical role and necessity of plain Japanese in medical environments.Most of the reports focused on the challenges of delivering medical care to foreign patients and the training of healthcare professionals in using plain Japanese for communication.Conclusion:The knowledge and application of plain Japanese among healthcare professionals are inadequate,and literature also remains scarce.With the increasing number of foreign residents in Japan,the establishment of a healthcare system that effectively uses plain Japanese is essential.However,plain Japanese may not be the optimal linguistic assistance in certain situations,thus it is imperative to encourage more research and reports on healthcare services using plain Japanese.

Does social information affect the settlement decisions of resident birds in their second breeding attempt?A case study of the Japanese Tit(Parus minor)

Individuals may gather information about environmental conditions when deciding where to breed in order to maximize their lifetime fitness.They can obtain social information by observing conspecifics and heterospecifics with similar ecological needs.Many studies have shown that birds can rely on social information to select their nest sites.The location of active nests and the reproductive success of conspecifics and heterospecifics can provide accurate predictions about the quality of the breeding habitat.Some short-lived species can facultatively reproduce two and/or more times within a breeding season.However,few studies have focused on how multiplebrooding individuals select nest sites for their second breeding attempts.In this study,we use long-term data to test whether the Japanese Tit(Parus minor)can use social information from conspecifics and/or heterospecifics(the Eurasian Nuthatch Sitta europaea,the Daurian Redstart Phoenicurus auroreus and the Yellow-rumped Flycatcher Ficedula zanthopygia)to select a nest site for the second breeding attempt.Our results showed that the nest boxes occupied by tits on their second breeding attempt tended to be surrounded by more breeding conspecific nests,successful first nests of conspecifics,and fewer failed first nests of conspecifics than the nest boxes that remained unoccupied(the control group).However,the numbers of breeding heterospecific nests,successful heterospecific nests,and failed heterospecific nests did not differ between the nest boxes occupied by tits on their second breeding attempt and the unoccupied nest boxes.Furthermore,the tits with local successful breeding experience tended to choose areas with more successful first nests of conspecifics than those without successful breeding experience.Thus,we suggest that conspecifics'but not heterospecifics'social information within the same breeding season is the major factor influencing the nest site selection of Japanese Tits during second breeding attempts.

On the beginning of the Japanese Upper Paleolithic:A review of recent archaeological and anthropological evidence

The beginning of the Japanese Upper Paleolithic has mainly been examined using two major models:the Middle Paleolithic evolutionary model within the archipelago and the continental Upper Paleolithic diffusion/migration model.However,recent archeological data from Japan and nearby countries are challenging such simple models.This paper critically reviews previous chronology of the Japanese Paleolithic,including possible Lower and Middle Paleolithic(LP/MP),and attempts to show an alternative model of the beginning of the Japanese Upper Paleolithic.This paper suggests several possible specimens of LP/MP and recommends further geoarchaeological investigation to understand the reliability and cultural relationship between possible LP/MP specimens and the Early Upper Paleolithic(EUP).The start of the Japanese EUP is presently characterized by a flake industry with trapezoids and denticulates around 39-37 kaBP cal on Paleo-Honshu Island,which has partial resemblance with contemporary assemblages in China and the Korean Peninsula,although trapezoids are endemic only to the Japanese EUP and may have derived from the ancestral lithic tradition.Blade technology appeared earliest on Central Paleo-Honshu Island,about 1000 years later than the earliest flake technology.Although blade technology may have originated from the elongated flake technology of the previous period,the sudden simultaneous emergence implies that it diffused from the Korean Peninsula.This paper proposes that blade technology from the Korean Peninsula arrived on the northeastern Paleo-Honshu Island,including the Japan Sea coastal region of western Honshu,rather than the southwest,where flake technology long prospered,due to differences in ecological settings and adaptation strategies between the two regions.

Japanese Sign Language Recognition by Combining Joint Skeleton-Based Handcrafted and Pixel-Based Deep Learning Features with Machine Learning Classification

Sign language recognition is vital for enhancing communication accessibility among the Deaf and hard-of-hearing communities.In Japan,approximately 360,000 individualswith hearing and speech disabilities rely on Japanese Sign Language(JSL)for communication.However,existing JSL recognition systems have faced significant performance limitations due to inherent complexities.In response to these challenges,we present a novel JSL recognition system that employs a strategic fusion approach,combining joint skeleton-based handcrafted features and pixel-based deep learning features.Our system incorporates two distinct streams:the first stream extracts crucial handcrafted features,emphasizing the capture of hand and body movements within JSL gestures.Simultaneously,a deep learning-based transfer learning stream captures hierarchical representations of JSL gestures in the second stream.Then,we concatenated the critical information of the first stream and the hierarchy of the second stream features to produce the multiple levels of the fusion features,aiming to create a comprehensive representation of the JSL gestures.After reducing the dimensionality of the feature,a feature selection approach and a kernel-based support vector machine(SVM)were used for the classification.To assess the effectiveness of our approach,we conducted extensive experiments on our Lab JSL dataset and a publicly available Arabic sign language(ArSL)dataset.Our results unequivocally demonstrate that our fusion approach significantly enhances JSL recognition accuracy and robustness compared to individual feature sets or traditional recognition methods.

Serological Investigation into the Infected Genotypes of Patients with Japanese Encephalitis in the Coastal Provinces of China

Objective Genotypes(G)1,3,and 5 of the Japanese encephalitis virus(JEV)have been isolated in China,but the dominant genotype circulating in Chinese coastal areas remains unknown.We searched for G5 JEV-infected cases and attempted to elucidate which JEV genotype was most closely related to human Japanese encephalitis(JE)in the coastal provinces of China.Methods In this study,we collected serum specimens from patients with JE in three coastal provinces of China(Guangdong,Zhejiang,and Shandong)from 2018 to 2020 and conducted JEV cross-neutralization tests against G1,G3,and G5.Results Acute serum specimens from clinically reported JE cases were obtained for laboratory confirmation from hospitals in Shandong(92 patients),Zhejiang(192 patients),and Guangdong(77 patients),China,from 2018 to 2020.Seventy of the 361 serum specimens were laboratory-confirmed to be infected with JEV.Two cases were confirmed to be infected with G1 JEV,32 with G3 JEV,and two with G5 JEV.Conclusion G3 was the primary infection genotype among JE cases with a definite infection genotype,and the infection caused by G5 JEV was confirmed serologically in China.

Japanese candlestick charts for diabetes

Continuous glucose monitoring(CGM)is a popular technology among the diabetic population,especially in patients with type 1 diabetes and those with type 2 diabetes treated with insulin.The American Diabetes Association recommends standardization of CGM reports with visual cues,such as the ambulatory glucose profile.Nevertheless,interpreting this report requires training and time for CGM to be cost-efficient.In this work it has been proposed to incorporate Japanese candlestick charts in glucose monitoring.These graphs are used in price analysis in financial markets and are easier to view.Each candle provides extra information to make prudent decisions since it reports the opening,maximum,minimum and closing glucose levels of the chosen time frame,usually the daily one.The Japanese candlestick chart is an interesting tool to be considered in glucose control.This graphic representation allows identification of glucose trends easily through the colors of the candles and maximum and minimum glucose values.

Vice-President Liu Hongcai Meets the Japanese Okinawa Peace and Friendship Delegation

On December 29th,CAFIU Vice-President Liu Hongcai met with the Japanese Okinawa Peace and Friendship Delegation to exchange views on the relationship and people-to-people exchanges between China and Japan.Vice-President Liu Hongcai said that Okinawa-ken and China are geographically close and culturally connected,and both sides share a long history of friendly exchanges.

What is the Real Situation of the Japanese Cosmetics Market?

The Japanese cosmetics market still deserves major focus when talking about the cosmetics development.First of all,in terms of purchasing power,Japan is the third largest cosmetics consumer in the world with huge market potential,only after the United States and China;secondly,in terms of scientific research and technology,Japan has always been at the forefront of the cosmetics R&D in the world,leading the direction of many cosmetics categories.Especially in Asia,the Japanese cosmetics market has long played a pioneering role in the industry.In the post-pandemic era,what changes have taken place in the Japanese cosmetics market after the severe impact of COVID-19?And what are the new trends?

The Relationship Between the Communist Party of China and the Japanese Communist Party During the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression

It is important to clarify the historical facts and summarize the characteristics of the communication and cooperation between the CPC and the JCP during the War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression,as it holds historical and contemporary relevance.The research findings indicate that the Comintern played a crucial role as the key intermediary in facilitating the establishment of connections between the CPC and the JCP and in driving the deepening of their relationship.During their exchanges,both parties adhered to a flexible and multi-layered friendship based on the unified values of patriotism and internationalism.Their efforts played a significant role in the establishment of an international anti-fascist front in the East.

The Relationship Between the Communist Party of China and the Japanese Communist Party During the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression

It is important to clarify the historical facts and summarize the characteristics of the communication and cooperation between the CPC and the JCP during the War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression, as it holds historical and contemporary relevance. The research findings indicate that the Comintern played a crucial role as the key intermediary in facilitating the establishment of connections between the CPC and the JCP and in driving the deepening of their relationship. During their exchanges, both parties adhered to a flexible and multi-layered friendship based on the unified values of patriotism and internationalism. Their efforts played a significant role in the establishment of an international anti-fascist front in the East.

Epidemic Japanese B encephalitis combined with contactinassociated protein-like 2 antibody-positive autoimmune encephalitis:A case report

BACKGROUND It is not uncommon to develop viral encephalitis.Epidemic Japanese B encephalitis infection combined with contactin-associated protein-like 2(CASPR-2)antibody-positive autoimmune encephalitis has not been reported at present.In clinical work,we need to consider more options.CASE SUMMARY A 32-year-old male worker presented with headache,fever and call-unresponsive presentation.Complete cranial magnetic resonance image showed symmetrical abnormal signals in bilateral medial temporal lobe,bilateral thalamus and basal ganglia.Improved lumbar puncture showed that cerebrospinal fluid protein and cell count increased significantly.Viral encephalitis was considered,and the patient's consciousness still increased rapidly after antiviral treatment.Further detection of Cerebrospinal fluid Japanese B encephalitis virus Polymerase Chain Reaction positive,serum autoimmune encephalitis antibody showed CASPR-2 antibody positive(1:320),the patient's condition gradually improved after plasma exchange treatment.3 mo later,the serum CASPR-2 antibody was negative and the patient's condition was stable.CONCLUSION This article reports the world’s first case of Epidemic Japanese B encephalitis infection combined with CASPR-2 antibody-positive autoimmune encephalitis,with a view to raising awareness.

Application of Blank Symbols in Japanese Architecture and Indoor Designs

A symbol is an expression of meaning,while blank symbols express special meanings.By focusing on the application of blank symbols in Japanese architecture and indoor designs,we analyzed the aesthetic principles in Japanese architecture and indoor designs from the perspective of semiotics,such as“Kongji,”“Emptiness,”and“Dying out,”and their minimalist and pure design concepts.Traditional Chinese culture was also further explored,especially the profound influence of the“Chan sect”and the philosophy of“unity of heaven and mankind”on Japanese architecture and designs.This study aims to facilitate the coexistence and mutual appreciation of Chinese and Japanese architectural designs.

Appropriate leucine-richα-2 glycoprotein cut-off value for Japanese patients with ulcerative colitis

BACKGROUND It has been suggested that serum leucine-richα-2 glycoprotein(LRG)could be a novel monitoring biomarker for the assessment of disease activity in inflammatory bowel disease.In particular,the relationship between LRG levels and the endoscopically assessed activity of ulcerative colitis(UC)has become a matter of interest.AIM To clarify appropriate LRG cut-off values for the prediction of endoscopic and histologic remission in Japanese patients with UC.METHODS This was a cross-sectional,single-center,observational study of Japanese patients with UC.Among 213 patients with UC,in whom LRG was measured from September 2020 to February 2022,we recruited 30 patients for whom a total colonoscopy and measurements of LRG and C-reactive protein(CRP)were performed on the same day.We retrospectively analyzed correlations between the LRG and CRP levels and endoscopic indices,including the Mayo endoscopic subscore and UC endoscopic index of severity.RESULTS Correlations between the LRG values and the Mayo endoscopic subscore or UC endoscopic index of severity were significant(r=0.754,P<0.0001;r=0.778,P<0.0001,respectively).There were also significant correlations between CRP levels and Mayo endoscopic subscore or UC endoscopic index of severity(r=0.599,P=0.0005;r=0.563,P=0.0012,respectively),although the correlation coefficients were higher for LRG.The LRG cutoff value for predicting endoscopic remission was 13.4μg/mL for a Mayo endoscopic subscore of 0[area under the curve(AUC):0.871;95%confidence interval(CI):0.744-0.998],and 13.4μg/mL for an UC endoscopic index of severity of 0 or 1(AUC:0.904;95%CI:0.792-1.000).CONCLUSION LRG may be a surrogate marker for endoscopic activity in UC,with a cut-off value of around 13.4μg/mL for endoscopically inactive disease.

Psychometric Properties among Japanese Women Based on the Multidimensional Assessment of Women’s Experience of Childbirth

Aims/Background: Perceived experiences of childbirth are important for mothers as they affect their self-esteem, mother-child interactions, subsequent mother-child bonding, and their desire for another child. This study examined the factor structure and construct validity of Salmon and Drew’s Multidimensional Assessment of Women’s Experience of Childbirth (MAWEC) in Japanese. Design/Methods: This study conducted a questionnaire survey using the Japanese version of the MAWEC and other variables with 759 women with infants in Japan. The participants’ mean (standard deviation [SD], range) age was 31.9 (5.3, 18 - 46) years. A total of 353 (46.5%) participants were primiparous and 384 (50.6%) were multiparous, and 22 (2.9%) did not answer. The data were randomly divided into two groups for exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) and separately analyzed the positive- and negative-worded items. I conducted EFA using the maximum-likelihood method with PROMAX rotation from one-through two- and three-factor structures. Different factor structure models were compared in terms of CFAs using, as indicator of goodness-of-fit, chi-square/df, comparative fit index (CFI), and root mean square of error approximation (RMSEA). Results: This study showed that a bifactor model for the MAWEC with four subscales (positive emotion, positive coping, negative emotion, and negative coping) fit the data the best. These four subscales were associated with demographic, obstetric, neonatal, and feeding characteristics. For example, primiparas were more vulnerable to coping aspects of perceived childbirth experiences, including sense of mastery over the delivery process and ability to enjoy the delivery. Gestational age at birth was associated with emotional aspects of perceived childbirth experiences. Conclusion: The Japanese version of the MAWEC consists of four aspects regarding perceived childbirth experience. Perinatal health professionals may examine women’s childbirth experiences from these four perspectives. .

An Exploratory Data Analysis of Mazu Culture Research Based on Diaolong-Full-Text Database of Ancient Chinese and Japanese Books

Mazu is the most famous goddess of canal transport in China,and one of the three folk beliefs in China.Japan is our neighbor across the sea.As early as 1000 years ago,Japan was influenced by the Mazu ceremonial culture.Through big data analysis,this study conducted database counting,screening,and analysis on the Mazu culture in Diaolong,the full-text database of Chinese and Japanese ancient books.Besides,it explored the hot topics of concern and emotional attitudes,and then analyzed the important role of Mazu culture in the cultural exchange and mutual learning between China and Japan in the new era,with a view to completing the contemporary task of“people-to-people bond”and achieving common development.

Prevention and Cure of Acute Alcohol Intoxication in Mice by Administration of Compound of Japanese Raisintree Fruit, Lobed Kudzuvine Flower Bud and Lightyellow Sophora Root

[Objective] We aimed to investigate the preventive and therapeutical effect of compound of traditional Chinese drugs （Japanese raisintree fruit, lobed kudzuvine flower bud and lightyel ow sophora root） on acute alcohol intoxication in mice. [Method] Acute alcohol intoxication was induced by administering alcohol to mice. Three different doses （low, middle and high） of compound of traditional Chinese drugs were administered to mice before and after administering alcohol respectively to investigate the preventive and therapeutical effect of drugs on acute alcohol intox-ication through doing statistical analysis about drunk mice and their sleeping time. The concentration of malondialdehyde （MDA）, reduced glutathione （GSH） and triglyc-erides （TG） in liver was also determined to investigate the protective effect of drugs on liver. [Result] The efficacy of compound of traditional Chinese drugs on acute al-cohol intoxication was dose-dependent. High-dose administration decreased the number of drunk mice significantly compared with control group; middle- and high-dose administration reduced the sleeping time of drunk mice and the concentration of MDA and TG in liver tissue; three doses al increased the concentration of GSH. [Conclusion] The compound of Japanese raisintree fruit, lobed kudzuvine flower bud and lightyel ow sophora root had preventive and therapeutical effect on hangover, and it also had certain preventive and therapeutical effect on liver damage caused by alcohol.

有机合成化学中新的构件——Japanese试剂

介绍了 Japanese试剂的制备、结构和化学反应。并就 Japanese试剂在有机合成中的应用加以概述。

Characteristics of natural Japanese yew population in Muling Nature Reserve of Heilongjiang Province,China

The scalar of Japanese yew （Taxus cuspidata） population and the relationship between individual distribution and site factors were analyzed according to investigating data in 74 sample belts with a total sampled area of 436.872 hm2 in Muling Nature Reserve. The result showed that the distribution rules of Japanese yew population were correlated to elevation, slope position, slope aspect and slope gradient. The optimal distribution range in elevation for the natural Japanese yew population is at the attitudes of 700-800 m. The amounts of Japanese yew individuals on shady slope were more than those on sunny slope. On top slope and mid-slope, the individual amounts of Japanese yew are more than those on toe slope. Most of Japanese yew individuals occurred on slope gradient of less than 15. The scalar of the population was decreased with the slope gradient increasing.

Japanese试剂的合成新方法

用二甲苯作溶剂来代替 1 ,2 ,4 -三氯苯使五硫化二磷和硫酚反应 ,制得的 Japanese试剂产率由 5 8%提高到 72 %

Epidemiological Characteristics of Japanese Encephalitis in Guizhou Province,China,1971-2009

Objective The aim of the study was to establish the contemporary epidemiological characteristics of Japanese encephalitis （JE） in Guizhou Province. Methods A retrospective study of National Notifiable Disease Reporting System （NNDRS） data from 2971 through 2009, was conducted to ascertain the geographical, seasonal, and age distributions of JE incidence in Guizhou Province, China. Results A total of 68 425 JE cases were reported in Guizhou from 1971-2009. The JE cases occurred sporadically in all 9 prefectures of Guizhou, mostly among residents of rural areas. Seasonal distribution of JE remained consistent over the period from 1971-2009 with the main transmission season starting from June to September and peaking in August. JE occurred mainly in children under the age of 15 years with peak incidence in the 0-6-year age group. Pearson＇s correlation analysis showed that JE vaccine distribution had a negative correlation with JE incidence rates during 1971-2009 （coefficient of correlation=-0.475, P〈O.01）. Conclusion Over the period of 1971-2009, the JE incidence rate had declined dramatically in terms of geographical and age distributions due to JE vaccination to children at risk.