Takamatsu University

Abstract Self-determination is a fundamental human right and a dispositional characteristic manifested when people act or cause things to happen as they set and work towards goals in their lives. In the United States, researchers have established a positive relationship between higher self-determination status and in-school and postschool outcomes for students with intellectual disability leading to multiple assessments and interventions being developed to create self-determination opportunities for students with intellectual disability. On the other hand, in Japan, although educational policy and practice indicate the importance of embedding self-determination in daily instruction, there has not been a reliable assessment to understand self-determination status for students with intellectual disability to inform individualized self-determination instruction. Recently, in the U.S., a new self-determination assessment informed by Causal Agency Theory, the Self-Determination Inventory: Student Report (SDI:SR) was developed and validated for youth and young adults with and without disabilities aged 13 to 22. This paper reports the results of a validation study of the Japanese translation of the SDI:SR with high school students with intellectual disability. Using Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA), the factor structure of the SDI:SR Japanese translation was established. There were patterns of differences in the sample, that can inform future work in Japan and internationally with a focus on ensuring that efforts to advance self-determination are aligned with the educational system and cultural values of diverse groups of students with intellectual disability.

Eight shear wave velocity profiles of deep sedimentary layers in Lima, Peru, were determined using seismic interferometry. To achieve this objective, seven high-sensitivity sensors monitoring continuous ground motion were installed. Sensor data allowed the extraction of Green’s functions through cross-correlation analysis in the frequency domain. It was determined that continuous recording data with a minimum of 2,000 h (equivalent to three months) is necessary to obtain a Green’s function approximation. Dispersion curves of surfaces from 0.3 to 2 s were obtained from maximum values of Green’s functions between two stations after applying Gaussian filters. Thus, obtaining deep soil profiles through the inversion of dispersion curves extended to periods of around 1 s is possible. Finally, the estimated profiles were verified by comparing their theoretical ellipticity curves with H/V spectral ratios of microtremors, finding a good match for periods up to 1 s. These profiles reach depths and S-wave velocities of up to 600 m and 3,000 m/s, respectively.

Solid-state near-infrared (NIR) luminescence beyond 1000 nm (NIR-II) was achieved through the supramolecular polymerization of glassy oligoporphyrin arrays (1–4) in spin-coated films. Supramolecular polymerization proceeded during solvent evaporation from toluene, resulting in the NIR-II-luminescent nanostructure. The thermodynamics of supramolecular polymers was characterized in detail in solutions by a judicious choice of a solvent system comprising toluene and cyclohexane to modulate the solvation energy. The molecular arrangements in spin-coated films were elucidated by atomic force microscopic and synchrotron grazing-incidence wide-angle X-ray diffraction experiments. Collectively, the experimental observations revealed the formation of multiple cofacial π-stacking interactions with the interdigitation of bulky alkyl side chains. Beyond the static nanostructural features, the significant Stokes shifts observed in the NIR luminescence of 1–4 underscore a strong coupling between exciton dynamics and excited-state structural relaxation within the glassy supramolecular porphyrin polymers, ultimately leading to solid-state NIR-II photoluminescence.

Two crown ether‐appended tetraazanaphthacene derivatives (15CE and 18CE) are synthesized, and their radical anion species (15CE’ and 18CE’) are further obtained by electrocrystallization. Single‐crystal X‐ray analysis reveals the crystal structures of all metal complexes based on 15CE and 18CE derivatives, which can be modulated by the selection of metal ion salts. 15CE and 18CE can capture metal ions depending on the size of the crown ether moieties to form metal complexes in the crystal state. On the other hand, 15CE’ and 18CE’ are generated by electrocrystallization of 15CE and 18CE using metal salts as the electrolyte, whose imino‐N atoms can coordinate to metal ions. As a result, 15CE’ and 18CE’ can work as bridging radical anion ligands to self‐assemble into a 3D coordination polymer and a 1D coordination polymer with helical structures, respectively. In particular, the use of both crown ether and the tetraazanaphthacene framework as a bridging radical anion ligand is the essential strategy to expand the diversity of crystal engineering because of being capable of the dramatic change in crystal structures.

Objectives: Despite advancements in molecular-targeted therapies and immune checkpoint inhibitors, the survival rate of patients with advanced lung cancer remains unsatisfactory. Therefore, new and effective treatment strategies are urgently needed. Both mesenchymal-epithelial transition (MET) inhibitors and oncolytic viruses exhibit immunomodulatory properties along with direct antitumor effects. Materials and Methods: The antitumor effects of a combination therapy using MDRVV, a modified vaccinia virus for oncolytic virus therapy, and tepotinib, a MET inhibitor, were evaluated in vitro and in vivo using lung cancer models. Results: The combination therapy demonstrated additive cytotoxic effects on various lung cancer cell lines in vitro and significantly suppressed tumor growth in an immunocompetent mouse model. MDRVV triggered immunogenic cell death, evidenced by the release of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) and high-mobility group box-1 (HMGB-1). Additionally, the combination therapy enhanced CD4+ and CD+ T-cell infiltration more effectively than either agent alone. MDRVV exhibited antitumor effects not only in the inoculated tumors but also in distant tumors, with the most pronounced effect observed when combined with tepotinib. Conclusions: These findings suggest that combining a MET inhibitor with oncolytic vaccinia virus represents a promising and effective strategy for improving lung cancer treatment by targeting both tumor cells and the tumor microenvironment.

Abstract Since ancient times, Japanese cypress timber (Chamaecyparis obtusa; 'hinoki' in Japanese) has been highly valued in Japan. Because of its beautiful color and fragrance, this timber has been widely used as houses and furniture materials. Scientific evidence on the effect of the usage of hinokis’ timber especially from Kagawa’s area as a building material toward human psychophysiological response has yet to be reported. The current study examined participants’ psychophysiological responses to volatile organic compounds (VOCs) generated by hinoki interior walls growing in Kagawa Prefecture, Japan. This timber was reported to have a relaxing effect toward the participants, and this study discovered that inhaling air containing VOCs emitted by Kagawa hinoki interior walls increased parasympathetic nervous activity during resting periods between arithmetic tasks. When compared to a control condition, the participants' performance on a calculation test improved dramatically in the hinoki condition. These findings suggest that VOCs released by Kagawa hinoki walls influence the autonomic nervous system, emotions, and work performance. This study not only proved Kagawa hinoki fragrance’s potential to boost human working speed, but it also newly confirmed the fragrance's ability to increase parasympathetic nervous system activity while at rest. This study also discovered that the enhanced working speed is caused by a part of the neurological underpinning for heightened arousal in the brain. As a result, this study concluded that the aroma of cypress can have physiological effects that change over time, hence optimizing individuals’ behavior at work and at rest.

Introduction: Combined therapeutic hypothermia (TH) and 24-h hydrogen (H2) gas inhalation reduces seizure burden in piglets in the latent phase of hypoxic-ischemic (HI) injury versus TH alone. Nevertheless, the effects of H2 gas in the earliest phase following resuscitation were unclear. Methods: After HI insult, 17 piglets ≤24 h old were divided into a HI insult group (HI, n = 8) and a HI and H2 gas group (HI-H2, 2.1%–2.7% H2 gas, 6 h, n = 9). Time to recovery to a normal amplitude-integrated electroencephalogram background (RT-aEEG) was examined for 6 h after HI insult and undamaged neurons were counted. Results: The duration of low-amplitude (<5 μV) EEG after insult was not different between the two groups. Undamaged neuron numbers were significantly higher in the HI-H2 group than in the HI group (p < 0.01), although RT-aEEG was not different. Conclusion: Six hours of H2 gas inhalation initiated from resuscitation significantly increased the number of undamaged neurons compared to the untreated group, although there was no difference in RT-aEEG. Six hours of hydrogen gas inhalation exerts a neuroprotective effect even in piglets with delayed functional recovery.

Introduction Assessing fitness for work among employees with mental health disorders presents significant challenges. While it is fundamentally assumed that employees must be capable of adequately fulfilling their job responsibilities, occupational health professionals frequently encounter difficulties in making such determinations. This study aims to elucidate the factors considered by occupational physicians, particularly those specializing in psychiatrywhen evaluating the work eligibility of employees experiencing mental health issues. Methods We analyzed a subset of occupational physician interview records collected over a 14.5-year period at a higher education institution. A total of 1,381 interviews involving 184 individuals were included. For two groups, employees currently working and those on leave, we used the occupational physician's decision as the dependent variable. A generalized linear mixed model (GLMM) was employed to estimate the odds ratios (ORs) of factors associated with the physician's decision to recommend sick leave versus continued work without leave. Results Among employees currently working, factors associated with the occupational physician's decision to recommend sick leave rather than continued work included other occupations (OR [95% CI] = 5.43 [1.16, 25.42]), reduced sense of sleep quality (OR [95% CI] = 4.22 [1.07, 16.67]), and loss of appetite (OR [95% CI] = 6.81 [1.36, 34.2]). Among employees on sick leave, the only factor associated with a return-to-work decision, as opposed to continued sick leave, was the total duration of prior sick leave (in months) (OR [95% CI] = 0.94 [0.91, 0.96]). Conclusions The present study revealed that occupational physicians specializing in psychiatry place significant emphasis on lifestyle factors such as sleep and appetite when assessing fitness for work. When occupational physicians assessed fitness to return to work for employees on sick leave, they focused on the duration of the leave, which could serve as a potential risk factor for relapse.