Tamagawa University

Research on biomarkers for predicting psychiatric disorders from resting-state functional connectivity (FC) is advancing. While the focus has primarily been on the discriminative performance of biomarkers by machine learning, identification of abnormal FCs in psychiatric disorders has often been treated as a secondary goal. However, it is crucial to investigate the effect size and robustness of the selected FCs because they can be used as potential targets of neurofeedback training or transcranial magnetic stimulation therapy. Here, we incorporated approximately 5,000 runs of resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging from six datasets, including individuals with three different psychiatric disorders (major depressive disorder [MDD], schizophrenia [SCZ], and autism spectrum disorder [ASD]). We demonstrated that a PCA-based feature selection method can robustly extract FCs related to psychiatric disorders compared with other conventional supervised feature selection methods. We found that our proposed method robustly extracted FCs with larger effect sizes from the validation dataset compared with different types of feature selection methods based on supervised learning for MDD (Cohen's d = 0.40 vs. 0.25), SCZ (0.37 vs. 0.28), and ASD (0.17 vs. 0.16). We found 78, 69, and 81 essential FCs for MDD, SCZ, and ASD, respectively, and these FCs were mainly thalamic and motor network FCs. The current study showed that the PCA-based feature selection method robustly identified abnormal FCs in psychiatric disorders consistently across datasets. The discovery of such robust FCs will contribute to understanding neural mechanisms as abnormal brain signatures in psychiatric disorders.

Abstract This classroom study explored the effects of vocabulary support on collocation learning and affective responses in task‐based language teaching (TBLT) among English‐as‐a‐foreign‐language (EFL) learners at a Japanese university. For this purpose, 68 EFL learners completed two interactive information‐gap tasks under either vocabulary‐support or task‐only condition, in which the first group received a list of collocations, whereas the second did not. Collocation learning was assessed through a pretest and a posttest, and learners' affective responses to the tasks were measured using a posttask questionnaire. Results revealed that the vocabulary‐support group outperformed the task‐only group in collocation learning. However, the task‐only group demonstrated higher positive psychological states, including enjoyment, pride, and perceived partners' collaborativeness, as well as lower boredom. Higher‐proficiency learners in the task‐only group exhibited stronger pride than those in the vocabulary‐support group. Furthermore, collocation learning gains were correlated with enjoyment, boredom, and perceived collaborativeness in the vocabulary‐support condition only. These findings underscore the potential link between emotions and lexical learning, suggesting that vocabulary support improves collocation learning but may diminish positive affect during tasks. Thus, further research on the relationship between emotion and cognition in TBLT is needed to seek an optimal balance between linguistic support and affective dimensions.

The chemical composition of the venom in social Hymenoptera differs between castes and ages. Biogenic amines are contained in the venom of honey bees and may be physiologically effective to vertebrate predators and insects. This study quantified the concentrations of biogenic amines in venom and compared them between different castes and ages of honey bees. The concentrations of dopamine and N-acetyldopamine in venom were significantly higher in virgin queens than workers of the same age. The concentrations of dopamine, norepinephrine, tyramine and serotonin increased with age in virgin queens and workers. There was a significant positive correlation between venom dopamine concentrations and ovarian development in queenless workers, suggesting that the concentration of dopamine in the venom transformed from normal workers to reproductive females as that in virgin queens. We also tested the possibility of dietary effects on the concentration of dopamine in venom. Workers fed tyrosine or royal jelly showed significantly higher concentrations of dopamine precursors, tyrosine, 3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine (DOPA) and dopamine in the hemolymph, as well as higher concentrations of dopamine in venom than in controlled workers. These results suggest that compositions of biogenic amines in venom are influenced by nutrition and change based on their social roles in honey bee society.

Studies of children’s narratives have shown that selecting appropriate forms to reintroduce a referent compared to retaining a referent is challenging because it requires the integration of different accessibility features. Bilingual children are more explicit than their monolingual peers when it comes to referent selection, especially in the context of reintroduction in null-argument languages. Whether different accessibility features influence referent choice in the context of reintroduction in bilingual and monolingual children remains to be investigated. Japanese narratives were elicited from Japanese–English school-age early bilinguals (n = 13) and their monolingual peers (n = 8) using a wordless picture book and video clip, and the linguistic means of referent reintroduction were analyzed in terms of recency, ambiguity, and pragmatic predictability. The analysis revealed that in terms of recency, bilinguals used more noun phrases (NPs) than null forms when the referent was highly accessible, thus exhibiting overexplicitness, whereas in terms of ambiguity, bilinguals used more NPs for less accessible referents, while monolinguals were not as explicit. Both groups were sensitive to accessibility. We argue that bilinguals are selectively redundant, suggesting that the overproduction is not due to the load of processing two languages but is a manifestation of cross-linguistic influence modulated by accessibility features. The results emphasize the importance of considering discourse features in identifying overexplicitness.

The neural representation of reward is underpinned by neurotransmitter systems; however, current human neuroimaging techniques cannot assess the receptor-specific contributions to reward processing. We investigated the relationships between reward-related neural representations and the expression patterns of 30 neurotransmitter receptor genes by combining meta-analytic functional neuroimaging maps with gene expression data from the Allen Human Brain Atlas. Clustering analysis revealed that serotonin receptor 2 A was co-expressed with other reward-related receptors, whereas the nociceptin (NOP) receptor exhibited a distinct expression pattern. Using elastic net regression with spatial null models, we observed that monetary reward maps showed significant positive spatial correlations with serotonin receptor 2 A expression and negative correlations with NOP receptor expression. Similar positive correlations with serotonin receptor 2 A were observed in the craving maps. Principal component regression provided complementary evidence, with both monetary reward and craving maps showing significant associations with components characterized by NOP receptor loadings. These findings from multiple analytical approaches suggest that reward processing involves both coordinated receptor networks and specialized receptor systems, particularly highlighting the opposing roles of the serotonin receptor 2 A and NOP systems. Our results provide insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying reward processing in the human brain, potentially informing targeted interventions for reward-related disorders.

Termite colonies consist of distinct castes whose developmental pathways fall into 2 types and vary among lineages. Understanding caste evolution and the diversification of developmental mechanisms is central to termite evolutionary biology. A recent hypothesis suggests that functional diversification via gene duplication contributed to termite eusocial evolution. However, genome-wide analysis is currently limited to a single species, Reticulitermes speratus, preventing comparisons of differences in gene duplication patterns and caste-specific gene expression among representatives of the 2 alternative developmental pathway types. We performed whole-genome sequencing and RNA-seq across castes from the Japanese population of Zootermopsis nevadensis. Duplicated genes exhibited more caste-specific expression than single-copy genes, supporting their role in functional diversification. Comparison with the closest termite relative, the noneusocial woodroach Cryptocercus punctulatus, identified 58 gene groups specifically duplicated in termites. Among the 147 Z. nevadensis genes in these groups, 88 GO biological process terms, including those related to genitalia morphogenesis, were significantly enriched. Moreover, some gene families duplicated in R. speratus and Z. nevadensis included paralogs highly expressed in termite-specific soldiers. Transcriptome comparisons between caste and sex of Z. nevandensis and R. speratus revealed notable differences reflecting their developmental pathways. In particular, Doublesex expression did not differ among castes in Z. nevadensis, but was significantly higher in male reproductives than in male sterile castes in R. speratus. Our findings support the hypothesis that gene duplications, particularly in reproduction and development, contributed to termite eusociality and suggest that lineage-specific changes in Doublesex-related expression may underlie the diversification of caste developmental pathways.

The dynamic stability during forward propulsion in the stance phase of prosthetic gait can be quantified using the center of pressure (COP). Although previous studies focused primarily on the single-limb support phase, COP movement during the double-limb support phase remains unclear. This study quantitatively analyzed the weight-transfer mechanism during gait by examining the forward velocity of the combined COP and the duration of the loading response (LR) on the prosthetic and intact sides. This study conducted experiments involving 6 individuals with unilateral transtibial amputation and 11 able-bodied individuals. The participants were instructed to walk at 3 different speeds, and data were collected under each condition, using a 3D motion capture system. The peak value and timing of the forward velocity of combined COP in the LR were compared between the prosthetic and intact sides. Regarding the forward velocity of the combined COP in the prosthetic-side LR, the peak value was smaller at slow walking speeds and the peak timing tended to be delayed under all walking-speed conditions compared with the intact-side LR. These parameters during the prosthetic-side LR were similar to those of able-bodied individuals. Analysis of the LR duration revealed no consistent trend in the relative durations of the prosthetic-side LR and intact-side LR. The results of this study suggest that individuals with unilateral transtibial amputation may employ a characteristic movement strategy during intact-side LR while the prosthetic side is in the pre-swing phase.

The expansion of English as a global language has increased the demand for English language textbooks that expose students to linguistic and cultural diversity and support the development of the necessary language proficiency and intercultural competence required in today's multicultural and multilingual global society.Equally important is the inclusion of familiar content, such as students' home cultures, and the personalization of learning, both of which can enhance the learning process and empower students as legitimate English users.Additionally, raising awareness of Global Englishes (GE) can foster students' confidence as non-native English speakers.A qualitative content analysis, including quantitative content counting elements, was conducted on five globally used English textbooks recently published by major international textbook publishers to investigate how they meet these demands.The findings revealed that all the examined books significantly lacked diversity in linguistic and cultural content.Furthermore, there was an absence of representation for English and cultures from the socalled Outer Circle countries.This created a contrast between native English speakers from inner circle countries and learners from expanding circle countries, potentially sending the implicit message that the latter should aspire to be like the former.While all the textbooks adopted some personalizing activities, incorporating aspects of learners' home cultures appeared to be a considerable challenge.More critically, none of the textbooks addressed GE awareness-raising.Based on the research results, suggestions for teaching with textbooks are provided. (GE)

Academic Library Workers in Conversation is a C&RL News series focused on elevating the everyday conversations of library professionals. The wisdom of the watercooler has long been heralded, but this series hopes to go further by minimizing barriers to traditional publishing with an accessible format. Each of the topics in the series was proposed by the authors, and the authors were given space to explore. This issue’s conversation connects with the article in the September 2025 issue1 and continues the exploration of contingent labor practices in libraries and precarity. This article explores how managers and leaders can better support workers. - Dustin Fife, series editor

We determined the complete mitochondrial genome sequence of the White-lipped Tree Frog, Polypedates leucomystax, in Okinawa, Japan, from a single individual. The mitochondrial genome encoded 13 protein-coding genes, two rRNAs, 22 tRNAs, and two control regions (D-loops). When compared using full-length mitochondrial genome sequences, our mitochondrial genome is most similar to that of P. leucomystax from Thailand (94.5%). From the phylogenetic analysis of partial mitochondrial genome sequences, P. leucomystax was divided into three subgroups: western (Myanmar), central (Malaysia and Thailand), and central/eastern (Indonesia, Philippines, and Japan). The mitochondrial genome sequences from the Okinawa and Thailand frogs were representative sequences of central/eastern and central subgroups, respectively. In spite of the high similarity between the Okinawa and Thailand frogs' mitochondrial genome sequences, we found a difference in length and the sequence in the second D-loop. In this region, we found a repetitive sequence region, which was composed of an 86-bp sequence with 13- and 14-bp spacer sequences. The repetitive sequence regions were different in length, copy number, the combination of the 86-bp, and the spacer sequences among eight individuals of P. leucomystax in Okinawa, Japan.