Urinary ortho-cresol concentrations as an indicator of toluene inhalation in glue-sniffers.

In a Japanese study of glue-sniffers, urinary ortho-cresol and expired air toluene concentrations were determined by gas chromatography, and urinary hippuric acid concentrations by high performance liquid chromatography. There were significant differences among three sample groups (30 male "glue-sniffers", 13 "non-glue-sniffers" and 32 industrial workers) in their expired air toluene, urinary hippuric acid and ortho-cresol concentrations. Moreover, there was a better correlation between expired air toluene and urinary ortho-cresol concentrations than between toluene and urinary ortho-cresol concentrations than between toluene and hippuric acid. These results suggest that urinary ortho-cresol is a good indicator of toluene inhalation in glue-sniffers.     

Hippocampal Agenesis in an Individual who Engaged in Violent Criminal Behaviors After Discontinuing Carbamazepine and Paroxetine Treatment

Antidepressant discontinuation syndrome (ADS) occurs after abrupt discontinuation of an antidepressant medication. A 23‐year‐old man with right hippocampal agenesis demonstrated sexual crime (hypersexuality) since the age of eight and had been successfully treated with carbamazepine since the age of 13. He had required increased doses of paroxetine and carbamazepine owing to the development of an unstable affect after quitting his job. He abruptly stopped taking his medication for 3 days and his criminal behaviors re‐emerged. We examined changes in brain structure and activity before and after medication cessation, using MRI and functional MRI (fMRI). The image of a girl in a swimsuit increased activity in the thalamus only after medication discontinuation. The alteration in thalamic activity might induce hypersexuality. We conclude that a primary hypersexuality had been suppressed with carbamazepine and paroxetine treatment, and the discontinuation of the medication caused the hypersexuality.     

Discourses of the Vanishing: Modernity,Phantasm, Japan by Marilyn Ivy

Abstract

Discourses of the Vanishing has been anticipated for several years now; it won't disappoint. Despite the rising number of authors who seek to “explain” Japan or attack its essentialism, Ivy is one of the few who have the understanding of modernity and the methodological tools to excavate the celebration (Japanese and American) of Japan's “uniqueness.” Discourses is by far one of the most sophisticated inquiries into what Ivy calls—properly I believe—the “Japanese thing.” The juxtaposition between the singular, thing, and plural, discourses, suggests her overall theme: to discuss the always incomplete reconfigurations of the many pasts that have existed within the archipelago into a singular ideology of Japan.     

Feminist Reading(s) and reading into feminist theory

Abstract

Let me confess in the beginning that I am a latecomer to the field of feminist literary criticism. Having left academia (or, more accurately, never really becoming part of it-the position I got two years after receiving my Ph.D. was one of raising two children), I was introduced to feminist criticism in the mid-1980s, a few years after I wrote the introduction to This Kind of Woman on which the review “Reading Women's Texts” concentrates. I have found feminist literary criticism intellectually stimulating and emotionally satisfying. I found the intellectual stimulation similar to what I had experienced after being introduced to the theories of Freud and Erikson. Indeed, my basic framework for understanding human behavior is colored by those theories I have learned earlier. I am quite willing, however, to apply new theories that would work against the old ones as long as such applications open up new terrain in literary interpretation. On the other hand, it is not a good practice with literary criticism to place a theory ahead of works and to try to force a theoretical position on them. In this response to the review I will therefore try to defend my position without rejecting the notion that there are new worthwhile readings of the stories, that is, that some corrections and modifications of the original reading may be possible and desirable.     

Immunohistochemical study of blood group activities in the alimentary canal in normal and pathologic conditions with reference to the nature of epithelial mucopolysaccharides

ABO(H)- and Lewis-activities in the human alimentary canal were investigated by the avidin-biotin-peroxidase complex method using commercial mouse monoclonal antibodies in order to clarify (1) the changes apparent in these activities in carcinoma of the digestive tract or premalignant intestinal metaplasia of the stomach and (2) the relationship of the activities to the histochemical properties of epithelial mucins examined by Alcian blue (pH 2.5)/periodic acid-Schiff (PAS) double staining. In intestinal metaplasia, ectopic goblet cells showed various degrees of ABO(H)-activities according to the PAS stainability of mucins and revealed Lea-activity even in a Le(a-b+) group. In carcinoma of the alimentary canal, ABO(H)- and Lewis-activities compatible with the donors' blood groups were located mainly at the PAS-positive cell surface, and in the Golgi bodies and secretions. It was thus concluded that quantitative and/or qualitative changes in blood group activities were closely associated with those of epithelial mucopolysaccharides.     

Japan's Policy for East Asia

Japanese foreign policy six decades after the end of World War II stands at a crossroads. The forces of globalization and the rise of the BRIC nations (Brazil, Russia, India, and China) seem to herald the end of the unipolar post-Cold War international system and the emergence of a new era defined by multi-polarity and multilateralism. Such global trends are manifest most clearly in Japan's own backyard, where phenomenal region-wide economic growth, a gradual redistribution of power (in particular the rise of China and India), and the increasingly important role of multilateral cooperation and regional institutions are dramatically transforming East Asia. This trend shows no signs of slowing down, much less reversing itself; nor would it be in Japan's interest to pursue any policy that seeks to do so. Nevertheless, the transformation itself remains almost on auto-pilot, lacking a clear long-term guiding vision. After presenting a brief overview of Japan's past policy toward the region, the goal of this paper will be to articulate such a vision through a series of policy proposals through which to ensure future peace, stability, and prosperity in East Asia.     

A new triplex STR system without irregular alleles by silver staining and its potential application to forensic analysis

In order to increase the discriminating power of DNA analysis in forensic science, we devised a new triplex STR system using three novel STR loci we previously reported, D14S299 (wglc5), D15S233 (wgldl), and 9q2h2. We designated this system a CDH triplex system. The CDH triplex system showed a high discriminating power, especially in Caucasians. This system is composed of three STR loci showing only regular tetranucleotide repeat alleles. We easily enlarged the databases mainly of Japanese, using this system, and compared them with those of Caucasian and Chinese. This CDH triplex system therefore appears to be useful for forensic practice.     

In pursuit of universal values

Is universality inherent in freedom and human rights? Yes, says Keijiro Tanaka, trustee and senior advisor at IIPS. Only democratic systems of government embodying constitutional liberalism can safeguard the freedoms and rights of their citizens, and the spread of democracy offers the best chance for ensuring a peaceful world. However, freedoms and rights must go hand in hand with duties and responsibilities, and Tanaka argues for codifying these in a document which would supplement and support the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. He says “Asian values” as championed by some Asian leaders do not have the same universal quality as the rights and freedoms set forth in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, because they are traditional moral precepts or social virtues that can be used for both good and evil. He feels Japan should be more responsible in the pursuit of universal values which are shared by all other liberal democracies.     

US Defense Innovation and Artificial Intelligence

The United States seeks conventional military overmatch in the strategic competition with China and Russia through efforts to develop advanced technology for military application and new concept of operations as well as pursue organizational adaptation and human talent pool development. The current article will trace the development of US defense innovation efforts from the Obama administration to the Trump administration and focus on the technological dimension of defense innovation by illustrating ways through which the U.S. Department of Defense is attempting to apply “narrow” artificial intelligence for military purposes such as situational awareness, cyber, military logistics, command and control, and swarm technology and tactics for autonomous unmanned systems. The article will conclude by making two caveats regarding the actual introduction of artificial intelligence into the US battle network, and very briefly point to implications for US allies.     

Measurement of Postmortem 1,5‐anhydroglucitol in Vitreous Humor for Forensic Diagnosis

In forensic diagnosis, postmortem blood glucose is known to be susceptible to change after death. However, the 1,5‐anhydroglucitol (1,5‐AG) concentrations in plasma and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) reflect the mean blood glucose level for a short period of time. In this study, we compared the postmortem 1,5‐AG concentrations in vitreous humor and CSF in 47 subjects to evaluate the utility of this concentration in the vitreous humor for forensic diagnosis. The postmortem 1,5‐AG concentrations in vitreous humor (mean±SD: 20.2 ± 8.7 μg/mL) and CSF (16.8 ± 8.7 μg/mL) did not differ significantly and showed a strong correlation (r² = 0.87, p < 0.01). These results suggest that the vitreous humor 1,5‐AG concentration provides useful information on the antemortem blood glucose level, in addition to the HbA1c value and the CSF 1,5‐AG concentration.