Ministry Of Sports Research Articles

The effect of interactive speed exercises on developing some skills Women's futsal

The speed of skills has become linked to modern methods of individual and group play, and each of them has begun to serve the other tactically. Through the follow-up of the researchers, they noticed that there is a significant weakness in the speed of performance and slowness in mental preparation, which plays a major role in understanding mental readiness, which is linked to the speed of making decisions during the game, as well as the weakness of the physical speed of the female players, which in turn has an impact on the skill performance of the players of the Iraqi clubs, which are the main supporter of the national team. The study aimed to identify the effect of interactive speed training on the performance of some skills among female under-20 football players for the 2022-2023 sports season in the closed hall of the Ministry of Youth and Sports in the capital, Baghdad. The experimental method was used in a controlled manner, two equal groups, experimental and control, with a pre- and post-test on the research sample of Al-Zawraa Club players for the 2023 sports season, which numbered 12 players. They were divided by lottery into two groups, with 6 players in each group, and verification of the normal distribution of the research sample was carried out. After conducting the pre-test and then applying the interactive speed exercises and the post-test, the researchers concluded: 1- Interactive speed exercises led to developing the speed of performing dribbling, handling and scoring skills within one performance in women’s futsal. 2- Using interactive speed exercises led to excitement, a spirit of competition, and fast performance, and this achieves one of the sustainable development goals of the United Nations in Iraq which is (Quality Education). Therefore, it is recommended to use speed exercises in all their forms, which affect the physical aspect and thus affect the endurance of skill performance in women’s futsal. 3- Providing competitive and recreational exercises in order to develop the physical and skill aspects of women’s futsal

Commendation of Sporting Excellence: the Arjuna Award Recognizing Outstanding Performance and Character

The Arjuna Award for exceptional performance in Sports and Games" is conferred as an acknowledgment of exceptional achievements demonstrated over the preceding quadrennial span, alongside qualities of leadership, sportsmanship, and discipline. This esteemed accolade is dispensed annually by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports to recognize remarkable individual accomplishments in the realm of sports. Following its establishment in 1961, the aggregate number of individuals from the realm of sports who have been bestowed with this accolade stands at 941 individuals up to the present juncture. With-in this overall tally, a notable subset comprising 244 individuals, amounting to approximately 25.93 percent of the total, has been attributed to exceptional female performers across diverse sporting disciplines. This proportion of female awardees has demonstrated a propensity to surpass the prevailing national average for female participation, which stands at 25.93 percent, over a span of 29 years. Conversely, during the remaining 33 years, the proportion of female awardees has fallen below the national average. Consequently, the computed annual average for female sports personas receiving the Arjuna Award approximates 3.9 individuals. When the comprehensive parity index for the entire temporal span from 1961 to 2022 is computed for female recipients of the Arjuna Award, the resultant ratio stands at 1:0.37, signifying a discrepancy of 0.13 units beneath the benchmark of gender parity. This elucidates the observable disparity between male and female recipients of the award. Furthermore, in the year 2022, female recipients demonstrated a noteworthy overtaking of their male counterparts, securing 13 out of the total pool of 25 medals. It is important to note that Anna Lumsden, an Indian hockey player, stands distinguished as the inaugural and sole woman recipient of the Arjuna Award, having received this honour in the inaugural year of 1961.

Pupils’ Risky Behavior in the Cyberspace During the Transition to Distance Education

In connection with the covid pandemic and the closing of schools as anti-covid emergency measures in many countries, face-to-face teaching has moved to an online environment.
 The Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports of the Czech Republic has issued Methodological Recommendations for distance education realized online using software tools, the Internet, and digital technologies. The presented pilot study brought disturbing findings about online teaching, namely that respondents experienced threats during distance education, with some even being blackmailed. Three hundred fifteen respondents from elementary and secondary schools in the Czech Republic took part in the pilot study, which was realized via a questionnaire survey.
 At the same time, the pilot study points to other risks of online learning when transitioning to a distance form of education, which also presents several other risks in cyberspace.

Экономическая эффективность подготовки спортивного резерва в вузе физической культуры и спорта

The development of student sports is an important socially significant state task. In the current conditions, in the absence of direct return on investment in student sports, the preparation of a sports reserve on a state assignment can become the economic basis for the development of sports at universities. The first sports reserve training programs in Russian universities were opened in 2023. The purpose of the study was to assess the economic efficiency of training a sports reserve under an additional sports training program using the example of a university subordinate to the Ministry of Sports of the Russian Federation, in the interests of further directions for the development of student sports and its state support. A generalization of the preliminary results of training the sports reserve for additional educational programs of sports training was carried out. Data on basic cost standards established by the Ministry of Sports and the Committee on Economic Policy and Strategic Planning of St. Petersburg were used. The accepted standards of basic unit direct costs encourage the university to form sports training groups that match the number of students with the maximum allowed group size. Integration of educational activities and sports training makes it possible to reduce the cost of wages for coaches involved in sports training programs. The integration of educational activities and sports training also allows us to solve the problem of reducing the workload of coaches per one salary due to the harmonization of legislation in the field of physical culture and sports and education.

Impact of using computer-assisted experimentation on learning physical sciences in secondary schools in Morocco

This research is part of the integration of information and communication technologies (ICT) in the Moroccan education system, our objective being to evaluate the use of computer-assisted experimentation (CAEx) in learning to encourage the authorities of the Ministry of National Education, Vocational Training and Sports to adopt the CAEx program in the teaching and learning of physics so that it becomes compulsory for all high schools. To evaluate the impact of using CAEx in the study of free oscillations of an RLC circuit (a linear circuit containing an electrical resistor, an inductor, and a capacitor). A study was conducted with 40 Moroccan students in the second year of the scientific baccalaureate option life and earth sciences at the high school Abdellah Laroui in the city of Fez, as this work aims to highlight the effect of the use of CAEx on the learning of students. Using the methodology of pre-test and post-test with an experimental group (20 students) and a control group (20 students). The results of both groups are analyzed with IBM SPSS 21 statistical analysis software the results obtained from the post-test show that the average of the tests addressed to both control and experimental groups has a significant difference. In addition, non-directive and directive interviews were conducted with the students of the experimental group. Indeed, the content of the grid of open and closed questions was elaborated in agreement with the teachers of physical sciences of the high school Abdellah Laroui, concerning the use of CAEx in learning and to know the degree of satisfaction of the integration of CAEx in the study of free oscillations in an RLC circuit. In addition, the data were processed by Sphinx v5 software. This study showed that CAEx integration had a positive effect on student learning. It can be said that CAEx plays an important role in the grasp and assimilation of scientific concepts, and it represents a solution to make the student more attentive and serious. Computer Aided Instruction can develop a spirit of initiative in the learner.

Highly Durable and Active Electrocatalysts Using Pt Nanorod Catalysts Supported on Nb Doped SnO2 for Polymer Electrolyte Fuel Cells Operating at Wide Temperature Range

The improvement of the durability and activity in cathode catalyst is required toward the wide spread use of polymer electrolyte fuel cells. One of the interesting catalysts is the Pt catalysts supported on SnO2 (Pt/M-SnO2, M = Nb, Ta) without carbon additives [1,2]. The durability (startup/shutdown, load cycling) and oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) activity of the Pt/M-SnO2 is superior to those of commercial Pt catalysts supported on carbon black (Pt/CB) etc. [3-8]. The non-carbon support of M-SnO2 nanoparticles has a unique carbon-like microstructure of a fused-aggregate network structure, which supply the essential function of the electronically constructing pathways via necking of each support particles and the gas diffusion pathways via the open pores surrounded by particles. The Pt nanorod catalyst on M-SnO2 also improves the ORR activity as shown in the catalyst design concept (Fig. 1)[9]. The IV performance of the single cell using the Pt nanorod/Nb-SnO2 cathode catalyst layers at operating temperatures from 80oC to 120oC is quite high to approach the NEDO target performance (Fig. 2) with keeping high durability. The catalyst is considered to have possibilities for application of the heavy-duty vehicles operating at wide-temperature range (< 120oC)[10]. Acknowledgments This work was partially supported by funds for the project “Electrolytes, Catalysts and Catalyst layers with Extraordinary Efficiency, power and Durability for PEFCs-2030 (ECCEED’30) from the New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO) of Japan, and JSPS KAKENHI Grant Number (23H02059) from the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology. References A. Masao, S. Noda, F. Takasaki, K. Ito, K. Sasaki, Electrochem. Solid-State Lett.,12, B119 (2009).E. Fabbri, A. Rabis, R. Kötz, T.J. Schmidt, Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys., 16, 13672 (2014).K. Kakinuma, M. Uchida, T. Kamino, H. Uchida, M. Watanabe, Electrochim. Acta, 56, 2881 (2011).Y. Senoo, K. Kakinuma, M. Uchida, H. Uchida, S. Deki, M. Watanabe, RSC Adv., 6, 321800 (2014).Y. Chino, K. Taniguchi, Y. Senoo, K. Kakinuma, M. Watanabe, M. Uchida, J. Electrochem. Soc., 162, F736 (2015).K. Kakinuma, R. Kobayashi, A. Iiyama, M. Uchida, J. Electrochem. Soc., 165, J3083 (2018).K. Kakinuma, K. Suda, R. Kobayashi, T. Tano, C. Arata, I. Amemiya, S. Watanabe, M. Matsumoto, H. Imai, A. Iiyama, M. Uchida, ACS Appl. Mater. Interfaces 11, 34957 (2019).K. Kakinuma, M. Hayashi, T. Hashimoto, A. Iiyama, M. Uchida, ACS Appl. Energy Mater., 3, 6922 (2020).G. Shi, T. Tano, D.A. Tryk, A. Iiyama, M. Uchida, K.Kakinuma, ACS Catal., 11, 5222 (2021).K. Kakinuma, H. Taniguchi, T. Asakawa, T. Miyao, M. Uchida, Y. Aoki, T. Akiyama, A. Masuda, N. Sato, A. Iiyama J. Electrochem. Soc. 169 (2022) 044522. Figure 1

(Invited) Metal-Organic Chemical Vapor Deposition of WS2 on Patterned Substrate

Transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs) have attracted much attention in recent years due to their excellent electrical properties and unique nature. Tungsten disulfide (WS2) , as a representative TMD, is a typical two-dimensional stacking material with moderately wide band gap (single layer: 2.03 eV, bulk: 1.32 eV) and, therefore, has led to active application research in various fields. In particular, large-area, few-layer WS2 is expected to have high potential as a channel material for MOSFETs in the next-generation LSIs because of relatively high carrier mobility even in the extremely thin film. Recently, we have succeeded in fabricating continuous WS2 thin films on Si substrates at low temperatures using newly developed organometallic precursor [1]. In this study, we further report the film characteristics and our attempts to deposit films on Fin structures in order to evaluate their applicability to the next-generation channel materials, which should have complicated 3-dimesional structure.In the experiment, n-BuNC-W(CO)5 was synthesized for WS2 deposition. This novel precursor is a liquid above 35 °C with stable vapor supply. It is also expected to interact with the substrate efficiently due to its polarity in the molecule. The vapor pressure is 1.2 torr at 115 °C, which is an appropriate for a CVD precursor. As a sulfur precursor, (t-C4H9)2S2, which is non-toxic in contrast to H2S, was adopted. WS2 thin films were grown by MOCVD in a cold-wall reactor, using the organic compounds introduced above as precursors for W and S, respectively, on flat and patterned silicon (001) substrates at 300 to 350 °C for 5 to 15 minutes. The deposited films were evaluated by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), UV-Raman spectroscopy (excitation wavelength: 355 nm), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM).Figure 1 summarizes the evaluation results of the WS2 film deposited on the flat substrate. W 4f XPS spectrum (Fig. 1 (a)) show that the film is mostly composed of 2H with a possible slight amount of 1T/1T' structure. In conjunction with S 2p spectrum (Fig. 1 (b)), it can be calculated using the relative sensitivity coefficient that the composition ratio of W to S is approximately 2.1, which is close to the stoichiometric ratio. Moreover, it was confirmed the film was stable more than 6 month in the room atmosphere. In the Raman spectrum shown in Fig. 1(c), two peaks appeared at approximately 350 cm-1 and 420 cm-1 corresponding to in-plane and out-of-plane vibrations, respectively, which are consisted of 2H-WS2 specific peaks of A1g (418 cm-1) and E1 2g (351 cm-1). Here, E1 2g might be broadened by the presence of another smaller mode called 2LA(M) (second-order longitudinal elastic mode), which may be attributed to the various distortions in the grown WS2 thin film. These results are also consistent with previous reports. This Raman results indicating the 2H structure of the film is also consistent with the XPS results as well as the previously reported literatures. Fig. 1(d) shows bright-field TEM images. It can be observed that the film continuously covers the substrate, with no voids larger than micrometer scale. The higher magnification image also shows approximately 10 layers of WS2 film grown with a layered structure parallel to the surface. The WS2 layers are stacked with a face spacing of approximately 0.7 nm, whose distance correlates well with the theoretical tungsten-tungsten interlayer distance of 0.62 nm for the bulk material. The domain size can be estimated to be roughly 50-100 nm.Figure 2 shows cross-sectional TEM images of WS2 thin films deposited on Si Fin structures. It can be observed that a continuous layered film is formed along the 3D Fin structure, and the layered structure is parallel to the surface all over the entire Fin structure. However, the number of layers differs depending on the position, with fewer layers on the sidewalls than those on the top surface, and even fewer layers toward the bottom. This may be due to the insufficient supply of precursor deep in the Fin structure. To improve the uniformity and controllability of layer number, further optimization of the deposition conditions such as precursor supply and deposition temperature, including atomic layer deposition technique, is desired.This research was supported by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology of Japan (MEXT) under the project JPJ011438 for the creation of a center for the creation of next-generation X-nics semiconductors.[1] C. Kirito, K. Yamazaki, Y. Hibino, Y. Hashimoto, H. Machida, M. Ishikawa, H. Sudoh, H. Wakabayashi, R. Yokogawa and A. Ogura, ECS Trans. 104, 3 (2021). Figure 1

EXPANDING EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES IN GERONTOLOGY IN JAPAN

Abstract There are two universities that offer Gerontology curriculum and confer Gerontology degrees in Japan, including J.F. Oberlin University and The University of Tokyo. J.F. Oberlin University started its Master’s program in 2002 and its doctoral program in 2004. The University of Tokyo endowed a Gerontology Research Division in 2006 and started its cross-departmental program in Gerontology in 2008. The endowed Gerontology Research Division was elevated to the Institute of Gerontology (IOG) in 2009. From April 2014 through March 2021, the Gerontology program, known as the Global Leadership Initiative for Age-Friendly Society (GLAFS) at The University of Tokyo, was funded by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology. Today, The University of Tokyo now funds the program which was renamed World-leading Innovative Graduate Study Program in Gerontology: Global Leadership Initiative for Age-Friendly Society (WINGS-GLAFS). This paper first presents a brief history of Gerontology-related events in Japan, including foundational education proposals of The Science Council of Japan, then introduces Japan’s leading Gerontology education programs offered by J.F. Oberlin University and The University of Tokyo in detail. Finally, it presents other gerontology related activities including the Gerontology Literacy Test started by the IOG in 2013.

LOSING STEAM: THE DEMISE OF THE “JAPANESE DREAM” AMONG PROSPECTIVE INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS

Much like immigration, reasons to study abroad often relate to push and/or pull factors. Although attractive programs and courses can be major pulls for some prospective international students, financial matters such as tuition, living costs, and pathways to employment also have a significant influence. Since 2010 when Japan’s Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) initiated projects and activities to promote the internationalization of universities, the number of inbound international students in Japan was steadily increasing, most of which were coming from East and Southeast Asia. This trend continued up until around 2018, and, understandably, rapidly declined in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic and implementation of rigid border restrictions. While the pandemic undoubtedly played a major part in this downtrend, one cannot overlook the fact that enrollments and interest in studying in Japan was already losing steam. With its university rankings increasingly losing out to competitive universities in China and Singapore and its relatively low entry-level salaries amid a long-term recession, which has further been exacerbated by the weakened yen, the “Japanese dream” is arguably past its prime. While taking into account the contextual factors which influenced this trend, my study involved a critical discourse analysis of MEXT’s ambitious plan to somehow reverse this trend by bolstering further internationalization, attracting highly-skilled foreign talent and essentially saving a sinking ship. The findings from this study may give institutions in the education and employment sectors an opportunity to reassess their current support systems and programs for lucrative foreign talent.

Metabolic syndrome is linked to the incidence of pancreatic cancer

Although previous studies have showed that metabolic syndrome is one of the contributors of pancreatic cancer, there is no clear consensus that early stages of metabolic syndrome are linked to increased incidence of pancreatic cancer. Therefore, we confirmed the linkage between metabolic syndrome and pancreatic cancer, and shown that even early stage of metabolic syndrome is linked to pancreatic cancer in the retrospective observational study. We recruited approximately 4.6 million Japanese in 2005 and followed up these subjects for more than 10 years. At the time of the enrollment, after obtaining clinical data with prescribed drugs and examining the presence or absence of metabolic syndrome (MetS), we followed up on these subjects with and without MetS to examine the incidence of pancreatic cancer. The modified criteria of the National Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment Panel III (NCEP/ATPIII) were used to define MetS. During the 40.7-month average follow-up period for 2,707,296 subjects with complete data for identifying MetS and important risk factors without pancreatic cancer before the enrollment, 87,857 suffered from pancreatic cancer. Pancreatic cancers occurred in 16,154 of 331,229 subjects (4.9%) in the MetS group and 71,703 of 2,376,067 patients (3.0%) in the non-MetS group (hazard ratio (HR), 1.37; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.34-1.39; p<0.0001 after the adjustment with age, smoking and sex). As the number of the constituent factors of MetS increased from one to five, the incidence of pancreatic cancer correspondingly increased (HR: 1.11, 1.23, 1.42, 1.66 and 2.03 using Cox proportional hazard models, p<0.0001 each). When we defined MetS using the Japanese criteria, the results are in accord with the results using NCEP/ATPIII. Especially pre-metabolic syndrome (pre-MetS) in the Japanese criteria was tightly linked to the incidence of pancreatic cancers. MetS is confirmed to be linked to pancreatic cancer. Although we cannot conclude causality. We also demonstrated the link between pre-MetS and pancreatic cancer. The sponsors of the study were Japanese Heart Foundation and Japan Cardiovascular Research Foundation. This is also partially supported by Grants-in-Aid from the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology of Japan; and Grants-in-Aid from the Japan Agency for Medical Research and Development.

AN EXAMINATION OF SPORTS SUCCESS IN SCHOOLS AND AMATEUR SPORTS CLUBS IN AFYONKARAHISAR, TURKEY

&lt;p&gt;The purpose of this research is to examine the success of the sport in schools and amateur sports clubs in Afyonkarahisar. This study aims to determine the rankings of students' achievements in amateur sports clubs and school sports, considering various variables. A total of 80 amateur sports clubs in Afyonkarahisar city center and 184 school teams participating in sports competitions were examined, and their success statuses were ranked. This research used a descriptive research model that aims to describe existing facts as they are. A descriptive research model is an approach that aims to describe a situation as it currently exists (Karasar, 2012). For the study, statistics from the Ministry of Youth and Sports (GSİM) and the Ministry of National Education (MEM) for the years 2015-2020 were collected. This included data on the number of amateur sports clubs, the number of athletes, sports branches, the number of athletes going to national teams, student numbers from the Ministry of National Education, facility numbers, and success statistics. Descriptive statistics of the data were collected, and a descriptive data analysis was performed. The normality of distribution was checked in data analysis, and a normality test was conducted. Descriptive statistics (frequency distribution) were used in the statistical analysis of the obtained data. At the end of the research, reasons for the lower-than-expected sports success in schools and amateur sports clubs in Afyonkarahisar were identified, and descriptive findings on solutions were provided.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt; &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt; Article visualizations:&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;img src="/-counters-/soc/0044/a.php" alt="Hit counter" /&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

Inclusive Media Mix

A Silent Voice (Koe no katachi, dir. Yamada Naoko, 2016) is an anime film based on the critically acclaimed manga of the same name by Ôima Yoshitoki. A Silent Voice follows the experiences of a deaf character, Nishimiya Shôko, and her classmates, particularly as they deal with school bullying and rebuilding friendships afterwards. A Silent Voice not only won various awards such as Best Animated Feature Film at the Japanese Movie Critics Award, but also collaborated with actors across the public sector such as schools, local governments, and the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT), to enhance inclusive education in Japan. This article shifts the typical focus on media mix as a marketing strategy to consider media mix strategies as potential tools for civic and educational causes. Specifically, it explores A Silent Voice’s media mix in relation to improving inclusivity in Japanese education and society. To that end, this project begins with a brief elucidation of the three versions of the original manga, which serve as starting points of this inclusivity-focused media mix. The project then moves to analysis of how the anime problematizes school bullying as systemic exclusion and explores how sign language is presented as one key to forming an inclusive society. Finally, by introducing cases in which collaboration with the public sector distributes this anime’s characters, induces various audience desires, and mobilizes audiences to participate in social change, I argue that A Silent Voice provides an example of inclusive media mix.

The Role of Public Policy in Gender Inequality in the Arts in Israel

Abstract This article deals with Israel's cultural policy and public funding for the arts—a nascent, under-developed research field in Israeli scholarship. The article focuses on the plastic arts and film, presenting data about the system of budget allocation and the structure of relevant Ministry of Culture and Sports decision-making committees. The discussion takes a gender perspective, focusing on obstacles women artists face in accessibility to public budgets for the arts. These challenges, we argue, are compounded when considering additional and overlapping identity categories. We apply intersectional analysis—a perspective that considers positionality and social background, including gender, class, race, nationality, and religion—and conclude with suggestions for improving public policy for the arts.

The implementation of the professorial ranking system in Cambodia: Opportunities and concerns

Cambodia recently implemented an academic ranking system for professorial titles in the education sector under the supervision of the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport through the issuance of two Royal Decrees in 2023 to appoint professors, associate professors, and assistant professors. This article explores the opportunities and plausible concerns associated with this new development, outlining the criteria for professorial appointments and discussing the impact on Cambodia’s higher education and research landscape. The opportunities arising from the implementation of the Royal Decree on Professorship are various, including increased interest in research and publication among Cambodian academics and the development of a performance-based academic system, which provide greater hope and a more positive outlook for the development of academic research in Cambodia. However, this development may lead to potential unethical academic practices, such as a surge in proxy writing and publication in predatory or low-quality journals. The article provides some recommendations to enhance the good practices of the academic ranking system in Cambodian higher education by highlighting the salient criteria for professorship assessment and mechanisms to improve its implementation. It concludes that the implementation of the professorial ranking system is a commendable step towards academic excellence in Cambodia, fostering a culture of meritocracy and providing a well-defined career path for university academics in Cambodia.

Arrangements for Telephone Consultation on Radiation Health Effects in a Nuclear Emergency in Japan: Lessons Learned from the Nuclear Accident in Fukushima, Japan, 2011

The Japan Atomic Energy Agency (JAEA) established a telephone consultation system at the request of the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology in response to residents’ concerns about the radiation health effects following the nuclear accidents at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station of the Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO) in March 2011. Eight toll-free telephone lines were established and employees with knowledge of radiation health effects were assigned for consultation. The JAEA expert response group for telephone inquiries comprised a telephone response team, a question-and-answer team, and a manager. Approximately 35,000 consultations were conducted from March 17, 2011 to September 18, 2012. Japan’s Basic Disaster Prevention Plan was revised following the accident, where one of the JAEA’s roles for nuclear emergency response was to provide telephone consultation on radiation health effects. The JAEA’s system for telephone consultation was improved following this experience. The description of telephone hotlines in the International Atomic Energy Agency’s guide, GSG-14, published in 2020, was discussed for further improvement in the JAEA’s telephone consultation system.

The Influences of Perceived Value on Purchase Intention towards Sportswear among Youth in Perlis, Malaysia

In emerging economies, particularly in Malaysia, the sales growth of sportswear is promising, making it a lucrative sector in the fashion industry. Notably, the Ministry of Youth and Sports in Malaysia has taken initiatives to encourage youth to embrace sports as a lifestyle, further contributing to the popularity of sportswear among this demographic. However, there is a lack of research on how perceived values influence the purchase intention of sportswear among youth. Therefore, this study aims to examine the impact of perceived values on purchase intention of sportswear among youth in Perlis, Malaysia. A survey was conducted among 254 local secondary school students in Perlis. The collected data underwent Descriptive Analysis, Reliability Analysis, Factor Analysis, and Regression Analysis for comprehensive analysis. The results revealed that both social value and emotional value significantly influence the purchase intention of sportswear. Notably, emotional value has a stronger influence compared to social value. Conversely, price value and quality value were found to have no significant influence on the purchase intention of sportswear among youth in Perlis. In conclusion, these findings provide valuable insights for sportswear fashion marketers to develop marketing campaigns that emphasize social value and emotional value. By doing so, they can effectively increase the purchase intention of youth consumers towards sportswear in Malaysia. This research highlights the factors that drive consumer behavior in the sportswear market and guides marketers in creating strategies that resonate with their target audience.

Tourist Destination Evaluation Museum of Cham sculpture, Da Nang city, Vietnam

Evaluating tourist destinations is a very important job, with the aim of classifying tourist destinations to have a basis for encouraging investment and enhancing effective management, upgrade service quality at tourist destinations. In addition, evaluating tourist destinations will help managers plan development strategies and allocate appropriate resources to increase the competitiveness of the destination in the tourism market, as well as enhance the destination’s ability to attract tourists. This study evaluates Da Nang Museum of Cham Sculpture (Da Nang city, Vietnam) based on the “Set of criteria for evaluating tourist destinations” issued by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Vietnam (2016) under Decision No. 4640/QD-BVHTTDL, December 28, 2016 [2]. Evaluation results show that the criteria of tourism resources, landscape, facilities, local community participation and management of the tourist area are evaluated very well. In contrast, the Museum of Cham Sculpture’s entertainment, shopping, entertainment and food services are limited issues.

Fukushimura Brain Bank ‐Nursing home based brainbank project in Japan‐

AbstractBackgroundThe Fukushimura (welfare village), located in Toyohashi city, Japan, is a unique complex of various nursing home facilities including dementia homes, Day‐care houses, homes for disabled and mentally retarded, and the Fukushimura Hospital. This village is totally managed by private sector, the Sawarabi Medical Cooperative. About 800 elderly people reside in this area. The hospital plays a pivotal role within the village and acts as the central facility for each nursing homes.Fukushimura BrainBank (FBB) was established in 1990. The neuropathological investigation of FBB was initially conducted by Kenji Kosaka, who reported cortical Lewy bodies first. Our research institute was approved in 2004 by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, as one of the non‐governmental institutes which is permitted to apply for governmental grants.MethodAll the medical records and radiological images from the nursing home to hospital are stored in the research institute and accessible for the researchers to evaluate the psychological symptoms observed by carers in the long duration of the disease. The brain MRI of 1.5 Tesla was used for evaluating 3D‐volumetric T1WI and diffusion tensor imaging.For collecting CNS specimens, the brains are separated into two hemispheres, one for neuropathological analyses with using several antibodies for beta‐amyloid, phosphorylated tau, alpha‐ synuclein, and TDP‐43. Modified gallyas‐silver staining is applied for evaluating argyrophilic grain disease. The other hemispheres are stored for frozen sections. Retinal tissue is collected with optional consent.ResultThe number of autopsy became over 30 cases per year. Most of the patients had dementia. Of note, geriatric residents with mentally retardation or cerebral palsy from childhood were included. At the end of 2022, more than 800 of frozen brains with detailed medical record are stored in FBB and readily available for research. The neuropathology database share the same coding system for Japanese Brain Bank Network for Neuroscience Research (JBBNNR).ConclusionThe challenge of FBB will play a unique and important role to clarify cliniconeuropathological correlation of the nursing home residential with various geriatric conditions with 3D(Disability, Dementia, and Developmental disorders).

The Anticorruption Effects of Information and Communication Technology in Sport Organizations: The Role of Organizational Health Mediation and Organizational Transparency

This study addresses a topic neglected by the sport management literature: the impact of anticorruption effects of information and communication technology (ICT) in sport organizations on the role of organizational health mediation and organizational transparency. This study analyses this topic by presenting and testing a comprehensive theoretical model. This quantitative, descriptive survey uses structural equation modeling methodology. Data collection was carried out by employees (N = 384) working at the Iranian Ministry of Sport and Youth. The results of the study were processed using LISREL 8.80 software in the model and hypothesis testing, and the study found support for the theoretical model. The results show that (a) ICT is an effective tool for reducing administrative corruption of officials, and (b) in terms of both organizational health (variance accounted for = 0.40) and organizational transparency (variance accounted for = 0.39), ICT has a mediating role in reducing administrative corruption in sport organizations. This study fills a gap in the literature by addressing both personal and managerial perspectives, thus allowing directors of sport organizations to consider ICT a useful and practical management tool for reducing corruption among officials in sport organizations, as an adjunct to traditional methods such as administrative reform and law enforcement.

Metabolomic Profiling Confirms the Key Role of Oxidative Stress in the Pathophysiology of Diamond-Blackfan Anemia

Diamond-Blackfan anemia (DBA), a rare congenital bone marrow failure syndrome, characterized by severe anemia, erythroblastopenia, and congenital malformations is mostly associated with pathogenic variants in ribosomal protein (RP) genes, which cause their haploinsufficiency. The marked heterogeneity of the disease, related to different severity of hematological and non-hematological symptoms and diverse response to treatment, even in patients harboring the same RP mutation is not fully understood. Similarly, the mechanisms responsible for the predisposition of DBA patients to cancer await elucidation. We previously showed that the formation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) exceeds the anti-oxidant capacity of DBA erythrocytes leading to their higher susceptibility to destruction. Using DBA patients' samples and CRISPR/Cas9-created Rps19- and Rpl5-haploinsufficient MEL cellular models we also showed, that excessive oxidative stress, DNA damage, and activation of DNA damage response of erythroblasts is associated with an increased production of pro-/inflammatory cytokines and induction of apoptosis and senescence. In recent years, the use of metabolomic analysis appears as a promising tool that could contribute to a better understanding of the pathophysiology of the disease and discovery of novel biochemical markers with their potential use in diagnostics and prognostication. We therefore performed targeted metabolomic analysis of serum and erythrocyte samples from DBA patients (n=26) and healthy controls (n=10) using hydrophilic interaction chromatography-mass spectrometry (HILIC-MS) where 129 metabolites were detected. Significant changes in the metabolome of DBA patients were observed, with the key deregulated metabolites involved in the antioxidant defense and energy metabolism; the reduction of amine compounds (creatinine, guanidinoacetate) and hippurate in DBA patients compared to controls was also noted. In two DBA families analyzed, the altered erythrocyte metabolism and markers of oxidative stress distinguished the patients from their asymptomatic family members with the same RP mutation. The incubation of erythrocytes from symptomatic DBA patients with antioxidant N-acetylcysteine in vitro led to normalization of ROS levels in erythrocytes. Similarly, the treatment of Rpl5- and Rps19-haploinsufficienct MEL cells with a pro-inflammatory cytokine inhibitor pomalidomide, resulted in the amelioration of oxidative DNA damage (assessed by the presence of 8-oxoguanine, 8-oxoG) and reduction of p53 activation. In addition, targeted metabolomic analysis of cellular extracts showed clear separation of Rps19- and Rpl5-haploinsufficient MEL cells from control cells with significant changes affecting the level of many carbohydrates and acylcarnitines. Elevated levels of glutathione and pentose phosphate cycle intermediates in Rps19- and Rpl5-haploinsufficient MEL cells correspond with their need to cope with increased oxidative stress. Significantly increased levels of deoxynucleotides, mainly in Rpl5-haploinsufficient MEL cells, could be related to DNA damage response (DDR) process to promote repair of ROS-mediated damaged DNA. Nucleotide formation is an energy intensive process and therefore the observed decrease in acylcarnitines could be related to increased beta oxidation and increased formation of reduced coenzymes. This result from model MEL cells is consistent with 8-oxoG foci and activation of ATM (a DDR kinase) observed in erythroblasts of DBA patients expanded in vitro. Importantly, immunoreactivity for 8-oxoG and phospho-ATM S1981 was detected also in non-erythroid bone marrow cells of two DBA patients, who recently developed myelodysplastic neoplasia (MDS). Collectively, our data support the involvement of oxidative stress and pro-/inflammatory cytokines in the pathophysiology of DBA and suggest that the treatment aiming to reduce oxidative stress and/or suppress inflammation could alleviate the severity of the disease, though additional studies are needed. The potential link between oxidative damage, inflammatory cytokines, and cancer risk in DBA also deserves further research. Grant support: The Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports of the Czech Republic (8F20005), European Union - Next Generation EU, Program EXCELES (LX22NPO5102); Internal grant of Palacky University (IGA_LF_2023_002).