13 kinds of cancer can be detected in blood at an early stage

Recently the NHK News on-line reported the following:

血液で１３種類のがんを早期発見 今月から臨床研究へ

 

8月13日 6時40分

血液を採取するだけで乳がんや大腸がんなどの１３種類のがんを早期に発見する検査法を国立がん研究センターなどのグループが開発し、今月から有効性を確かめる臨床研究を始めることになりました。

新たながんの検査法は、血液を採取して分析するだけで乳がんや大腸がんなどの１３種類のがんを早期に発見することができるもので、国立がん研究センターなどのグループが開発しました。

体内の細胞は、血液に「マイクロＲＮＡ」と呼ばれる物質を分泌していますが、がん細胞の種類によって分泌するマイクロＲＮＡが異なることを応用し、１３種類のがんを見分けることができるとしています。

検査はわずかな血液で行うことができるということで、今月から臨床研究を行うことになりました。

臨床研究では新たにがんと診断された患者と健康な人、合わせて３０００人以上に血液を提供してもらい、それぞれのマイクロＲＮＡの種類や量を測定することで、どれくらいの精度で検査できるか確かめるということで、グループでは３年後の実用化を目指すとしています。

国立がん研究センター分子細胞治療研究分野長の落谷孝広さんは「簡単にがん検診を受けることができるようになるため、がん患者の生存率を上げることができる可能性がある」と話しています。

My translation

     A group in the National Cancer Research Center has developed a checking method which just extracting blood to find 13 kinds of cancer such as breast cancer and colon cancer at an early stage, and the clinical study to make sure its validity has begun this month.

     The new cancer checking method just extracts and analyzes blood, and it's possible to find 13 kinds of cancer such as breast cancer and colon cancer early, and a group in the National Cancer Research Center has developed it.

     A cell in the body secrets a substance in blood called "micro RNA", and depending on the kinds of cancer cells, it secreted different micro RNA, the group assumes that it's possible to distinguish 13 kinds of cancer.

     It's said that it's possible to check by using a little among of blood, and clinical study will be carried out from this month.

     Patients newly diagnosed to have cancer together with healthy people in total of more than 3000 will offer blood together for this clinical study, and it's said that the group is making sure how precise the checking can be by measuring the different kinds of micro RNA and their amount, and aims at practical use 3 years later.

     Ochitani Takahiro, the National Cancer Research Center molecule cell treatment research field chief says that "because cancer screening can be made available easily, it's possible to raise the survival rate of cancer patients".

This is a very good news for all. Well done.

開設銀行帳戶不需印鑑

Recently the Yomiuri  News on-line reported the following:

口座開設、もう印鑑不要…埼玉りそな銀で拡大

2017年08月03日 08時23分

　埼玉りそな銀行が、印鑑不要のサービスを拡大している。

　新規の口座開設のほか、顧客の取引の大部分が印鑑なしでできるようになり、利便性が向上し、りそな側も業務の効率化を図れる。現在４店舗で導入され、２０１８年３月末までに埼玉県内全店に広げる方針だ。

　同行が６月１９日に新築移転オープンした鶴瀬支店（富士見市）では、店内に３台のタブレット端末を設置。新たに口座を開設する際は、端末の画面上に、氏名や生年月日、住所などを入力する。紙に個人情報を記入する手間を省き、押印を不要とした。操作に不慣れな高齢者らを手助けする係員も常駐している。

　同行の口座がある顧客は印鑑なしで、インターネットバンキングなどの申し込みや、住所変更、通帳の再発行などの手続きをできる。本人確認は、キャッシュカードと暗証番号や指の静脈データによる生体認証で行う。ただ、住宅ローンなどの高額融資は従来通り、印鑑が必要となる。

　顧客からは「印鑑を持ち歩かなくてよいので便利」「タブレットの操作が簡単」などと好評だという。同行は「今後も業務の効率化を図り、顧客の利便性を追求したい」としている。

2017年08月03日 08時23分 Copyright © The Yomiuri Shimbun

My translation

Saitama Resona Bank is expanding the service which making a seal unnecessary.

 In addition to opening a new account, most customer dealings can now be done without seals, it increases convenience and the Resona side can also plan for business efficiency. At present 4 branches have introduced it and the policy is to expand it into all the branches in Saitama-prefecture by the end of March, 2018.

 The Tsuruse branch office (Fujimi-city) which moved into its new location on June 19 has installed 3 tablet terminals in the branch. When opening a new account, the name, date of birth and the address are input on the screen of a terminal. It saves the time of entering personal information on paper and making a stamp unnecessary. A staff is also stationed to help senior citizens who are unused to the operation.

 Without seals, customers who have an account with the same bank can go through procedures such as application of Internet banking, changing address, and reissuing of a passbook. Personal confirmation is performed by a cash card, PIN and by living body authentication through finger’s vein data. As before, a seal is needed for large amount housing loan financing.

 Positive comments from the customers say "you don't have to carry a seal around, it’s so convenient" ,"the operation of the tablet is easy" etc. The same bank said "We'll also plan for efficiency of business from now on, and would like to pursue customer's convenience."

It is quite a new improvement in the banking service. Well done.

安倍首相夫人不懂英語

Recently the NHK News on-line reported the following:

「安倍首相夫人は英語話さない」 トランプ大統領発言に波紋

7月21日 8時20分

アメリカのトランプ大統領は今月上旬にドイツで開かれたＧ２０サミットの夕食会で、隣に座った安倍総理大臣の夫人の昭恵氏について、「すばらしい女性だが、英語を話さない。ハローも言わないくらいだ」と述べ、波紋を広げています。

アメリカの有力紙ニューヨーク・タイムズによりますと、トランプ大統領はインタビューで今月上旬にドイツで開かれたＧ２０サミットの夕食会について、「私は安倍総理大臣の夫人の隣に座った。彼女はすばらしい女性だが、英語を話さない」と述べました。

そして記者から「全く話さないのか」と質問されると、「ハローも言わないくらいだ」と答えたうえで、「日本語の通訳がいなければ厳しかっただろう」と述べました。

これに対してアメリカメディアは、昭恵氏が２０１４年にニューヨークで英語でスピーチしたことがあると指摘し、その際の動画や昭恵氏の学歴を掲載して、トランプ大統領の発言を疑問視しています。

一部では「昭恵氏はトランプ大統領と話すのを避けるため、英語がわからないふりをしたのかもしれない」といった臆測まで出ていて、波紋を広げています。

My translation

American president Trump when talked about Ms. Akie, the wife of Prime Minister Abe who sat next to him at the dinner party of G20 Summit held in Germany at the beginning of this month, regarded her as "a wonderful lady, but could not speak English. It was to the extent that even didn’t say Hello", and a ripple was spreading.

According to an American leading newspaper the New York Times, President Trump stated in an interview regarding the dinner party of G20 Summit held in Germany at the beginning of this month that "I sat down next to the wife of Prime Minister Abe. She was a wonderful lady, but she could not speak English."

Then, when asked by the reporter "Didn't she speak at all?", he answered that "it was to the extent that even hello was not said," and stated that "When there wasn't a Japanese interpreter, it would be difficult."

In response to this, American media had pointed out that Ms. Akie had made a speech in English in New York in 2014 and posted a video taken at that time, together with the educational background of Ms. Akie, thus doubting the remarks of president Trump.

Surmise came out to the extent that some said that ‘it may be that Ms. Akie had pretended to not understand English so as to avoid talking with president Trump’. The ripple was spreading.

     It is an interesting situation. Perhaps president Trump was speaking what he truly felt. Might be he was too frank to the reporters in talking about his personal feelings. Perhaps the press was taking Trump’s comments too seriously. One thing is sure: the press love to hear such comments. I think the world in politics is different from the world of business. Good luck President Trump.

Indecent assault by forcibly licking victim's fingers

Recently the NHK News on-line reported the following"

ホテル従業員の指をなめた疑い 静岡 焼津市議を逮捕

7月20日 21時05分

静岡県焼津市の市議会議員が、公務で訪れていた兵庫県姫路市内のホテルでフロントの女性従業員の手の指を無理やりなめたとして、強制わいせつの疑いで逮捕されました。警察によりますと「全く記憶にありません」と容疑を否認しているということです。

逮捕されたのは、焼津市の市議会議員、小野田吉晃容疑者（６９）です。警察によりますと、小野田議員はことし５月、姫路市内のホテルで２２歳の女性従業員の両手の指を無理やりなめたとして、強制わいせつの疑いが持たれています。

小野田議員はフロントにいた従業員に「両手を出して」と声を掛け、従業員が手を前に伸ばしたところ、いきなり口元まで引っ張ったということです。

警察の調べに対して、小野田議員は「全く記憶にありません」と容疑を否認しているということです。

焼津市によりますと、小野田議員は議会の委員会のメンバーと子育て関連施設の視察のため、姫路市を訪れていたということです。

(試譯)

A city councilor in Yaizu City, Shizuoka Prefecture, was arrested on suspicion of indecent assault by forcibly licking fingers of a front desk female employee at a hotel in Himeji, Hyogo Prefecture, which he was visiting in public service. According to the police, the allegation was denied as "there is no such memory at all."

Yao Akira Onoda, 69, a member of the city council of Yaizu City, was arrested. According to the police, Mr. Onoda was suspected of indecent assault in May this year in that he forcibly licked the fingers of a 22-year-old female employee at a hotel in Himeji city.

Councilor Onoda told an employee who was at the front desk "to take out both hands" and when the employee stretched out the hands, he suddenly pulled them to the mouth.

According to police investigation, Councilor Onoda denied the allegation in say that “there was no such memory at all”.

According to Yaizu City, Onoda was visiting Himeji city for the purpose of inspecting members of the Council's committee and child care related facilities.

It seems that this is another kind of sexual harassment, interesting.

Hiari Ants - "It was a matter of time"

Recently the Yomiuri News on-line reported the following:

2017年07月17日 20時38分

ヒアリ「時間の問題だった」…横浜市が注意喚起

牧ふ横浜市中区の本牧ふ頭で１４日、南米原産の毒アリ「ヒアリ」が神奈川県内で初めて確認された。

　殺虫剤で駆除を終えているが、市は同日、発見現場から数百メートルの横浜港シンボルタワーに注意喚起の看板を設置した。また、市民らに対し、「見つけた場合は素手で触らず、市や環境省に連絡してほしい」と呼び掛けている。

　環境省の職員がコンテナの保管場所付近でアリを発見し、専門家がヒアリと断定した。地中に巣を作ったとみられ、サナギや幼虫なども確認された。市はコンテナに付いて運ばれたとみている。

　ヒアリは体長２・５～６ミリ。尻の毒針で刺されると、火傷(やけど)のような痛みを発症することから名付けられた。市は刺された場合、３０分程度は安静にして、異変があれば病院で受診することを勧めている。

　発見現場付近は、コンテナをトレーラーに乗せて運び出す作業場所で、業界団体の横浜港運協会は、「全国でヒアリが発見されていたので、横浜でも時間の問題だと思っていた。港湾従事者にはかまれないようにする予防策と、かまれた場合の対応策を徹底する」としている。

2017年07月17日 20時38分 Copyright © The Yomiuri Shimbun

(試譯文)
On the 14^th, at the Honmoku Pier in Mokufu of Yokohama City central district, South Africa's poisonous ant alias "Hiari" was confirmed for the first time in Kanagawa prefecture.

Although the disinfection work was finished using insecticide, on the same day the city set up a billboard at the Yokohama Harbor Symbol Tower to arouse attention. It was several hundred meters from the ant discovering site. Moreover, it asked citizens that “if you find it do not touch it with bare hands, contact the city and the Ministry of the Environment."

A staff member of the Ministry of the Environment discovered ants near the storage location of the container and the expert concluded that they were Hiari. It seemed that they made a nest in the ground, pupa and larvae were identified. The city regarded them to have been brought there by the container.

Hiari was 2.5 – 2.6 mm in length. It was named (Hi-ari = fire ant) because when someone was stung by its poisonous needle at its buttocks, a pain like a burn would develop. If a citizen was stung, rest for about 30 minutes. He was encouraged to visit the hospital if there was anything unusual developed.

In the vicinity of the discovery site there was a work place to carry the container on a trailer. Its industry organization the Yokohama Harbor Co-op Association said, "I thought it is a matter of time to happen in Yokohama because Hiari had been discovered nationwide, there should be measures to prevent people working in the harbor from being bitten by it and thorough measures to deal with it in case of being bitten."

It is surprising to note that the South Africa poisonous ants could reach Japan. Perhaps global warming could be responsible for this.

Soft Power: the Means to Success in World Politics

Recently I have read the following book. Its main points are:

Book title: Nye, Joseph, Jr. 2004. Soft Power: the Means to Success in World Politics. New York: Public Affairs.

- ch. 3 – the US has enormous soft-power resource. But the US is not alone. Others, both countries and non-state actors also possess soft power that can be used to help or hinder the US’s achievement of its preferred outcomes.(73)(non-state actor – NGO)

- the decade-long economic slowdown of the 1990s tarnished Japan’s reputation for economic prowess, but it did not erase the nation’s soft power resources.(86)But there are also limits to Japan’s soft-power. Japan has never full come to terms with its record of foreign aggression in the 1930s.(87)

- ch. 4 – military power is to threat and fight. Economic power is used similarly. Soft power is more difficult to wield, many resources are outside the control of government, and their effect depends on acceptance by the receiving audience. (99)

- shaping public opinion becomes even more important where authoritarian governments have been replaced by new democracies. Even when foreign leaders are friendly, their leeway may be limited if their public and parliaments have a negative image of the US and its policies. (105)

- there are 3 dimensions of public diplomacy. The first and most immediate dimension is daily communications. Government tells the press on how to carry out a decision. The second dimension is strategic communication much like an advertising campaign. For example, the British tourist authority was busily advertising British tradition, ceremony and history. The third dimension of public diplomacy is the development of lasting relationships with key individual over many years through scholarships, exchanges, training, seminars, conferences, and access to media channel.(107-9)

-it is important to remember that the same words and images that are  most successful to domestic audience may have negative effects on a foreign audience.(112)

- rigid censorship is not always the answer. An aspect of soft power that the Pentagon got right in the second Gulf war has been the embedding of reporters with forward military units. This limited Saddam Hussein’s ability to create international outrage by claiming that American was deliberately killing civilians. (116)

- democracy is more than voting. It could lead to “one man, one vote, once” if done hastily. Since the autocratic regimes in the Middle East have destroyed their liberal opposition, racial Islamist often represents the only alternative dissent in many countries. (120)

- ch. 5 – anti-Americanism has increased in the past few years. A widespread and fashionable view is that the US is a classically imperialist power. (127) In the US skeptics about soft power believe that popularity is ephemeral (i.e. people are forgetful) and should not be a guide for foreign policy in any cases. The US can act without the world’s applause. We are so strong that we can do as we wish. (128)

-power depends on context. We see that in the global information age, power is distributed among countries in a pattern that resembles a complex three-dimensional chess game. On the top chess board of political-military issue, US is in the lead; on the economic board, in the middle, the US is not a hegemony or an empire. On the bottom chessboard of transnational relations, power is chaotically dispersed. (136-7)

- many transnational issues such as climate change, international crime and terrorism cannot be resolved by military force alone. Representing the dark side of globalization, these issues were inherently multi-lateral and require cooperation for their solution. Soft power is particular important in dealing with these issues. (137)

Soft Power: the Means to Success in World Politics

Recently I have read the following book. Its main points are:

Book title: Nye, Joseph, Jr. 2004. Soft Power: the Means to Success in World Politics. New York: Public Affairs.

.

Main points:

- Ch. 2 – the US has many resources that can potentially provide soft power. Not only is the fact that America is the world’s largest economy, but nearly half of the top 500 global companies are American. 62 of the top global brands are American. (33)

- opposition to American policies is not the same as general opposition to the US. The image or attractiveness of a country is composed of foreigner’s attitudes on a variety of levels and types, American policy constitutes only one. (35)

- many intellectuals and critics disdain popular culture because of its crude commercialism. They view pop culture as an anesthetizing and apolitical opiate for the masses. Such disdain is misplaced because popular entertainment often contains subliminal images and messages about individualism, consumer choice and other values that have important political effects. (47) (c/f  pop songs)

- simple items like blue jeans, Coca-Cola, or a cigarette brand acquired an added value that helped younger generations to give expression to an identify of their own. (48)

- Soviet audiences watching films with apolitical themes nonetheless learned that people in the West did not have to stand in long lines to purchase food, did not live in communal apartment, and they owned their own cars. All these invalidated the negative view promulgated by the Soviet media.(49)

- all countries pursue their national interest in foreign policy, but there are choices to be made about how broadly or narrowly we define our national interest. Polices based on broadly inclusive and far-sighted definition of national interest are easier to make attractive to others.]60-61)

-the US, like 19^th century Britain, also has an interest in keeping international markets and global commons, such as the oceans, open to all. To a large extent, international order is a public good. (61)

- the image of the US and its attractiveness to others is a composite of many different ideas and attitudes. It depends in part on culture, in part on domestic policies and values, and in part on the substance, tactics, and style of the US foreign policies.(68)

(to be continued)