Attitudes Towards and Uses of the Japanese Adverbzenzen by Swedish Learners of Japanese

The word zenzen is an adverb that is used frequently in daily conversational Japanese. From the Meiji period (1868-1912) until the early Showa period (1924-1989) the word was used together with both affirmative and negative words to form expressions. In the early Showa period the grammatical rules in education changed so that the only acceptable use was together with a negative word. From the 1990’s onward, the use together with an affirmative word has made a comeback especially among younger Japanese people. However even though the usage together with an affirmative word has made a comeback and was considered normal once in history, in today’s society it is still considered as slang and thus not recommended usage in formal situations. Foreign language learners however, tend not to learn a language only by textbooks but also by imitating the language of native Japanese speakers and Japanese popular culture. This may lead to a confusion regarding what words are acceptable to use in conversations. Therefore in this study, an online survey that examines the usage and attitudes regarding the word zenzen aimed at Japanese language learners at Swedish universities was conducted. The results of the survey showed that although a majority of the learners showed a good understanding of the usage, more than half of the learners displayed a feeling of confusion regarding the usage of the word. The gender comparison regarding the usage showed no major differences. Having lived in Japan, having Japanese friends whom you speak Japanese with regularly and length of Japanese study was associated with an increased understanding of the usage. Regular consumption of Japanese popular culture, however, was not associated with an increased understanding of the usage. A literature analysis was also conducted to examine the attitudes regarding the usage of zenzen in a variety of books with topics including business language and books aimed at Japanese language teachers. The results showed that zenzen used together with a negative word was considered as the norm while zenzen used together with an affirmative word was not recommended to be used in formal situations. When recommending proper usage of the word zenzen together with an affirmative word to foreign learners of Japanese, hijou-ni and totemo was seen as better alternatives to zenzen in a formal situation.

Oxidative dissolution of research-grade minerals by Thiobacillus ferrooxidans and Thiobacillus thiooxidans

Solution- and solid-phase changes associated with galena (PbS) and sphalerite (ZnS) oxidation by T. ferrooxidans and T. thiooxidans, were determined. In experiments with galena, anglesite (PbSO4) was detected as a solid-phase product in biotic and abiotic experiments. In T. ferrooxidans cultures supplemented with FeSO4, jarosite [MFe3 (SO4)(2) (OH)(6)] was also detected as a new solid phase product, whereas SO was not detected in the residues. In sphalerite experiments, minor amounts of SO accumulated in FeSO4-amended sphalerite media with or without T. ferrooxidans or T. thiooxidans. Jarosite was only detected in T. ferrooxidans culture with FeSO4. By comparison with T. thiooxidans, T. ferrooxidans was more efficient in the oxidation of galena and sphalerite.

Effects of research and extension on agricultural growth and equity in Brazil.

Studies the effects of investment in research and extension on total agricultural production and on production of individual crops. Some distributional effects are briefly discussed. Due to the lack of data, the first part of the analysis is restricted to the State of Sao Paulo, and the second part covers the entire country.-from Author

Uses of QCD sumrules (QCDSR) from different points of view

We support the idea that the baryon, B with mass MB, couples to its current with a coupling λ2 B ∼ 0.71 M6 B from an analysis of magnetic moment sum rules. And we find a sum rule among the experimental magnetic moments which is independent of the parameters of QCDSR. © 1998 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.

Farming technology, biochemistry characterization, and protective effects of culinary-medicinal mushrooms Agaricus brasiliensis S. Wasser et al. and Lentinus edodes (Berk.) Singer: Five years of research in Brazil

The biotechnology, biochemical characterization, and protective effects of the himematsutake and shiitake mushrooms were studied for the Thematic Project, from 1998 to 2003. A new species, Agaricus Brasiliens is Wasser et al. (= A. blazei Murrill ss. Heinem.), was proposed for the cultivated lineages in Brazil. Interactions among lineages, substrates, casing layers, and fructification inductions (temperature alternations) significantly increased the productivity of A. brasiliensis in Brazil (from 40 g to 200 g of fresh mushroom kg -1 moist compost). However, pests and diseases (mainly Sciaridae flies and false truffle), drastically reduced the productivity of A. brasiliensis (below 50 g kg -1). Biochemically for each mushroom species, the polar extracts, no polars, and medium polarity presented the same organic substances; however, their concentrations differed as a result of the lineages, maturation of the fruit bodies, and cultivation conditions. In this aspect, concentration of linoleic acid in A. brasiliensis (added to animal food) was related directly to the chemical protection against carcinogenic drugs in mice. Aqueous extracts of Lentinus edodes (= Lentinula edodes (Berk.) Pegler) and A. brasiliensis may be preventive chemical protectors against mutagenic and carcinogenic drugs, depending on the lineage and extraction method (tea or juice). However, immunomodulator effects and tumor reduction were only observed with concentrated fractions (hexanic, methanolic, and ATF extracts). Aqueous extracts of A. brasiliensis and L. edodes have antibiotic-like substances and substances able to act as elicitors of resistance responses in some plants (local and systemic) and show a potential to be used in the alternative control of plant pathogens. © 2005 by Begell House, Inc.

Review of selected areas of research on the Caribbean subregion in the 2000s: identifying the main gaps

Includes bibliography

Domestic technology generation in LDCs: a review of research findings

Includes bibliography

Multiple ornamental uses of Costus stenophyllus standi. & L.O. Williams

Costus stenophyllus or bamboo costus, despite its high ornamental potential, is still little known in the cut flower and ornamental plant market. The bamboo costus is a spiral ginger admired for its beautiful stems that are lined with brown colored alternating bands. This costus has rather straight and upright stems. Conical red inflorescences, which resemble the head of a snake, emerge from the base of the plants. The flowers are light yellow and emerge between the red scales on the rather long-lasting, attractive inflorescences. This study was carried out to evaluate the possibility of using these species as a garden plant, cut flower and cut stem. Thus, the characterization was made based on 28 characters of the plant, the leaves, the flower stem, the flowers, as well as season blooming characteristics and flower postharvest longevity.

Peaceful uses of nuclear energy in the English-speaking Caribbean

Revisa las aplicaciones, necesidades, problemas y perspectivas para el uso pacifico de la energia nuclear en cinco paises anglo- parlantes del Caribe: Belice, Jamaica, Santa Lucia, Trinidad y Tabago y Barbados.

Informe de la Reunión de Expertos Regionales en Preparación de la Conferencia de las Naciones Unidas para el Fomento de la Cooperación Internacional en la Utilización de la Energía Nuclear con Fines Pacíficos = Report of the Regional Expert Group Meeting for the United Nations Conference for the Promotion of International Co-operation in the Peaceful Uses of Nuclear Energy

Contiene la organizacion y debates de la reunion que tuvo como objetivo analizar la situacion actual, evolucion proyectada, restricciones actuales y previsibles a la introduccion y expansion de la utilizacion de la energia nuclear con fines pacificos a la luz de las necesidades y prioridades de la region.

Collection and uses of hydrological and hydrometeorological data for system operation and planning

Includes bibliography

Comisión Económica para América Latina y la Segunda Conferencia de las Naciones Unidas sobre la Exploración y Utilización del Espacio Ultraterrestre con Fines Pacíficos (UNISPACE 82) = Economic Commission for Latin America and the Second United Nations Conference on the Exploration and Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (UNISPACE 82)

Incluye Bibliografía