This essay examines why nationalism seems to be on the rise in Asia and beyond at a time when globalization is also becoming more salient, by focusing on the political dynamics that propelled both changes in Japan in the post-Cold War era. The more open and liberal type of nationalism that appeared in Japan in the 1980s to the mid-1990s was followed by an abrupt revisionist backlash beginning in the late 1990s. This illiberal, authoritarian turn in contemporary nationalism was confirmed and accelerated during the premiership of Koizumi Jun'ichiro (2001-06), when further neoliberal reforms were simultaneously implemented. I argue that the New Right transformation of Japanese politics –the combined ascendancy of economic liberalism and political illiberalism—is the driving force of contemporary nationalism in Japan.

A “Japan-Is-Great” boom sweeping the nation in recent years invites comparison with the comparable phenomenon in the 1930s at the height of empire. This increase in self-praise has not come about merely as a spontaneous reaction to the decline of self-confidence in the aftermath of the collapse of the bubble economy. The reassertion of national pride and identity by the Japanese has also been actively encouraged as healthy and desirable by the United States. As the Cold War came to an end, Washington pressured Japan to shake off its postwar self-constraints and project its influence and political power (even its military power) in international affairs more forcefully.

The three-dimensional distribution of melt in partially molten synthetic samples compositionally corresponding to diopside (90 wt.%)–anorthite (10 wt.%) and doped with PbO, WO3, MoO3, or Cs2O to enhance contrast was studied by X-ray computed tomography (CT) with synchrotron radiation. The heavy elements were strongly concentrated in the melt and contributed to an increase of the X-ray linear attenuation coefficient (LAC) of it. PbO was found to be compatible with silicate melt (>20 wt.% in solution) and incompatible with diopside crystals. Other oxides WO3 (∼10 wt.%), MoO3 (∼5 wt.%) and Cs2O (< 5 wt.%) are also soluble only in the melt. Such doping is useful not only for LAC control in X-ray CT measurements, but also for systematic control of the structure (wetting properties, distribution and connectivity) of partial melt. This technique gives basic information for discussion of the 3D distribution of partial melt having different wetting properties. As PbO was most effective in visualization of the diopside–anorthite partially molten system, CT images of the PbO-bearing sample were used for further 3D investigation of distribution. A distribution of dihedral angles at solid-melt-solid triple junctions ranging from 22 to 55° was observed with the 3D data. This range in angle distribution was probably caused by anisotropy of crystals and the result supports the argument that there is some limitation in a theoretical framework of stereology which estimates the 3D structure based on 2D observations. Investigators have begun to apply X-ray CT to the study of the 3D distribution of partial melts in rocks using synchrotron radiation. Our study on the effect of doping is one approach for developing a technique to investigate 3D melt distribution.

We investigate the low-Weber-number flow of a liquid curtain bridged between two vertical edge guides and a pool surface. Three flow patterns, namely, steady vertical flow, steady oblique flow, and oscillatory oblique flow, are observed in our experiment. These patterns are caused by the Coanda effect of the jet around the meniscus that is formed in the matching region common to the liquid curtain and the pool surface. Here, the deflection angle of the jet is greater than $90^\circ $. The equation describing the motion of the liquid curtain applicable for a finite curtain slope is obtained using the intrinsic coordinate system in which the distance along the curtain is selected as one of the coordinates, and the equation of the meniscus motion is derived by considering the conservation of momentum. The curtain deformations of oblique flows are analysed by generating numerical simulations of these equations, and the simulation results are then compared with experimental results. Also, the period of oscillatory oblique flow is discussed and explained via the response analyses of the curtain, and the result shows that the period of the oscillations is close to that of the most amplified mode of the liquid curtain. Further, the detachment angle of the jet is discussed in relation to the Coanda effect of the jet in the meniscus.

Polymethylphenylsilicone (PMPS), a siloxane polymer with a phenyl group, was first successfully electrospun to fabricate different diameters of silicone fibers ranging from 500 nm to 10 μm by considering solubility parameters of 12 different solvents. The resulting PMPS fibers were mixed with polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) by retaining their original nanofiber structures to produce a polysiloxane-based nanofibrous composite. As for the mechanical properties, the PMPS/PDMS composite presented higher Young’s modulus and higher fracture strain than pure PDMS. The gas permeability test revealed that the PMPS/PDMS composite exhibited higher CO2 permeability than the pure PDMS membrane. Moreover, CO2 permeability gradually increased by raising the compounding ratio of PMPS-fibers in the PMPS/PDMS composite and by decreasing the diameter of PMPS-fibers. The enhancement mechanism observed in both mechanical properties and CO2 permeability was discussed from the viewpoint of the interface between PMPS and PDMS along with the nanofiber network structures.

Phosducin (Pd) is a 28-kD phosphoprotein whose expression in retina appears limited to photoreceptor cells. Pd binds to the β,γ subunits of transducin (Gt). Their binding affinity is markedly diminished by Pd phosphorylation. While Pd has long been regarded as a candidate for the regulation of Gt, the molecular details of Pd function remain unclear. This gap in understanding is due in part to a lack of precise information concerning the total amount and subcellular localization of rod Pd. While earlier studies suggested that Pd was a rod outer segment (ROS) protein, recent findings have demonstrated that Pd is distributed throughout the rod. In this report, the subcellular distribution and amounts of rat Pd are quantified with immunogold electron microscopy. After light or dark adaptation, retinal tissues were fixed in situ and prepared for ultrathin sectioning and immunogold labeling. Pd concentrations were analyzed over the entire length of the rod. The highest Pd labeling densities were found in the rod synapse. Less intense Pd staining was observed in the ellipsoid and myoid regions, while minimal labeling densities were found in the ROS and the rod nucleus. In contrast with rod Gt, no evidence was found for light-dependent movement of Pd between inner and outer segments. There is a relative paucity of Pd in the ROS as compared with the large amounts of Gt found there. This does not support the earlier idea that Pd could modulate Gt activity by controlling its concentration. On the other hand, the presence of Pd in the nucleus is consistent with its possible role as a regulator of transcription. The functions of Pd in the ellipsoid and myoid regions remain unclear. The highest concentration of Pd was found at the rod synapse, consistent with a suggested role for Pd in the regulation of synaptic function.