Michael McGuire, at the Department of English, Faculty of Letters, and the colleague indicated that an automated speech recognition system shows promise for making language testing more accessible and scalable.
While elicited imitation (EI) tests can effectively measure language proficiency by having learners repeat complex sentences, they require time-consuming human scoring. McGuire and his colleague have developed a fully automated system that combines EI for speech recognition with a computational scoring metric. Their study showed that the automated system produced nearly identical overall scores to human raters, suggesting that this approach could enable efficient, large-scale language assessment and potentially transform educational practices.
Reference
Michael McGuire, Jenifer Larson-Hall, Assessing Whisper automatic speech recognition and WER scoring for elicited imitation: Steps toward automation, Research Methods in Applied Linguistics, Volume 4, Issue 1, 2025,100197, ISSN 2772-7661,
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rmal.2025.100197
https://research.doshisha.ac.jp/news/news-detail-73/
This achievement has also been featured in the “EurekAlert!.”
https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1080114
Title: Comparison between the proposed computer-automated assessment method and the established manual scoring method
Caption: The good linearity depicted in this plot indicates excellent agreement between manual scoring and fully automated scoring, showcasing the potential of the proposed system.
Credit: Michael McGuire from Doshisha University, Japan
Image license: CC BY 4.0
Usage restrictions: You are free to share and adapt. Attribution is required.
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The research team, including Shumpei Hara, Associate Professor at the Faculty of Science and Engineering, Doshisha University discover a unique “meandering motion” in viscoelastic fluids, opening possibilities for energy-efficient heat exchangers and cooling systems.
In a step towards advancing fluid dynamics for industrial applications, researchers unveil a meandering motion of turbulence observed in viscoelastic fluids flowing over a backward-facing step. According to the study, under certain conditions, these fluids exhibit wavelike movement, which enhances heat transfer efficiency. This breakthrough holds promise for industrial applications of fluid-based thermal management, providing energy-efficient systems.
Reference
Shumpei Hara, Ryusuke Ii, Shohei Onishi, Takahiro Tsukahara, Yasuo Kawaguchi, Inertia-viscoelastic meandering motion in a backward-facing step flow, International Journal of Heat and Mass Transfer 242 126793-126793 June 2025
DOI : 10.1016/j.ijheatmasstransfer.2025.126793
For more details, please see the website of Organization for Research Initiatives and Development, Doshisha University.
https://research.doshisha.ac.jp/news/news-detail-71/
This achievement has also been featured in the “EurekAlert!.”
https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1079126
Image title: Instantaneous streamwise velocity fields with Galilean transformation by the half bulk velocity in the x-y plane
Image caption: Visualization of instantaneous streamwise velocity fields in the x-y plane for different Weissenberg numbers (Wi = 0.0, 0.019, 0.022). The meandering motion emerges at higher Wi, enhancing turbulence and heat transfer in the backward-facing step flow.
Image credit: Dr. Shumpei Hara from Doshisha University, Japan
Image link: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0017931025001346?via%3Dihub
License type: CC BY 4.0
Usage restrictions: You are free to share and adapt. Attribution is required.
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We discovered many similarities, such as similar New Year games between Taiwan and Japan, which created a lively and enjoyable atmosphere.
The participants struggled to predict the placement and adjust the orientation of the facial parts, but many unique faces were created.
Throughout the event, there was constant conversation and laughter, and we were able to enjoy Fukuwarai in a warm and friendly atmosphere.
The staff was very pleased with how the event went.
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Thanks to the many participants, the International Exchange Lounge was filled with energy and excitement.
The dance routines we tried during the event were simple, so even beginners could feel comfortable and enjoy themselves.
Additionally, SIED staff members also participated, dancing together with everyone.
It seems that even those meeting for the first time were able to bond and become friends through the dance.
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This was the second installment of the “Let’s learn local Japanese culture!” series, following the spring semester’s Okinawa-themed event featuring star sand crafting.
Participants also shared information about their hometowns’ specialties, local festivals, and other unique features.
Interestingly, many participants turned out to be quite skilled, completing their pieces smoothly.
Some even adorned necklaces with denim feather motifs they made and wore them home after the event.
SIED will continue to organize a variety of international exchange events.
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New quasi-solid-state lithium-ion-battery can revolutionize the widespread application of electric vehicles and devicesResearchers from Doshisha University, Japan, develop a novel quasi-solid-state lithium-ion battery (LIB) with non-flammable solid and liquid electrolytes. The battery has higher ionic conductivity, improved cycle performance, and better safety than conventional LIBs.※
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The research team, including Mr. Ryosuke Kido,a second-year doctoral fellow and Takayuki Doi, professor at the Faculty of Science and Engineering Department of Molecular Chemistry and Biochemistry develop a quasi-solid-state lithium-ion battery with improved stability, safety, and longevity.
Electric devices and vehicles offer a sustainable and economical alternative to fuel-driven machines. However, concerns about the safety and longevity of conventional lithium ion batteries (LIBs) persist. A study from Doshisha University aimed to develop a novel flame-retardant quasi-solid-state battery by combining solid and liquid electrolytes. With higher safety and durability and improved performance, the new LIB has the potential to transform the applications of electric vehicles and devices.
Reference
Ryosuke Kido, Taisuke Horikawa, Atsushi Sano, Tsuyoshi Nagashima, Ryo Okada, Minoru Inaba, Takayuki Doi, Highly safe quasi-solid-state lithium ion batteries with two kinds of nearly saturated and non-flammable electrolyte solutions. Journal of Energy Storage, 102, 114115, 2024,
DOI: 10.1016/j.est.2024.114115
For more details, please see the website of Organization for Research Initiatives and Development, Doshisha University.
Safe and Energy-Efficient Quasi-Solid Battery for Electric Vehicles and Devices
This achievement has also been featured in the “EurekAlert!.”NEWS RELEASE 13-JAN-2025,
[Research News] Safe and Energy-Efficient Quasi-Solid Battery for Electric Vehicles and Devices
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Credit: Ryosuke Kido from Doshisha University
License type:Original content
Usage restriction:Credit must be given to the creator.
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Understanding the influence of cultural identity in intercultural communication.Culture may or may not be a relevant factor in intercultural communications for people globally. In this study, Professor Stadler from Doshisha University examines the relevance of intercultural communications.※
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Professor Stefanie Alexa Stadler, Faculty of Letters Department of English, discusses how cultural differences can affect the dynamics of informal communications in a new linguistic report.
Intercultural communication is vital in today’s growing and connected world. However, differences in cultural and linguistic practices often result in miscommunication. Emphasizing the relevance of culture in informal communication, Professor Stadler explores how cultural differences can affect interaction patterns. The study discusses diverse interactions from East and Southeast Asian settings to reveal how culture often becomes the focal point in conversation, which plays a vital role in international communication.
Reference
Stadler, S. (2024). When culture becomes relevant in intercultural lingua franca communication.World Englishes, 1–19.
https://doi.org/10.1111/weng.12720
For more details, please see the website of Organization for Research Initiatives and Development, Doshisha University.
Connecting Through Culture: Understanding Its Relevance in Intercultural Lingua Franca Communication
This achievement has also been featured in the “EurekAlert!.”NEWS RELEASE 10-JAN-2025,
[Research News] Connecting Through Culture: Understanding Its Relevance in Intercultural Lingua Franca Communication
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Credit: Multicultural Globe by Jimee, Jackie, Tom & Asha
License type:CC BY SA 2.0
Usage restriction:Credit must be given to the creator. Adaptations must be shared under the same terms.
https://openverse.org/en-za/image/25818e89-4915-48ef-9ade-7c6ad561050c
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It seemed that many of the participants favored Japanese artists.
After that, we held an activity where everyone contributed one line of lyrics, and together we created a song.
The song included lyrics in both Japanese and English, which resulted in a unique composition that transcended languages!
Since each participant came up with a different line, the song developed an unexpectedly intriguing storyline.
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At the beginning of the event, we had an icebreaker activity where participants shared how they usually spend the New Year.
Afterward, everyone selected their favorite decorations and enjoyed decorating the shimekazari while chatting with one another.
Some participants decorated their shimekazari simply with only mizuhiki, while others made their decorations colorful and elaborate by using various flowers.
In the end, everyone created their own unique shimenawa!
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From the very beginning, where they prepared the dough, to rolling it, cutting it, and filling it with paste, all tasks were done by the participants themselves.
Each person made their own unique yatsuhashi, and at the end, they enjoyed their handmade yatsuhashi with matcha tea.
They seemed to thoroughly enjoy the experience of creating their own personalized yatsuhashi. After the event, participants shared comments such as, "It was fun!" and "The yatsuhashi was delicious!"
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For this event, we decided on a theme using a roulette wheel, and participants gave impromptu presentations based on 5 randomly displayed slides.
Both the presenters and the audience were highly engaged, and the atmosphere was filled with laughter and excitement throughout the event.
We are very happy with how it turned out.
SIED will continue to hold various international exchange events in the future, so please feel free to join us.
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Afterward, they dried their creations using an iron plate.
Throughout this process, everyone worked together in a friendly atmosphere, consulting each other when they were unsure about the steps or what to draw.
Each person completed their own unique piece of washi paper.
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A Flowchart illustrating the study participants, including exclusions based on age and missing data, and categorization by obesity criteria (BMI and waist circumference).Researchers from Doshisha University used walking speed assessments to reveal that individuals with obesity who perceived their subjective walking speed as fast had a lower likelihood of metabolic diseases. This study highlights the potential for earlier intervention in preventing the cascade of diseases associated with obesity.※
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Professor Kojiro Ishii, Faculty of Health and Sports Science, and his team reveal subjective walking speed as a quick, equipment-free tool for identifying metabolic health risks.
Ishii’s team has found that subjective walking speed, assessed by asking individuals to compare their pace with peers, is linked to lower odds of metabolic diseases like diabetes, hypertension, and dyslipidemia in individuals with obesity. This simple, equipment-free assessment could serve as an effective tool in health examinations, paving the way for earlier interventions to prevent the “metabolic domino effect” triggered by obesity-related disorders.
Reference
Yuiko Yamamoto, Kentaro Ikeue, Megumi Kanasaki, Hajime Yamakage, Kan Oishi, Takaaki Mori, Noriko Satoh-Asahara, Izuru Masuda & Kojiro Ishii. Association between subjective walking speed and metabolic diseases in individuals with obesity: a cross-sectional analysis. Sci Rep 14, 28228 (2024).
https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-78541-w
For more details, please see the website of Organization for Research Initiatives and Development, Doshisha University.
Walking Speed as a Simple Predictor of Metabolic Health in Obese Individuals.
This achievement has also been featured in the “EurekAlert!.”NEWS RELEASE 19-DEC-2024,
[Research News] Walking Speed as a Simple Predictor of Metabolic Health in Obese Individuals
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Credit: Kojiro Ishii from Doshisha University, Japan
License type:CC BY-NC-ND 4.0
Usage restriction:Credit must be given to the creator. Only noncommercial uses of the work are permitted. No derivatives or adaptations of the work are permitted.
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In this event, Ms. MORITA Etsuko introduced Japan Overseas Cooperation Volunteers, and then, Ms. IETANI Noriko gave a presentation.
Ms. Ietani devoted herself to math and science education in Ghana, Samoa, and Indonesia.
She vigorously told us about math and science education in those countries and international cooperation, introducing daily life at assigned locations.
Lecturers answered these questions one by one, so this was a great opportunity to deepen thoughts on international cooperation!
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The open lawn setting allowed many participants to enjoy interacting with each other.
During the lunch break, the international exchange while sharing a meal was lively, and most people communicated in English. Additionally, since the event was held outside the usual International Lounge where SIED typically organizes events, some participants showed interest in SIED itself and asked questions about our activities.
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