A virus-associated hemophagocytic syndrome is characterized by high fever, liver dysfunction, coagulation abnormalities, pancytopenia, and a benign histiocytic proliferation with prominent hemophagocytosis in bone marrow, lymph node, spleen, and liver. We describe six Japanese children with fatal Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-associated hemophagocytic syndrome. Five of the six patients had serologic evidence of primary EBV infection at the onset of their diseases. EBV genomes were detected in all the patients by Southern blot hybridization or the polymerase chain reaction. Furthermore, clonality analysis of the EBV genome showed that EBV-infected cells proliferated monoclonally or biclonally in three examined patients. In situ hybridization study using EBV- encoded RNA 1 (EBER1) showed that EBER1 was detected in one of two examined liver tissues, which localized in hepatocytes.

The researcher compared mitigation of request between Kazakh and Japanese languages from the viewpoint of Cross-Cultural Pragmatics. Based on Cross-Cultural Speech Act Research Project indicated in Blum-Kulka et al. (1989), the Internal and External downgraders in the two languages were investigated. The researcher established categories of Internal downgrades (e.g., Morphological downgraders and Lexical/Phrasal downgraders) adequate to Kazakh and Japanese, and cited examples of the languages. Moreover, the researcher analyzed quantitatively data of devices of the downgraders. Ten native speakers of Kazakh and ten native speakers of Japanese participated in the study. Data was obtained using an open role play, consisting of nine request situations. The Japanese participants used the Lexical/Phrasal downgraders to someone equal in status more frequently than the Kazakh participants. When analyzing statistically the devices, the Kazakh participants made use of Conditional clause more than the Japanese participants. On the other hand, the Japanese participants used Negative, Honorifics, Consultative device, Understater, Hesitator, and Disarmer more than the Kazakh participants. Regarding a use rate of devices of External downgraders, Preparator was used most frequently, and Supportive reason was used in second place in the two languages. 3 Significantly improved (3), improved (5), NA (3).

No abstract

No abstract

In some Central Asian oases towns, the patron saints of craftsmen, known as pir, have continued to be venerated, despite the repression of Islam and changes to the industrial structure during the Soviet Era. This paper analyses the social function and individual significance of pir veneration in the modern era, using ethnographic observations and interviews conducted in a ceramic town in Uzbekistan. Today, many old customs practised in pottery studios have become mere formalities, and the controlling role of the pir over ceramist groups is declining. However, this is not necessarily indicative of an immediate decline in the pirs' power. Some ceramists believe their highly skilled masters to be quasipirs and that the pir provides them with desirable goals, in addition to an ideal form to which to aspire.