The Influence of Acupressure at Extra 1 Acupuncture Point on the Spectral Entropy of the EEG and the LF/HF Ratio of Heart Rate Variability

Acupressure applied on the Extra 1 acupuncture point results in sedation, thereby reducing bispectral index (BIS) values. Mental status and hypnotic agents influence the autonomic nervous system. We hypothesized that acupressure at the Extra 1 point would induce sedation and change sympatho-parasympathetic nerve balance. We investigated the effect of acupressure at the Extra 1 point on the EEG spectral entropy values and heart rate variability (HRV). Forty-eight volunteers (24 males and 24 females) were randomly assigned to the control or Extra 1 group. The control group received acupressure at a sham point and the Extra 1 group received acupressure at the Extra 1 point. Acupressure was applied for 5 min. The record of the EEG spectral entropy values and HRV started 5 min before acupressure and stopped 5 min after acupressure. Acupressure significantly reduced the EEG spectral entropy values in both groups, but the values of the Extra 1 group were significantly smaller than those of the control group (P < .01). Acupressure significantly decreased the LF/HF ratio of HRV in both groups (P < .05). When divided upon gender, although acupressure tended to decrease the LF/HF ratio, the ratio significantly decreased during and after acupressure only in females of the Extra 1 group (P < .05). We concluded that acupressure on the Extra 1 point significantly reduced the EEG spectral entropy in both the genders, but affected the LF/HF ratio of HRV only in females

Effects of Prolonged High Phosphorus Diet on Phosphorus and Calcium Balance in Rats

The amount of phosphorus contained in food as food additives is currently increasing and a high intake of phosphorus can cause various diseases. To determine the effects of a prolonged high phosphorus diet, here we investigated the phosphorus and calcium balance and expression of type IIa sodium-dependent phosphate transporter (Npt IIa) in mature rats. Wistar male rats (8-weeks old) were divided into five groups and fed diets containing 0.6% calcium plus 0.3, 0.6, 0.9, 1.2 or 1.5% phosphorus for 4 weeks. Urinary and fecal phosphorus excretions were significantly increased by the high phosphorus diets (from 0.6 to 1.5%), dependent on the amount of dietary phosphorus. The net absorption of intestinal phosphorus was also significantly increased by high phosphorus diets. As a result, a negative phosphorus balance was observed in rats given the 1.2% or 1.5% phosphorus diets. Serum parathyroid hormone and 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 concentrations were increased by high phosphorus diets. In addition, high phosphorus diets decreased the expression of Npt IIa mRNA and protein in the renal brush border membrane. Taken together, these results suggest that diets containing 1.2 or 1.5% phosphorus plus 0.6% calcium have potentially adverse effects on phosphorus homeostasis in mature rat

コミュニケーション ノウリョク ノ コウジョウ ヲ メザシテトウロンカイ ヲ トオシテ ソノ カノウセイ ヲ サグル

台湾の私立東呉大學の日本語学科の会話授業において、コミュニケーション能力向上の可能性を探ってみた。コミュニケーション能力の向上は 「読解」 「伝達」 「理解」 「討論」 の 4 つの側面と深く関わっている。本稿で論述する討論会では、学習者があるテーマについて、要約あるいは大意を把握したものを発表し、クラスで討論し合い、いかなる結論を出すかに力を注いだ。 筆者はこの一連の過程において、 次の 4 つの提案をし、その実践の分析を試みた。 （1）コミュニケーション能力の向上には読解力と要約力を養う必要がある。（2）コミュニケーション能力の向上には談話構成能力と伝達能力が求められる。（3）コミュニケーション能力を向上させるにはまず人の話を聞くことから始めなければならない。そのためには、聞き取りと理解力を養わなければならない。（4）コミュニケーションはお互いが理解し合える場を作りあげる。40 回に及ぶ討論会を通して、提案はその妥当性が認められた。それはペア・ワークによる事前の周到な準備がそれを可能にしたと言える。また、台湾人は日本人ほどあいづちを打たないが、 外国語(日本語)によるコミュニケーションにおいては、聞き手の 「あいづち」 や 「うなずき」 「微笑み」 が、話し手の精神的緊張感を和らげていることが、 提案の分析以外に観察された。それは自己の発話に自信の持てない学習者ほど顕著に現れていた。This paper deals with improving communication ability through a discussion program for Japanese major students at Soochow University, Taiwan. There are four phases in communication ability: reading and understanding, transmission, comprehension, and discussion. In this paper, a discussion program requires students to present a briefing on a specified topic, discuss the contents in the class, and finally reach a conclusion. In order to examine the final results, four propositions were made:(1)Training for comprehension and briefing abilities is needed to improve communication ability.(2)Comprehension and transmission abilities are needed to improve communication ability.(3)Improving communication ability starts with listening to others\u27 talking. Therefore,training for listening and comprehension is needed.(4)Communication is a way to reach mutual understanding.After conducting discussions 40 times, the above propositions proved to be valid. It required careful and advance preparation students working in pairs. In general, Taiwanese use less aizuchi than Japanese during conversations. But when conversing in a foreign language (in Japanese), the listener\u27s aizuchi, nod, or smile can ease the speaker\u27s nervousness. This is particularly noticeable for students without confidence

Current research and future directions for realizing the ideal One-Health approach: A summary of key-informant interviews in Japan and a literature review

The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the importance of the One Health (OH) approach, which considers the health of humans, animals, and the environment in preventing future pandemics. A wide range of sustainable interdisciplinary collaborations are required to truly fulfill the purpose of the OH approach. It is well-recognized, however, that such collaborations are challenging. In this study, we undertook key-informant interviews with a panel of stakeholders from Japan to identify their perceived needs and challenges related to OH research. This panel included scientists, government officials, journalists, and industry stakeholders. By combining a thematic analysis of these interviews and a literature review, we summarized two key themes pertinent to the effective implementation of OH research: types of required research and systems to support that research. As a technological issue, interviewees suggested the importance of research and development of methodologies that can promote the integration and collaboration of research fields that are currently fragmented. An example of such a methodology would allow researchers to obtain high-resolution metadata (e.g. ecological and wildlife data) with high throughput and then maximize the use of the obtained metadata in research, such as in environmental DNA analysis, database construction, or the use of computational algorithms to find novel viral genomes. In terms of systems surrounding OH research, some interviewees stressed the importance of creating a sustainable research system, such as one that has continuous budget support and allows researchers to pursue their academic careers and interests. These perceptions and challenges held by Japanese stakeholders may be common to others around the world. We hope this review will encourage more researchers and others to work together to create a resilient society against future pandemics

The Impact of Leisure Activities on Older Adults' Cognitive Function, Physical Function, and Mental Health

Engagement in leisure activities has been claimed to be highly beneficial in the elderly. Practicing such activities is supposed to help older adults to preserve cognitive function, physical function, and mental health, and thus to contribute to successful aging. We used structural equation modeling (SEM) to analyze the impact of leisure activities on these constructs in a large sample of Japanese older adults (N = 809; age range 72–74). The model exhibited an excellent fit (CFI = 1); engaging in leisure activities was positively associated with all the three successful aging indicators. These findings corroborate previous research carried out in Western countries and extend its validity to the population of Eastern older adults. Albeit correlational in nature, these results suggest that active engagement in leisure activities can help older adults to maintain cognitive, physical, and mental health. Future research will clarify whether there is a causal relationship between engagement in leisure activities and successful aging

高齢者の食事(1) : 食品の切り方が食感および嗜好に及ぼす影響

The purpose of this study is to obtain the basic information on the foods which are easy to masticate, and therefore, suitable for Japanese elderly people. Two dishes, cooked carrot and Japanese radish, were selected to represent food that is very popular among Japanese elderly people. These two sample dishes were cut into various sizes, differing in width, height, and length(mm). Then, these small chips of carrot and Japanese radish were subjected to a sensory evaluation made by two groups of people of defferent generations. The first group consisted of 19 elderly people (average age : 69 years old) and the other consisted of 35 young college students (average age : 19 years old). At the same time, some rheological parameters, such as hardness and cohesiveness of these dishes, were also measured using a rheorometer (Yamaden Inc.). The values obtained by the rheological measurements were then compared with the results of sensory evaluations. The results were as follows : 1) The results of the sensory evaluation clearly indicated that both dishes of the smallest size [3-3-3(mm)] tested in this study were evaluated as "too soft", "non-cohesive in mouth", and "not preferred" by both groups. 2) In the case of cooked carrots, most of the elderly people preferred the size [6-6-6(mm)], while the young college students preferred the size [10-6-3 0(mm)]. In the case of cooked Japanese radish, however, the majority of the elderly people as well as the college students preferred the size [12-12-12(mm)]. 3) According to the rheological measurements, the softly cooked carrots samples and the cohesively cooked Japanese radish samples were preferred by both groups