Remembering the atomic bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki: Collective memory of post-war Japan

Nanzan UniversityThis study examines the way in which Tokyo has exploited the atomic bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki as a symbolic means of inducing post-war Japanese collective identity. To consider an effort on Tokyo’s part to integrate A-bomb memories into the country’s victim consciousness rather than to overcome the past, the study compares the A-bombed cities written with different Japanese forms, the peace parks, and the peace memorials. It also analyses the news coverage by two national daily papers on the A-bomb memorial days. By doing so, the study shows how the nation has been guided in its memory by the government

視覚障害のある芸術家のアイデンティティ発達に関する研究 : 絵画表現を行う芸術家の事例研究

内容の要約広島大学(Hiroshima University)博士(心理学)Doctor of Philosophy in Psychologydoctora

A Review and Some Consideration of the Studies on Identity of Artists with Visual Impairments

This paper surveys and reviews clinical psychological studies on the identity of artists with visual impairments from an interdisciplinary perspective that includes the field of rehabilitation. It also discusses differences and similarities between the identity of artists with visual impairments and others. Looking at the studies of other countries, interest in rehabilitation and the acceptance of disabilities among those facing them has been increasing since the 1950s. A few reports actually exist that describe psychological studies conducted in the United States on persons with visual impairments. In recent years, we also find a few studies on measurement of psychological adaptation and counseling for developing coping strategies for persons with visual impairments, but no studies have yet been carried out on an ongoing basis with a view to long-term psychological support. Due to the close link between artistic expression and clinical psychology, especially psychoanalysis, some research has dealt with the relation of identity to literature and other works. However, the number of studies focusing on artistic expression ‒ particularly painting ‒ by persons with visual impairments remains insignificant. When we survey studies of identity conducted in Japan and overseas, many of these relate to adolescence. Rather, this study relates to research focusing on the process of identity development in middle aged people, when this identity is most prone to serious psychological crisis. Throughout history, many painters are known to have suffered from visual impairments that shook the foundations of their artistic identity. However, the artists in this study used their own crisis of identity as a turning point and developed two paradoxical identities ‒ an identity as a person with visual impairment and an identity as a visual artist ‒. There is a need for empirical research into the process of how the identity of artists with visual impairments develops in relationship with others

Exercise on the Structure and Circulation of Choroid

Aims To determine the effects of dynamic exercise on the circulation and the luminal and stromal areas of the choroid in normal eyes. Methods This was a prospective interventional study of 38 eyes of 38 normal subjects enrolled by invitation. The systolic and diastolic blood pressures, heart rate, intraocularpressure, mean ocular perfusion pressure (MOPP), choroidal blood velocity, and enhanced depth imaging optical coherence tomographic (EDI-OCT) images were recorded before, and immediately after mild dynamic exercise. The same measurements were recorded after 10 min of rest. The choroidal blood velocity was measured bylaser speckle flowgraphy, and the mean blur rate was used for the evaluations. The horizontal EDI-OCT images of the subfoveal choroid were converted to binary images. The central choroidal thickness (CCT), total cross sectional choroidal area, luminal areas, stromal areas, and the ratio of luminal area to total choroidal area (L/C ratio) were determined from these images. Results The systolic and diastolic blood pressures, heart rate, MOPP, and the mean blur rate were significantly increased immediately after the exercise and significantly decreased 10 minutes after the exercise. There wereno significant changes in the mean CCT, the mean total choroidal area, the mean luminal and stromal areas, and the mean L/C ratio after the exercise. Conclusions Our results suggest that a rest period is needed before measurements of blood flow velocity but not necessary for the EDI-OCT imaging to determine the choroidal thickness and area

Dysregulation of RNF213 promotes cerebral hypoperfusion

RNF213 is a susceptibility gene for moyamoya disease, yet its exact functions remain unclear. To evaluate the role of RNF213 in adaptation of cerebral blood flow (CBF) under cerebral hypoperfusion, we performed bilateral common carotid artery stenosis surgery using external microcoils on Rnf213 knockout (KO) and vascular endothelial cell-specific Rnf213 mutant (human p.R4810K orthologue) transgenic (EC-Tg) mice. Temporal CBF changes were measured by arterial spin-labelling magnetic resonance imaging. In the cortical area, no significant difference in CBF was found before surgery between the genotypes. Three of eight (37.5%) KO mice died after surgery but all wild-type and EC-Tg mice survived hypoperfusion. KO mice had a significantly more severe reduction in CBF on day 7 than wild-type mice (KO, 29.7% of baseline level; wild-type, 49.3%; p = 0.038), while CBF restoration on day 28 was significantly impaired in both KO (50.0%) and EC-Tg (56.1%) mice compared with wild-type mice (69.5%; p = 0.031 and 0.037, respectively). Changes in the subcortical area also showed the same tendency as the cortical area. Additionally, histological analysis demonstrated that angiogenesis was impaired in both EC-Tg and KO mice. These results are indicative of the essential role of RNF213 in the maintenance of CBF

The current state of organizational improvements concerning disaster-health operations in times of non-crisis : From a survey of public health nurse representatives from prefectural municipalities that have experienced disasters

A survey of public health nurses representing municipal health and hygiene departments was conducted. The purpose of the survey was to clearly define the current state of preparedness regarding disaster-related health operations in municipalities and possible related factors. 3 survey items covering organization preparedness were disaster-related health operation manuals, disaster response training, and workshops on disaster-related health operations. 5 survey items covering possible related factors were population size, actual experience of disasters, whether or not victims from neighboring prefectures were received, whether or not disaster-related training was implemented by the public health centers concerned, and whether or not supervising health nurses were deployed. As a result, 90% of municipalities had prepared manuals, and 50% had created their own original manuals. Regarding disaster response training, the crisis management department of many municipalities had implemented yearly training across all departments, with 2.5% implementing public health nurse training. As for workshops, approximately 4% implemented first-response training. Regarding preparedness and possible related factors, cross-departmental disaster response training and actual experience of disasters were found to be related. In times of crisis, a need for cross-departmental cooperation and comprehensive coordination may be suggested, such as linking with the organization's crisis management department.市町村における平常時の災害時保健活動の体制整備の状況と、体制整備に関連すると思われる要因との関連を明らかにすることを目的に、市町村保健衛生部門の保健師代表者を対象に調査した。体制整備は、災害保健活動マニュアル、災害対応訓練、災害保健活動関連研修会の３項目、関連すると思われる要因は、人口規模、被災経験の有無、被災者受入の有無、所管保健所による災害関連研修の実施、統括保健師配置の有無の５項目とした。結果、９割の市町村がマニュアルを整備し、５割で独自のマニュアルを作成していた。災害対応訓練は、危機管理部門による全庁的な訓練を毎年実施している市町村が多く、保健師活動訓練の実施は2.5割であった。研修会は、約4割で初動対応研修を実施していた。体制整備に関連すると思われる要因との関連は、全庁的な災害対応訓練の実施に被災経験の有無が関連していた。平常時からの体制整備には、危機管理部門等との連動など、部署横断的な連携や総合的な調整の必要性が示唆された

Clonal evolution and clinical implications of genetic abnormalities in blastic transformation of chronic myeloid leukaemia

Blast crisis (BC) predicts dismal outcomes in patients with chronic myeloid leukaemia (CML). Although additional genetic alterations play a central role in BC, the landscape and prognostic impact of these alterations remain elusive. Here, we comprehensively investigate genetic abnormalities in 136 BC and 148 chronic phase (CP) samples obtained from 216 CML patients using exome and targeted sequencing. One or more genetic abnormalities are found in 126 (92.6%) out of the 136 BC patients, including the RUNX1-ETS2 fusion and NBEAL2 mutations. The number of genetic alterations increase during the transition from CP to BC, which is markedly suppressed by tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs). The lineage of the BC and prior use of TKIs correlate with distinct molecular profiles. Notably, genetic alterations, rather than clinical variables, contribute to a better prediction of BC prognosis. In conclusion, genetic abnormalities can help predict clinical outcomes and can guide clinical decisions in CML