高等学校の新入生オリエンテーションにおける構成的グループ・エンカウンターの実践的研究

本研究では、高等学校1年生の女子生徒159名を対象に、新入生オリエンテーションにおいて構成的グループ・エンカウンター（SGE）を実践し、その効果を検討することを目的とした。具体的には、自己紹介といった内容のワークを実施した後、自由記述の質問紙を実施し、体験に関する感想やSGEに関する感想、継続実施の要望を検討した。その結果、多くの生徒が今回の体験やSGEに対して肯定的な感情を述べていた。また、約6割の者がクラスでの実施も希望した。一方で、ワークの内容や実施環境に関する改善点も明らかとなった。This study aims to investigate the effects of structured group encounter (SGE) on high school girls in freshman orientation. Participants in this study were 159 female students, who, at the end of a practical exercise, were asked to respond to a questionnaire that consisted of free remarks. Category analysis of the free remarks revealed a few aspects. Results indicated that many students had a positive image of SGE and that their self-awareness and understanding of others changed positively after SGE

Restraint-Induced Expression of Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress-Related Genes in the Mouse Brain

ABSTRACT Depression is a significant public health concern but its pathology remains unclear. Previously, increases in an end

Building Capacity to Transform Zambia: What Motivates Government Officials to Learn Planning-related Skills?

Capacity building of local governments can strengthen a country because enhancing the abilities of individuals and institutions helps achieve the nation’s development goals. As it is one of the development strategies in Zambia, the country has undertaken countless capacity building programs through the cooperation with international and donor organizations. Yet, the effectiveness of the programs is uncertain. This thesis, therefore, examines the impact of capacity building to the planning officers in Zambia. First, surveys were conducted to analyze the officials’ incentives to attend training and acquire planning-related skills in a range of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and spatial analyses. Then, a GIS training was evaluated qualitatively and quantitatively to assess how much they improved their skills through the project. Finally, by comparing the relationship between the individual incentives and training results of the officials, this thesis demonstrates that personal incentives can play a key role in capacity building

Relationship between serum bilirubin levels, urinary biopyrrin levels, and retinopathy in patients with diabetes.

ObjectivePrevious reports have indicated that serum bilirubin levels may be associated with diabetic retinopathy. However, the detailed mechanism is not fully understood. In this study, we evaluated the relationship between the severity of diabetic retinopathy and various factors including bilirubin levels and factors influencing bilirubin metabolism.MethodsThe study participants consisted of 94 consecutive patients with diabetes mellitus admitted to Kyushu University Hospital from April 2011 to July 2012. The patients were classified into three groups: no retinopathy (NDR), simple retinopathy (SDR), and pre-proliferative or proliferative retinopathy (PDR). The relationship between the severity of retinopathy and various factors was evaluated using univariate and logistic regression analyses. In addition, multivariate regression analysis was performed to evaluate the significant determinants for bilirubin levels.ResultsIn univariate analysis, a significant difference was found among NDR, SDR and PDR in bilirubin levels, duration of diabetes, systolic blood pressure, and macroalbuminuria. Logistic regression analysis showed that PDR was significantly associated with bilirubin levels, duration of diabetes, and systolic blood pressure (OR 0.737, 95% CI 0.570-0.952, P = 0.012; OR 1.085, 95% CI 1.024-1.149, P = 0.006; OR 1.036, 95% CI 1.011-1.062, P = 0.005, respectively). In turn, multivariate regression analysis showed that bilirubin levels were negatively associated with high-sensitivity C-reactive protein levels and PDR, but positively correlated with urinary biopyrrin levels, oxidized metabolites of bilirubin.ConclusionPDR was negatively associated with bilirubin levels. This negative association may be due to a decreased production of bilirubin rather than its increased consumption considering the positive association between bilirubin and biopyrrin levels

Endoscopic ultrasonography features of gastric mucosal cobblestone-like changes from a proton-pump inhibitor

A 68-year-old man with no symptoms presented to Hokkaido University Hospital for esophagogastroduodenoscopy screening. He had a history of Helicobacter pylori eradication. Initial esophagogastroduodenoscopy showed no gastric cobblestone-like mucosa or gastric cracked mucosa. After 1 year, he received esomeprazole (20 mg) once daily for heartburn at another hospital. Esophagogastroduodenoscopy was performed after 2 years of esomeprazole administration. Endoscopic findings showed that after H. pylori eradication, according to the Kyoto classification, gastric cobblestone-like mucosa presented in the gastric body area. Dilation of the oval crypt opening and intervening part in the gastric cobblestone-like mucosa was detected by endoscopy with narrow band imaging. Endoscopic ultrasonography revealed a thick gastric second layer and sporadic small a-echoic lesions in the low-echoic thickened second layer in the gastric cobblestone-like mucosa. The gastric cobblestone-like mucosa biopsy specimen showed parietal cell protrusions and oxyntic gland dilatations. Recently, we reported that gastric mucosal changes such as gastric cracked mucosa and gastric cobblestone-like mucosa were caused by protonpump inhibitors; however, the gastric cobblestone-like mucosa was not examined by endoscopic ultrasonography. In this case, endoscopic ultrasonography findings suggested that oxyntic gland dilatations caused the elevated gastric mucosa, such as gastric cobblestone-like mucosa, from the use of proton-pump inhibitors

Data from: Effectiveness of vole control by owls in apple orchards

1. Biological pest control is gaining greater acceptance as an important part of integrated pest management for sustainable agriculture. However, knowledge regarding biological control of rodent pests is limited, and its effectiveness in temperate areas has not been quantified. In traditional Japanese apple orchards, the Ural owl Strix uralensis breeds in tree hollows and preys on the Japanese field vole Microtus montebelli, a native pest species that can harm fruit production. In this study, we hypothesized that the Ural owl, a generalist predator, can act as a biological control agent by reducing vole densities in temperate orchards. 2. To quantify the pest control effects of breeding Ural owls, we first analysed the diet of individual owls nesting in apple tree hollows. Second, we installed nest boxes in orchards to attract breeding owl pairs and collected data on vole population changes around owl nests to compare with control areas. The population changes were analysed using a generalised linear mixed model to assess the effect of breeding owls within their breeding territory. The model took into account seasonal fluctuations in vole population size as well as surrounding land-use. We also examined vole populations around the owl nests in April, and the distance between nests and forested areas, to determine if these variables influenced nest site selection. 3. The primary prey of Ural owls breeding in orchards was voles, and the owls reduced vole populations within their estimated breeding territories by 63% (± SE: 53%–70%) compared with the predicted density without owls. Owls preferred to nest in orchards with higher vole population densities in April. Our findings also indicate that higher occupancy rates are possible by distributing nest boxes based on Ural owl breeding territory size (306 m radius circle in our study). 4. Synthesis and applications. As breeding Ural owls provided significant pest control effects within their breeding territories, the re-introduction of breeding Ural owl pairs within orchards will contribute to rodent pest control. Promoting the reproduction of native raptors in agricultural areas can be an option for developing integrated pest management while simultaneously maintaining regional biodiversity.04-Oct-201