A Procedure for Settling Multi-Criteria Problem by a Small Group of Decision Makers

AHP can handle decision-making problems involving several criteria when some of these are difficult or impossible to compare other than numerically. When a small group of decision makers settle the multi-criteria problem by AHP, the members of group could not often reach an agreement with hierarchic structure involving objectives, criteria, sub-criteria and alternatives because they have different positions, interests, and opinions. Further, the members have different importances for criteria and sub-criteria, and have dissimilar preferences for alternatives. In this article, we reveal the troubleness of AHP in case of being used by a small group of decision makers. Moreover, we proposed a procedure of AHP which the members of group could easily agree with the structure of problem and the weights of criteria etc

Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor δ as a molecular target to regulate lung cancer cell growth

AbstractIt has been assumed that prostaglandin (PG)I2 signaling contributes to the negative growth control of lung cancer cells; however, the mechanism remains unresolved. PGI2 functions through a cell surface G protein-coupled receptor (prostaglandin I2-binding receptor, IP) and also exerts an effect by interacting with a nuclear hormone receptor, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor δ (PPARδ). We found that PPARδ was a key molecule of PGI2 signaling to give negative growth control of lung cancer cells (A549), using carbarprostacyclin, a PGI2 agonist for IP and PPARδ, and L-165041, a PPARδ agonist. Furthermore, PPARδ-induced cell growth control was reinforced by the inhibition of cyclooxygenase. These results suggest that PPARδ activation under the suppression of PG synthesis is important to regulate lung cancer cell growth

Detection of Nε-(hexanoyl)lysine in the tropomyosin 1 protein in N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine-induced rat gastric cancer cells

Nε-(Hexanoyl)lysine, formed by the reaction of lysine with n-6 lipid hydroperoxide, is a lipid peroxidation marker during the initial stage of oxidative stress. The aim of the present study is to indentify Nε-(hexanoyl)lysine-modified proteins in neoplastic transformed gastric mucosal cells by N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine, and to compare the levels of these proteins between gastric mucosal cells and normal gastric cells. Much greater fluorescence of 2-[6-(4'-hydroxy)phenoxyl-3H-xanthen-3-on-9-yl]benzoic acid, an index of the intracellular levels of reactive oxygen species, was observed for gastric mucosal cells compared to normal gastric cells. Nε-(Hexanoyl)lysine-modified proteins were detected by SDS-PAGE or two-dimensional electrophoresis and Western blotting using anti-Nε-(hexanoyl)lysine polyclonal antibody, and a protein band of between 30–40 kDa was clearly increased in gastric mucosal cells compared to normal gastric cells. Two Nε-(hexanoyl)lysine-modified protein spots in gastric mucosal cells were identified as the tropomyosin 1 protein by mass spectrometry using a MASCOT search. The existence of Nε-(hexanoyl)lysine modification in tropomyosin 1 was confirmed by Western blotting of SDS-PAGE-separated or two-dimensional electrophoresis-separated proteins as well as by the immunoprecipitation with anti-tropomyosin 1 antibody. These data indicate that Nε-(hexanoyl)lysine modification of tropomyosin 1 may be related to neoplastic transformation by N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine in gastric epithelial cells

Quality of care associated with number of cases seen and self-reports of clinical competence for Japanese physicians-in-training in internal medicine

BACKGROUND: The extent of clinical exposure needed to ensure quality care has not been well determined during internal medicine training. We aimed to determine the association between clinical exposure (number of cases seen), self- reports of clinical competence, and type of institution (predictor variables) and quality of care (outcome variable) as measured by clinical vignettes. METHODS: Cross-sectional study using univariate and multivariate linear analyses in 11 teaching hospitals in Japan. Participants were physicians-in-training in internal medicine departments. Main outcome measure was standardized t-scores (quality of care) derived from responses to five clinical vignettes. RESULTS: Of the 375 eligible participants, 263 (70.1%) completed the vignettes. Most were in their first (57.8%) and second year (28.5%) of training; on average, the participants were 1.8 years (range = 1–8) after graduation. Two thirds of the participants (68.8%) worked in university-affiliated teaching hospitals. The median number of cases seen was 210 (range = 10–11400). Greater exposure to cases (p = 0.0005), higher self-reports of clinical competence (p = 0.0095), and type of institution (p < 0.0001) were significantly associated with higher quality of care, using a multivariate linear model and adjusting for the remaining factors. Quality of care rapidly increased for the first 100 to 200 cases seen and tapered thereafter. CONCLUSION: The amount of clinical exposure and levels of self-reports of clinical competence, not years after graduation, were positively associated with quality of care, adjusting for the remaining factors. The learning curve tapered after about 200 cases

川崎医科大学におけるブース形式診療科別説明会の学内開催

川崎医科大学は,中核市の倉敷市内と政令指定都市の岡山市内に二つの附属病院を有している。両病院の卒後臨床研修プログラムは独立しているが,研修は両方の病院の診療科から選択することが可能である。平成27年7月,初めて川崎医科大学生を対象にした大学附属病院診療科の説明会をブース形式で学内開催した。研修プログラム説明会とは趣を異にし,各診療科の特徴や業務内容を広報することを目的とした。1年生から6年生までの学生が参加し,アンケート調査に回答した52名全員が将来の研修病院の選択に役に立ったと答え,うち27%は非常に役立ったと高い満足度を示した。また,研修医だけで計画した学生向けのミニシンポジウムも同時に開催し,来場した約70%の学生が参加し貴重な情報収集の場となった。次年度以降も改善を加えながら,学生が身近に附属病院スタッフや先輩研修医と交流できるイベントとして育てていきたい。Kawasaki Medical School has one hospital in Kurashiki City, a core city, and another in Okayama City, an ordinance-designated city. These hospitals have independent postgraduate clinical training programs. However, departments of both hospitals can be selected for training. In July 2015, a boothtype meeting regarding Kawasaki Medical School Hospital departments was held for Kawasaki Medical School students for the first time. The intent of the meeting differed from that of other training program meetings, and its goal was to provide information on the characteristics and tasks of each department. First- to sixth-year students participated in the meeting. All 52 students who responded to a questionnaire survey answered that the meeting was useful in helping them select a hospital for their future training, and 27% of them reported that the meeting was very useful and showed high levels of satisfaction. A mini symposium for students planned only by residents was also held at the same time. About 70% of visiting students participated in the symposium and were given a valuable opportunity to gather information. By making improvements, we will cultivate the meeting as an event in which students can have contact with hospital staff and junior residents from the next year

Dispersion reduction in generation of high-order optical vortex using axially symmetric half-wave plates

We present the topological-charge-dispersion reduction scheme in optical vortex generation using axially symmetric half-wave plates (AHPs). The topological-charge dispersion caused by retardation errors of AHPs and other waveplates is decreased by eliminating unwanted circular-polarization components

Characteristics of Students Who Frequently Conduct Plant Observations: Toward Fostering Leaders and Supporters of Fixed-Point Observation of Forests

In order to foster leaders and supporters of fixed-point observation for sustainable forest management, it is considered effective to focus on students who have demonstrated potential for fixed-point observations of forests in the universal education stage. This study aims to identify the characteristics of students who frequently conduct plant observations, which is the basis for the fixed-point observation of forests, including methods involving photography. We conducted a questionnaire survey, which consisted of 19 questions that provided insight into junior high school students&rsquo; experiences, opportunities, and interests related to plant observation. We compared students who have conducted plant observations with those who have not, using Fisher&rsquo;s exact test and multiple comparisons using the Benjamini and Hochberg method. The ratio of students who frequently conducted plant observations was significantly higher among female students than male students, and their characteristics differed by gender. The significant characteristics of male students included farm work experience and niche hobbies such as camping and lighting a bonfire, as well as using digital single-lens reflex cameras for photography; female students had relatively niche hobbies such as enjoying science. Students who increased the frequency of plant observations after the lecture about fixed-point observations of forests had an inclination toward social studies and tended not to use a smartphone for photography