Prototypes and Metaphorical Extensions: The Japanese Numeral Classifiers hiki and hatsu

This study concerns the meaning of Japanese numeral classifiers (NCs) and, particularly, the elements which guide us to understand the metaphorical meanings they can convey. In the typological literature, as well as in studies of Japanese, the focus is almost entirely on NCs that refer to entities. NCs are generally characterised as being matched with a noun primarily based on semantic criteria such as the animacy, the physical characteristics, or the function of the referent concerned. However, in some languages, including Japanese, nouns allow a number of alternative NCs, so that it is considered that NCs are not automatically matched with a noun but rather with the referent that the noun refers to in the particular context in which it occurs. This study examines data from the Balanced Corpus of Contemporary Written Japanese, and focuses on two NCs as case studies: hiki, an entity NC, typically used to classify small, animate beings, and hatsu, an NC that is used to classify both entities and events that are typically explosive in nature. The study employs the framework of Prototype Theory, along with the theory of conceptual metaphor, and the theory of metonymy. The analysis of the data identified a number of semantic components for each of the target NCs; by drawing on these components, the speaker can subjectively add those meanings to modify the meaning of the referring noun or verb. Furthermore, the study revealed that the choice of NCs can be influenced by two factors. First, the choice of NC sometimes relates to the linguistic context in which the referring noun or verb occurs. For example, if a noun is used metaphorically, the NC is chosen to reinforce that metaphor, rather than to match with the actual referent. Second, the meaning of an NC itself can be used as a vehicle of metaphor to contribute meaning to that of the referring noun or verb concerned. Through the analysis, is has been identified that the range of referents of a single NC beyond cases in which objectively observable characteristics are evident occurs in two dimensions: (1) in terms of the typicality of referents and (2) across categories of referents (entities and events). Based on the findings, the study claims that, in both cases, non-literal factors account for extension in the range of referents of an NC in Japanese. Specifically, the non-literal devices of metaphor and metonymy appear to play a role in connecting an NC and its referent in the context in which extension of the use of that NC occurs

Preconditions for successful guideline implementation: perceptions of oncology nurses

Abstract Background Although evidence-based guidelines are important for improving the quality of patient care, implementation in practice is below expectations. With the recent focus on team care, guidelines are intended to promote the integration of care across multiple disciplines. We conducted an exploratory study to understand oncology nurses' perceptions of guideline implementation and to learn their views on how their experiences affected the implementation. Methods A qualitative study was used with focus group interviews. We collected data from 11 nurses with more than 5 years of oncology nursing experience in Japan. The data were analyzed using grounded theory. Results Results of the analysis identified "preconditions for successful guideline implementation" as a core category. There were 4 categories (goal congruence, equal partnership, professional self-development and user-friendliness) and 11 subcategories related to organizational, multidisciplinary, individual, and guideline levels. Conclusions Although the guidelines were viewed as important, they were not fully implemented in practice. There are preconditions at the organizational, multidisciplinary, individual, and guideline levels that must be met if an organization is to successfully implement the guideline in clinical settings. Prioritizing strategies by focusing on these preconditions will help to facilitate successful guideline implementation.</p

Current nursing practice for patients on oral chemotherapy: a multicenter survey in Japan

BACKGROUND: With a paradigm shift toward a chronic care model in cancer, the issue of adherence is becoming increasingly important in oncology. METHODS: We mailed two self-reported surveys on current nursing practices for patients on oral chemotherapy to all 309 designated cancer centers and 141 large general hospitals in Japan. The first survey was based on a nurse-based questionnaire containing 40 items concerning nurse’s characteristics, nurse staffing at workplace, general nursing care for new patients on oral chemotherapy and those with refilled prescriptions, follow-up, and system-based approach. The second survey was based on a patient-based questionnaire containing 10 items about patient characteristics and adherence-related nursing practice for 249 patients taking oral chemotherapy of 903 systematically sampled. We used multivariate logistic regression to identify factors that were associated with adherence-related nursing practices. RESULTS: A total of 62 nurses (mean age: 41.5 years) from 62 hospitals who consented participated in the both nurse-based survey and patient-based survey about 249 patients. The results of nurse-based survey indicated that practices varied, but nurses were less likely to ask adherence-related questions of patients with refilled prescriptions than of new patients. The results of patient-based survey found that questions on side effects, discussions about barriers to achieving balance between treatment and daily life activities, and medication management were all significantly related to the question about unused medicines. Logistic regression revealed that adherence-related nursing practices were associated with the nurse’s background, type of treatment, and healthcare system-related factors. Patient orientation on oral chemotherapy, interdisciplinary learning, and having a system-based approach for detecting prescription errors were identified as healthcare system-related factors. CONCLUSIONS: A more systematic approach must be developed to ensure patients receive safe and effective oral chemotherapy, while nurses should play significant roles in patient education and monitoring

Development of Calorie Restriction Mimetics as Therapeutics for Obesity, Diabetes, Inflammatory and Neurodegenerative Diseases

Calorie restriction (CR) is the most robust intervention that decreases morbidity and mortality, and thereby increases the lifespan of many organisms. Although the signaling pathways involved in the beneficial effects of CR are not yet fully understood. Several candidate pathways and key molecules have been identified. The effects of CR are highly conserved from lower organisms such as yeast to higher mammals such as rodents and monkeys. Recent studies have also demonstrated beneficial effects of CR in humans, although we need much longer studies to evaluate whether CR also increases the lifespan of humans. In reality, it is difficult for us to conduct CR interventions in humans because the subjects must be kept in a state of hunger and the duration of this state needed to achieve a clinically meaningful effect is still unknown. Thus, research in this field is focusing on the development of molecules that mimic the beneficial effects of CR without reducing food intake. Some of these candidate molecules include plant-derived functional chemicals (phyto-chemicals), synthetic small molecules, and endocrine molecules such as adipokines. Several studies have already shown that this research field may yield novel drugs for the treatment of age-related diseases such as diabetes. In this article, we describe the target pathways, candidate molecules, and strategies to develop CR mimetics

The Role of Nurse on the Treatment Decision Support for Older People with Cancer: A Systematic Review

Background: The number of older adults with cancer is increasing worldwide. The role of nurses in supporting patients’ decision-making is expanding, as this process is fraught with complexity and uncertainty due to comorbidities, frailty, cognitive decline, etc., in older adults with cancer. The aim of this review was to examine the contemporary roles of oncology nurses in the treatment decision-making process in older adults with cancer. Methods: A systematic review of PubMed, CINAHL, and PsycINFO databases was conducted in accordance with PRISMA guidelines. Results: Of the 3029 articles screened, 56 full texts were assessed for eligibility, and 13 were included in the review. We identified three themes regarding nurses’ roles in the decision-making process for older adults with cancer: accurate geriatric assessments, provision of available information, and advocacy. Nurses conduct geriatric assessments to identify geriatric syndromes, provide appropriate information, elicit patient preferences, and communicate efficiently with patients and caregivers, promoting physicians. Time constraints were cited as a barrier to fulfilling nurses’ roles. Conclusions: The role of nurses is to elicit patients’ broader health and social care needs to facilitate patient-centered decision-making, respecting their preferences and values. Further research focusing on the role of nurses that considers diverse cancer types and healthcare systems is needed

The Role of Neuropeptide Y in Adipocyte-Macrophage Crosstalk during High Fat Diet-Induced Adipose Inflammation and Liver Steatosis

Obesity is associated with an increased risk of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), which is initiated by adipocyte-macrophage crosstalk. Among the possible molecules regulating this crosstalk, we focused on neuropeptide Y (NPY), which is known to be involved in hypothalamic appetite and adipose tissue inflammation and metabolism. In this study, the NPY−/− mice showed a marked decrease in body weight and adiposity, and lower free fatty acid and adipose inflammation without food intake alteration during a high fat diet (HFD). Moreover, NPY deficiency increased the thermogenic genes expression in brown adipose tissue. Notably, NPY-mRNA expression was upregulated in macrophages from the HFD mice compared to that from the mice on a standard diet. The NPY-mRNA expression also positively correlated with the liver mass/body weight ratio. NPY deletion alleviated HFD-induced adipose inflammation and liver steatosis. Hence, our findings point toward a novel intracellular mechanism of NPY in the regulation of adipocyte-macrophage crosstalk and highlight NPY antagonism as a promising target for therapeutic approaches against obesity and NAFLD

Calorie restriction minimizes activation of insulin signaling in response to glucose: Potential involvement of the growth hormone-insulin-like growth factor 1 axis

Calorie restriction (CR) may modulate insulin signaling in response to energy intake through suppression of the growth hormone (GH)-IGF-1 axis. We investigated the glucose-stimulated serum insulin response and subsequent alterations in insulin receptor (IR), Akt, and FoxO1 in the rat liver and quadriceps femoris muscle (QFM). Nine-month-old wild-type (W) male Wistar rats fed ad libitum (AL) or a 30% CR diet initiated at 6 weeks of age and GH-suppressed transgenic (Tg) rats fed AL were killed 15 min after intraperitoneal injection of glucose or saline. In W-AL rats, the serum insulin concentration was elevated by glucose injection. Concomitantly, the phosphorylated (p)-IR and p-Akt levels were increased in both tissues. The active FoxO1 level was decreased in the liver, but not significantly in the QFM. In W-CR and Tg-AL rats, the serum insulin response was lower, and no significant changes were noted for the p-IR, p-Akt, or active FoxO1 levels in the liver. In the QFM, the p-Akt level was increased in W-CR and Tg-AL rats with an insignificant elevation of p-IR levels. The phenotypic similarity of W-CR and Tg-AL rats suggest that CR minimizes activation of insulin signaling in response to energy intake mostly through the GH-IGF-1 axis

Adição de redutores de pH e doses de glyphosate na dessecação de plantas daninhas

Two experiments were conducted to evaluate the influence from the addition of pH reducers and rates of glyphosate in the spray mix to Euphorbia heterophylla and Glycine max control. The treatments were arranged in a factorial scheme (4 x 2) + 1, randomized blocks design and four replications. Each experiment used a pH reducer (pH Fós ou Redumax), four rates of reducer (0, 50, 75 and 100% of the rate recommended), two rates of glyphosate (450 and 900 g ha-1) and an untreated check. The weed control was evaluated at 4, 6, 8, 10, 12 and 14 days after application (DAA) of treatments, in visual scale from 0 to 100% of control. In both experiments, 450 g ha-1 glyphosate, the addition of reducers in the spray mix provided greater weed control in relation to only glyphosate. There was no difference in 50, 75 and 100% of the rate recommended of reducers. With the use of adjuvant has a satisfactory control with half the recommended rate of glyphosate at 14 DAA. These results demonstrate the possibility of reduced rates of glyphosate when used these adjuvants in the spray mix.Foram conduzidos dois experimentos visando avaliar a influência de redutores de pH e doses de glyphosate associados à calda de pulverização sobre a dessecação de Euphorbia heterophylla (Amendoim–bravo) e Glycine max (Soja tiguera). Adotou-se o esquema fatorial (4 x 2) + 1, em blocos casualizados com quatro repetições. Foi utilizado um redutor comercial em cada experimento (pH Fós ou Redumax), sendo quatro doses do redutor (0, 50, 75 e 100% da dose recomendada pelo fabricante) e duas doses de glyphosate (450 e 900 g ha-1), além de uma testemunha sem aplicação. O controle das plantas daninhas foi avaliado aos 4, 6, 8, 10, 12 e 14 dias após a aplicação (DAA) dos tratamentos, em escala visual de 0 a 100% de controle. Em ambos os experimentos, na dose de 450 g ha-1 de glyphosate, a adição de redutores à calda de pulverização proporcionou maior controle das plantas daninhas, em relação ao uso de glyphosate isolado. Não houve diferenças no desempenho proporcionado pelas quantidades de 50, 75 e 100% da dose recomendada dos redutores, em todas as avaliações. Constatou-se ainda que aos 14 DAA, o uso de adjuvante permitiu um controle satisfatório com metade da dose de glyphosate recomendada. Tais resultados evidenciam a possibilidade de redução na dose de glyphosate quando forem utilizados esses adjuvantes

Development of a bioassay to screen for chemicals mimicking the anti-aging effects of calorie restriction

Suppression of the growth hormone/insulin-like growth factor-I pathway in Ames dwarf (DF) mice, and caloric restriction (CR) in normal mice extends lifespan and delays the onset of age-related disorders. In combination, these interventions have an additive effect on lifespan in Ames DF mice. Therefore, common signaling pathways regulated by DF and CR could have additive effects on longevity. In this study, we tried to identity the signaling mechanism and develop a system to assess pro-longevity status in cells and mice. We previously identified genes up-regulated in the liver of DF and CR mice by DNA microarray analysis. Motif analysis of the upstream sequences of those genes revealed four major consensus sequence motifs, which have been named dwarfism and calorie restriction-responsive elements (DFCR-REs). One of the synthesized sequences bound to hepatocyte nuclear factor-4α (HNF-4α), an important transcription factor involved in liver metabolism. Furthermore, using this sequence information, we developed a highly sensitive bioassay to identify chemicals mimicking the anti-aging effects of CR. When the reporter construct, containing an element upstream of a secreted alkaline phosphatase (SEAP) gene, was co-transfected with HNF-4α and its regulator peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) γ coactivator-1α (PGC-1α), SEAP activity was increased compared with untransfected controls. Moreover, transient transgenic mice established using this construct showed increased SEAP activity in CR mice compared with ad libitum-fed mice. These data suggest that because of its rapidity, ease of use, and specificity, our bioassay will be more useful than the systems currently employed to screen for CR mimetics, which mimic the beneficial effects of CR. Our system will be particularly useful for high-throughput screening of natural and synthetic candidate molecules