Factors related to hospital nurse intention to leave: Does striving for work-life balance and sense of coherence affect wishes to stay in the organization?

The aim of this study is to identify relationships between striving for work-life balance (S-WLB), sense of coherence (SOC), and intention to leave among hospital nurses. In August of 2017, we conducted a self-administered questionnaire survey to 2239 nurses at nine public hospitals. The questionnaire included demographic factors, work environmental factors, organizational factors, striving for worklife balance, a 13-item SOC, the Maslach Burnout Inventory, and intention to leave. We carried out a multiple regression analysis with intention to leave as the dependent variable and others as independent variables. We obtained valid responses from 1368 full-time employed nurses (61.1%). The mean age of respondents was 36.38 ± 10.18 years, and the length of clinical experience 13.4 ± 9.65 years. The mean total score of the intention to leave was 14.58 ± 5.09. As a result of the multiple regression analysis, the SWLB and the SOC were found to be statistically related to the intention to leave even after controlling for the confounding factor of burnout. In addition, the satisfaction of desire level for the actual working assignment at the workplace was a significant independent factor. In this study, the full-time nursing staff had a low intention to leave score when they had a high score in the SWLB and the SOC. It was also found that the level of satisfaction with appointment to a desired assignment is a significant factor in the intention to leave. In establishing an attractive workplace for nursing staff, it is important to create a workplace environment and supports to be able to properly evaluate workplace satisfaction after assignments are made while taking into account individual S-WLB and SOC functions

The photosynthetic response of tobacco plants overexpressing ice plant aquaporin McMIPB to a soil water deficit and high vapor pressure deficit

We investigated the photosynthetic capacity and plant growth of tobacco plants overexpressing ice plant (Mesembryanthemum crystallinum L.) aquaporin McMIPB under (1) a well-watered growth condition, (2) a well-watered and temporal higher vapor pressure deficit (VPD) condition, and (3) a soil water deficit growth condition to investigate the effect of McMIPB on photosynthetic responses under moderate soil and atmospheric humidity and water deficit conditions. Transgenic plants showed a significantly higher photosynthesis rate (by 48 %), higher mesophyll conductance (by 52 %), and enhanced growth under the well-watered growth condition than those of control plants. Decreases in the photosynthesis rate and stomatal conductance from ambient to higher VPD were slightly higher in transgenic plants than those in control plants. When plants were grown under the soil water deficit condition, decreases in the photosynthesis rate and stomatal conductance were less significant in transgenic plants than those in control plants. McMIPB is likely to work as a CO(2) transporter, as well as control the regulation of stomata to water deficits

Obesity and Cardiovascular Risk After Quitting Smoking: The Latest Evidence

Smoking cessation is one of the most effective ways to reduce cardiovascular risk. However, weight gain and abdominal obesity generally occur after quitting smoking, as a result of nicotine withdrawal. Obesity increases various inflammatory markers, and weight gain after smoking cessation temporarily increases the risk of diabetes and reduces the benefit gained by smoking abstinence. The benefits of smoking cessation may be minimised by obesity in those who have stopped smoking. Pharmacological treatment with medications such as nicotine patches and varenicline is useful to suppress weight gain during smoking cessation. Supporting patients to continue smoking cessation and to gradually decrease their weight will be crucial

Specific gene expression in unmyelinated dorsal root ganglion neurons in nonhuman primates by intra-nerve injection of AAV 6 vector

霊長類においてウイルスベクターを用いた痛覚神経への遺伝子導入に成功 --神経障害性疼痛治療への応用に期待--. 京都大学プレスリリース. 2021-08-12.Adeno-associated virus 6 has been proposed as a potential vector candidate for specific gene expression in pain-related dorsal root ganglion neurons, but this has not been confirmed in nonhuman primates. The aim of our study was to analyze the transduction efficiency and target specificity of this viral vector in the common marmoset by comparing with those in the rat. When green fluorescent protein-expressing serotype-6 vector was injected into the sciatic nerve, the efficiency of gene expression in dorsal root ganglion neurons was comparable in both species. We found that the serotype-6 vector was largely specific to the pain-related ganglion neurons in the marmoset as well as in the rat, whereas the serotype-9 vector resulted in contrasting effects in the two species. Neither AAV6 nor AAV9 resulted in DRG toxicity when administered via the sciatic nerve, suggesting this as a safer route of sensory nerve transduction than the currently used intrathecal or intravenous administrative routes. Furthermore, the adeno-associated virus 6 vector could be an optimal serotype for gene therapy for human chronic pain that has minimal effect on other somatosensory functions of dorsal root ganglion neurons

Experimental Verification of Finite Element Analysis for a Thermoplastic Orthodontic Aligner

In recent years, good outcomes have been reported using transparent and removable orthodontic appliances known as aligners. However, unpredicted tooth movement that contradicted 3-dimensional image simulations was observed in some cases. These anomalies could relate to biomechanical factors ; in particular, the characteristics of mechanical loading applied to the periodontal ligament and the tooth crown by aligners remain unclear. This study examines the biomechanical characteristics of aligners by a new method as follows : 1) development of an experimental model using artificial teeth and plastic aligners ; 2) finite element (FE) modeling and analysis using computed tomography (CT) images of the experimental model ; and, 3) comparison among observations of this actual model and standard FE analysis results. Roots of two artificial teeth were covered by silicone material at 1.0 mm intervals for each coronal proximal surface and plastic clear aligners were manufactured based on another model in which the interval was reduced to 0.0 mm to simulate bodily movement. An FE analysis model of this 1.0 mm teeth interval was reconstructed from the CT images. A virtual aligner based on the FE model was also generated with a 0.0 mm interval. Changes in space between the root surface and silicone in both the actual and FE model were compared with the aligner fitted in the initial model. Identical tendencies of movement were observed in both experimental results - the artificial teeth and computational results of FE analysis. Our method using an experimental and computational approach proved useful to examine aligner characteristics ; the use of such a biomechanical approach could further our understanding of aligner treatments

アルゼンチン (アコク) 「トキメキ ニホンゴ レベル テスト」 サクセイ, ジッシ ホウコク -ニホンゴ ノウリョク シケン 4キュウ ニ タッシナイ ガクシュウシャ ヲ タイショウ ニ シテ-

アルゼンチンでは国際交流基金主催の「日本語能力試験」が1988年より実施され、多くの学習者が受験している。しかしながら学習レベルが「日本語能力試験」4級に達しない学習者も多い。在亜日本語教育連合会付属日本語教育センターでは、これらの学習者に対し、学習段階に応じてその力を確かめることと、励ますことを目的に「ときめき日本語レベルテスト」を作成、実施している。本稿ではテスト作成背景、作成手順、テスト概略、受験者傾向、2005年度実施テストの結果と分析を報告する。 「ときめき日本語レベルテスト」には5級と6級（各級の問題は、文字・語彙、聴解、文法・読解）が設置されており、いずれも13歳程度以上の成人向けである。5級は日本語学習100時間程度、6級は日本語学習50時間程度の学習者を対象としている。テストは出題基準と過去問題のデータベースを資料に作成されているが、出題基準はアルゼンチンで広く利用されている教科書6冊を基礎としている。問題作成は出題基準の改正から始まり、約半年かけて行われる。結果はレベル認定と、素点、得点率が学習者及び各申込校に各種問題別に全体平均得点率と共に送付される。2005年度における受験者数は5級が166人、6級が246人であった。テスト結果の傾向を見る資料としてレベル認定率、基本統計量、相関係数とα係数、総得点と人数のヒストグラムを示した。また、項目分析資料として正答率と弁別指数を算出した。正答率が一定の数値以外の項目及び正答率が一定の数値以内でかつ弁別力が一定の数値以下の項目は今後の検討の対象となるべきもので、 このような分析はこれからの問題作成上の参考になると思われる。最後に「ときめき日本語レベルテスト」がより広く普及、実施されるための課題が提案される。The Japanese Language and Culture Center in Argentina offers a “Tokimeki Japanese Level Test” for students who have not yet reached Level 4 of the Japan Foundation\u27s JLPT. This article gives a general oversview of the test, describes the process of designing it, and reports on the results and analysis of test scores from the year 2005. The test consists of two levels― Level 5 and Level 6. Each level consists of three parts: (1) letter recognition and vocabulary; (2) listening comprehension; and (3) grammar and reading comprehension. The test is designed for adult learners of Japanese over the age of about 13 who have studied the Japanese language for 100 hours (Level 5) and 50 hours (Level 6). Each item on the test is controlled and examined for upcoming test administrations, with at least six months devoted to preparation. The base materials for this process are test standards for vocabulary and grammar, and database of the test content from past years. In the latter part of the article, statistics are provided to highlight aspects of the 2005 test. These include the number and percentage of each level achieved, table of key statistics, correlation coefficients and an alpha factor table, histogram of the test scores and the number of people for each score. Two additional set of statistics― the percentage of correct answers for each item and the discrimination coefficient― suggest possibilities for a structural modification of the vocabulary section of the test. Finally, some general suggestions are made to facilitate the efficient promotion of the test inside and outside the country

Method of Quantifying Size of Retinal Hemorrhages in Eyes with Branch Retinal Vein Occlusion Using 14-Square Grid: Interrater and Intrarater Reliability

Purpose. To describe a method of quantifying the size of the retinal hemorrhages in branch retinal vein occlusion (BRVO) and to determine the interrater and intrarater reliabilities of these measurements. Methods. Thirty-five fundus photographs from 35 consecutive eyes with BRVO were studied. The fundus images were analyzed with Power-Point® software, and a grid of 14 squares was laid over the fundus image. Raters were asked to judge the percentage of each of the 14 squares that was covered by the hemorrhages, and the average of the 14 squares was taken to be the relative size of the retinal hemorrhage. Results. Interrater reliability between three raters was higher when a grid with 14 squares was used (intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC), 0.96) than that when a box with no grid was used (ICC, 0.78). Intrarater reliability, which was calculated by the retinal hemorrhage area measured on two different days, was also higher (ICC, 0.97) than that with no grid (ICC, 0.86). Interrater reliability for five fundus pictures with poor image quality was also good when a grid with 14 squares was used (ICC, 0.88). Conclusions. Although our method is subjective, excellent interrater and intrarater reliabilities indicate that this method can be adapted for clinical use

NGS utility for diagnosis of MCA/ID

Background : In clinical practice, a large proportion of patients with multiple congenital anomalies and/or intellectual disabilities (MCA/ID) lacks a specific diagnosis. Recently, next-generation sequencing (NGS) has become an efficient strategy for genetic diagnosis of patients with MCA/ID. Objective : To review the utility of NGS for the diagnosis of patients with MCA/ID. Method : Patients with MCA/ID were recruited between 2013 and 2017. Molecular diagnosis was performed using NGS-based targeted panel sequencing for 4,813 genes. Promising causative variants underwent confirmation by Sanger sequencing or chromosomal microarray. Results : Eighteen patients with MCA/ID were enrolled in this study. Of them, 8 cases (44%) were diagnosed by targeted panel sequencing. Most of diagnosed patients were able to receive better counseling and more appropriate medical management. Conclusion : NGS-based targeted panel sequencing seems to be an effective testing strategy for diagnosis of patients with MCA/ID