Effectiveness of an image generation method that expresses the visual impression of space for two-point perspective landscapes

Photographs and CG images are generally rendered using a perspective projection. However, because a perspective projection image does not always represent the visual impression of a real space, we occasionally feel a sense of incompatibility when viewing such images. We believe that clarifying the human visual characteristics will enable the creation of more realistic images. A previous study investigated the human perception of size in a real space and proposed a magnification-rate function that shows the relationship between the subjective visual size of an object to be drawn and the observation distance. Images applying the magnification-rate function provide an impression closer to that in a real space than do perspective projection images. However, these results have only been verified for single-point landscapes. In this study, to investigate the impression of an image, we applied the magnification-rate function to images portraying landscapes with a two-point perspective. The results show that the magnification-transformed images were evaluated as being closer to the impressions in a real space than those of perspective projected images. This is similar to the evaluation of transformed images for one-point perspective landscapes, suggesting that an image transformation using the magnification-rate function is effective for two-point perspective landscapes

ナラティヴアプローチを基盤とした看護実践によるうつ病高齢者の語りの変化に関する研究

This practical research study sought to clarify the treatment effect of, and means of a narrative approach toward, the depressed elderly that could by applied in nursing care with the hope of contributing to the development of a nursing-specific treatment approach that can help to alleviate depression among the elderly. Five hospitalized elderly patients with depression, aged 65 or older, participated in individual interviews based on a narrative approach that were conducted by the nurse researcher. Changes that occurred in the patients’ discourses and the researcher’s nursing practice over time were recorded and subjected to qualitative inductive analysis. In addition, the process of reciprocal interaction between the patients and researcher were examined with reference to Travelbee’s “human-to-human relationship model”. In the initial phase of the encounters between the patients and researcher, the patients’ discourses focused mainly on their physical suffering. The researcher attempted to build mutual trust by accompanying their mental and physical suffering, and through the mutual trust that developed the researcher prompted them to share their experiences without anxiety. Through this relationship, a coidentity emerged between the two parties. As the interviews progressed, the patients’ discourses changed to express their suffering in an intrapsychic world. A deepening of relationship and changes in it occurred between the patients and researcher, and the researcher had “opportunities to reach the heart of the depressed elderly through mutual identification” and listen to their psychological suffering. When their relationship progressed from identification to empathy, the patients told the researcher of their psychological suffering and life history : the discourses now contained previously untold stories, details of the times in which they lived, meaning in their life, and sociality. The discourses finally developed to express self-insights and hopes. This is when the patients and the researcher shared vividly that they now had a connection and rapport was established. The researcher supported the reestablishment of positives in the patients’ discourses by “wishing for their recovery and actualizing their hopes”, while also accepting their feelings of hopelessness that their depression would never be cured. The continuous narrative approach provided as part of nursing practice enabled the elderly patients who had been experiencing depressive feelings due to physical and intrapsychic suffering to alleviate their depression.本研究は、うつ病高齢者に対するナラティヴアプローチの治療的効果とその実践方法に ついて明らかにすることを目的とした実践研究である。 　入院治療を受けているうつ病高齢者５名に対して、ナラティヴアプローチを行い、研究 参加者の語りの変化と研究者の看護実践をデータとして質的帰納的に分析を行った。また、 ナラティヴアプローチの実践によって、参加者と研究者の相互作用が進展していくプロセ スをTravelbee13) の理論に則って捉えた。 　研究参加者の語りは、初期の出会いの位相では《身体の苦悩を基軸とした語り》が中心 であった。研究者は、『うつ病高齢者の心身のつらさに添いながら相互信頼を構築する』か かわりを基盤とし、参加者が研究者とともに安心して自己の体験を語ることができるよう に配慮していた。そのようなかかわりによって、両者の間に同一性が出現した。面接の経 過を経るに従い語りの内容は変化し、参加者は《精神内界の苦悩を表出》するようになっ た。研究者は、参加者との関係性の深まりや変化をみながら、状況に応じて『相互に一体 感をもちうつ病高齢者の琴線に触れる』かかわりを行い、精神的な苦悩を傾聴していた。 参加者と研究者の相互関係は同一化から共感の位相に進展したことによって、精神的な苦 悩や生活史が語られるようになり、そこには各参加者のいまだ語られていなかった物語や 生きられた時間、意味性、社会性が表現されていた。そして、同感の位相を経て、最終的 に参加者の語りは《自己洞察と希望の表出》という形に展開した。ここには、参加者と研 究者の間に、お互いが結ばれているという生き生きとした体験が基盤にあり、ラポールが 構築された。研究者は、参加者の抑うつ感情や「病気が治ることはない」という絶望感に 添い、受容しながらも、『回復や希望の実現を願う』ことで参加者の語りがポジティブに再 構築されるように支援していた。これまで、身体の苦悩や抱え込んでいた精神内界の苦悩 によって抑うつを体験していた参加者は、継続したナラティヴアプローチによって、抑う つを緩和することができていた

Spontaneous Cardiac Hypertrophy in a Crl:CD(SD) Rat

Cardiac hypertrophy was observed in a 9-week-old Crl:CD(SD) rat that died unexpectedly. The animal was allocated to the control group of a toxicity study, and no abnormalities in its general conditions, body weight or food intake were observed. Necropsy revealed an increase in heart weight. Gross examination indicated cardiac enlargement with thickening of the right and left ventricular walls. Histopathological examination revealed hypertrophy of the cardiomyocytes in the right and left ventricular walls and the interventricular septum. Electron microscopic examination indicated bizarre nuclei and accumulation of an increased number of various sizes of mitochondria in the perinuclear region of the hypertrophied myocytes. Hypertrophied myocytes connected by intensely folded intercalated disks were also observed. Based on these findings, the animal was diagnosed with cardiac hypertrophy. This is the first case report of cardiac hypertrophy in this strain

Retrorectal epidermoid cyst with unusually elevated serum SCC level, initially diagnosed as an ovarian tumor

Retrorectal epidermoid cyst is one of the developmental cysts which arise from remnants of embryonic tissues. We report a rare case of retrorectal epidermoid cyst, initially diagnosed as an ovarian tumor. Serum SCC value as tumor marker was elevated to the high level. Laparoscopy revealed ovaries, uterus and other pelvic organs were all normal. This tumor existed in the retroperitoneal cavity and compressed the rectum. Later, complete tumor resection was performed by laparotomy. Histological study revealed the epithelium of this tumor consisted of only squamous cells without atypia, and the diagnosis of this tumor was retrorectal epidermoid cyst. Retrorectal epidermoid cyst is very rare, and difficult to diagnose before surgery. However, if we have-knowledge of developmental cysts, and by careful digital examination and image diagnosis, a differential diagnosis can be made

A Case Report of a Malignant Fibrous Histiocytoma in a T-cell Receptor β Chain and p53 Double-knockout Mouse

A subcutaneous tumor was found in the right abdomen of a 16-week-old male TCRβ and p53 double-knockout mouse. The tumor had indistinct borders with the surrounding tissue. The cut surface after formalin fixation was pale yellowish white, partially dark red and partly white. Histologically, the tumor was composed of three distinct regions. The first region showed pleomorphic cells arranged in sheets. The second region showed spindle cells arranged in interlacing fascicles. The final region contained a mixture of the above mentioned two types of cells. Furthermore, a small amount of collagen fibers, round cells, multinucleated giant cells, and cells with eosinophilic granules were observed between these tumor cells. Immunohistochemical examination and electron microscopy identified that the pleomorphic cells and spindle cells were histiocytes and fibroblasts, respectively, and that the round cells were undifferentiated mesenchymal cells. Based on these findings, the tumor was diagnosed as a malignant fibrous histiocytoma

Support for UNRWA's survival

The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) provides life-saving humanitarian aid for 5·4 million Palestine refugees now entering their eighth decade of statelessness and conflict. About a third of Palestine refugees still live in 58 recognised camps. UNRWA operates 702 schools and 144 health centres, some of which are affected by the ongoing humanitarian disasters in Syria and the Gaza Strip. It has dramatically reduced the prevalence of infectious diseases, mortality, and illiteracy. Its social services include rebuilding infrastructure and homes that have been destroyed by conflict and providing cash assistance and micro-finance loans for Palestinians whose rights are curtailed and who are denied the right of return to their homeland

Association between self-reported walking speed and calcaneal stiffness index in postmenopausal Japanese women

Background: Osteoporosis and related fractures, a worldwide public health issue of growing concern, is characterized by compromised bone strength and an increased risk of fracture. Here we show an association between self-reported walking speed and bone mass among community-dwelling postmenopausal Japanese women aged 50 years and older. Design; cross-sectional study: Setting and Participants; The survey population included 1008 postmenopausal women 50?92 years of age residing in rural communities. Methods: Self-reported walking speed was ascertained by asking the participants: “Is your walking speed faster than others of the same age and sex?” to which participants responded “yes (faster)” or “no (moderate/slower).” Calcaneal stiffness index was measured. Results: Women with a faster self-reported walking speed were younger and had a lower BMI, higher stiffness index, and higher grip strength than women with a slower walking speed. Multiple linear regression analysis adjusted for age, BMI, grip strength, comorbidity, current smoking, and alcohol drinking status showed a significant association between faster self-reported walking speed and higher calcaneal stiffness index (p < 0.001). Conclusions: Our findings suggest that questionnaires of walking speed may be useful for predicting bone mass and that a fast self-reported walking may benefit bone health in postmenopausal women