Revenue Strategies and Financial Viability for Emerging Nonprofit Sector in Japan:Commercialization or Diversification?

The issues establishing stable autonomous revenue and securing diverse financial sources stand in opposition for the nonprofit sector, and it is more difficult problem in the emerging nonprofit sector of Japan. However, the nonprofit organizations need to manage both conditions compatibly. We examine the relations of revenue structure and financial viability using the Financial Database of NPO Corporations in Japan. In this paper the size of total expense is used as a proxy variable of the short-term financial viability, and the equity size relative to total revenue is considered as the long-term financial viability. Our empirical results show that it is important to acquire diverse financial sources such as donations and membership fees in order to improve financially viable in the long-term, while increasing commercial revenues work effectively to the short-term financial viability. Thus, the nonprofit organizations in Japan concurrently need to seek two crucial revenue strategies, the commercial revenue expansion for immediate survival and the revenue diversification for future innovation.This work was supported partially by JSPS KAKENHI Grant Number (25380486), Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)

Cultivable Anaerobic Microbiota of Infected Root Canals

Objective. Periapical periodontitis is an infectious and inflammatory disease of the periapical tissues caused by oral bacteria invading the root canal. In the present study, profiling of the microbiota in infected root canals was performed using anaerobic culture and molecular biological techniques for bacterial identification. Methods. Informed consent was obtained from all subjects (age ranges, 34–71 years). Nine infected root canals with periapical lesions from 7 subjects were included. Samples from infected root canals were collected, followed by anaerobic culture on CDC blood agar plates. After 7 days, colony forming units (CFU) were counted and isolated bacteria were identified by 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Results. The mean bacterial count (CFU) in root canals was (0.5 ± 1.1) × 106 (range 8.0 × 101–3.1 × 106), and anaerobic bacteria were predominant (89.8%). The predominant isolates were Olsenella (25.4%), Mogibacterium (17.7%), Pseudoramibacter (17.7%), Propionibacterium (11.9%) and Parvimonas (5.9%). Conclusion. The combination of anaerobic culture and molecular biological techniques makes it possible to analyze rapidly the microbiota in infected root canals. The overwhelming majority of the isolates from infected root canals were found to be anaerobic bacteria, suggesting that the environment in root canals is anaerobic and therefore support the growth of anaerobes

Anti-Inflammatory Properties of Brazilian Green Propolis Encapsulated in a γ-Cyclodextrin Complex in Mice Fed a Western-Type Diet

Ageing is often accompanied by chronic inflammation. A fat- and sugar-rich Western-type diet (WTD) may accelerate the ageing phenotype. Cell culture studies have indicated that artepillin C-containing Brazilian green propolis exhibits anti-inflammatory properties. However, little is known regarding its anti-inflammatory potential in mouse liver in vivo. In this study, female C57BL/6NRj wild-type mice were fed a WTD, a WTD supplemented with Brazilian green propolis supercritical extract (GPSE) encapsulated in γ-cyclodextrin (γCD) or a WTD plus γCD for 10 weeks. GPSE-γCD did not affect the food intake, body weight or body composition of the mice. However, mRNA levels of the tumour necrosis factor α were significantly downregulated (p < 0.05) in these mice compared to those in the WTD-fed controls. Furthermore, the gene expression levels of other pro-inflammatory markers, including serum amyloid P, were significantly (p < 0.001) decreased following GPSE-γCD treatment. GPSE-γCD significantly induced hepatic ferritin gene expression (p < 0.01), which may contribute to its anti-inflammatory properties. Conversely, GPSE-γCD did not affect the biomarkers of endogenous antioxidant defence, including catalase, glutathione peroxidase-4, paraoxonase-1, glutamate cysteine ligase and nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor-2 (Nrf2). Overall, the present data suggest that dietary GPSE-γCD exhibits anti-inflammatory, but not antioxidant activity in mouse liver in vivo. Thus, GPSE-γCD has the potential to serve as a natural hepatoprotective bioactive compound for dietary-mediated strategies against chronic inflammation

<Abstract of Published Report>Identification of Amino Acid Residues Responsible for Difference in Substrate Specificity and Inhibitor Sensitivity Between Two Human Liver Dihydrodiol Dehydrogenase Isoenzymes by Site-directed Mutagenesis.

Human liver dihydrodiol dehydrogenase isoenzymes (DD1 and DD2), in which only seven amino acid residues are substituted, differ remarkably in specificity for steroidal substrates and inhibitor sensitivity: DD1 shows 20alpha-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase activity and sensitivity to 1,10-phenanthroline, whereas DD2 oxidizes 3alpha-hydroxysteroids and is highly inhibited by bile acids. In the present study we performed site-directed mutagenesis of the seven residues (Thr-38, Arg-47, Leu-54, Cys-87, Val-151, Arg-170 and Gln-172) of DD1 to the corresponding residues (Val, His, Val, Ser, Met, His and Leu respectively) of DD2. Of the seven mutations, only the replacement of Leu-54 with Val produced an enzyme that had almost the same properties as DD2. No significant changes were observed in the other mutant enzymes. An additional site-directed mutagenesis of Tyr-55 of DD1 to Phe yielded an inactive protein, suggesting the catalytically important role of this residue. Thus a residue at a position before the catalytic Tyr residue might play a key role in determining the orientation of the substrates and inhibitors

Transformative process of learning interprofessional in “Practical Training in Psychology”

本研究の目的は，心理実習における実習生の多職種連携に関する学びの変容過程を明らかにすることであった。通年授業（全30回）の1回目，15回目，30回目の計3回のレポートの特徴語の分析により，連携する人（機関），情報（共有），職種の理解の3点について，学びの変容が見出された。それに伴って，公認心理師の専門性についての言及も増加していた。実習生は他の職種について理解を深めたことで，公認心理師という自職種について，その役割や存在意義について考えるきっかけとなっていたことが示唆された。今後は，「他者を知ることで，自分を知る」機会となる教育プログラムを構築していきたい。The purpose of this study was to clarify the transformation process of trainees’ learning about interprofessional in Practical Training in Psychology. By analyzing the characteristic words in the reports of the first, 15th, and 30th sessions of the fullyear class （30 sessions in total）, transformation process of learning was found in terms of three points: people （institutions）to collaborate with, information（ sharing）, and understanding of professions. Furthermore, there was an increase in references to the professionalism of the Certified Public Psychologist. The results suggest that the trainees deepened their understanding of other professions, which has led them to think about the role and significance of their own profession as the Certified Public Psychologist. It is necessary to construct educational programs that provide opportunities to “Know oneself by Knowing others”

The Current Status of the 2021 “Practical Training in Psychology” subject for Training Certified Public Psychologists in the Department of Psychology

本科では３年次開講の「心理インターンシップ」とは棲み分けて「心理実習」を4年次に開講することになった。2021年度は事前指導と事後指導の45時間と代替実習を含む見学実習を40時間以上実施することができた。今後は大学院の「心理実践実習」の連携教育を強化し，科学と実践を意識した教育を行っていきたい。In this department, we decided to separate the “Psychology Internship” offered in the third year from the “Practical Training in Psychology” subject offered in the fourth year. We were able to provide more than 45 hours of pre-and post- guidance and more than 40 hours of observation practice, including alternative practice in 2021. We would like to strengthen the educational program in cooperation with the graduate school’s “Advanced Practical Training in Psychology” subject, and provide education with an awareness of science and practice

Rapid Quantification of Bacteria in Infected Root Canals Using Fluorescence Reagents and a Membrane Filter: A Pilot Study on Its Clinical Application to the Evaluation of the Outcomes of Endodontic Treatment

Objective. The bacterial examination has been performed during the course of the root canal treatment. In the present pilot study, the new developed method, using fluorescence reagents and a membrane filter, was applied to the detection and quantification of bacteria in infected root canals, in order to evaluate the outcomes of the treatment. Methods. Six infected root canals with periapical lesions from 5 subjects were included. Informed consent was obtained from all subjects (age ranges, 23–79 years). Samples from infected root canals were collected at the beginning of the treatment (termed #25 First), the end of the first day of treatment (termed #55 First), and the next appointment day (termed #55 Second). Then, the bacterial count (CFU) was measured using fluorescence reagents (4′,6′-diamidino-2-phenylindole and propidium iodide) and the polycarbonate membrane filter by Bioplorer. Results. The mean ± SD of CFU in the sample of “#25 First” was (1.0 ± 1.4) × 105. As the root canal treatment progressed, the CFU decreased as 7.9 × 103 (#55 First) and 4.3 × 102 (#55 Second). Conclusion. In the present pilot study, rapid detection and quantification of bacteria in infected root canals were found to be successfully performed using fluorescence reagents and a membrane filter (Bioplorer analysis)