Timing of Convertible Debt Financing and Investment

In this paper, we examine the optimal investment policy of the firm which is financed by issuing equity, straight debt and convertible debt. We extend the model in Mauer and Sarkar (2005) over financing with convertible debt. We examine two different investment policies that maximize the equity value and the firm value and show the agency cost as the difference between each policy value. Furthermore, we investigate how the issuance of convertible debt affects investment.

自閉症児に対する模倣の研究

実験者が自閉症児の遊びを真似する逆模倣を行うことで生じる対人行動の変化から、自閉症児の他者への関心や他者意図理解についての検討を行った。対象は１０歳の自閉症児２名で、初対面の実験者と一緒に玩具の置いてある部屋で実験を行った。実験手続きとしては、（１）実験者は無表情で何もせずに座っている（Still Face１）、（２）対象児と同じ玩具で同じように遊ぶ、(３)無表情で何もせずに座っている（Still Face２）、（４）対象児の模倣にならないようにして玩具で遊ぶ、(５)無表情で何もせずに座っている（Still Face３）の５場面を設定し、SF１～３における対象児の実験者に対する対人行動を比較した。その結果、対象児が実験者に対して興味をもって働きかけを行ったことと、逆模倣条件においてわずかながら対象児からの働きかけが増えたことが認められた。このことから、自閉症児は学習や成長によって他者理解についての能力を発達させていることが示唆された。The present study examined the interests of children with autism in others and their understanding of others\u27 intention by investigating changes in interpersonal behavior during reverse imitation, in which the experimenter imitates the play of children with autism. Subjects were two 10-year-old children with autism, and the experiment was conducted in a room where toys were placed along with an unacquainted experimenter. The experiment was conducted in the following stages:1) The experimenter sits still without expression (Still Face1), 2) the experimenter plays with toys in the same way as the children,3) the experimenter sits still without expression (Still Face2), 4) the experimenter plays with toys without imitating the children, and5) the experimenter sits still without expression (Still Face3). The interpersonal behavior of children toward the experimenter was compared among SF 1-3. The results showed that the children expressed interest in the experimenter and attempted to engage the experimenter in nteraction, and that during reverse imitation the children had a slightly increased level of interaction. These findings suggest that children with autism develop the ability to understand others through learning and growth

自閉症児の余暇活動における保護者の支援ﾆｰｽﾞに関する研究

自閉症児は自ら余暇を選択し取り組んでいくことが難しく､保護者の負担も大きい｡こうした問題意識から本研究では自閉症児の余暇に関する保護者の支援ﾆｰｽﾞについての調査を行った｡その結果､余暇活動は楽しめるという点にとどまらず､小学生の年代では余暇活動に対して将来のことを考えて具体的なｽｷﾙを身につけることを重視しているのに対し､中学生の年代では余暇活動の中での対人的なつながりを重視していることが明らかになった｡こうしたことから､支援者には子どもの年代に応じた柔軟なｻｰﾋﾞｽの提供が求められることが確認されたとともに､自閉症児における友人関係形成の在り方の検討が重要であることが考察された｡Autistic children are difficult to tackle their own leisure time to select. And also, their parents have heavy burden. So We have investigated the support needs of parents of autistic children leisure. As a result, Parents focused on fun on leisure activities. And parents focused on acquisition of specific skills in elementary school age. On the other hand, parents focused on interpersonal ties in leisure activities in junior high school age. In conclusion, supporters were asked to provide flexible services according to the age of children, and we discussed the importance of forming friendships of autistic children

初年次教育の現状と課題 －A大学社会福祉学科一年次アンケートから(2)－

本稿では、本学における初年次教育のあり方を模索するために、学生の大学生活への適応を支援するための基礎的知見を獲得することを目的として、社会福祉学科一年次生を対象に、大学生活への適応を把握するための調査を２年間（２００７年から２００８年度）に渡って実施した。調査の結果から、受け身の姿勢を持つ学生が多く見られることから、教職員が理解したうえで学生の“育ち”を支援する必要性が示唆された。In this paper we statistically clarity some characters of the first-year students who major in social welfare to prepare for the First-Year Experience program. Many students shows passive posture in our research, therefore it is suggested the necessity for the school personnel to understand their passive attitude in supporting their “growth"

福祉系学生の傾向と変化に対する初年次教育の展開 -初年次学生の調査結果から-

大学初年次の学生の傾向を理解し初年次教育のあり方を考えるために､2007年度より1年次生に実施してきた定期調査の集計から､①学習面､対人関係面､学生生活面それぞれについての適応感へ与える影響､②入学年度間の比較､および月ごとの経過について分析し､各学年の特徴や月ごとの変化を明らかにした｡その結果､学習適応への適応感には､他者への自己主張や意見の説明､生活の自己管理ができること､対人関係適応への適応感には､他者とのつながりや情緒的安定､憂鬱気分などへの対応､学生生活適応への適応感には憂鬱気分への対応､健康や意見を説明できる自信､大学内での居心地のよさが､それぞれ重要であることが示唆された｡学習面において､主体的態度では､前期より後期で主体性が有意に高く､近年においては主体的態度が高まる傾向を示していた｡大学生活への適応支援と専門教育とを融合させながら学生の力を育てる働きかけが必要と考えられる｡The purpose of this paper is to realize the tendency of the first-year students and to get suggestion for the First-Year Program. Research for the first-year students have been carried out periodically from 2007 and totally analyzed. It reveals the factors that affect students\u27feeling of adaptation in studying, in personal relations and in student life. It also shows the difference among administration years and the change by research time. As results, the important factors are suggested as follows; for students\u27feeling of adaptation in studying was‘self-assertion\u27,‘ability to explain own opinions\u27, and‘self-management of own life\u27; for feeling of adaptation in personal relations was‘connections to others\u27,‘emotional stability\u27, and‘coping with depression\u27; for feeling of adaptation in student life was‘coping with depression\u27,‘ability to explain own opinions\u27,‘confidence to own health\u27, and‘comfortableness in university\u27. In their feeling of adaptation in studying, independent attitude in the second semester is significantly higher than in the first semester, and independent attitude tend to getting higher in recent years. Harmony of support for adaptation in academic life with professional education is needed in the approach to improve students\u27own competency

Rapid HER2 cytologic fluorescence in situ hybridization for breast cancer using noncontact alternating current electric field mixing

Background: Human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-in situ hybridization (HER2-ISH) is widely approved for diagnostic, prognostic biomarker testing of formalin- fixed paraffin-embedded tissue blocks. However, cytologic ISH analysis has a potential advantage in tumor samples such as pleural effusion and ascites that are difficult to obtain the histological specimens. Our aim was to evaluate the clinical reliability of a novel rapid cytologic HER2 fluorescence ISH protocol (rapid-CytoFISH). Materials and Methods: Using a new device, we applied a high-voltage/frequency, noncontact alternating current electric field to tissue imprints and needle rinses, which mixed the probe within microdroplets as the voltage was switched on and off (AC mixing). Cytologic samples (n = 143) were collected from patients with immunohistochemically identified HER2 breast cancers. The specimens were then tested using standard dual-color ISH using formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissue (FFPE-tissue DISH) for HER2-targeted therapies, CytoFISH, and rapid-CytoFISH (completed within 4 h). Results: All 143 collected cytologic specimens (50 imprinted cytology specimens from resected tumors and 93 liquid-based cytology specimens from needle rinses) were suitable for FISH analysis. The HER2/chromosome enumeration probe (CEP) 17 ratios did not significantly differ between FFPE-tissue DISH and either CytoFISH protocol. Based on HER2 scoring criteria, we found 95.1% agreement between FFPEtissue DISH and CytoFISH (Cohen\u27s kappa coefficient = 0.771 and 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.614–0.927). Conclusion: CytoFISH could potentially serve as a clinical tool for prompt determination of HER2 status in breast cancer cytology. Rapid-CytoFISH with AC mixing will enable cancer diagnoses and HER2 status to be determined on the same day a patient comes to a clinic or hospital