Japon. La politique éducative depuis les années 1990

La politique éducative du Japon a été l’objet d’une profonde mutation dans les années 1990. L’idée dominante est l’individualisation de l’enseignement et les réformes tendant à un enseignement « répondant à l’individualité de l’élève » ou encore « répondant aux besoins de l’élève » se poursuivent encore aujourd’hui. Cette tendance politique tire son origine du Conseil extraordinaire sur l’Éducation, Rinkyôshi, instauré en 1984 sous le contrôle direct du Premier ministre. Rinkyôshi, considéran..

Examining the Socioeconomic Impacts of Irrigation in the Southeast Anatolia Region of Turkey

We explore the socioeconomic changes following implementation of an irrigation system in the Southeast Anatolia region of Turkey, and examines whether the improvement originally envisioned was achieved. We surveyed seven irrigated and eight non-irrigated villages in Sanliurfa Province, collecting several indicators at the household level, including crop patterns, household living standards, and access to water. Local perception of the irrigation project and decisions regarding water use also are examined. The irrigation projects have improved knowledge sharing of irrigation technology and helped to introduce the sharing of agricultural machinery. The projects also seem to have shifted the tribal hierarchy toward peer relationships. While positive changes are observed in irrigated villages, there remain socioeconomic problems that need to be addressed, such as water user association management and salinization." -- Authors' AbstractPRIFPRI3; ISIMTI

Role of Heat Shock Protein 70 in Induction of Stress Fiber Formation in Rat Arterial Endothelial Cells in Response to Stretch Stress

We investigated the mechanism by which endothelial cells (ECs) resist various forms of physical stress using an experimental system consisting of rat arterial EC sheets. Formation of actin stress fibers (SFs) and expression of endothelial heat-shock stress proteins (HSPs) in response to mechanical stretch stress were assessed by immunofluorescence microscopy. Stretch stimulation increased expression of HSPs 25 and 70, but not that of HSP 90. Treatment with SB203580, a p38 MAP kinase inhibitor that acts upstream of the HSP 25 activation cascade, or with geldanamycin, an inhibitor of HSP 90, had no effect on the SF formation response to mechanical stretch stress. In contrast, treatment with quercetin, an HSP 70 inhibitor, inhibited both upregulation of endothelial HSP 70 and formation of SFs in response to tensile stress. In addition, treatment of stretched ECs with cytochalasin D, which disrupts SF formation, did not adversely affect stretch-induced upregulation of endothelial HSP 70. Our data suggest that endothelial HSP 70 plays an important role in inducing SF formation in response to tensile stress

Mental Health Effects of Tourism in the South Pacific Islands

本研究は，8日間の南太平洋諸島への滞在中における，活動，交流，および調整された食事摂取などのライフスタイルの変化が，特に精神的健康度に及ぼす影響について検討することを目的とした. 自主的に参加した中高齢女性9人（66.9 ± 4.7歳）を対象に，質問紙を用いて，抑うつ傾向 (CES-D)，気分プロフィール (POMS)，個人空間の確保（プライベート空問機能尺度）について滞在初期および終期に調査を行い，滞在前と比較した. また，滞在時に毎日撮影した顔写真を用いた笑顔の表情分析 (FACS : Facial Action Coding System)，さらに滞在時に経験した感情についての語りを内容分析した. その結果，滞在による身体への影響については，体重および腹囲の減少を認めた. 精神的健康への影響については，抑うつ傾向有りの者は，初期に増加したが，終期には皆無となり，POMSの「否定的気分」は初期から終期にかけて低下し，「肯定的気分」は初期に低下した後，終期に上昇した. 個人空間の確保については，「共布空間」と「自己開放」が終期に上昇した. 表情分析および内容分析については，「笑顔」および「肯定的感情」は滞在4日日に最高値となりその後低下し，「否定的感情」は滞在初日に強くその後消失したが，これらの変化は，CES-D や POMS の変化と同期していた. 以上の結果から，中高齢女性の南太平洋諸島への滞在によって，身体的健康度の改善に加えて精神的健康度の改善が示された.The present study investigated the effects of tourism in the South Pacific Islands with a controlled life-style on the mental health status of elderly subjects. A questionnaire survey on mental health, expression analysis and content analysis of emotional experience were conducted on 9 healthy female subjects (mean age, 66.9 ± 4.7 years) during 8 days of tourism. Self-administered questionnaire surveys were conducted prior to, early and late in their stay regarding depressive tendencies (CES-D), mood profile (Profile of Mood States; POMS), and personal space acquisition (Personal Space Scale; PSS). Expression analysis of facial photographs with the Facial Action Coding System (F ACS), and content analysis of self-reported emotional experiences were also performed. Body weight and abdominal circumference were decreased in the stay. Depressive tendencies increased early in the stay but were absent late in the stay. The questionnaire surveys revealed that negative mood was high in the early part of the stay, but decreased late in the stay, while positive mood decreased early in the stay and increased late in the stay regarding the POMS sub-scales. Improved "common-space" and "self-liberation" were observed late in the stay on the PSS. Expression analysis and content analysis of emotional experience revealed that "smiles" and "positive emotions" increased from early in the stay, peaked on day 4, and afterwards gradually decreased. On the other hand, "negative emotions" were higher in the early stay, but afterwards decreased and later disappeared. These observed transitions during the course of the stay approximately synchronized with the questionnaire results, demonstrating an improvement in the mental health of elderly individuals during tourism in the South Pacific Islands