米国における看護教員の授業力向上の取り組み

Purpose: Nursing education in Japan has been influenced by that of the United States. This report presents initiatives undertaken to enhance the teaching ability of nursing instructors in the United States, with the aim of finding ways to improve the teaching ability of their counterparts in Japan. Study participants: Seven nursing instructors employed at nurse training institutions in Texas and California, USA. Research period: May to September ２0１5. Method: Two interviewers conducted a semi-structured ３0-90 minute long interview through interpreters about efforts to improve the effectiveness of classes. Interviews were conducted in a private room of the nurse training institution where the study participants work or by videophone. Analysis method: A verbatim transcript of the interview was created, and the efforts to improve the effectiveness of lessons were summarized according to the commonality of semantic content. In addition, subcategories, categories, and aspects were extracted. The study was approved by the medical ethics review committee of which the researcher is a member and conducted in consideration of ethical practices such as ensuring anonymity (Approval Number １5-0２). Results: There were found to be １0４ contexts in which efforts were being made to improve the teaching ability of nursing teachers in the United States, and these were divided into ２9 subcategories. The subcategories were grouped into nine categories, including “state-required continuing education,” “providing plentiful training content,” and “improving the system for supporting teachers\u27 independence.” Finally, these nine categories were grouped into three aspects: off-campus efforts, school organization efforts, and teachers\u27 individual efforts. Discussion: In the United States, there were comprehensive efforts to improve teachers\u27 teaching ability, including off-campus initiatives, school organization initiatives, and individual teacher efforts. These efforts indicated that in order to improve the teaching ability of nursing teachers, it is important to establish and guarantee a well-organized system of opportunities for nursing teachers to learn independently and continuously

Early administration of IL-6RA does not prevent radiation-induced lung injury in mice

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Radiation pneumonia and subsequent radiation lung fibrosis are major dose-limiting complications for patients undergoing thoracic radiotherapy. Interleukin-6 (IL-6) is a pleiotropic cytokine and plays important roles in the regulation of immune response and inflammation. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether anti-IL-6 monoclonal receptor antibody (IL-6RA) could ameliorate radiation-induced lung injury in mice.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>BALB/cAnNCrj mice having received thoracic irradiation of 21 Gy were injected intraperitoneally with IL-6RA (MR16-1) or control rat IgG twice, immediately and seven days after irradiation. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was used to examine the plasma level of IL-6 and serum amyloid A (SAA). Lung injury was assessed by histological staining with haematoxylin and eosin or Azan, measuring lung weight, and hydroxyproline.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The mice treated with IL-6RA did not survive significantly longer than the rat IgG control. We observed marked up-regulation of IL-6 in mice treated with IL-6RA 150 days after irradiation, whereas IL-6RA temporarily suppressed early radiation-induced increase in the IL-6 release level. Histopathologic assessment showed no differences in lung section or lung weight between mice treated with IL-6RA and control.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Our findings suggest that early treatment with IL-6RA after irradiation alone does not protect against radiation-induced lung injury.</p

確かな学びを創りたい ―教育実践への3つのアプローチ―

準備委員会企画シンポジウム6　　企画・司会者：青木多寿子　話題提供者：豊田弘司・秋田喜代美・向後千春　指定討論者：田中俊也・木原俊

ノウキギョウ ニ ヨル ユウキ ノウサンブツ ノ セイサン リュウツウ ノ トリクミ ト カダイ : フィリピン キギョウ ノ ジレイ ブンセキ

本論文は,東南アジア地域における有機農業を支える担い手として企業経営もしくは家族経営のいずれが中心になるかという問題意識のもとで,研究蓄積がほとんどない農企業による有機農産物の生産・流通の実態と課題の解明を,フィリピンのマニラ近郊でレタス,ハーブ,コーヒー,茶の有機栽培とその販売に先駆的に取り組んでいる株式会社GOURMET FARMS INC(GF)の事例分析に基づいて試みたものである。一つの農企業の事例分析という限界はあるが,以下のような生産・流通の実態と課題が明らかになった。(1) 1GFでは年間6～9回もレタスを連作するため,輪作体系の導入,モミガラ鶏糞の大量投入,コーヒーパルプなどの副産物の有効利用による地力維持が最大の課題である。また,生産拡大のためには,周辺の契約農場でのレタス生産を増加して需要に適応した生産量を確保しながら,自社農場での輪作体系を徐々に拡張していくという方法が有効である。(2) マーケティングによる経営の拡大と安定化を図るための方法としては,次の3つが特に重要であることが明らかになった。a)直営レストランによる消費の拡大,b)品質管理システムの確立による顧客の確保,c)製品多様化によるスーパーマーケットでの有機野菜専用の販売コーナーの確保。病害虫の発生に好適な条件下にある東南アジア地域では,零細で資本力や技術水準が低く,しかも有効な販売手段をもたない家族経営が,有機農産物の生産・流通に成功するためには様々な困難を抱えている。GFの分析結果から見る限り,東南アジア地域では技術力・資金力・販売能力を備えた農企業による有機農産物の自社生産さらには周辺農家との契約生産が,有機農業の拡大と持続に有効であることが示唆された。This study clarifies the actual conditions and the problems of production and marketing of organic farm products by agribusiness in the Philippines. Through a case study of GROUMET FARMS INC (GF), the following issues could be identified in the promotion and the sustainment of organic vegetables by agribusiness. (1)GF has been continuously cultivating lettuce, six to nine times a year. Therefore the most important problem in organic production is how to maintain soil fertility by adopting crop rotation system and applying a large quantity of chicken manure and coffee pulp. An effective alternative method is to enlarge lettuce production on contract farms in the surrounding area, while gradually establishing crop rotation system on own farm. (2)The following three marketing strategies appeared to be effective for enlarging and stabilizing the farm management : a) increased demand at restaurants under direct management ; b) increased customers by establishing quality management system ; and c) setting up a special corner for organic products in supermarkets. In Southeast Asia while weather conditions favor the incidence of disease and insect damage, there are many problems challenging family farms of small scale, limited funds and low technology, for successful development of organic farm production and marketing. As is clearly indicated by the case study on the GF, development in organic farming can be expected from the increased production both on own farm and through a contract system by an agribusiness of high capability in technology, funding and marketing

The Light and Shadow Brought to Teacher Education by Digitizing the Educational Environment: The Case of Japan

In this paper, the trends and issues of teacher education research and practices in Japan are clarified from the viewpoint of the digitization of the educational environment. This will be achieved through a review of the literature and policy documents on recent educational practices and teacher education. Firstly, Japanese teacher education and the ICT environment in schools are summarized. In addition, the Japanese concept of “teachers who continue to learn” and its multidimensional character is explained. Secondly, a model of the above idea that consists of five dimensions is introduced: (1) social navigators, (2) technical experts, (3) inquiry practitioners, (4) critical practitioners, and (5) members of professional learning communities. Thirdly, through the review, it is pointed out that all of them are affected by the digitization of the educational environment, which has been accelerated as a countermeasure to COVID-19. In conclusion, it is stated that the digitization of the educational environment and its accelerated progress casts both light and shadow on the role of Japanese teachers as reflective practitioners. Additionally, it is referenced that there are many differences among schools and regions on the ratio of light and shadow in Japan, even though it is geographically small