Simultaneous multi-angle measurements of plasma turblence at HAARP

We report the results from a recent series of experiments employing the HAARP HF transmitter to generate and study strong Langmuir turbulence (SLT) in the interaction region of overdense ionospheric plasma. Diagnostics included the Modular UHF Ionospheric Radar (MUIR) sited at HAARP, the Super DARN-Kodiak HF radar, and HF receivers to record stimulated electromagnetic emissions (SEE). Short pulse, low duty cycle experiments demonstrate control and suppression of artificial field-aligned irregularities (AFAI). This allows the isolation of ponderomotive plasma turbulence effects. For the first time, plasma line spectra measured simultaneously in different spots of the interaction region displayed marked but contemporaneous differences dependent on the aspect angle of the HF pump beam and the pointing angle of the MUIR diagnostic radar. Outshifted Plasma Line spectra, rarely observed in past experiments, occurred with sufficient regularity for experimentation. Experimental results are compared to previous high latitude experiments and predictions from recent modeling efforts

Solidaridad y política: la implementación del Programa Nacional de Asistencia Solidaria Pensión 65 en las provincias de Huancayo y Huancavelica

La baja cobertura de pensiones contributivas durante la vejez en el Perú genera una situación de vulnerabilidad e injustica en los adultos mayores y redunda en mayores gastos y efectos negativos en la sociedad. Frente a esta realidad, la presente investigación busca ilustrar la importancia del proceso de implementación de pensiones no contributivas a nivel subnacional mediante el análisis del Programa Nacional de Asistencia Solidaria Pensión 65 en la provincia de Huancayo y de Huancavelica ubicadas en la región de Junín y Huancavelica, respectivamente. Asimismo, existen escasas investigaciones sobre este tema que, además, toma más relevancia por la transición demográfica que está sucediendo. Para ello, partir del análisis de los datos disponibles en las evaluaciones de impacto a nivel regional, se ha encontrado dos casos contra intuitivos: Junín y Huancavelica. La región de Junín, a pesar de ser una región que tiene mejores indicadores socioeconómicos y de densidad estatal, presenta menor impacto positivo de esta política social. Por el contrario, Huancavelica tiene impactos más exitosos y, por lo tanto, mejor implementación. En esa línea, a través del uso de una metodología cualitativa, el objetivo es encontrar qué factores de la implementación explican el éxito del Programa Nacional de Asistencia Solidaria Pensión 65 en Huancavelica y por qué en Junín los resultados son más deficientes. Se plantean una serie de posibles variables explicativas como la coordinación intergubernamental, los burócratas de la calle y la autonomía estatal.The low coverage of contributory pensions during old age in Peru generates a situation of vulnerability and injustice in older adults and, consequently, results in higher expenses and adverse effects on society. Facing this reality, this research seeks to illustrate the importance of the implementation process of noncontributory pensions at the sub-national level by analyzing the National Program for Solidarity Pension Assistance 65 in the province of Huancayo and Huancavelica located in the Junin and Huancavelica region, respectively. Furthermore, there is scarcely any research on this subject, which takes on a greater pertinence due to the demographic transition that is taking place. Therefore, the analysis of the data available in the impact evaluations at the regional level found two counterintuitive cases: Junin and Huancavelica. Despite Junin being a region that has better socioeconomic indicators and state density, it has a less positive impact on this social policy. On the contrary, Huancavelica has more successful results and, therefore, a better implementation. Along these lines, through the use of a qualitative methodology, the objective is to find what implementation factors explain the success of the National Program for Solidarity Pension Assistance 65 in Huancavelica and why the results in Junín are more inadequate. A series of possible explanatory variables are proposed, such as intergovernmental coordination, street bureaucrats, and state autonomy

因果関係モデルによる腎移植レシピエントのQOLの分析

The purpose of this study is to analyze the structural relationship among the components of quality of life of kidney transplant recipients by using a causal model. The subjects were 329 recipients who had regular checks-up following transplantation in seven general hospitals in Tokyo, Gunma, Aichi, Okayama, and Hiroshima, and agreed to participate in this study. Ferrans and Powers's Quality of Life - Index Kidney Transplant version was used to measure perceived quality of life. The self-administered questionnaires were handed over to the subjects, who completed the instrument on the spot. After that, the answers were collected immediately. The factor analysis and the covariance structure analysis were used to make clear the structural relationship among the components of quality of life. The results of data analysis were as follows : (1) Five components of quality of life were extracted ; socio-economic functioning, family ties, emotional support, physical health, and peace & happiness. (2) The scores in the family ties dimension and the physical health dimension were higher than in the others, and the score in the socio-economic functioning dimension was the lowest. (3) The physical health showed the starting point in a causal model. (4) The physical health influenced the family ties and the socio-economic functioning. (5) The socio-economic functioning strongly influenced the peace & happiness and the emotional support. (6) The family ties influenced the socio-economic functioning, the emotional support, and the peace & happiness. Therefore, it was conceivable that it was particularly important to make approaches for the physical health, the family ties, and the socio-economic functioning dimensions to improve quality of life.本研究は，因果関係モデルによって，腎移植後レシピエントのQOLの構成要素間の関係を明らかにすることを目的としている。対象者は，東京，群馬，愛知，岡山，広島の7医療機関に外来通院中で，研究に同意が得られた329名の腎移植後のレシピエントである。レシピエントのQOLに関するデータは，Ferrans＆PowersのQuality of Life Index―Kidney Transplant versionの測定用具を用いて収集した。収集は外来受診時に行い，対象者に自己記入式質問紙を配布し，その場で記入してもらった後，直ちに回収した。データ分析は，QOLの構成要素と構成要素間の因果関係を明らかにするために，因子分析と共分散構造分析を行った。分析結果は以下の通りである。すなわち、(1)QOLの構成要素として，社会・経済的な機能，家族の絆，情緒的な支え，身体の健康，安らぎと幸福の5つが抽出された。(2)「家族の絆」と「身体の健康」についての得点が高く，「社会・経済的な機能」についての得点が最も低かった。(3)因果関係モデルにおいて，「身体的な健康」が原点となっていた。(4)「身体的な健康」は，「家族の絆」と「社会・経済的な機能」に影響を及ぼしていた。(5)「社会・経済的な機能」は，「安らぎと幸福」と「情緒的な支え」に強く影響を及ぼしていた。(6)「家族の絆」は，「社会・経済的な機能」，「情緒的な支え」，「安らぎと幸福」に影響を及ぼしていた。したがって、レシピエントのQOLを高めるために，「身体的な健康」，「家族の絆」，「社会・経済的な機能」の側面に働きかけていくことが特に重要であると考えられた

Massive Intravascular Hemolysis in a Patient Infected by a Clostridium perfringens

Clostridium perfringens infection is a very rare cause of massive intravascular hemolysis, but it should always be kept in mind, since only early treatment can rescue patients from an otherwise rapidly fatal outcome. We report a case of a 78-year-old diabetic male who was admitted complaining of general fatigue, dark red urine, and vomiting. His blood revealed massive hemolysis. Computer tomography demonstrated huge liver abscess in the right lobe of the liver. About 1 h after admission, he suddenly fell into a critical condition. He died 3 h after admission in spite of intensive care and resuscitation. Clostridium perfringens was detected from the blood taken before death and from liver abscess by biopsy after death. We concluded that this patient died of acute massive intravascular hemolysis in septicemia caused by Clostridium perfringens infection

For-profit Childcare Centers in Japan and U.S. : How to Provide High-quality Care (II)

株式会社による保育所運営の賛否をめぐる議論が日本では活発に行われてきた。そこで焦点となったのは保育の質の確保をめぐる問題である。この問題に対して本稿では、民間部門によって運営される保育所が大部分を占めるアメリカにおいて、保育の質の確保がどのようになされているのかを考察し、そのメリットとデメリットを明らかにすることを通じて、日本の保育政策に対するインプリケーションを得ることを課題としている

What Behaviors Are Important for Successful Weight Maintenance?

Purpose. To examine behavioral factors related to successful weight maintenance. Methods. Subjects were 90 middle-aged participants who attended a weight loss program and were followed for one year. The subjects were classified into either successful weight maintainers (maintained a weight loss of 5% or more from their initial weight for one year) (SWM) or unsuccessful weight maintainers (USWM), and weight control practice, stress, obstacles, support, and self-efficacy during the program and follow-up period were compared. Results. SWM had mean loss of 12% from their initial weight during the program. They showed a greater improvement in their regularity of eating, walked more, and felt less stress regarding their increased physical activity than the USWM. During the follow-up period, significantly more SWM participants had self-efficacy (for measuring weight, practicing dietary objective, and assessing the practice and keeping records), actually kept records and measured weight more than the USWM participants. In contrast, more USWM participants felt stress about measuring weight. Conclusion. In addition to a substantial initial weight loss due to an increased amount of physical activity, having a higher self-efficacy and consistently keeping records of one's activities, as well as regularly weighing themselves, may be important for successful weight maintenance