Specific components of face perception in the human fusiform gyrus studied by tomographic estimates of magnetoencephalographic signals: a tool for the evaluation of non-verbal communication in psychosomatic paradigms)

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Aims</p> <p>The aim of this study was to determine the specific spatiotemporal activation patterns of face perception in the fusiform gyrus (FG). The FG is a key area in the specialized brain system that makes possible the recognition of face with ease and speed in our daily life. Characterization of FG response provides a quantitative method for evaluating the fundamental functions that contribute to non-verbal communication in various psychosomatic paradigms.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>The MEG signal was recorded during passive visual stimulus presentation with three stimulus types – Faces, Hands and Shoes. The stimuli were presented separately to the central and peripheral visual fields. We performed statistical parametric mapping (SPM) analysis of tomographic estimates of activity to compare activity between a pre- and post-stimulus period in the same object (baseline test), and activity between objects (active test). The time course of regional activation curves was analyzed for each stimulus condition.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The SPM baseline test revealed a response to each stimulus type, which was very compact at the initial segment of main M_FG170. For hands and shoes the area of significant change remains compact. For faces the area expanded widely within a few milliseconds and its boundaries engulfed the other object areas. The active test demonstrated that activity for faces was significantly larger than the activity for hands. The same face specific compact area as in the baseline test was identified, and then again expanded widely. For each stimulus type and presentation in each one of the visual fields locations, the analysis of the time course of FG activity identified three components in the FG: M_FG100, M_FG170, and M_FG200 – all showed preference for faces.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Early compact face-specific activity in the FG expands widely along the occipito-ventral brain within a few milliseconds. The significant difference between faces and the other object stimuli in M_FG100 shows that processing of faces is already differentiated from processing of other objects within 100 ms. Standardization of the three face-specific MEG components could have diagnostic value for the integrity of the initial process of non-verbal communication in various psychosomatic paradigms.</p

Delivery Assistance Techniques

The delivery assistance laboratory is one of the most important part of the professional curriculum in the training program for midwives. The educational significance of 10 cases of delivery assistance was reviewed. The technical standards of the students improved with accumulation of experience in the assistance of deliveries. Evaluation of the methods in which the students were assessed with regard to technical improvement in delivery assistance was performed. Of the total number of 136 students of midwifery registered at our school in the past 7years, 50 who were able to assist successively in 3-10 cases of normal childbirth were evaluated in this study with regard to their acquisition of skills needed to assist in deliveries. Fourteen technical items related to the assistance of delivery in its second and third stages were assessed. An evaluation standard consisting of 3 grades, namely "able to perform", "somehow able to perform", and "not able to perform" regarding the above mentioned 14 technical items were used to assess the mastery of delivery assistance techniques by the students. Our results showed that as the students accumulated experience in delivery assistance, self-assessment ratings of "able to perform" increased on the average. The accumulation of skill concerning the management of the neonate immediately after birth, the instruction of patients regarding the application of abdominal pressure, and the assistance during crowning was specially evident. In contrast, although self-assessment ratings of "able to perform" with regard to "assistance of the mother immediately after giving birth" and "assistance immediately after the delivery of the fetal head" did increase, its rate of increase was small

Factors involved in the movement of the center of mass in healthy women

妊娠中の体形変化は姿勢変化をもたらし、このためにおこる重心移動がマイナートラブルを起こす原因となることが考えられる。そこで、健康女性37人を対象に、重心動揺を起こす因子と考えられる体型要因に着目した基礎的研究を行い、以下の結果を得た。1）重心動揺測定項目の中で、重心動揺距離、包絡面積、重心動揺面積の項目は開眼時より閉眼時が有意に数値が大きく、X軸方向動揺平均、Y軸方向動揺平均の項目は、開眼時と閉眼時とで差がなかった。2）ロンベルグ姿勢での開眼及び閉眼重心動揺検査では、座高、下肢長に正の相関が、肥満度に負の相関があるこが示唆された。During the period of pregnancy, movement of the center of mass due to changes in the posture results from the changes in the body form, and this may cause minor troubles. In this study, we examined body form factors which may be involved in the movement of the center of mass in 37 healthy womem, and obtained the following results. 1) In the examination items of the movement of the center of mass, the moving distance of the center of mass, the envelope area and the area of moving of the center of mass were significantly larger when measured with the eyes open than when measured with the eyes closed, while there were no differences in the means of moving in the x-axis direction and in the y-axis direction whether the eyes were open or closed. 2) The moving examinations of the center of mass in the Romberg's posture with open or closed eyes suggested positive correlations with the sitting height and the length of the inferir limb and a negative correlation with the obesity level

The way to a Bachelor's degree : state of graduates from advanced course of midwifery, School of Health Sciences Okayama University

平成4年に岡山大学医療技術短期大学部専攻科助産学特別専攻は学位授与機構に認定された。5年目を迎えた今年、現在までを見直すために、平成4年度から平成7年度までの入学生80名のうち、短期大学部の卒業生51名を対象とし、アンケート調査を実施した。その結果以下のことがわかった。学位授与機構への申請経験者は6名（11.8％）で、その内2名は現在申請中である。2名が合格し、看護学士の学位を取得していた。現在取得に向けて学修中の者は17名（33.3％）で、学修成果の作成に関して困っている者が多かった。取得の意志はあるが休止中の者は25名（49％）で、主な理由は仕事が忙しいことであった。取得の意志がない者は7名（13.7％）であった。In 1992, Advanced Course of Midwifery, School of Health Sciences Okayama University was recognized by National Institution for Academic Degrees. This year, the fifth from its recognition, we performed a questionnaire survey in 51 junior college graduates among the 80 individuals who took the course from 1992 to 1995 reevaluate the program. Six graduates (11.8%) had applied for a degree to the National Institution for Academic Degrees including 2 whose applications were under evaluation. The applications had been accepted in 2 of them (3.9%), and they had received the degree of Bachelor of Nursing. Seventeen graduates (33.3%) were studying with the hope to obtain the degree, but many of them had difficulty with preparation of the reports of the results of their learning and training. Twenty five (49%) had the hope to obtain the degree but were not making preparations, primarily because they were occupied by work. Seven (13.7%) had no desire to obtain the degree

Time needed for practice of the conduct of labor

近年の急激な少子・高齢化による人口構造の歪みは、益々の出生率の低下を来たしている。この現状の中での分娩介助実習は非常に厳しい状況にある。そのため、当専攻科では平成元年（1989年）より分娩介助実習場所を2施設から3施設として分娩介助実習に対応している。7年間の平均をみると、学生1人当たり10.7回の分娩介助に要する時間は476時間にのぼる。このうち、正規の実習時間外における拘束時間は184時間であった。The shifting of the population structure with the recent rapid decrease in births and increase in aged people is causing a further decrease in the birth rate. Under these circumstances, practice of the conduct of labor is encountering great difficulties. For this reason, our non-degree postgraduate school increased the fields for practice of the conduct of labor from 2 to 3 institutions in 1989. During the past 7 years, a mean of 476 hours was spent on practice of the conduct of labor in a mean of 10.7 cases per student, and 184 of these hours were outside the regular practice hours

A study on students' idears about the school syllabus

1995年4月に初めての本学のシラバス（講義要覧）が発行され、学生に配布された。本報は約1年後の1996年2月の試験期間中にシラバスに対する学生の意見を問うために行われたアンケート調査の結果をまとめたものである。回答を寄せた学生は435人で、在籍学生の89.0％であった。よく利用したとする学生は18.2％、数回利用したとする学生は67.6％であった。学生の使用目的はテストの準備や履修科目の決定のためであった。以上のことから、現在のシラバスは学生が日常的により活用するためにはさらに教師が改善、工夫する必要があると思われた。The first syllabus of the School was published and distributed to all of the students in April,1995. Ten months later during the term examination, an opportunity arouse to question the sudents about their idears for the syllubus. A survery of all of the students was carried out and 435 students (89.0%) responded to it. They generally utilized it well, especially to decide which subjects they will take, to find out about the textbooks that will be used, and how to prepare for the examination. However it was found not to be sufficient for their daily use. Teachers therefore must make a greater effort in giving information about their lecture

Problems in Puerperants and Neonates from Discharge to 1-Month-Old Health Checkup

新生児が母体外での生活に適応できるようにするため,褥婦は分娩後休む間もなく育児に取り組まなければならず,心身共に不安定を状態にある｡そこで,褥婦の安らかな生活と新生児の健やかな成長を促すことを目的とし,退院から1ヵ月健診までの間に訪問または電話による聴き取り調査を実施した｡対象は,1994年から1996年に経膣分娩した褥婦50名である｡その結果以下のことがわかった｡身体に関する問題で最も多かったのは,褥婦は疲労25名(50.0%),新生児は臀部発赤20名(40.0%)であった｡乳房管理の問題は,授乳方法に関することが最も多く11名(22.0%)であった｡褥婦の生活では,動静拡大時期の遅い者が21名(42.0%)で,初産婦の方が有意に遅かった｡新生児の生活環境では,経産婦の方が有意に室内の温度･湿度を測定していなかった｡育児技術の問題は,体位変換をしていないが最も多く28名(56.0%)であった｡混合栄養を行っていた22名のうち14名(63.6%)が新生児にとって不必要な人工乳を与えていた｡For adaptation of neonates to the life outside the mother, puerperants should begin child-rearing without a break after delivery and therefore, are in an unstable state in the body and mind. To promote a stable life in puerperants and growth in neonates, we visited neonates during the period from discharge to 1-month-old health checkup. The subjects were 25 primiparas and 25 multiparas who transviginally delivered between 1994 and 1996. The most frequent problem in the body was fatigue (50%) in the puerperants and redness in the buttocks (40%) in the neonates. In breast management, problems about the breast-feeding method were most frequently observed (22%). In the life of puerperants, 42% were slow in extending activites of daily living. Concerning the living environment of neonates, the number of multiparas who measure room temperature was significantly lower than that of primiparas. Concerning child-rearing techniques, the most frequent problem was that the mother does not change the position of the neonate (56%)

Nursing Care Workers' Concerns about Child Restraint System

本調査は患児の救急搬送時のことやCRS (child restraint system)における法規制の理解などに対する看護職の意識と子どもの車での搬送に関する問題への対応を知る目的で実施した｡岡山市内にある病院および保健所･保健センターに勤務している看護職725名(回収率72.2%)を対象に無記名アンケート方式で郵送法にて実施した｡その結果,入退院時の搬送については｢一度も話したことがない者｣は84.6%で,搬送に関してはほとんど関与していなかった｡CRSの除外規定に関する法的理解について5項目質問したが､正解者は40.9%であった｡その他"肥満児および精神的な不穏時のCRSの対応"として は保護者への判断を促す者と医師の判断を仰ぐ者との2通りの意見があった｡ わが国では健常児の非CRS使用時の搬送時に事故がおき運転者責任を問われたが,除外規定に関する判例ではなかった｡今後は交通事故の発生の場合には確実にCRSの問題は運転者の判断を問われることになる｡看護職としては子どもの搬送にCRSは関与していることを認識することへの示唆となるだろう｡This study surveyed nursing care workers (workers) understandings of regulations regarding the emergent transportation of childhood patients and child restraint systems (CRS). It also ascertained how they addressed issues involved in the transportation of children by car. Subjects were 725 workers at hospitals or health centers in Okayama City, who were sent an anonymous style questionnaire that was then retrieved by mail (recovery rate 72.2%). As the results, 84.6% of workers had never discussed childhood patient transportation during admission/discharge, with most not being involved in the transportation of children. Only 40.9% answered correctly to 5 questions regarding the exclusive provisions of CRS used to ascertain understanding of the regulations. There were two responses regarding "CRS application to fat children or those with mental restlessness": some encouraged the parents to make a decision and others took advices from doctors. A driver was held responsible for a car accident in Japan when a healthy child was transported without CRS. No case regarding the exclusive provisions has yet been reported. In cases of car accidents, drivers will from now surely be held responsible for the use of CRS. This survey provided nursing care workers for the opportunity to recognize the importance of CRS in the emergenty transportation of children

Remaining structures at the N- and C-terminal regions of alpha-synuclein accurately elucidated by amide-proton exchange NMR with fitting

AbstractAlpha-synuclein is analyzed in physiological conditions by CLEANEX-PM methodology, in which the amide-proton exchange can be monitored at millisecond scale. The relationship between kex and [OH]− is confirmed as a linear correlation with slope 1, indicating EX2 regime. There are significant residual structures at the N- and C-terminal regions. The structure at the C-terminal region is more stable than that of the N-terminal region. The middle part including NAC region is not completely protected. The data acquired at various pH and mixing time conditions followed by linear fitting give accurate information about residual structures