CROSS-CULTURAL FACTORS THAT INFLUENCE ADJUSTMENTS OF FOREIGN CARE WORKERS IN JAPAN: TOWARDS A THREE-LAYERED STRUCTURAL MODEL

In Japan, foreign care workers have been increasing, thus cross-cultural adjustment has become an important issue. In this study, we examined factors that influence (1) psychological, (2) sociocultural, and (3) self-realization adjustments of foreign care workers. Participants were from Indonesia (n=70) and the Philippines (n=88) that work at medical (n=32) and elder care facilities (n=72) in Japan. Participants completed questionnaires that measured the three adjustments. A multilevel model analysis was used to examine the relationship between the three adjustment variables. Seven factors were identified. In assessing a three layered structural model, it was found that cross-cultural adjustment is first influenced by psychological factors that influence sociocultural factors of the middle layer, and self-realization factor affected by sociocultural factors. The original three-layer model that simply progress from psychological to self-realization was differ and it was modified. The key factor of cross cultural adjustment of affinity relation with Japanese was indicated

Recombinant Stokesia Epoxygenase Gene

A chimeric gene comprising an isolated nucleic acid molecule encoding a delta 12-fatty acid epoxygenase enzyme and transgenic plants containing the chimeric gene are described. Expression of the chimeric delta 12-epoxygenase gene leads to altered levels of fatty acids in transformed cells

CASE STUDY OF DIETARY HABITS AND ACCULTURATION IN CHINESE INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS IN JAPAN: PROBLEMS AND NECESSITY OF INTERCULTURAL DIETARY EDUCATION

Japan is known as one of the world’s healthiest food country; however, the question has been raised if foreign students in Japan are truly living a healthy dietary life. Dietary education is common for Japanese citizens; however, it has been undeveloped for foreign students.In this study, we focused on Chinese students, who accounted for approximately 60% of the international students in Japan. Participants were twenty-one Chinese students who attended a university in Japan.Semi-structured interviews were conducted and informants were asked to talk about their dietary life and the changes after coming to Japan.We determined their cross-cultural adjustment and dietary behavior in cross-cultural environment in Japan, and considered whether cross-cultural dietary education was necessary. &nbsp

Diacylglycerol Acyltransferase Sequences and Related Methods

Isolated nucleic acid and amino acid sequences encoding a diacylglycerol acyltransferase 2 (DGAT2) polypeptide are provided. Vectors and transgenic cells that include a nucleic acid sequence encoding a DGAT2 polypeptide are also described. Further provided are methods of producing an epoxy fatty acid by transforming a cell with a first isolated nucleic acid that encodes a diacylglycerol acyltransferase polypeptide and a second isolated nucleic acid that encodes an epoxygenase polypeptide, such that expression of the diacylglycerol acyltransferase polypeptide and the epoxygenase polypeptide increases an amount of epoxy fatty acid in the cell

Methods for Increasing Renewable Oil Productions

Methods of increasing renewable oil production are provided and include transforming a plant cell with an isolated nucleic acid encoding a Vernonia galamensis diacylglycerol acyltransferase (V gDGAT) polypeptide, where the expression of the V gDGAT polypeptide increases an amount of renewable oil in the plant. Transgenic plant cells comprising an isolated nucleic acid encoding a Vernonia galamensis diacylglycerol acyl transferase 1 (V gDGATl) polypeptide are further provided

Crucial roles of Robo proteins in midline crossing of cerebellofugal axons and lack of their up-regulation after midline crossing

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Robo1, Robo2 and Rig-1 (Robo3), members of the Robo protein family, are candidate receptors for the chemorepellents Slit and are known to play a crucial role in commissural axon guidance in the spinal cord. However, their roles at other axial levels remain unknown. Here we examine expression of Robo proteins by cerebellofugal (CF) commissural axons in the rostral hindbrain and investigate their roles in CF axon pathfinding by analysing Robo knockout mice.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>We analysed the expression of Robo proteins by CF axons originating from deep cerebellar neurons in rodent embryos, focusing on developmental stages of their midline crossing and post-crossing navigation. At the stage of CF axon midline crossing, mRNAs of Robo1 and Robo2 are expressed in the nuclear transitory zone of the cerebellum, where the primordium of the deep cerebellar nuclei are located, supporting the notion that CF axons express Robo1 and Robo2. Indeed, immunohistochemical analysis of CF axons labelled by electroporation to deep cerebellar nuclei neurons indicates that Robo1 protein, and possibly also Robo2 protein, is expressed by CF axons crossing the midline. However, weak or no expression of these proteins is found on the longitudinal portion of CF axons. In <it>Robo1</it>/<it>2 </it>double knockout mice, many CF axons reach the midline but fail to exit it. We find that CF axons express Rig-1 (Robo3) before they reach the midline but not after the longitudinal turn. Consistent with this <it>in vivo </it>observation, axons elicited from a cerebellar explant in co-culture with a floor plate explant express Rig-1. In <it>Rig-1 </it>deficient mouse embryos, CF axons appear to project ipsilaterally without reaching the midline.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>These results indicate that Robo1, Robo2 or both are required for midline exit of CF axons. In contrast, Rig-1 is required for their approach to the midline. However, post-crossing up-regulation of these proteins, which plays an important role in spinal commissural axon guidance, does not appear to be required for the longitudinal navigation of CF axons after midline crossing. Our results illustrate that although common mechanisms operate for midline crossing at different axial levels, significant variation exists in post-crossing navigation.</p