Development of Learning Methods and System to Practice Problems Using Digital Materials

In recent years, digital learning materials have been incorporated into schools by the spread of Information and Communication Technology (ICT). In this paper, we propose learning methods to develop the expressive power, decision making and thinking skills of students using digital materials. Additionally, we develop the following features: a method that can show the data created in ePub as the digital learning materials, a feature that can search the Internet directly by linking with an Internet browser, and a feature that saves the meta-data for the learner using e-learning to reuse the data that was developed for smartphone users.International Conference on Knowledge-Based and Intelligent Information and Engineering Systems, KES 2014; Pomeranian Science and Technology ParkGdynia; Poland; 15 September 2014 through 17 September 201

ニホン ニ オケル セッショク ショウガイ ベイコク ト ノ ヒカク

近年、日本においてメタボリックシンドロームの患者数は増加する一方で、若い女性のやせの増加がうかがえる。日本における摂食障害の発症頻度は1990年代後半から急激に増加し欧米の国々と肩を並べてきている。しかし、欧米のように、日本ではここ10年間のきちんとした全国的な疫学調査がなされていない。また、日本では管理栄養士が介入した摂食障害の栄養指導はあまり行われてないのが現状である。これまでに米国の摂食障害の状況や摂食障害治療における米国の管理栄養士の役割と日本の現状を比較した論文は見当たらない。したがって、アメリカ合衆国と比較しながら、日本の摂食障害の現状をまとめた。その結果、管理栄養士が摂食障害治療チームに加わり栄養療法を行えるように、正確な実態を把握するための全国的な調査の必要性および摂食障害治療における栄養療法の重要性を示し、管理栄養士の役割を見出した。Although the number of patients with metabolic syndrome has been increasing recently, young females are still more likely to become thin. The incidence rate of eating disorders has been increasing rapidly since the late 1990\u27s and growing closer to that of Western countries. In contrast to the Western countries we looked at in our study, there has been no national epidemiological survey in the past 10 years in Japan. Additionally, it is still not common that registered dietitians join in treatment of eating disorders and provide nutrition therapy in Japan. Thus, this paper gave the outline of eating disorders in Japan by summarizing and comparing with the situation in the United States. This study revealed the importance of large national epidemiological surveys, medical nutrition therapy, and the role of registered dietitians in order to encourage registered dietitians to provide nutrition therapy by joining the teams treating eating disorders

Global analysis of DNA methylation in early-stage liver fibrosis

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Liver fibrosis is caused by chemicals or viral infection. The progression of liver fibrosis results in hepatocellular carcinogenesis in later stages. Recent studies have revealed the importance of DNA hypermethylation in the progression of liver fibrosis to hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, the importance of DNA methylation in the early-stage liver fibrosis remains unclear.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>To address this issue, we used a pathological mouse model of early-stage liver fibrosis that was induced by treatment with carbon tetrachloride (CCl₄) for 2 weeks and performed a genome-wide analysis of DNA methylation status. This global analysis of DNA methylation was performed using a combination of methyl-binding protein (MBP)-based high throughput sequencing (MBP-seq) and bioinformatic tools, IPA and Oncomine. To confirm functional aspect of MBP-seq data, we complementary used biochemical methods, such as bisulfite modification and <it>in-vitro</it>-methylation assays.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The genome-wide analysis revealed that DNA methylation status was reduced throughout the genome because of CCl₄treatment in the early-stage liver fibrosis. Bioinformatic and biochemical analyses revealed that a gene associated with fibrosis, <it>secreted phosphoprotein 1 </it>(<it>Spp1</it>), which induces inflammation, was hypomethylated and its expression was up-regulated. These results suggest that DNA hypomethylation of the genes responsible for fibrosis may precede the onset of liver fibrosis. Moreover, <it>Spp1 </it>is also known to enhance tumor development. Using the web-based database, we revealed that <it>Spp1 </it>expression is increased in HCC.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Our study suggests that hypomethylation is crucial for the onset of and in the progression of liver fibrosis to HCC. The elucidation of this change in methylation status from the onset of fibrosis and subsequent progression to HCC may lead to a new clinical diagnosis.</p

Attenuated Food Anticipatory Activity and Abnormal Circadian Locomotor Rhythms in Rgs16 Knockdown Mice

Regulators of G protein signaling (RGS) are a multi-functional protein family, which functions in part as GTPase-activating proteins (GAPs) of G protein α-subunits to terminate G protein signaling. Previous studies have demonstrated that the Rgs16 transcripts exhibit robust circadian rhythms both in the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN), the master circadian light-entrainable oscillator (LEO) of the hypothalamus, and in the liver. To investigate the role of RGS16 in the circadian clock in vivo, we generated two independent transgenic mouse lines using lentiviral vectors expressing short hairpin RNA (shRNA) targeting the Rgs16 mRNA. The knockdown mice demonstrated significantly shorter free-running period of locomotor activity rhythms and reduced total activity as compared to the wild-type siblings. In addition, when feeding was restricted during the daytime, food-entrainable oscillator (FEO)-driven elevated food-anticipatory activity (FAA) observed prior to the scheduled feeding time was significantly attenuated in the knockdown mice. Whereas the restricted feeding phase-advanced the rhythmic expression of the Per2 clock gene in liver and thalamus in the wild-type animals, the above phase shift was not observed in the knockdown mice. This is the first in vivo demonstration that a common regulator of G protein signaling is involved in the two separate, but interactive circadian timing systems, LEO and FEO. The present study also suggests that liver and/or thalamus regulate the food-entrained circadian behavior through G protein-mediated signal transduction pathway(s)

Vaccine Literacy, COVID-19 Vaccine-Related Concerns, and Intention to Recommend COVID-19 Vaccines of Healthcare Workers in a Pediatric and Maternity Hospital: A Cross-Sectional Study

Vaccine literacy of healthcare workers (HCWs) may affect the COVID-19 vaccine uptake of the general population. This study aimed to clarify the vaccine literacy level of HCWs in Japan and its impacts on their concerns about vaccines and intention to recommend that others receive vaccines. This cross-sectional survey was conducted in July 2021 based on the recruitment of HCWs in a pediatric and maternity hospital and research center in Tokyo, Japan. All HCWs in this center had the chance to receive the COVID-19 vaccine before the survey, and their vaccine coverage was relatively high, at 95%. A total of 1519 workers answered the questionnaire. The results showed that HCWs with lower functional vaccine literacy had 1.5 times as many concerns about the efficacy of vaccines and 1.6 times as many concerns about the future side effects compared with those with higher literacy. Further, HCWs with higher vaccine literacy were more likely to recommend that older people, people with comorbidities, and pregnant women receive vaccines. Our findings suggest that high vaccine literacy alleviates concerns about COVID-19 vaccines and raised the intention to recommend vaccines to others. To achieve high vaccine coverage, countermeasures such as personalized education are essential

Treatment of a Patient with Class I Malocclusion and Severe Tooth Crowding Using Invisalign and Fixed Appliances

The Invisalign system is widely used to treat mild to moderate tooth crowding. Recently, Invisalign appliances have been used in orthodontic patients with increasingly complex malocclusions. When using an Invisalign appliance to correct severe tooth crowding, root positions must be carefully controlled during extraction space closure. We report our treatment of a 34-year-old man who presented with a Class I relationship, a midline deviation, severe overjet, and severe tooth crowding in the maxillary and mandibular anterior regions. The treatment plan involved extraction of the maxillary and mandibular first premolars on both sides. We treated this patient with severe anterior tooth crowding using an Invisalign appliance combined with a fixed appliance with power arms and elastics. Treatment by Invisalign as an application of computational calculated result, especially in extraction cases, doctors should have professional skill and experience as an orthodontist