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Purpose. This study aims to elucidate the gender gaps in the strategies for maintaining the social participation and interaction of older adults with people in a local community. Methods. The subjects were 130 older adults aged 65 years or older and independently living in their homes in Saitama, Saitama Prefecture, Japan. The authors conducted an anonymous questionnaire survey on paper and performed multiple regression analysis for men and women separately using the Lubben Social Network Scale-6 (LSNS-6) as the dependent variable. Results. Among the independent variables used for the analysis, those that significantly influenced LSNS-6 in men were social activities related to the daily life satisfaction of the elderly (SARDS). The independent variables that significantly influenced LSNS-6 in women were SARDS, sense of coherence-13 (SOC-13), and the number of family members living with the subjects. Discussion. Health promotion is not associated with interaction with people in men compared with women. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Preoperative education can improve postoperative quality of life in patients undergoing stoma surgery. However, the prevalence and when, where, and how preoperative education is implemented are unclear. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the current status of outpatient preoperative education for patients undergoing stoma surgery for rectal cancer as perceived by nurses. Additionally, it sought to identify the information provided by Japanese healthcare providers as a part of preoperative education. Methods: This cross-sectional study included 1,716 wound, ostomy, and continence nurses (WOCNs) in charge of stoma clinics at Japanese hospitals. Unsigned self-administered survey forms were mailed to the participants, and paper- or web-based responses were obtained. The main questions included: overview of the participants and their facilities, provision of outpatient preoperative education, status of implementation, and preoperative education components. To examine the factors associated with preoperative education, the independent variable was the presence or absence of preoperative education in the clinic, and the explanatory variables were the years of experience as a nurse, years of experience as a WOCN, type of hospital, number of beds, and number of intestinal stoma surgeries per year. Regression analysis was performed. Results: We received 773 valid responses (valid response rate: 45%). Duration of experience as a nurse and as a WOCN were 24.6 and 10.9 years, respectively. Outpatient preoperative education was provided by 24% of the participants. Most preoperative education sessions were conducted for patients or caregivers. Preoperative education took 31–60 min per patient, and one to five patients received preoperative education each month. Booklets, ostomy appliances, and stoma models/dolls were used as supplementary materials for preoperative education. The most frequently mentioned components of preoperative education were stoma care, daily life, social security, stoma clinic, traveling and going out, quality of life after stoma surgery, and precautions for medical treatment. In addition, education on the use of restrooms on the go, disaster preparedness, defecation disorders after restorative proctectomy, and complications after stoma closure were considered necessary. Conclusions: The implementation rate of outpatient preoperative education was low (24%). Future challenges include the development of specific educational content and procedures suitable for the Japanese medical environment and the establishment of preoperative medical care teams for stoma surgery to promote the provision of outpatient preoperative education. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of mass screening of newborns for congenital hypothyroidism of central origin (CH-C) by measurement of free thyroxine (FT4) and thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH). Design: Questionnaire-based survey of CH-C patients born between 1999 and 2008 in Kanagawa prefecture, Japan. Methods: TSH and FT4 levels in dried blood spots on filter paper were measured using ELISA kits, and CH-C was diagnosed at FT4 levels below a cutoff of 0.7 ng/dl (9.0 pmol/l). Survey results were collated with the database created by the screening organizer Results: Twenty-four CH-C patients (18 males) were identified, 14 of whom had multiple pituitary hormone deficiencies (group M), eight had isolated CH-C (group I), and two had undetermined pituitary involvement (group U). In groups M, I, and U, the number of patients with FT4 levels below the cutoff value at screening was five (36%), seven (88%), and one (50%) respectively; other patients had been diagnosed clinically. Thus, 13 patients were true positives, while nine were false negatives, yielding screening sensitivity of 59.1% and positive predictive value of 11.5%. The calculated sensitivity was 81.8% at a higher cutoff value of 0.9 ng/dl (11.6 pmol/l). The overall incidence of CH-C was estimated at 1 in 30 833 live births, while that of CH of thyroidal origin (CH-T) is 1 in 3472 live births in Kanagawa prefecture (CH-T/CH-C, 8.9). Conclusions: Newborn screening with combined FT4 and TSH measurements can identify a significant number of CH-C patients before manifestation of clinical symptoms, but a more appropriate FT4 cutoff value should be considered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although individual factors play a vital role in determining professional autonomy, their specific impact during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has not been studied. This study aimed to compare nurses' professional autonomy when caring for patients with COVID-19 and for other patients and explore factors related to autonomy when caring for these patients. A paper-based questionnaire survey was conducted from June to August 2022 among nurses working at a university hospital in Japan. The survey included demographic factors (10 items, including, age, section, years of nursing experience, position, educational background, ladder level, and having certified nurse specialists or certified nurse qualifications) and individual experience factors (4 items: number of COVID-19 patients experienced, frequency and contents of searching for the latest information about COVID-19, frequency of using scientific sources, and frequency of training/study sessions on COVID-19 attended at the hospital). Additionally, basic knowledge of COVID-19 was evaluated. The scale for nurses' professional autonomy was developed based on a previous study. A paired t-test and stepwise multiple linear regression were used for the analyses. Overall, 241 nurses participated in the survey. The average length of nursing experience was 10.3 ± 9.2 years. The total scores for nurses' professional autonomy in all 5 factors 27 items were significantly lower (t = −12.1, p < 0.001) when caring for COVID-19 patients than when caring for other patients. Specifically, Factor 1 (Cognition) exhibited the most decreased scores when caring for COVID-19 patients than when caring for other patients. Factor 4 (Abstract judgment) differed the least between caring for COVID-19 and for other patients, but the average score was the lowest. More years of nursing experience (β = 0.208, p = 0.001) and a higher number of patients with COVID-19 cared for (β = 0.140, p = 0.026) were associated with higher autonomy scores. In conclusion, to enhance professional autonomy during an unprecedented pandemic, nurses must enhance cognition and abstract judgment. In the event of a future pandemic, nurses need to create an environment in which they routinely access and utilize the latest information and scientific evidence to provide high-quality nursing care based on their professional judgment and competence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: The present study aimed to examine the effects of a learning programme for nurse managers on connecting learning with their own experiences and fostering competence. Background: In Japan, second‐level programmes for certified nurse administrators represent the main opportunity for formal training for nurse managers. However, it is difficult for nurse managers to transfer second‐level programme learning to their workplace. Methods: This quasi‐experimental study used a two‐group pretest–posttest design with purposive sampling and non‐random assignment of 29 consenting Japanese nurse managers who were participating in a second‐level programme through a prefectural nursing association. The programme provided reflection papers and feedback from a researcher, as well as reflective group sessions. The outcome measure was the Japanese First‐Line Nurse Managers Competence Inventory (JNMCI) score. Results: The intervention group showed significant improvement in JNMCI scores after participating in the programme. A significant difference in JNMCI scores was also observed between the intervention and comparison groups. Conclusion: This learning programme led to improved competency among nurse managers. Implications for Nursing Management: Nurse manager development programmes should include reflection papers and feedback, as well as reflective group sessions, to improve competency among nurse managers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While previous studies found that origami, when used for cognitive training and education, can improve spatial ability, the underlying mechanisms of this change, presumably associated with the origami folding process, remain unclear. In the present study, we focused on origami imagery in which participants imagined the process of folding paper to create a work of art; and we examined the cognitive factors involved in the imagery process and their association with mental transformations and the extent to which visual imagery was vivid. We identified four specific relevant cognitive factors in origami imagery: (a) controllability of origami transformations, (b) visual imagery of shapes, (c) hand sensations, and (d) visual imagery of colors. We associated the first two of these with non-rigid transformations: the controllability of origami transformations and the visual imagery of shapes. Moreover, vividness of visual imagery was related to all four cognitive factors. We propose this cognitive model of origami as one that considers the key relationships between origami imagery, mental transformations, and vividness of visual imagery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: In order to understand the digital divide among older adults during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) pandemic, we investigated the association between internet use and compliance with COVID‐19 preventive behaviors during the first state of emergency in Japan. Methods: A total of 8952 community‐dwelling citizens aged 75 years and above were asked about their preventive behaviors during the first state of emergency using a paper‐based questionnaire. Among them, 51% responded and were divided into internet users and non‐users. We used multivariable logistic regression models to estimate the adjusted odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals of internet use for compliance with preventive behaviors. Results: Approximately 40% of the respondents used the internet, and 9.29% used social media to collect COVID‐19‐related information. Internet usage was independently associated with compliance with using hand sanitizers, avoiding going out, avoiding eating out, avoiding traveling, getting vaccinated, and getting tested for COVID‐19; the adjusted odds ratios (95% confidence intervals) were 1.21 (1.05–1.38), 1.19 (1.04–1.37), 1.20 (1.05–1.38), 1.32 (1.15–1.52), 1.30 (1.11–1.53), and 1.23 (1.07–1.41), respectively. Exploratory subgroup analyses demonstrated that social media users might have shown early adaptation to newly recommended preventive behaviors during the first state of emergency. Conclusions: Results suggest that a digital divide exists, as evidenced by the varied compliance with preventive behaviors depending on internet use. Additionally, social media use may be associated with early adaptation to newly recommended preventive behaviors. Therefore, future studies regarding the digital divide among older adults should investigate differences depending on the types and content of internet resources. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2023; 23: 289–296. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective. On the basis of inheriting the classical aesthetic orientation of Japanese literature, contemporary Japanese literature changes the creative methods of traditional Japanese writers, strives to transcend the national limitations of Japanese literature, and strives to capture literary materials with a "modern feel." Combined with modern western literary techniques to express the "modern self," and integrating popular literature with pure literature, Japanese writers created a "healing" literature that is popular all over the world. There is some value in exploring the correlation between Japanese literature and the influence of psychotherapy. Method. In this paper, an equation diagnosis algorithm based on iterative learning for a class of linear discrete systems is studied, and the existing discrete iterative learning diagnostics are improved. We exchange the order of time domain and iterative domain to achieve the purpose of point-by-point equation diagnosis. On this basis, a virtual influence initial value estimation algorithm with a sliding window is proposed. The impact that has not been diagnosed is estimated and used as the initial value of the impact, so as to reduce the number of iterations and improve the efficiency of equation diagnosis. This paper takes the public and readers as different perspectives, based on the use and satisfaction theory and prospect theory, and uses interviews and questionnaires to study the communication effect of Japanese literature from the three dimensions of cognition, emotion, and behavior. The cognitive part includes the public's understanding and readers' understanding and reading; the emotional part includes the public's and readers' impressions and emotional attitudes; the behavioral part includes the public's reading situation and readers' behavior changes. Results/Discussion. In the survey of loyal readers, although readers' understanding of Japanese literature has improved compared with the general public, it is not high, and their liking and influence on behavior are slightly lower than the preset level. This paper believes that the existing problems of Japanese literature dissemination are mainly concentrated in three aspects: the market is somewhat biased, which narrows the cognitive scope of users; as a cross-cultural literary work, Japanese literature still makes readers feel that it exists; there is some sense of estrangement, which will affect their enjoyment in reading; as a niche interest, readers lack timely communication and sharing objects after reading, so it is difficult to enhance their sense of identity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: This study aimed to investigate the relationship between family caregivers' health‐related quality of life and health outcomes in care recipients. Methods: A total of 160 female caregivers in Japan were initially assessed using self‐reported baseline questionnaires to determine physical and mental aspects of their health‐related quality of life. Based on these scores, they were divided into three groups: lower, middle, and higher quality of life. We followed up with the 133 participants (after excluding those that did not respond) 6 years later to assess the health of their care recipients; 36 caregivers continued to provide home care, while 97 reported that their care recipient had died or been admitted into institutionalized care. Results: Statistically, a higher risk for care recipients' health deterioration was strongly associated with the mental component score in the lower caregivers' quality of life group of than for the middle group, after adjusting for the care recipients' age, health status, and caregivers' age at baseline. There was no significant association between deterioration of health of care recipients and physical component scores of the caregivers. Conclusion: Caregivers' poor health‐related quality of life, particularly poor mental health, may be linked to the deterioration of care recipients' health. Summary statement: What is already known about this topic? Family caregivers reportedly have lower quality of life than noncaregivers.While factors associated with decreased quality of life of caregivers such as high caregiving burden and longer care duration are being identified, they remain difficult to prevent.Lower caregiver quality of life may negatively influence the care recipients. What this paper adds? Poor mental health in caregivers, calculated with health‐related quality of life scores, is associated with health deterioration of care recipients.Physical health in caregivers is not associated with health deterioration of care recipients. The implications of this paper: Support for improving the health‐related quality of life of caregivers is necessary, especially in relation to their mental health, from the viewpoint of maintaining the health status of care recipients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Objectives: Although there are many studies on the umami receptor and its signaling pathway, literature on the effect of umami taste acuity on dietary choices in healthy subjects is limited. The current study aims to clarify the relationship between umami taste acuity with sweet or bitter taste acuity, food preference and intake.Methods and Study Design: Forty-two healthy Japanese female university students were enrolled. The acuity for umami, sweet, and bitter tastes was evaluated using the filter-paper disc method. The study population was divided into 32 umami normal tasters and 10 hypo-tasters based on the taste acuity at the posterior part of the tongue using monosodium glutamate.Results: Umami hypo-tasters exhibited a significantly lower sensitivity to sweet tastes than normal tasters. However, the sensitivity to bitter taste was comparable between the two groups. Food preference was examined by the food preference checklist consisted of 81 food items. Among them, umami tasters preferred shellfish, tomato, carrot, milk, low fat milk, cheese, dried shiitake, and kombu significantly more than umami hypo-tasters did. A self-reported food frequency questionnaire revealed no significant differences in the intake of calories and three macronutrients between the two groups; however, umami tasters were found to eat more seaweeds and less sugar than umami hypo-tasters.Conclusions: These data together may indicate the possibility that umami taste acuity has an effect on a dietary life. Therefore, training umami taste acuity from early childhood is important for a healthy diet later in life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While many studies examine tools and techniques to improve survey response rates, it remains unclear as to which are effective, and response rates continue to decline. In this study, we examine the effect of four variables expected to influence mail survey response rates: (1) the use of semi-transparent envelopes versus ordinary paper envelopes for delivery, (2) the level of content in the request letter (simple or detailed), (3) the length of the questionnaire, and (4) the survey schedule. We found that the total response rate was 45.4%, while those of the experimental conditions were as follows: (1) semi-transparent versus ordinary paper envelopes, 46.2% versus 44.7%; (2) simple versus detailed request letters, 44.7% versus 46.2%; (3) 4-page versus 8-page questionnaires, 46.0%versus 44.8%; and (4) holiday versus ordinary day, 45.6% versus 45.3%.We found no significant differences in response rates for any of the experimental variables; that is, the logistic regression analysis revealed no relationship between the four experimental conditions and the response rate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Two percent of the Japanese population is comprised of foreign residents with further increase expected due to immigration policy revisions. The purpose of this paper is to examine the healthcare needs and difficulties experienced by foreign residents in Japan by level of their Japanese language fluency. Design: A quantitative, descriptive design was used. Sample: We surveyed foreign residents in the greater Tokyo area (N = 209). Measurements: The research team created the survey questions and the contents of the survey include foreign residents' experiences during their visits or stays at medical and public health facilities in Japan. Results: More than 90% of the participants or their families visited medical facilities in Japan regardless of Japanese language fluency; however, those with less Japanese language fluency experienced statistically significant uneasiness or inconvenience concerning communication compared to those with native Japanese language fluency (p =.000). Conclusions: Nurses in Japan may benefit from additional training related to use of interpreters as well as education about diversity and cultural humility. Through better understanding of the specific communication barriers of foreign residents, nurses will be able to better anticipate difficulties and address them. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: The study aimed to explore the effect of video‐mediated communication on father‐infant bonding and transition to fatherhood during and after Satogaeri Bunben. Background: Satogaeri Bunben is a Japanese perinatal tradition that results in the pregnant wife and husband living apart, which may interfere with father‐infant bonding and transition to fatherhood. Design/Methods: A mixed‐methods study was conducted from July 2012 to November 2015. Participants were divided into two groups (Treatment/Control). Quantitative data included Taiji kanjyo Hyotei Syakudo (TKHS) , communication methods, husband's visitation records and video‐mediated communication records and satisfaction of video‐mediated communication experience. Qualitative data included participants' journal entries about their experience and feelings toward their infants during Satogaeri Bunben. Results: Fourteen treatment and thirteen control dyads/couples participated in the study. There were significant differences between groups in the frequency of fathers' visitation during Satogaeri Bunben, as well as on the THKS between groups in cross‐sectional analysis and in treatment group in longitudinal analysis. Fathers' journal entries revealed the use of video‐mediated communication in both groups, specifically commenting about these experiences and the impact of additional visual cues when communicating. Conclusion: Video‐mediated communication provides a sense of virtual co‐presence, which may help support father‐infant bonding and transition to fatherhood; however, it does not completely substitute for face‐to‐face interaction. SUMMARY STATEMENT: What is already known about this topic? Father‐infant bonding and transition to fatherhood are supported by father's early involvement and ongoing sharing of time and space with his infant. What this paper adds? Virtual co‐presence in which people maintain a sense of "being there" for each other across distances may improve father‐infant bonding and transition to fatherhood when face‐to‐face contact is not possible due to geographic separation. The implications of this paper: Video‐mediated communication was explored as a way to support fathers who were separated from their wives and infants during the perinatal period by creating a sense of virtual co‐presence. This study advanced the idea that video‐mediated communication may be ideally suited when families are separated geographically during the perinatal period and early infancy (e.g. military/work deployment, hospitalization, educational opportunity and migrant/refugee families who send one parent ahead), as it provides communication context by adding visual cues and contextualizing auditory cues. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two frequently encountered but underrecognized challenges for causal inference in studying the long-term health effects of disasters among survivors include 1) time-varying effects of disasters on a time-to-event outcome and 2) selection bias due to selective attrition. In this paper, we review approaches for overcoming these challenges and demonstrate application of the approaches to a real-world longitudinal data set of older adults who were directly affected by the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami (n  = 4,857). To illustrate the problem of time-varying effects of disasters, we examined the association between degree of damage due to the tsunami and all-cause mortality. We compared results from Cox regression analysis assuming proportional hazards with those derived using adjusted parametric survival curves allowing for time-varying hazard ratios. To illustrate the problem of selection bias, we examined the association between proximity to the coast (a proxy for housing damage from the tsunami) and depressive symptoms. We corrected for selection bias due to attrition in the 2 postdisaster follow-up surveys (conducted in 2013 and 2016) using multivariable adjustment, inverse probability of censoring weighting, and survivor average causal effect estimation. Our results demonstrate that analytical approaches which ignore time-varying effects on mortality and selection bias due to selective attrition may underestimate the long-term health effects of disasters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Encouraging students to actively ask questions during lectures is a formidable challenge that can be addressed through innovative use of information technology. We developed a robotic system that allows students in a lecture to collaboratively decide questions to be asked by a humanoid robot. To verify whether the system reduces hesitation to ask questions during lectures, 62 university students were divided into two groups, and each attended two different mock lectures on the Nobel Prize in Physics. Two lectures were conducted with and without the proposed system in counterbalanced order. Results suggested that students who were usually hesitant to ask questions during lectures became less hesitant to ask questions face‐to‐face when they could use the proposed system. Moreover, the perceived activeness in the lectures increased when using the system. Multiple regression analyses revealed that certain student actions, particularly tweeting and showing agreement with the questions posted by others, were correlated with an increase in perceived activeness. Lay Description: What is already known about this topic: In‐class student passivity is a widespread problem at many schools.Information and robot technologies have focused on addressing student passivity.Existing audience response systems are supportive but with limited degrees of freedom.It is unclear how these systems can encourage face‐to‐face student interactions. What this paper adds: We developed a system for in‐class students to ask questions collaboratively via a humanoid robot.Japanese undergraduates attended two experimental mock lectures with and without the proposed system.Hesitant students felt less hesitation asking questions face‐to‐face in the class with our system. The implications of study findings for practitioners: Significant effects of the robotic system on lecture participation are shown.In particular, it can encourage hesitant students to actively participate in class.Lecturer–student supported communication expected to promote experiences without it.Experiments in real educational settings are recommended to verify system usefulness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: The aims of this paper are to (a) outline the design and implementation of an evidence‐based assertiveness communication workshop for Japanese nursing students; and (b) report on the evaluation of nursing students' satisfaction with the workshop using the Satisfaction with Assertiveness Communication Training Program Survey. Background: A body of research attests to the relationship between assertive communication and patient safety. This paper reports the design and evaluation of an assertiveness communication training programme designed to enhance students' ability to communicate safety in clinical practice. Design: A culturally appropriate and evidence‐based assertiveness communication workshop, informed by Gagne's instructional design principles, was implemented for third‐year nursing students in two Japanese higher educational institutions in December 2017. A descriptive study design was used to evaluate the workshop. Methods: Students' perceptions of the workshop were evaluated using the Satisfaction with Assertiveness Communication Training Program Survey, which includes ten items that are rated using a 5‐point Likert scale from strongly disagree [1] to strongly agree [5]. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics. The Revised Standards for Quality Improvement Reporting Excellence (SQUIRE 2.0) guidelines were used in the reporting of this study. Results: A total of 111 students from a population of 150 participated in the study giving a response rate of 74%. The overall mean satisfaction score was 4.12 indicating a high level of agreement with each of the survey items. With the exception of two items, the mean scores were above 4.0. "Confidence in using assertiveness communication skills" and "Utilising role‐plays to practice learnt skills" received mean scores of 3.71 and 3.90, respectively. Conclusion: Given the compelling research about the importance of assertive communication in health care, the results from this study support continuing investment in assertiveness communication training programmes for nursing students. Relevance to clinical practice: Assertive communication is an essential communication skill for safe nursing practice. Culturally appropriate assertiveness communication training programmes are of particular relevance in hierarchical healthcare contexts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mental health literacy (MHL) refers to one's knowledge and beliefs about mental disorders. MHL is necessary for the prevention and early detection of eating disorders, but little research exists on the MHL of Japanese people. This paper aims to reveal the degree of MHL about eating disorders in the Japanese individuals most susceptible to them (namely, female university students). Female Japanese university students were surveyed with a self-report questionnaire, using the Japanese versions of anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa vignettes. Most participants responded that the main problem described in each vignette were "eating disorders" and tended to suggest medical care for the treatment. However, many still believed these issues to be simple problems of eating behavior. Overall, the participants demonstrated inadequate MHL about eating disorders. Initiatives to improve this population's knowledge and understanding of eating disorders are necessary. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, the author attempts to show some structural changes in the adolescent mind in modern Japan through examination of our quantitative research of the dreams of university students. Two questionnaires, Scale of Anthropophobia Mentality and Scale of Sense of Self, were administered while asking students about the contents of their 'impressive dreams' in childhood as well as their recent dreams. By paying attention to the relationship between the sense of self of dream-ego and the structure of dreams, the author demonstrates the subjects' difficulty, or inability, to 'have' anxiety and thereby become active enough both on the surface of their consciousness and in the depth of their unconscious to effect change in their situation. The author concludes with a suggestion regarding the necessity of a cross-cultural study in this field and adds some points of comparison between German and Japanese dreams reported in psychotherapies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Japanese ban on reporting the names of juvenile offenders was lifted in 2022. • More than 90 % of Japanese citizens support the ban. • Preference for rehabilitation predicted disapproval about reporting real names. • Preferences for deterrence and incapacitation predicted approval unlike retribution. • Support for reporting real names may be due to penal populism in Japan. This study examined Japanese citizens' attitudes toward disclosing juvenile offenders' real names in terms of justification preferences, which are strongly related to attitudes toward punishment and justice. A total of 1,207 citizens participated in an online survey. A multiple regression analysis was conducted with attitudes toward revealing real names as the dependent variable and preferences for justification, beliefs about juvenile offenders, perceptions of delinquency, and demographic variables as the independent variables. The preference for rehabilitation predicted disapproval, while general deterrence and incapacitation predicted support for reporting real names. This suggests that the fear of hindering rehabilitation leads people to reject reporting real names, while the idea that it is important for deterring crime leads people to support it. Symbolic discrimination against juvenile offenders was also suggested as a reason for supporting the reporting of real names in conjunction with beliefs about juvenile offenders. The results can be seen as an expression of the penal populism that has emerged in Japan in recent years. The paper also discusses a hybrid measure of preference for justification used in the present study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper aims to clarify the association between various social capital components at the municipal level (community social capital) and two quality-of-life factors at the individual level [individual self-rated life satisfaction and self-rated health (SRH)] based on data from a nationwide social capital survey that the authors carried out in 2013 in Japan (N = 3406 in 99 municipalities). The survey covers residents in Japan between the ages of 20 and 79 years. We focus on both contextual social capital and household income inequality in terms of the Gini coefficient at the municipality level since, to the best of our knowledge, no paper has explicitly dealt with municipalities in Japan as the units of contextual social capital and the Gini. Our analyses show that the subjective life satisfaction of individuals, after controlling for socioeconomic status and health at the individual level, is associate with both an income gap and social capital at the municipal level. Every component of community social capital in this study except for generalized reciprocity, both cognitive (generalized trust, particularized trust, and particularized reciprocity), and structural (three types of group participation and daily contacts with neighbors, friends/acquaintances, and colleagues), and the Gini coefficient on earned income were associated with self-rated life satisfaction at the individual level with statistical significance. However, SRH is associated only with cognitive social capital at the community level. SRH has no significant association with structural components of community social capital or with a community income gap in terms of the Gini coefficient on personal income. Judging from the results of estimates in the study, most of the components of community social capital at the municipal level seem to play an important role in enhancing self-rated life satisfaction. Life satisfaction may be associated with the broad atmosphere of the municipal level where one resides, while SRH is associated with cognitive social capital rather than structural social capital. However, the difference in the impact of contextual social capital between the two QOL indices may indicate the importance of considering a proper contextual level that is suitable for the outcome. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Palliative care for dementia includes psychosocial interventions as first-line treatment for challenging behaviour. However, the national dementia plan in Japan contradicts recommendations for palliative care for dementia. This study aimed to examine the association between care quality for patients with dementia and professional caregivers' perspectives regarding palliative care for dementia in Japanese community care settings.Methods: In total, 2116 professional caregivers from 329 agencies (217 in-home long-term care support providers; 29 small-scale, multiple home-care providers; and 83 group homes) in Tokyo prefecture, Japan, completed cross-sectional, paper-based questionnaires about 3603 people diagnosed with dementia, in May 2016. Quality of care measures included physical restraint and antipsychotic medication use and quality of life. Patients' quality of life was assessed via the Japanese version of the Alzheimer's Disease Health-related Quality of Life scale. The Japanese version of the Questionnaire on Palliative Care for Advanced Dementia was used to assess professional caregivers' knowledge and attitudes regarding palliative care for dementia.Results: Professional caregivers' knowledge and attitudes regarding palliative care for dementia were positively associated with quality of life in patients with dementia. Physical restraint and antipsychotic medication were used regardless of professional caregivers' knowledge and attitudes.Conclusions: Professional caregivers' perspectives regarding palliative care for dementia could have exerted a positive effect on quality of life in patients with dementia. A national strategy for advocacy and the protection of adults is required to integrate several laws and guidelines and prevent the use of antipsychotics as a form of chemical restraint. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Empirical analysis of practitioner perspectives in Japan using Q method. • Identification of 3 groups: recovery supporters, moral guardians, crime bureaucrats. • Commonalities around the theme of 'autonomous drug-free lives'. • Competing interpretations about why this matters and the journey to this. • Conflicts may result in erosion of cooperation and differences in implementation. In Japan, responses to people with drug dependency problems and who frequently re-enter the criminal justice system have undergone significant change in recent years, resulting in a heavier emphasis placed on non-criminal justice interventions and greater diversification of practitioners. To better understand how different practitioners are negotiating and adapting to their changing environments, this paper examines the goals of practitioners who work with individuals who are on probation, parole or have received a suspended sentence for an illegal drug offence. Q methodology was utilised, with participation of 89 practitioners from across the fields of criminal justice, health, social welfare, and local government. Participants ranked 64 goals in drug policy according to their perceived importance in a Q-sort activity, before reflecting on their decision-making during a post-sort questionnaire. Principal components analysis was conducted, along with an iterative and holistic approach that considered the Q-sort and questionnaire data as a whole, to extract and interpret groups of practitioners that shared similar perspectives. Three groups of practitioner perspectives were identified, termed as recovery supporters, moral guardians , and crime bureaucrats. Overall, there are a number of commonalities which revolve around facilitating 'autonomous drug-free lives', but groups are distinguished in important ways, not least in terms of goals relating to the nature and role of criminal justice and treatment services. Although the notion of 'autonomous drug-free lives' binds together different perspectives, there are competing interpretations about why this matters and the preferred 'journey' to this social state. These findings show that the embracing of more welfare and health-based approaches in drug policy in Japan is also being largely reflected in practitioner perspectives, but the conflicts that exist have the potential to erode multi-agency co-operation and lead to variation in policy implementation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper describes the factor analysis testing and construct validation of the Japanese version of the Caffrey Cultural Competence Health Services (J-CCCHS). The inventory, composed of 28 items, was translated using language and subject matter experts. Psychometric testing (exploratory factor, alpha reliability, and confirmatory factor analyses) was undertaken with nurses (N = 7494, 92% female, mean age 32.6 years) from 19 hospitals across Japan. Principal components extraction with varimax rotation yielded a 5-factor solution (62.31% variance explained) that was labeled: knowledge, comfort-proximal, comfort-distal, awareness, and awareness of national policy. Cronbach α for the subscales ranged from 0.756 to 0.892. In confirmatory factor analysis using the robust maximum likelihood estimator, the chi-square test was as follows: χ2(340) = 14604.44, P < .001. After correlated errors were introduced, there was evidence of improved model fit (χ2(335) = 8681.61, P < .05) but the other indices showed improvement (RMSEA = .058 [90% CI, 0.057-0.059], TLI = .891, CFI = .903, and SRMR = .059). The discriminating power of the J-CCCHS was indicated by statistically mean differences in J-CCCHS subscale scores between predefined groups. Taking into consideration that this is the first foray into construct validation for this instrument, and that fit was improved when a subsequent data driven model was tested, and it has the ability to distinguish between known groups that are expected to differ in cultural competence, the instrument can be of value to clinicians and educators alike. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Domestication is an important and contested concept. Insects are used as food worldwide, and while some have been described as domesticated and even 'semi-domesticated', the assumptions and implications of this designation are not clear. The purpose of this paper is to explore these aspects of insect domestication, and broader debates in domestication studies, through the case of edible wasps in central rural Japan. Methods: Both authors conducted ethnographic fieldwork with communities in central rural Japan. Fieldwork comprised participant observation, semi-structured interviews, quantitative surveys and a review of resources including the personal and public records of wasp collectors. Results: The practice of keeping wasps in hive boxes has historical roots and has changed significantly within living memory. Current attempts to further develop the practice involve collectors' great efforts to keep new queens during their hibernation. Collectors have also tried, still without success, to keep wasps living within a human-made enclosure for their entire life cycle. These and other practices are costly in both time and money for collectors, who emphasise enjoyment as their primary motivation. At the same time, they also engage in practices such as pesticide use that they recognise as damaging to wasp ecology. Conclusions: These practices can be understood to some extent in domesticatory terms, and in terms of care. We develop a framework for understanding domesticatory practices of insect care, discuss how this case contributes to ongoing debates within domestication studies, and recommend further research to be pursued. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents the initial translation process and follow-up psychometric evaluation of the Japanese version of the Primary Communication Inventory (J-PCI). The J-PCI was developed using the committee approach to translation and then used in a study exploring Japanese couples' communication satisfaction while separated during Satogaeri Bunben - a Japanese perinatal tradition. The committee approach attends to cultural nuance and context and is especially useful when languages have dissimilar linguistic roots and cultures, such as Japanese and English. The translation process and evaluation included five steps; (i) selection of the original PCI for research; (ii) selection of translators; (iii) development of the J-PCI using a committee approach; (iv) an initial small pilot study; and (v) a larger follow-up study. The J-PCI has good initial validity and reliability, although some nuances were observed in scoring. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Accessible summary What is known on the subject? Empowerment of family caregivers of adults with mental health issues has received increasing attention among mental health nurses in Japan and has been recognized as a new goal of family interventions., The Family Empowerment Scale ( FES) was originally developed to measure the empowerment status of parents of children with emotional disorders. However, it was later applied to broader health issues., What this paper adds to existing knowledge? We developed a Japanese version of the FES for family caregivers of adults with mental health issues ( FES- AMJ) and examined the validity and reliability among parents. Results showed that the FES- AMJ had acceptable concurrent validity and reliability; however, insufficient construct validity was found, especially for the subscale regarding the service system., What are the implications for practice? Further studies need to modify the scale. Clarification of ideal family empowerment status in the service system through discussion with mental health nurses and family caregivers may be important., Abstract Introduction The Family Empowerment Scale ( FES) was originally developed for parents of children with emotional disorders. In Japan, family empowerment is gaining increasing attention and may be one goal of nursing interventions. Aim To develop a Japanese version of the FES for family caregivers of adults with mental health issues and to study the validity and reliability of this scale among parents. Method We translated the FES into Japanese and administered this self-report questionnaire to 275 parents. Results The multitrait scaling analysis revealed acceptable convergent validity and insufficient discriminant validity among all subscales. In particular, all items of the Service system subscale had insufficient discriminant and/or convergent validity. Each subscale significantly correlated with the indicator of empowerment. The intraclass correlation coefficients of each subscale were .855-.917. Cronbach's alpha of each factor ranged from .867 to .895. Discussion The Service system subscale may not linearly reflect family empowerment, and instead may depend on unclear roles of family caregivers of adults, disorder severity or insufficient services. Implications for practice Further studies need to modify the scale. Clarification of ideal family empowerment status in the service system through discussion with mental health nurses and family caregivers may be important. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Accessible summary What is known about the subject? Loneliness among people diagnosed with schizophrenia is a serious problem. Recent studies have focused on the loneliness; however, no study has examined the relationships between loneliness and both individual and environmental factors comprehensively., What this paper adds to existing knowledge? The main results indicated that the community-dwelling people diagnosed with schizophrenia in Japan as well as in other countries experienced higher levels of loneliness. Both individual and environmental factors were related to loneliness. Increasing the self-efficacy for community life and self-esteem of individual factors, and not being socially isolated and increasing community integration of environmental factors would improve their loneliness., What are the implications for practice? Health practitioners, in particular, public health nurses in mental health care, should work to develop a partnership with people diagnosed with schizophrenia, their family members, friends and other community-dwelling people in order to decrease and prevent loneliness. For individuals diagnosed with schizophrenia, interventions by cooperating with community resources and using the technique of nurses to assist them with continuous community activity could be useful. For environmental interventions, population approach such as developing daily programmes which family members can participate in, and cooperating with educational institutions and community events could have a positive effects., Abstract Introduction Loneliness among people diagnosed with schizophrenia living in communities can decrease quality of life and may contribute to suicide. Aim The aim of this study was to examine the levels of loneliness among Japanese people diagnosed with schizophrenia and to identify individual and environmental factors related to their loneliness. Method A cross-sectional survey was conducted with 264 people diagnosed with schizophrenia who use local activity support centres in urban areas. The self-administered questionnaires included questions on loneliness, demographic characteristics, individual factors including self-efficacy for community life and self-esteem, and environmental factors including social isolation, community integration and service use. Results The study results indicated that people diagnosed with schizophrenia in Japan experience higher levels of loneliness, corroborating results from other countries. Multiple regression analysis showed that a lower level of self-efficacy for community life, self-esteem, community integration and social isolation predicted a higher level of loneliness, accounting for 55.3% of variance. Implications for Practice Public health nurses in mental health care in Japan can work with individuals diagnosed with schizophrenia and communities using the technique to assist them with continuous activity and cooperating with community resources and educational institutions in order to decrease and prevent loneliness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: An innovative measurement system using a computerized adaptive testing technique based on the item response theory (CAT) has been expanding to measure mental health status. However, little is known about details in its measurement properties based on the empirical data. Moreover, the response time (RT) data, which are not available by a paper-and-pencil measurement but available by a computerized measurement, would be worth investigating for exploring the response behavior. Purpose: We aimed at constructing the CAT to measure depressive symptomatology in a community population and exploring its measurement properties. Also, we examined the relationships between RTs, individual item responses, and depressive levels. Method: For constructing the CAT system, responses of 2061 workers and university students to 24 depression scale plus four negatively revised positive affect items were subjected to a polytomous IRT analysis. The stopping rule was set for standard error of estimation < 0.30 or the maximum 15 items displayed. The CAT and non-adaptive computer-based test (CBT) were administered to 209 undergraduates, and 168 of them administered again after 1 week. Results: On average, the CAT was converged by 10.4 items. The θ values estimated by CAT and CBT were highly correlated ( r = 0.94 and 0.95 for the 1st and 2nd measurements) and with the traditional scoring procedures ( r's > 0.90). The test-retest reliability was at a satisfactory level ( r = 0.86). RTs to some items significantly correlated with the θ estimates. The mean RT varied by the item contents and wording, i.e., the RT to positive affect items required additional 2 s or longer than the other subscale items. Conclusion: The CAT would be a reliable and practical measurement tool for various purposes including stress check at workplace. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper outlines Buddhist-based meditation in terms of its spiritual, psychotherapeutic, physiological and neuroscientific perspectives. In the latter part of this paper, a pilot study is discussed, in which Japanese university students volunteered to practice meditation at home and complete questionnaires. T-tests were performed to compare with the non-meditated control group. Although only a small number in the experimental group completed the study, our analyses demonstrated that students benefited from meditation and showed significant increases in their sense of coherence, self-esteem and purpose in life. Lastly, practical implications of meditation in contemporary Japanese society are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose |!|#8211; The purpose of this paper is to provide a method to examine the differences in behaviour during a post-quake period. Design/methodology/approach |!|#8211; Fieldwork and questionnaires were used to collect the households|!|#39; members|!|#39; movement behaviours after the 2004 Chuetsu Earthquake. In total, three study areas were selected in Kawaguchi town (Niigata Prefecture) in order to enhance how the visualisation process can provide support in better understanding the behaviour during evacuation and recovery process. For this purpose the Space-Time-Cube (STC) was used to represent and analyse residents|!|#39; movement paths over time. Findings |!|#8211; Differences appear in the spatio-temporal paths of the three study areas, implying a connection between the geographical location and movement patterns. The city centre shows disorganized Spatio-Temporal-Patterns (STPs) during the first week of the recovery process, eventually becoming organized after the rescuers|!|#39; arrival. Moving towards the isolated areas of the town, a progressive STP organisation can be observed, explaining the faster response after the seismic event. Research limitations/implications |!|#8211; Spatio-temporal data are difficult and costly to collect, especially if a long period of time passes between the seismic event and the survey. Practical implications |!|#8211; The STC can be used as tool to enhance the disaster management techniques and provide support in crisis situations. Originality/value |!|#8211; The paper provides a practical approach to investigate the reactions after a seismic event and can be used in larger study areas to develop better strategies in disaster management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: In this age of globalization, the realization of production innovation and highly stable operation is the chief objective of the process industry in Japan. Obviously, modern advanced control plays an important role to achieve this target, but the key to success is the maximum utilization of PID control and conventional advanced control. This paper surveys how the three central pillars of process control – PID control, conventional advanced control, and linear/nonlinear model predictive control – have been used and how they have contributed toward increasing productivity. In addition to introducing eminently practical methods, emerging methods, and their applications, the authors point out challenging problems. In Japan, industry and academia are working in close cooperation to share their important problems and develop new technologies for solving them. Several methods introduced in this paper are results of such industry–academia collaboration among engineers and researchers in various companies and universities. Furthermore, soft-sensor or virtual sensor design is treated with emphasis on its maintenance, because soft-sensors must cope with changes in process characteristics for their continuous utilization. Maintenance is a key issue not only for soft-sensors but also for controllers. Finally, we will expand our scope and briefly introduce recent activities in tracking simulation and alarm management. A part of the results of our recent questionnaire survey of process control are also introduced; the results are extremely helpful in clarifying the state of the art in chemical process control in Japan. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: In Japan, 1,968 municipalities have merged between 1999 and 2005. It seems that this large-scale merging of cities, towns and villages had a great influence on the public libraries. The purpose of this paper is to examine the issues discussed at the time of the merger and to define the future issues of libraries in such merged municipalities. Methods: Questionnaires were sent out to main libraries of 483 municipalities that had merged into a single one respectively. Among them, 321 (66.5%) libraries responded the questionnaires, which are analysed in this paper. Results: The problem discussed most frequently at the time of merging is how the level of services can be adjusted between individual libraries after merging, e.g., adjustment of opening hours or library regulations for lending books. On the other hand, the issue of unifying library policies was not considered so much. These results show that the libraries have to give priority to issues on services that directly affect the users, because library staff didn't have enough time for discussion on them before the merger. The most common issue after the merger is to obtain enough budgets for purchasing library materials. Reorganization of the library is a future issue, too. Moreover, the libraries must consider how the service should be provided in geographic areas increased newly by the merger in a situation of severe fiscal limitations. To study more detailed library policies and organization in post merger of municipalities are also further research projects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Major depression is one of the most debilitating diseases in terms of quality of life. Less than half of patients suffering from depression can achieve remission after adequate antidepressant treatment. Another promising treatment option is cognitive-behavior therapy (CBT). However, the need for experienced therapists and substantive dedicated time prevent CBT from being widely disseminated. In the present study, we aim to examine the effectiveness of switching antidepressants and starting a smartphone-based CBT program at the same time, in comparison to switching antidepressants only, among patients still suffering from depression after adequate antidepressant treatment.Methods/design: A multi-center randomized trial is currently being conducted since September 2014. The smartphone-based CBT program, named the "Kokoro-App," for major depression has been developed and its feasibility has been confirmed in a previous open study. The program consists of an introduction, 6 sessions and an epilogue, and is expected to be completed within 9 weeks by patients. In the present trial, 164 patients with DSM-5 major depressive disorder and still suffering from depressive symptoms after adequate antidepressant treatment for more than 4 weeks will be allocated to the Kokoro-App plus switching antidepressant group or the switching antidepressant alone group. The participants allocated to the latter group will receive full components of the Kokoro-App after 9 weeks. The primary outcome is the change in the total score on the Patient Health Questionnaire through the 9 weeks of the program, as assessed at week 0, 1, 5 and 9 via telephone by blinded raters. The secondary outcomes include the change in the total score of the Beck Depression Inventory-II, change in side effects as assessed by the Frequency, Intensity and Burden of Side Effects Rating, and treatment satisfaction.Discussion: An effective and reachable intervention may not only lead to healthier mental status among depressed patients, but also to reduced social burden from this illness. This paper outlines the background and methods of a trial that evaluates the possible additive value of a smartphone-based CBT program for treatment-resistant depression.Trial Registration: UMIN-CTR: UMIN000013693 (registered on 1 June 2014). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims This study aimed to compare the findings of the quality of nursing doctoral education survey across seven countries and discuss the strategic directions for improving quality. Background No comparative evaluation of global quality of nursing doctoral education has been reported to date despite the rapid increase in the number of nursing doctoral programmes. Design A descriptive, cross-country, comparative design was employed. Methods Data were collected from 2007-2010 from nursing schools in seven countries: Australia, Japan, Korea, South Africa, Thailand, UK and USA. An online questionnaire was used to evaluate quality of nursing doctoral education except for Japan, where a paper version was used. Korea and South Africa used e-mails quality of nursing doctoral education was evaluated using four domains: Programme, Faculty (referring to academic staff), Resource and Evaluation. Descriptive statistics, correlational and ordinal logistic regression were employed. Results A total of 105 deans/schools, 414 faculty and 1149 students/graduates participated. The perceptions of faculty and students/graduates about the quality of nursing doctoral education across the seven countries were mostly favourable on all four domains. The faculty domain score had the largest estimated coefficient for relative importance. As the overall quality level of doctoral education rose from fair to good, the resource domain showed an increased effect. Conclusions Both faculty and students/graduates groups rated the overall quality of nursing doctoral education favourably. The faculty domain had the greatest importance for quality, followed by the programme domain. However, the importance of the resource domain gained significance as the overall quality of nursing doctoral education increased, indicating the needs for more attention to resources if the quality of nursing doctoral education is to improve. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents the findings of a study on the development of a Japanese version of the Selection, Optimization, and Compensation (SOC) questionnaire using the Rasch model. To estimate the item functions of 12 items in each of the 4 subscales, 340 responses to the initial survey and 280 responses to the retest survey conducted 7 weeks later were obtained from Japanese older adults. Item fit information, item-total correlations, and stability of item difficulties were used to select the appropriate items in each subscale. Test-retest and internal consistency reliability were found to be optimal in all of the refined subscales. These subscales were related to internal control, subjective well-being, and personality traits, but not to social desirability. Thus, the psychometric properties of this Japanese SOC questionnaire were verified. This study also indicated the possibility of using the Rasch model to refine the SOC questionnaire in other cultural settings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines the concepts of the resilient cities and environmental resilience and employ a framework of assessing resilient city and develop and trial indicators to assess the environmental resilience of local governments. As a result, the resilient city has been defined as one having the ability to respond to multiple risks. The author employs a structure consisting of the types of resilient measures (precautionary, adaptive, and conversion measures) being prepared by local governments (administrative indicators) and the types of external forces and vulnerabilities that local governments face and anticipated situations to be avoid (end points) for which such measures are being prepared, as well as quantitative (urban indicators) and qualitative (citizen indicators) assessment of the types of potential capabilities they possess. The author developed more than 130 indicators in total. Results of using a questionnaire to local governments across Japan in order to measure administrative indicators showed that threats anticipated by most local governments included earthquakes, population decreases, and increases in greenhouse-gas emissions, and the resilience measures they are implementing and preparing included promotion of renewable energy as a preventive measure and enhancement of methods of collecting and providing disaster-related information as an adaptive measure. • The resilient city has been defined as one having the ability to respond to multiple risks in Japan. • A precautionary, adaptive, and conversion resilient measures examined with local governments • The author applied more than 130 resilient indicators across Japan. • Results showed that earthquakes, population decreases, and increases in greenhouse-gas emissions are top threats in [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We administered a paper-and-pencil questionnaire to 133 female and 99 male Japanese high school students 13-18 years old ( M = 15.9, SD = 1.57) from the Kansai area to examine cultural influences on their body image and body change behaviours. Our aim was to ascertain the independent and combined influences from traditional Japanese, modern Japanese, and Western values. Cluster analyses identified four 'acculturative' groups: 'anti-modern', 'traditional', 'pro-modern/anti-traditional', and 'pro- Western/anti- Japanese'. Pro-modern and pro- Western adolescents were most dissatisfied with their bodies, and pro-Western adolescents were also most likely to attempt weight loss. The results demonstrate the value of assessing cultural interactions in Japan along three dimensions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Do the Japanese see the EU as a global power? How do they see the causes of the financial crisis in the euro zone, and are they changing their perception of the EU because of the Euro crisis? Regulatory power is defined as a country's or an international organization's power to set up its national or regional rules and standards as global rules and standards. Do the Japanese see the EU's 'regulatory power' as strong, and do they think the EU's 'regulatory power' declined because of the financial crisis in the euro zone? This paper presents the results of an analysis of questionnaire data as well as an investigation of newspaper articles in order to examine the Japanese perception of the EU empirically, and it also discusses academic works that relate to the result of the empirical analysis. The October 2012 questionnaire results show that the Japanese public has an impression that the EU is a global power rather than a regional power. In Japan, both business elites and university students generally think that the EU has strong power in the area of economics. However, the Japanese business elites feel that the EU's power is declining because of the financial crisis. The Euro crisis has thus negatively affected the EU's regulatory power. Even so, as the October 2012 questionnaire results show, more than 40% of Japanese business elites believe that the regulatory power of the EU has not declined even after the beginning of the Euro crisis. However, Japanese business elites continue to be anxious about the EU's regulatory power. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Attracting people to use the public bus has never been easy. Private vehicles have typically offered better alternatives than the public bus at the cost of environmental problems. The challenge is even greater in rural areas and small cities where factors such as diverse activity locations, abundant parking lots, and non-existence of traffic jams have justified the use of private car as a commuting mode. This paper tries to address this challenge by analyzing the prospect of increasing patronage for a local public bus in Hidaka City, a small city in Japan. A questionnaire survey collected from three main residential complexes in the city was used in the analysis. The study mainly focused on work commuting trips and the respondents were categorized into train commuters and non-train commuters for the analysis. The results showed that up to a 14% increase can be expected from the train commuters with the majority share coming from motorized modes. Strategic implementation in improving the services was not as straight forward as expected. However, the findings indicated that the right direction had been pursued. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Approximately 20% of Japanese women in their reproductive years are smokers. Therefore, in the present study, we report the behavioral changes of woman who undertook a 3 month stop-smoking program. Sixty-six pregnant smokers in the first trimester of pregnancy participated in this study from two hospitals and an obstetric clinic in Japan. Our newly-developed e-learning program uses a cell phone Internet connection service to support pregnant women who want to quit smoking. Using this, service participants were given guidance concerning smoking, and were breath tested for their carbon monoxide levels every 4 weeks for 3 months. An e-learning cessation smoking-support program was maintained throughout the same period. Consequently, 52 of 66 pregnant smokers from three settings began the program, and 48 of 52 eventually completed it. The achievement rate of non-smoking was 71.1% (37/48), and their carbon monoxide exhalation levels significantly decreased from 6.43 ± 4.5 ppm at the beginning to 0.7 ± 1.0 ppm in 1 month, to 0.29 ± 1.08 in 3 months ( P < 0.001). These results suggest the effectiveness of our e-leaning program. This paper reports the results of the study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper aims to determine via responses to three questionnaire surveys how sexuality education programs are conducted at junior high schools in Japan. Study 1 examined the practice of sexuality education in schools, Study 2 investigated junior high school students' (age 12–13 and 14–15 years) knowledge of sexuality, and Study 3 examined parents'/guardians' views on sexuality education. For Study 1, 703 principals of 5158 junior high schools returned an original questionnaire (13.6% recovery rate), and for Studies 2 and 3, 9492 students and 5374 parents returned questionnaires (86.2% and 60.3% recovery rate, respectively). In Study 1, an average of 9.19 hours of instruction was allocated to sexuality education over three grades. In Study 2, the average correct response rate was as low as 34.5% for boys and 39.4% for girls, with many answering ‘I don't know.’ Approximately one-half of the boys indicated there was nothing in particular they wanted to know about sex and no-one they wanted to consult. In Study 3, parents viewed school as a more appropriate setting than home for teaching physiological aspects of sexuality and providing accurate information. From the results of the three studies, we discuss the current situation and future challenges for sexuality education in Japan. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The aim of this study is to explore how head nurses perceive staff stress and needs of support, and to identify the available support systems in Japanese palliative care units. As part of a larger study on the loss and grief experience of nurses working in palliative care settings in Japan, this paper reports on an investigation of head nurses' perceptions of the palliative care nurses' experience and current support systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper reports the results of a survey conducted to explore the perceptions of Japanese graduate nursing students about the teaching performance of an American teacher.The impact of cultural differences on classroom behavior and communication between Japanese graduate nursing students and the American teacher are also explored. Students were enrolled in a nursing education course in the first semester of the graduate program. Data for the analysis were the student opinion surveys, which included Likert scale items and space for narrative responses. Results of the survey are reported as well as the results of a follow-up meeting that was held with the students.The students emphasized the importance of the quality of the interpretation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This paper examines the job structure of staff (teacher librarians/senior teachers with library man- agement duties and school librarians) who work in junior high school libraries that function as media, information, and learning centers. Methods: In 2008, two questionnaires were sent to the staff (teacher librarians/senior teachers and school librarians) of 234 junior school libraries in eleven cities. Replies were received from 227 respondents (response rate 49%). The data was analyzed using deviation value, cluster analysis, and factor analysis, and then the results were compared with those of a study of elementary school libraries in 2007. Results: This research showed the following. (1) There were four main job areas of school library staff: central services, fundamental services, selective services, and peripheral services, in terms of performance and needs of jobs. (2) The staff who worked in school libraries that functioned as media, information, and learning centers did not perform most of the advanced jobs that required high technical skills. (3) The staff of the junior high school libraries and the elementary school libraries had four similar job areas, but tasks within each area differed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper reports on a research project that was developed and used to examine the strategy use of Japanese lower secondary school learners of English. In the first part of the project, a questionnaire was constructed by (1) selecting categories of strategy based on open-ended data and (2) applying a factor analysis to data collected from 315 learners. The factor analysis uncovered the types of strategies used by the learners inside and outside their classrooms. In the second part of the project, variables affecting learners’ strategy use were examined by employing a questionnaire developed for this purpose. The analyses indicated (1) that females reported more use of strategies than males, and (2) interestingly enough, that no positive relationship was found between English proficiency and strategy use. Interpretations of these findings and their implications are then discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The purpose of the present paper was to investigate differing characteristics of Munchausen syndrome by proxy (MSBP) between subjects with predominantly physical symptoms and those with predominantly psychological symptoms. Methods: A questionnaire survey was sent to 11 leading doctors in the child abuse field in Japan, each located in different hospital-based sites. Child abuse doctors answered questions regarding the characteristics of MSBP subjects for whom they had helped care. The differences of characteristics between groups were analyzed using Fisher’s exact test for categorical variables and Mann-Whitney U-test for continuous variables. Results: Among 21 reported MSBP subjects, 16 MSBP subjects with predominantly physical symptoms (PHY) and five MSBP subjects with predominantly psychological symptoms (PSY) were found. PHY were more likely to be produced, whereas PSY cases were more often simulated. PHY cases were more often life-threatening than PSY cases, but decisions made by the Child Guidance Center surrounding the custodial outcome of MSBP victims did not differ between PHY and PSY cases. Conclusions: Social welfare services that need to decide on custody for MSBP victims should recognize the relatively high risk of life-threatening danger of PHY cases in their family of origin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to study the job structure of the staff (teacher librarians/ senior teachers with library management duties and school librarians) who work in elementary school libraries that function as media, information, and learning centers. Methods: In 2007, a questionnaire was sent to the staff of elementary school libraries in eleven cities. The number of responses received was 356 out of 876 (41%) from 223 elementary schools. The results were analyzed using deviation value, cluster analysis, and factor analysis. Results: (1)The job structure of school library staff had four dimensions: central services, fundamental services, selective services, and peripheral services from points of view of performance and needs of jobs. (2)Staff whose school libraries functioned as media, information, and learning centers did not perform most of advanced jobs needed high technical skills. (3) School library staff had three recognitions (as domains) of planned administration, support of pupil's learning, and organization of materials in school library management. And those recognitions influenced distribution of duties between teacher librarians/ senior teachers with library management duties and school librarians. In conclusion, the author proposes a model for the job structure of school library staff with four dimensions and three domains. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The stratum-specific likelihood ratio (SSLR) has been widely used as a convenient method to interpret the results of screening surveys. In the present paper, an SSLR analysis is applied to the results of a survey that used the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D) to identify depressive symptoms in a group of Japanese workers in an attempt to determine score categories that have predictive clinical values in a screening context.Methods: The self-reported CES-D and the Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview (MINI) were administered to 2,219 workers (84.2% men; age 21-68 years) during a periodical medical examination. The SSLR was calculated to determine strata with optimal discrimination for major depressive disorder (MDD).Results: For MDD, the SSLR was 0.06 (95%CI: 0.02-0.18) for the CES-D score range 0-16, 1.90 (0.78-4.62) for the score range 17-19, and 12.4 (10.2-15.1) for the score above 20.Conclusions: The SSLR shown in this study proposes score categories that guide clinicians in selecting the workers most at risks of having MDD among Japanese workers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Defense styles have a close relationship with ego development and psychopathology. The purpose of the present paper was to examine the reliability and validity of the Japanese edition of the Defense Style Questionnaire (DSQ-40; Andrews et al. 1993). Six hundred and six Japanese university students (348 female) completed the DSQ-40 and Maudsley Personality Inventory (MPI). The neurotic tendency had positive correlations with immature and neurotic defense styles and a negative correlation with the mature defense style. The extroversion tendency had positive correlations with the mature and neurotic defense styles and a negative correlation with the immature defense style. There was a significant test–retest correlation for all items of the DSQ-40 ( n = 284). The results show that the Japanese version of the DSQ-40 had concurrent validity with the MPI and a test–retest reliability of 2 months, although there was some doubt about the validity of the factor structure of the DSQ-40. Therefore, the DSQ-40 is a useful scale in Japan to measure ego development and ego function through defense styles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]