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Studies have shown that there are two mineralization patterns of roots in multirooted teeth: one forms dentin islands (subpulpal lobes) independent of the crown, and the other does not form any subpulpal lobes. In this study, we found abnormal multirooted teeth in porpoise specimens and focused on the developmental process of its root furcation. To examine the features of the tooth in detail, we used scanning electron microscopy for the morphology of the surface and micro‐computed tomography (micro‐CT) for the structure of the pulp cavity. The micro‐CT scanning showed that a triple‐rooted tooth had only one pulp chamber and one horn. In addition, we observed the intermediate bifurcational ridge‐like structure and dentinal bulges on the subpulpal wall, both of which suggest the formation of the subpulpal lobes. To our knowledge, this study is the first report about teeth with supernumerary roots in Phocoenidae and also the first study to focus on the process of furcation of tooth roots in modern cetaceans. We concluded that the cause of the triple‐rooted tooth was not secondary adhesion of several teeth but rather the furcation of the root at the developmental stage. Additionally, the tooth could have formed lobes during the root furcation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Turbinals are key bony elements of the mammalian nasal cavity, involved in heat and moisture conservation as well as olfaction. While turbinals are well known in some groups, their diversity is poorly understood at the scale of placental mammals, which span 21 orders. Here, we investigated the turbinal bones and associated lamellae for one representative of each extant order of placental mammals. We segmented and isolated each independent turbinal and lamella and found an important diversity of variation in the number of turbinals, as well as their size, and shape. We found that the turbinal count varies widely, from zero in the La Plata dolphin, (Pontoporia blainvillei) to about 110 in the African bush elephant (Loxodonta africana). Multiple turbinal losses and additional gains took place along the phylogeny of placental mammals. Some changes are clearly attributed to ecological adaptation, while others are probably related to phylogenetic inertia. In addition, this work highlights the problem of turbinal nomenclature in some placental orders with numerous and highly complex turbinals, for which homologies are extremely difficult to resolve. Therefore, this work underscores the importance of developmental studies to better clarify turbinal homology and nomenclature and provides a standardized comparative framework for further research., (© 2024 The Author(s). The Anatomical Record published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of American Association for Anatomy.)

Objective　The purpose of this study is to redefine "Gojo" (mutual help) among residents and explore measures to develop it Gojo in the integrated community care system. In 2000, long-term care insurance accelerated Japan's movement toward an aging society, thus increasing the importance of Gojo. This study aims to clarify the conceptual definition it has come to acquire in recent years and explore ways it can be developed in comprehensive community systems.Methodology　Rodger's evolutionary concept analysis was utilized in the study. A keyword research was done using the term "Gojo" in the Japan Medical Abstracts Society (Ichushi Web) and CiNii Articles databases. The search period was from 2000 to 2016 (search date: August 30, 2016) and the database search formula was set to "Gojo/TA". Thirty documents were selected through random sampling and a total of 32 documents were selected for analysis, including landmark documents. A qualitative analysis was conducted on three frameworks: attributes (i.e., characteristics of Gojo), antecedents (i.e., factors affecting Gojo), and consequences (i.e., expected results for Gojo). These three frameworks represent how Gojo is used, the events occurring before it, and the events resulting from it, respectively.Results　The characteristics of Gojo were found to include "experiences of empathy toward residents' daily need for support," "awareness about the residents' efforts to support each other," and "interaction among residents who support other's daily needs." The factors affecting Gojo were identified to be "the need for daily life support beyond what self-help, social solidarity care, and governmental care can provide"; "interchange among residents"; "sharing needs for daily life support among residents"; and "a resident-led public system that promotes mutual support." Gojo's expected results were "a solution for residents' needs of daily support"; "promotion of self-help awareness"; "providing them with a role to enhance their purpose in life"; and "encouraging exchanges and relations between them."Conclusion　Gojo was defined as "the interaction between local residents who support their daily needs, have an empathic experience of the need for daily life support, and have the desire to support each other." In addition, the following points were suggested as measures necessary to expand Gojo. The residents must have sympathy for other residents who need daily life support, understand the benefits of supporting each other, and have a public support system, even if Gojo is led by the residents.

Objective　The increasing aging population has increased the number of older people who need lifestyle support because of their declining mental and physical health. In recent years, it has become necessary to increase the number of residents who can provide lifestyle support. It is highly expected that older people, as local residents, will be keen to offer lifestyle support. This study identified the characteristics of older people willing to offer lifestyle support to other members of the community living in rural areas with heavy snowfall.Methods　We surveyed 801 people, aged 65 years and above, who lived in Yoshijima, Kawanishi town, Yamagata Prefecture, and were not certified in nursing care levels 1-5. A questionnaire was distributed and collected by the president of the neighborhood association and the head of the neighboring group. Data were collected from June to July 2018. The survey included items on basic attributes, health status, social relations with neighbors, and willingness to offer lifestyle support (eight types). A logistic regression analysis was conducted for each support type, with basic attributes, health status, and social relations with neighbors as independent variables and willingness to offer lifestyle support as the dependent variable.Results　We analyzed the data of 586 participants (73.2% valid responses) and found that women were interested in "being a talking partner/consultant in cases of trouble," "helping with meal preparation/cleaning and laundry," and "inviting their neighbors to gatherings and events." However, they were uninterested in "performing outside work such as gardening or fieldwork" and "snow shoveling and removal." People who felt they were affluent were eager to perform "pick-ups and hospital visits," and the higher educated were more interested in "being a talking partner/consultant in cases of trouble" and "helping with meal preparation/cleaning and laundry." Those involved in highly instrumental activities were interested in "monitoring/safety confirmation," "inviting their neighbors to gatherings and events," "accompanying their neighbors for shopping or serving as a substitute," and "pick-up and hospital visits." Further, except "helping with meal preparation/cleaning and laundry" and "performing outside work such as gardening or fieldwork," people with close relationships with their neighbors were significantly more willing to offer support.Conclusion　The characteristics of older people willing to support others depended on the type of lifestyle support required. This finding could help in the recruitment and facilitation of older people willing to offer lifestyle support.

Objective　Many preventive care supporter (e.g. kaigo-yobo supporter) training programs, conducted to train community residents, are developed by municipalities. However, it is not necessary that only municipalities can train people effectively or efficiently. In this paper, we initially reviewed the relevant literature and clarified the definitions of concepts like "program contents" and "evaluation indicators," while also planning our own training programs. Later, we developed a program based on the review and examined the results.Methods　The literature of the training program was examined, and the training program was developed based on the result. Four researchers and three public health nurses from a community general support center, in the Otsuchi Town of Iwate Prefecture, developed a training program from June to September 2017. The training program developed was then conducted from October to November 2017. To evaluate the participants' satisfaction with the program, a self-report survey was conducted. To evaluate the outcomes of the program, we measured their degree of comprehension of their community's challenges, before and after the program.Results　The training program was divided into two parts following the literature review. In the first part, the content of the supporters' activities following the program was determined (Type A), and, in the second, the same content was evaluated by the participants within the program (Type B). Type A consisted of various aspects including both concrete knowledge and skills needed to conduct care preventiveactivities after the program. In Type B, there were many aspects-including both lectures and exercises-that aimed to increase the participants' awareness of community challenges, as well as inspection to learn about pioneering activities which helped them consider concrete care preventive activities following the program. In Otsuchi Town, we found it to be imperative for participants to consider how to respond to various situations and accordingly plan the training program for use in Type B. To evaluate the results, 12 participants were analyzed. Participants included two men and ten women, with an average age of 71.4±10.0 years [range: 53-88]. Comprehension levels of community challenges (3.1→4.1, P=0.046), as well as the confidence to actively involve themselves in their own preventive care strategies (3.4→4.0, P=0.035), significantly increased after involvement in the program. However, their confidence to work for community preventive care support groups (3.1→3.5, P=0.227) did not increase significantly.Conclusion　We clarified certain viewpoints, such as the purpose, content, and evaluation indices of community care training programs, by reviewing the relevant literature. Based on the discovered viewpoints, we were then able to obtain certain results through implementing our own training programs, thereby significantly increasing participant comprehension and confidence levels.

Objective　Various types of health promotion organizations exist in Japan, including volunteer organizations that promote healthy diets, health improvement, and maternal and child health. Health promotion volunteers, trained and recruited by municipalities, provide counseling and education on various health concerns to community members. A previous study on the effect of these activities and the organizational challenges demonstrated a decrease in the number of volunteer members. The present study aimed to identify the organizational characteristics and challenges of health promotion volunteer work in Japan to gain insight into volunteer recruitment and organizational management.Methods　A questionnaire was sent to 1,873 Japanese municipalities via e-mail or postal mail (excluding Tokyo's 23 wards). For cities of cabinet order, a questionnaire was sent to each borough in the municipality. Data were collected from February to March 2017. The survey was used to collect data on four types of health promotion volunteer organizations: healthy diet (organizations of volunteers who were shokuseikatsu kaizen suishinin), health improvement (organizations of volunteers who were kenkozukuri suishinin), and two types promoting maternal and child health (organizations of volunteers who were boshihoken suishinin and aiikuhan). We asked about the presence or absence of the organization type, year of establishment, number of members, the largest age group, recruitment methods, etc. Twelve organizational challenges were measured with a six-item Likert scale (from 1="strongly agree" to 6="strongly disagree"). Proportions of active members in the volunteer organization ranged from 0% to 10%.Results　Eight hundred eight municipalities responded to the survey (valid responses: 805, valid response rate: 43.1%). The presence or absence of the four types of volunteer organizations differed among the municipalities. The most common type was organizations of volunteers who were shokuseikatsu kaizen suishinin (84.7% municipalities), followed by kenkozukuri suishinin (64.3%), boshihoken suishinin (26.4%), and aiikuhan (10.1%). The total ratio of responses of "strongly agree," "agree," and "somewhat agree" about the organizational challenges, including "The organization cannot find new members easily" and "The participants are always the same people," was commonly more than 50% for the four types of volunteer organizations. The challenges, including "Many do not enjoy what they do," "For many volunteers, participation is limited due to work and family obligations," and "The goal of the activities is not widely shared among volunteers," were significantly correlated to the proportion of active members in the volunteer organization for all four types of organizations.Conclusion　This study revealed that organizational characteristics differed among the four types of health promotion volunteer organizations; however, many of the organizational challenges were found to be common throughout Japanese municipalities.