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In recent years, in psychiatric care, certified public psychologists have come to be clearly positioned as members of multidisciplinary collaboration and team-based care, against the backdrop of their establishment as a national qualification. However, it remains difficult to say that how the professional expertise and strengths of psychologists are recognized and exercised within multidisciplinary collaboration in psychiatric care has been sufficiently visualized. Furthermore, research on multidisciplinary collaboration in psychiatric care from the perspective of certified public psychologists remains limited. This study aimed to clarify the aspects in which certified public psychologists are able to exercise, as well as those in which they feel unable to exercise, their professional expertise and strengths within multidisciplinary collaboration, based on an understanding of the expertise and strengths as perceived by certified public psychologists working in psychiatric care. By doing so, the study sought to obtain insights that would contribute to the qualitative improvement of psychiatric care and to the more effective utilization of certified public psychologists within multidisciplinary teams. The participants were nine certified public psychologists employed at psychiatric medical institutions across Japan. Semi-structured interviews were conducted online. The verbatim interview data were analyzed using co-occurrence network analysis with the quantitative text analysis software KH Coder 3. The extracted subgraphs were then examined in context using KWIC concordance, followed by categorization and naming. The results of the analysis revealed that the professional expertise of certified public psychologists is not limited to individual, technique-based expertise such as psychological tests and psychotherapy. It was shown that certified public psychologists exercise their expertise through a “translation” role—understanding patients’ internal experiences and conveying them in an accessible manner to other professionals—as well as through a “lubricant” role that facilitates and coordinates relationships among different professions. In addition, certified public psychologists were found to function with both patients and the medical team in view, serving as a link between individuals and between professional groups, and this role was recognized as an important strength in psychiatric care. On the other hand, aspects were also shown in which professional expertise was felt to be unable to be fully exercised due to differences in treatment policies, organizational structures, differences in professional expertise, and a lack of opportunities for communication. In such circumstances, certified public psychologists were found to make ongoing efforts to present their expertise and strengths in ways that could be effectively communicated, through measures such as devising electronic medical record documentation, engaging in informal communication, and conducting study sessions and psychoeducation. In order for certified public psychologists to fully exercise their professional expertise and strengths within multidisciplinary collaboration, it is important to build an environment that facilitates collaboration, including not only individual efforts and devising but also the development of in-hospital systems and mechanisms for sharing professional expertise among multiple professions. In addition, such environmental development is considered to lead to improvements in the quality of patient support. The findings obtained in this study serve as guidance for certified public psychologists in clinical settings to recognize their own professional expertise and strengths and to further demonstrate them in their daily clinical practice. Based on these findings, it is expected that the professional expertise and strengths of certified public psychologists will be further clarified, thereby contributing to the enhancement of psychological support in psychiatric care and to the provision of comprehensive support tailored to each individual patient.

The present study aims to elucidate how medical social workers (MSWs) engage with patients, families, and multidisciplinary teams during discharge conferences and the surrounding practice processes, with particular attention to the formation, coordination, and continuity of supportive relationships. The objective of this study is to theoretically and empirically clarify the structural underpinnings of MSW practice in the context of discharge support. In recent years, amid healthcare system reforms and the promotion of community-based integrated care systems, discharge support has been increasingly institutionalized as a core function of medical institutions. Discharge conferences, in particular, have been positioned as key mechanisms for implementing multidisciplinary collaboration. However, while institutional compliance and procedural standardization have progressed, several practical challenges have been identified. Discharge support tends to become procedure-centered, making it difficult to adequately reflect patients’ and families’ values, preferences, and perspectives on daily life. Moreover, existing research has paid limited theoretical attention to the processes through which multidisciplinary collaboration is actually generated and sustained, as well as to the concrete roles played by MSWs within these collaborative practices. To address these gaps, this study conceptualizes discharge conferences not as isolated or event-based meetings, but as part of a continuous practice process extending from the early stages of hospitalization through the initial period of post-discharge support. Within this continuum, the study focuses on how MSWs position themselves relationally and how their practices contribute to the coordination of support and decision-making. A mixed-methods research design was employed, integrating qualitative and quantitative approaches. The qualitative component consisted of semi-structured interviews with MSWs working in acute-care hospitals. These interviews explored concrete experiences related to discharge conferences and associated practices, including interactions with patients and families, coordination with multidisciplinary professionals, facilitation of shared decision-making, and reflection on practice following discharge. Qualitative analysis revealed that MSW practice is structured around five interrelated factors. The first factor, mediation, involves bridging patients’ and families’ narratives with professional judgments, as well as connecting medical treatment perspectives with everyday life contexts to establish a foundation for mutual understanding. The second factor, coordination, refers to practices through which MSWs reconcile diverse professional expertise, roles, and values to support the formulation of coherent and shared care plans. The third factor, reflection, involves reviewing cognitive discrepancies, ethical tensions, and relational dynamics that emerge during practice in order to refine judgments and interventions. The fourth factor, relationship continuity support, focuses on rebuilding and maintaining relationships among patients, families, and professionals to ensure continuity of care following discharge. The fifth factor, deepening reflection, captures the process through which MSWs enhance their professional expertise and sustain ongoing practice improvement through accumulated experience. Based on the qualitative findings, a questionnaire was developed and administered to MSWs nationwide as part of the quantitative phase of the study. The collected data were analyzed using covariance structure analysis to examine the relationships among the identified factors. The results confirmed that the five factors are structurally interrelated and collectively constitute the practice structure of MSWs in discharge support. These findings provide quantitative support for the validity of the practice structure model generated through qualitative analysis. Overall, this study demonstrates that the role of MSWs during and around discharge conferences should not be understood as a fixed set of tasks or procedural functions. Rather, MSW practice represents a dynamic and relational process in which practitioners continuously reposition themselves within evolving relationships through mediation, coordination, and reflection. By articulating this practice structure, the study makes both theoretical and practical contributions to the field of medical social work. Furthermore, it offers a conceptual basis for reimagining discharge conferences as collaborative spaces that support the reconstruction of patients’ and families’ lives, rather than as formalized procedures driven primarily by institutional requirements.

School lunches during early childhood play an important role in supporting the development of physical functions, including chewing ability, and fostering healthy eating habits and social skills. Simultaneously, foods that are difficult to chew can increase the risk of asphyxiation and choking; therefore, when determining portion sizes, it is necessary to balance the varying demands of promoting development while ensuring safety. Furthermore, portion size is closely related to the factors involved in meal service management, such as staffing and time constraints in food preparation. Focusing on food size as a common element underlying these issues, this study examines the actual conditions of meal portion sizes and their relationships with factors related to growth and development, safety, and meal service operations. In Chapter 2, age-specific portion sizes provided in facilities were quantitatively assessed through menu analysis and direct measurement of food size, and their distributions and inter-facility differences were clarified. The results showed differences in size between meals for 2-year-olds and those for children aged ≥ 3 years, indicating that age- appropriate adjustments were made in some facilities. However, even within the same age category, the portion sizes differed across facilities. In particular, dishes for which the number of items per serving was predetermined showed large differences in size, whereas dishes containing multiple ingredients showed smaller differences. In Chapter 3, a questionnaire survey of childcare and educational facilities was conducted to identify portion weights and sizes by age group, and to examine the factors associated with their determination. Portion sizes varied across facilities, revealing that approaches to treating children of the same age differed depending on the facility Furthermore, menu planners’ experience, frequency of meal rounds, use of outsourced food service providers, and collaboration with childcare staff were associated with portion size. Particularly, collaboration with childcare staff appeared to help prevent meals from being served in excessively small portion sizes. These findings suggest that portion sizes may be determined in practice regarding the experience of menu planners, observation of children’s eating behaviors, and organizational arrangements. Chapter 4 integrates and discusses these findings from the perspectives of chewing development, safety, and meal service management. In particular, meal rounds provide valuable opportunities to confirm the ease of eating and safety in actual mealtime settings, and to feed this information back into menu planning and portion size adjustments. Facilities that conducted daily meal rounds provided slightly larger portion sizes, suggesting that the sizes were appropriately adjusted to promote the chewing function while maintaining safety. Therefore, the effective use of existing meal-round practices may contribute to the optimization of portion sizes. Overall, meal portion sizes were associated with multiple factors, and on-site decisions appeared to be made according to local circumstances. However, without sufficiently standardized guidelines or benchmarks, these differences in judgment may contribute to variations in portion sizes across facilities. The findings of this study are expected to contribute to improving meal provision practices that support children’s growth and development in childcare and educational facilities while enhancing safety considerations.

In depopulated rural areas, the provision of healthcare and long-term care services is severely constrained by shortages of medical and care resources as well as geographic barriers to access. As a result, there is an urgent need to reconstruct support systems that are grounded in patients’ everyday living environments. The purpose of this study was to clarify the current status and challenges of community-based rehabilitation in depopulated rural areas from physicians’ perspectives and to develop a locally appropriate, community-complete rehabilitation model. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with four physicians working in depopulated rural regions, and the interview transcripts were analyzed using qualitative content analysis. As a result, six categories relevant to the development of a community-complete rehabilitation system were generated. Category I, Structural Challenges and Innovation in the Regional Healthcare System, highlighted the need to reconceptualize the entire community as a healthcare space under conditions of limited human resources. Category II, Specialized Assessment and Service Delivery System, indicated the necessity of establishing evaluation and support systems to compensate for shortages of rehabilitation professionals. Category III, Home-Based Living Support and Rehabilitation Practice, emphasized the importance of home-based support including environmental assessment and preventive intervention. Category IV, Interprofessional Collaboration and Communication, demonstrated the need for effective mechanisms of information sharing and collaborative practice. Category V, Patient-Centered Support Philosophy, underscored the importance of respecting patients’ choices and sharing and documenting their preferences. Category VI, Professional Competence and Regional Culture, suggested that adaptation to local culture and cooperative attitudes among professionals are essential conditions for sustainable support. By integrating these six categories, this study proposed a community-based rehabilitation model designed to operationalize patient-centered decision-making support in depopulated rural areas. The model places patient-centered decision- making at its core and identifies spatial continuity, which conceptualizes the entire community as a support space, and temporal flexibility, which enables continuous support regardless of disease stage, as essential conditions. Furthermore, the model demonstrates a structure in which professional development, practical interprofessional collaboration, and preventive and comprehensive care function as key elements supporting patient decision-making. In particular, ICT-enabled collaborative frameworks such as the D/N with P model facilitate effective interprofessional practice, enhance the quality of comprehensive support, and expand patients’ available options, thereby increasing autonomy in decision-making. This model provides a systematic framework that enables individuals to continue living in their familiar communities until the end of life, even in depopulated rural areas, and offers important implications for future regional healthcare policy and the development of community-based rehabilitation systems.

While “oshi-katsu” (activities supporting one’s favorites) has been reported to increase positive emotions among younger generations, its prevalence and impact on the feeling that life is worth living among elderly people have not been sufficiently examined. This study aimed to clarify the relation between oshi-katsu and the feeling that life is worth among elderly people by conducting an online survey targeting seniors nationwide. Responses from two groups were analyzed: those engaged in oshi-katsu (n=480) and those not engaged (n=500). The results indicated that although the perceived positive impact of oshi-katsu on social aspects such as interpersonal relationships and social activities was limited, more than two-thirds of participants reported positive effects on psychological aspects, including feelings of fulfillment and happiness. Furthermore, scores for “feeling that life is worth living” and its subscales, including “desire for self-realization,” “sense of life fulfillment” and “will to live” were significantly higher in the oshi-katsu group compared to the non-participating group. These findings suggest that oshi-katsu among elderly people may contribute to enhanced awareness of fulfillment and an increased feeling that life is worth living.

With the recent widespread use of social networking services (SNS), non-face-to-face communication has become increasingly common among younger generations, including university students. This study aimed to clarify the relation between university students’ face-to-face and non-face-to-face interactions and their subjective well-being. An online survey was conducted targeting university students nationwide, and the responses were analyzed based on three categories of interaction partners: close friends at the same university (n=340), classmates at the same university (n=347) and friends outside the university (n=353). The results indicated that both face-to-face communication and text-based non-face-to-face communication were primarily used with close friends and classmates at the same university, as well as with friends outside the university. Subjective well-being tended to be higher among students who interacted more frequently and tended to be lower lower among those who interacted less frequently. This relation was consistent for both face-to-face and text-based non-face-to-face communication. These findings suggest that text-based non-face-to-face communication may contribute to subjective well-being in a manner similar to face-to-face communication.

We examined the prevalence of metabolic syndrome and its related factors to support the health of Mine City residents. We enrolled 1,871 subjects, consisting of 1,186 men and 685 women, aged 20 to 92 years. Inclusion criteria were those who underwent health checkups at Mine City Hospital and answered a lifestyle questionnaire. The overall prevalence of metabolic syndrome among the subjects was 14.7%. Significantly more men than women were classified as having metabolic syndrome or being at risk for metabolic syndrome across all age groups （youth, middle age, and elderly）. Moreover, particularly high rates were observed among middle-aged and elderly men. Blood pressure was significantly higher in men than women during youth and middle age, showing an upward trend with increasing age. Fasting blood glucose was significantly higher in men than women across all age groups and showed an upward trend with increasing age. LDL cholesterol was significantly higher in men than women in the youth age group. LDL cholesterol increased with age in women, whereas no significant differences were observed among age groups in men. HDL cholesterol was significantly lower in men than women across all age groups, showing an increasing trend with advancing age. The proportion of individuals not meeting national physical activity guidelines was high among men in middle age and among women in youth and middle age. No sex difference was observed in sedentary time; however, it was shorter in the elderly compared with the youth and middle-aged age groups in both men and women. Scores for dietary behaviors associated with obesity risk decreased with increasing age in both men and women, with a sex difference observed only in the elderly age group. These findings provide useful guidance for health support aimed at preventing and managing metabolic syndrome in the general population.

This article aims to analyze the basis organization of Hotokukai and its regular meetings. Hotokukai was established by Hanada Nakanosuke, and this association has spread throughout of the country. Hotokukai held monthly meetings on the basis of detailed manuals; decisions were also made on a monthly basis. Basis organizations sent reports of monthly meetings to head offices and printed magazines. The author introduced a regular meeting held by the organization in Osaka as example.

The world-renowned modern architect Bruno Taut (1880-1938) resided in Japan during the 1930s due to Nazi persecution. For a significant period, the people of Takasaki provided him with shelter and refuge. The present study focuses on Takasaki, the city that welcomed Taut, and re-examines the reasons why this city was able to pursue policies centered on culture while sometimes resisting the wishes of the government of the time. In addition, it explores the necessary measures for the protection of such an intellectual figure. In doing so, the author elucidated the reality of the three structures of discrimination that Taut confronted, and which had an impact on his life. Furthermore, the author analyzed how Taut managed to overcome this discrimination. Specifically, the third theme, which focused on bamboo crafts and discriminated communities, highlighted the potential for a global exchange of knowledge regarding discrimination. In conclusion, the following factors may be considered: a) Takasaki was a city that was well-equipped to welcome cultural figures, and had a personal network that could actually handle the invitation, such as Taut's patron, Fusaichiro Inoue. b) Taut, although initially unwilling, used "crafts" as a cultural catalyst, and built a solid relationship of trust with Takasaki's artisans, and furthermore, exhibited his works at the "Miratiss" store, making the results visible and easy to understand for everyone. c) Takasaki's rich cultural and natural environment and the genuine warmth of its residents. These factors interacted with each other, freeing Taut from the oppressive feelings of discrimination and helping to shape Takasaki into a more clearly cultural city.

The author, Kondo, joined the Yamaguchi City Office in April 1992, and has since been extensively involved in community development practices at the local level, including work at the Shiraishi Community Center, Odono Regional Exchange Center, and Tokuji Regional Exchange Center. In addition, while serving in the Collaboration Promotion Division, the author participated in the institutional design of citizen–government collaborative community development initiatives, following the implementation of the Yamaguchi City Ordinance on Collaborative Community Development in April 2009. Drawing on experience both as a municipal official and as a citizen, the author has engaged in various styles of community development. This paper introduces several practical case studies from these experiences and systematically examines them from the perspective of a coordinator. The analysis is conducted based on two key viewpoints. The first viewpoint concerns the participation of younger generations in community development. While community development initiatives that reflect local characteristics are actively pursued across different areas of the city, their primary actors tend to be retirees from older generations, and cases in which younger generations, such as university students, play an active role remain limited. The author has long recognized this imbalance and has explored mechanisms to facilitate youth participation; this paper reconsiders these efforts through a review of past practices. The second viewpoint emphasizes the cultivation of a sense of unity within Yamaguchi City. Despite the city's composition of 21 distinct areas, each with its own history, culture, and regional identity, and the ongoing community development efforts that leverage these characteristics, concerns have been raised that such diversity may inadvertently hinder the formation of a cohesive citywide identity. This paper also examines community development practices from this perspective. It is hoped that this study will provide insights not only for Yamaguchi City but also for other cities facing similar challenges in community development.

This study explores the effectiveness of utilizing overseas social media and international students to promote inbound tourism in Yamaguchi Prefecture, Japan. Despite the national recovery in tourism, Yamaguchi faces challenges in attracting Chinese visitors due to low global awareness and the limitations of traditional information dissemination. This research specifically focuses on the potential of Douyin (the Chinese version of TikTok)to reach younger demographics effectively. Methodologically, the study employs content analysis, interviews, and participant observation through a governmentsponsored "monitor tour." The research highlights the unique role of international students as "cultural translators." Unlike short-term tourists, students offer authentic, resident-based perspectives that bridge cultural gaps and build trust with foreign audiences. Furthermore, the author conducted an experimental promotion by posting AI-generated "anime-style" images of Yamaguchi’s landscapes on Douyin. The analysis reveals that these visually reimagined contents significantly enhanced engagement, eliciting emotional responses and a renewed interest in visiting the region. The findings suggest that local governments should shift from one-way information dissemination to a co-creation model. By combining the logistical resources of the administration with the creative, multicultural viewpoints of international students, regional cities can generate high-value content. This approach not only improves information reach but also redefines the region's appeal, offering a sustainable strategy for revitalizing local inbound tourism.

From the late Edo period to the early Meiji era, Shin Buddhist monks such as Shimaji Mokurai (島地黙雷), Ōzu Tetsunen (大洲鉄然), Akamatsu Renjō (赤松連城), and Kagawa Hōkō (香川葆晃) achieved remarkable political prominence. After Gesshō’s (月性) death, they carried on his legacy by participating directly and indirectly in the anti-shogunate movement. After the Meiji Restoration, they promptly moved to Kyoto to initiate reforms in Hongwanji’s (本願寺) religious administration. Furthermore, they opposed the Buddhism abolition movement (廃仏毀釈) and the new Meiji government’s policy of establishing Shinto as the state religion. Throughout this process, they consistently used Shin Buddhism as an example, arguing to new government officials from Chōshū/Yamaguchi like Kido Takayoshi that Buddhism was a religion essential to the new state. The author introduces over forty newly discovered official appointments and certificates received by Hōkō, the least researched of these four Chōshū-affiliated Shin Buddhist priests who played such active roles, and explains the historical context of each document.

Generative artificial intelligence is reshaping educational assessment; however, high-stakes evaluations of student writing remain contentious. This study proposes an LLM-derived similarity metric—cosine similarity between essay-level embedding vectors of student essays and expert model texts (e.g., instructor-written benchmark essays)—as an automated indicator of L2 English writing proficiency. Using a longitudinal design, about 35 Japanese university students will produce argumentative essays at three time points over a 15-week semester. Essays will be scored by trained human raters and analyzed for linguistic features, including lexical diversity, syntactic complexity, and cohesion. The author will examine (a) convergent validity via correlations between the similarity metric and human scores, (b) sensitivity to developmental change using repeated-measures models, and (c) incremental predictive validity through hierarchical regression by adding the similarity metric to models based on surface linguistic features. It is hypothesized that the similarity metric will show strong positive associations with human ratings, detect significant longitudinal gains, and explain unique variance beyond traditional feature-based predictors. If validated, this approach could support scalable diagnostics that complement human judgment and improve the reliability and pedagogical utility of L2 writing assessment.

For this study text mining was conducted on commercially available math workbooks to compare vocabulary used in arithmetic word problems for lower elementary grades (Grades 1-2) and Grade 6. Analysis based on JLPT levels and textbook frequency showed that lower-grade problems mainly contained everyday vocabulary, whereas about 40% of Grade 6 vocabulary corresponded to N2–N3 levels, including abstract and subject-specific terms such as ratio, area, and relationship. These linguistic demands may hinder comprehension not only for non-Japanese students but also Japanese. The findings highlight the need for vocabulary support aligned with students’ Japanese proficiency in understanding math word problems for all students.

The purpose of this paper is to clarify two issues revealed through the performance comparison of servers introduced in FY2022 and FY2024. First, it aims to define performance metrics for servers to be introduced in the future; second, it identifies issues within the university’s network and concludes that improvement are needed. Regarding metrics for measuring server performance, a provisional set was developed through the verification of servers introduced in FY2022. These metrics were established by comparing them with the servers introduced in FY2018, which remain in operation. Subsequently, the servers introduced in FY2024 were configured to resolve storage issues discovered during that comparison. Verification of the servers introduced in FY2024 shows a need for updating the metrics and areas for improving the campus network design were identified.

This study aims to clarify the formal characteristics of back-of-the-book indexes appended to textbooks for librarian training courses. To achieve this, 220 textbooks published in Japan between 1950 and 2025 were examined and their contents analyzed. The results showed that 179 textbooks (81.4%) included an index. Similar to general books, most textbooks employed typographical devices such as indentation and line breaks for index headings, ensuring readability. In terms of layout, smaller type sizes than those used in the main text and multi-column formats were commonly adopted to accommodate a larger number of index terms. Although subheadings and ‘see’ references were used more frequently than in books on other subjects, the use of cross-references was still insufficient and cannot be regarded as fully widespread.

Objective: This study aimed to develop a prototype using lotus root peels, byproducts of lotus root processing, to evaluate their suitability as a healthy tea and elucidate their characteristics. Methods: The edible portions and peels of Iwakuni lotus root purchased in March, 2024 were used as samples. The sliced samples were dried in a ventilated dryer at 50 ℃ for 20 h. Subsequently, the dried edible portions were roasted in an oven at 150℃ for 10 min or 180℃ for 5 min, whereas the dried peels were roasted at 150℃ for 5 min or 180°C for 5 min. Extracts were prepared by adding 100 mL of boiling water to 4 g of the crushed roasted samples and steeping for 5 min. Using these extracts, color differences (L*, a*, and b* values), potassium and polyphenol levels, and DPPH (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl) radical scavenging activity were measured, and taste analysis, aroma analysis, and voluntary tasting surveys were conducted. Results: Notably, no significant color difference was observed between the edible portions and peels at the same roasting temperature and time. The extract made from the peels exhibited higher potassium and polyphenol levels and DPPH radical scavenging activity than the tea made from the edible portions. In taste analysis, compared to commercial barley tea used as a control, the extract made from the edible portions showed higher saltiness and umami flavor, whereas the tea made from the peels showed higher astringency and bitterness. Aroma analysis revealed that aroma components associated with burning increased with increasing roasting temperature and time. Sensory evaluation revealed that the extract made from the edible portions roasted at 180℃ for 5 min was the most preferred, followed by that made from the peels. Conclusion: Lotus root extract made from the peels exhibited higher potassium and polyphenol levels than that made from the edible portions, consistent with the overall evaluation results of the tasting surveys. Overall, these results suggest that the lotus root peel extract shows potential as a healthy tea.

本研究の目的は、成人・老年看護学領域（以下、本領域）における慢性期疾患の紙上事例を用いた看護過程演習をよりよい演習に資するための基礎資料を得ることである。2023年度、2024年度の演習前、演習後に成人看護学Ⅱ（慢性期）を受講する学生（延べ111名）に対して質問紙調査をおこない、アセスメントの理解度と講義評価を分析して看護過程演習展開を検討した。その結果、両年度とも演習後にアセスメントの理解度が向上した。特に、学習効果があった項目は、アセスメントガイドの活用とグループ内発表であった。アセスメントガイドは情報整理を助け、個人ワークでまとめたものを個人発表し、学生と教員間でディスカッションする形式のグループ内発表は多角的視点の獲得や思考の深化につながったと考えられる。

This study aimed to review existing literature on the psychological burden, including ethical dilemmas, and the quality of care experienced by nurses working in palliative care wards under various restrictions during the COVID-19 pandemic, to elucidate their characteristics, and to identify implications for the future direction of nursing practice. Literature searches were conducted using the Ichushi-Web (Japan Medical Abstracts Society) and PubMed, and four domestic studies and one international study published since 2019 were included in the analysis. The findings revealed that nurses faced significant work-related and psychological burdens, such as difficulties in building relationships with patients’ families, increased responsibility for information provision, and role conflicts under visitation restrictions. Conversely, despite these constraints, care practices aimed at maintaining patient dignity and preserving connections between patients and their families were implemented, suggesting that the essence and quality of palliative care were sustained in modified forms.

Regarding the influence of the COVID-19 pandemic on mental health, there are concerns about the risk of lasting effects, especially among young people. In this study, we aimed to clarify the influence of the COVID-19 pandemic experience on the mental health of university students in the post-pandemic era and conducted a nationwide questionnaire survey and analyzed 331 responses. As a result, the experiences during the pandemic, such as general activity restrictions, self-growth or the importance of family and friends, infection prevention behaviors or restrictions of conversations with friends, reunion with family, new learning methods, or new hobbies and activities, were significantly associated with better mental health and resilience in the post-pandemic period. These results suggest that the COVID-19 pandemic experience may have a positive impact on the mental health of university students in the post-pandemic era.

Physical activity is a key factor for preventing and improving metabolic syndrome. Herein, we examined the relationship between physical activity levels and health-related factors in middle-aged men and women with a high prevalence of metabolic syndrome. The subjects were 963 men and women aged 40 to 64 (638 men, 325 women) who underwent health checkups at Mine City Hospital and completed a lifestyle questionnaire. Subjects were classified into four groups based on physical activity levels: Level 1, < 120 METs·min/week (n = 303); Level 2, 120 to < 1380 METs·min/week (n = 323); Level 3, 1380 to < 3600 METs·min/week (n = 190); and Level 4, ≥ 3600 METs·min/week (n = 147). We analyzed metabolic syndrome diagnosis results; physical characteristics; blood pressure; blood test values; daily inactive time, excluding sleep duration; dietary literacy; obesity-prone eating behaviors; social networks (LSNS-6); sleep status (AIS); and psychological state (K6). We found that physical activity levels of Level 2 or higher were associated with a lower prevalence of metabolic syndrome. Increasing physical activity levels were associated with reduced inactive time, higher dietary literacy scores, increased social network scores, and higher HDL cholesterol levels. Individuals with low physical activity levels had lower dietary literacy, suggesting an increased risk of metabolic syndrome development, and tended to have weaker social networks.

The purpose of this study was to examine the impact of using posters to provide blood donation information on university students’ willingness to donate blood. The participants were 175 nursing students (mean age 19.42 ± 1.13 years) at University A in Yamaguchi Prefecture. Posters displaying blood donation information and the blood inventory status published by the Japanese Red Cross Society were placed inside elevators for two weeks. Subsequently, a questionnaire survey was conducted. Of the 175 students, 29 (16.6%) had previous blood donation experience, and 146 (83.4%) had none; 72 (41.1%) had attended a lecture on blood donation, while 103 (58.9%) had not. Both experiences were significantly less common. During the survey period, 122 students (69.7%) used the elevator, and among them, 64 (52.5%) viewed the posters. Among those with blood donation experience and those with lecture attendance experience, a higher proportion had viewed the poster. This suggests that individuals with blood donation or lecture attendance experience may be more likely to pay attention to blood donation information. Factor analysis (maximum likelihood method with Promax rotation) of 13 blood donation information items identified three factors: “Understanding of Knowledge and Systems,” “Blood Donation Process and Precautions,” and “Blood Donation Service Information.” Multiple regression analysis, with “intention to donate blood within the next six months” as the dependent variable and “academic year,” “blood donation experience,” “lecture attendance,” and the three factors as independent variables, showed that blood donation intention was significantly associated with “blood donation experience,” “understanding of knowledge and systems,” and “blood donation process and precautions” (adjusted R² = .34), whereas “academic year,” “lecture attendance,” and “blood donation service information” were not significant. Furthermore, content analysis of reasons why poster displays increased interest revealed that visualization of blood type shortages and real-time information enhanced the perceived necessity of donation. These findings suggest that early and continuous education on blood donation, combined with information that helps individuals perceive donation as personally relevant, may be effective in promoting blood donation behavior.

This paper reports on the practice of the “Children and Families Happiness Project,” a community collaboration initiative launched in fiscal year 2023 by Institute of Child and Family Social Work Education affiliated with the Faculty of Social Welfare at Yamaguchi Prefectural University. Addressing complex community challenges such as isolated parenting households, school refusal, support for children with developmental disorders, and support for children requiring medical care, the university leveraged its educational and research functions to collaborate with related organizations. This collaboration resulted in the development of six support programs aimed at enhancing the well-being of children and families. Students actively participated in each practice, forming a mutually reinforcing cycle of support and learning. This research presents a new model for supporting children and families, where the university-affiliated research institute functions as a hub connecting local support resources, complementing existing systems.