New record of bioluminescence in Odontosyllis cf. australiensis (Annelida: Syllidae: Eusyllinae) in Japan

Bioluminescence is widespread in the marine environment. The bioluminescence of some species of the fireworm Odontosyllis (Annelida: Syllidae: Eusyllinae) has been well studied, although the presence or absence of bioluminescence in most species of this genus is yet to be revealed. The bioluminescent worms were observed after sunset around the new moon day in July and October 2020 and in July to October 2021 in Nagasaki Prefecture, Japan. Molecular phylogenetic analysis based on two mitochondrial and one nuclear gene sequence showed that the worms were closely related to Odontosyllis australiensis, but the partial 16S rRNA gene sequences differed by 2% between those of the Japanese and Australian material. Because only epitokes, i.e. morphologically modified sexually mature worms, were collected, further studies on morphological characters of atokes would be required in the future. We therefore tentatively refer to them as Odontosyllis cf. australiensis. Molecular phylogenetic analysis also showed that known bioluminescent Odontosyllis species belong to various lineages.

A Survey of the Awareness and Educational Needs of Nurses in Nagasaki Prefecture Regarding Hereditary Breast and Ovarian Cancer

The aim of this study was to evaluate the knowledge and educational needs with regard to hereditary breast and ovarian cancer among nurses working in breast cancer care in the Nagasaki Prefecture. In breast cancer care, the identification of patients at risk for hereditary breast and ovarian cancer is necessary for the implementation of genetic testing and counseling. Nurses should be involved in this process, since they play a crucial role in the care of patients with breast cancer. However, the knowledge regarding hereditary breast and ovarian cancer among nurses working in oncology care in Japan has not been assessed. The design of this study is cross-sectional design. We distributed 597 surveys to nurses working in breast cancer care. The surveys assessed the nurses’ demographic data, their current knowledge and practices regarding cancer genetics and hereditary breast and ovarian cancer, and their attitude and preferences regarding learning about the condition. We received 317 valid replies. Nurses had limited knowledge about hereditary breast and ovarian cancer characteristics: 41.6% reported that they do not know about the condition, whereas less than 10% knew its characteristics. However, nurses were aware of hereditary breast and ovarian cancer significance and were willing to learn about it: 91% wished to learn about the condition, and 88.6% wanted to participate in study group meetings. Further, nurses’ preferences regarding educational programs were clarified. Overall, our results show that educational programs should be implemented to advance nurses’ knowledge of hereditary breast and ovarian cancer characteristics.

Coupling and Coordinating Relationship between Tourism Economy and Ecological Environment—A Case Study of Nagasaki Prefecture, Japan

The tourism environment is the basis of sustainable development in the tourism economy. Exploring the coupling relationship between tourism economy and ecological environment systems can promote not only ecology-based tourism, but also contribute to the sustainable development of tourism economy. Based on data from Nagasaki Prefecture, Japan, from 2010–2019, this paper aims to introduce an indicator system and develop an integrated approach to assess the coupling and coordination between the tourism economy and the environment. The indicator system consists of two levels, six aspects, and eighteen indicators, based on entropy method. A Pressure-State-Response (PSR) model framework of the coupling and coordination mechanism of tourism economy and ecological environment was constructed based on the development status of Nagasaki Prefecture in Japan. Then, the degree of coupled coordination of its tourism economy and ecological environment is evaluated, providing a comprehensive evaluation index of the system. In conclusion, suggestions for promoting the sustainable development of tourism and environment in Nagasaki Prefecture, Japan, are proposed. The purpose of this research is to reveal dynamic trends that exist between the coupled development of tourism economy and the ecological environment. A further aim of this paper is to provide a reference for macro policy formulation in small and medium-sized cities regarding the sustainable development of the tourism economic system and ecological environment system.

Incidence of and risk factors for hip fracture in Nagasaki, Japan from 2005 to 2014

Summary The annual incidence of new hip fractures increased from 2005 to 2014 in Nagasaki and females were much more affected. High-risk factors were identified as age ≥ 80 years, winter, indoors, living room, Monday, and early morning. Seven days after admission, most patients remained hospitalized and had been treated surgically. Introduction Hip fractures are major osteoporotic fractures that reduce quality of life. In Japan, the incidence of hip fractures increased steadily from 1986 to 2014 and the number of hip fractures could be 7.3–21.3 million by 2050. This study aimed to determine the incidence of hip fractures from 2005 to 2014 in Nagasaki Prefecture and to analyze the characteristics of and risk factors for hip fracture. Methods Hip fractures that occurred in Nagasaki Prefecture between 2005 and 2014 were analyzed using emergency transportation records. Fracture type, age, sex, location in which fracture occurred, and risk factors for hip fracture were clarified. Results The total number of new hip fractures among individuals ≥ 35 years old was 17,395 (mean age, 82.6 years old) and the annual incidence per 100,000 population increased from 147.9 in 2005 to 235.0 in 2014. Females (79.6%) were much more commonly affected than males (20.4%) and cervical fractures were more common than trochanteric fractures in all age groups. Hip fracture tended to be associated with age ≥ 80 years, winter rather than summer, indoors rather than outdoors, and living room rather than the bathroom or toilet. Other high-risk factors were Monday as day of the week, and early morning as the time of day. Seven days after admission, 97.3% of patients were hospitalized and 78.1% of hip fractures had been treated surgically. Conclusion Information on actual situations and valid preventive measures relevant to hip fracture are urgently needed.

Remote Learning Responses to the COVID-19 Situation in Creating Collaborative Learning Environment: Cases from Nagasaki’s Public Schools

This paper examines collaborative learning environment through remote learning in local government. While COVID-19 brought pedagogical and financial challenges to public schools that were already experiencing crises in the management of their educational programs, it also created new opportunities to strengthen relationships and create institutions that will bring out the resilience needed to bounce back stronger and better than before. Government-led approaches to introduce ICT into the educational environment have become even more important in the during the COVID-19 disaster, and in this crisis, public school education in remote areas, including remote island regions, is about to undergo a major transformation. In recent years, ICT environments have begun to be established in educational settings throughout the country. However, it is a fact that there is a large difference in the response to remote learning among local governments. On the other hand, some local governments in Nagasaki Prefecture have begun initiatives to collaborate with private companies and universities to enhance remote learning. In particular, in remote island areas, cross-border collaborative remote learning is being developed in a way that makes use of past experiences. These efforts are expected to meet the needs of the "new normal" under the COVID-19 situation and to be effectively used as "hubs for collaborative learning" that will become the standard in the future. This paper briefly explores the challenges and possibilities of how the promotion of remote learning can bring a ray of hope to the educational field of public schools, using the case of Nagasaki Prefecture, which includes remote island area. KEYWORDS: Remote Learning, Online Education, COVID-19, Collaborative Learning, Nagasaki

Sustainable Community Co-development Through Collaboration of Science and Society: Comparison of Success and Failure Cases on Tsushima Island

This chapter examines how science can co-produce with local communities and what kind of roles it can play for local revitalization in one of the border islands of Japan, Tsushima (Nagasaki Prefecture). Currently, depopulation, declining birthrate, and aging population are accelerating in local regions all over Japan, and the management and survival of local communities is becoming “unsustainable.” Therefore, it has become a major issue on how to build a sustainable local community around Japan, and various efforts have already been made everywhere. Under these circumstances, the case of Tsushima is a practical case study of transdisciplinary research to develop a sustainable local community. This is also one of the Future Earth research which is based on the “co-design, co-production, and co-delivery between science and society.” This chapter will introduce two cases in Tsushima islands, and then, from the perspective of TD research, emphasize the importance of the role of coordinator, social sensitivity to local needs and realities, priority, problem framing, and scale setting.