Physical activity is beneficial for the health of both the body and brain. Physical inactivity, smoking, hypertension, and hyperglycemia are associated with various diseases. Specifically, physical activity affects the brain, being linked with an acceleration of cognitive decline. In Japan, a high percentage of patients with internal diseases have coinciding cognitive decline. Physical therapy for such patients has focused on increasing physical activity levels, thus improving exercise tolerance of the patients. The effects of such physical therapy regimes on brain function should also be noted, with exercise proven to alter both brain function and structure. A single physical activity session can change brain oxygenation levels measured using a multichannel near-infrared spectroscopy system, the extent of the change varies according to activity type, loading method and posture. Whilst there are many questions to be explored, we would like to consider the effects of exercise therapy from a new perspective.

The COVID-19 pandemic since January 2021 has caused the education of Japanese university students-including post-graduation-to be disseminated through various media learnings, following the immediate cessation of face-to-face classes. The web research company(MELLINKS) surveyed 413 university students nationwide to understand how media learning led to a decline in their desire to learn. The method employed was a combination of quantitative analyses, that is, binary logistic regression analysis using the results from a Likert scale, and qualitative analysis with a co-occurrence network analysis using the free-software KH Coder. The findings indicate the learning motivation significantly reduced in 8.2%, declined to some extent per the econometric analysis in 41.6%, and increased in 11.3% of the students. The quantitative analysis revealed that low grades or frequent serious communication disorders were likely to cause a decline in learning motivation, while the qualitative analysis revealed various responses from context analysis using a co-occurrence network analysis. Media learnings were positively captured in various aspects such as being able to spend time on other interests, watching teaching materials repeatedly, and concentrating on studies without worrying about being scrutinized by others. However, it caused a simultaneous decline in learning motivation and an inappropriate attitude in students. It was clarified that the consideration of issues such as visual display terminal syndrome of students was necessary. These results indicate that it is necessary for both teachers and university students to improve the quality of media lectures.

This study investigates the relation between interpersonal communication skills and stress on interpersonal relationships. Further, it examines measures for human resource development and the workplace retention of welfare workers in the personal services sector at nursing facilities for older adults and people with disabilities.

The analysis suggested the following three points. First, communication education and training have a positive impact on the responsiveness of communication skills, the heavy responsibilities associated with welfare work performance, and the stress associated with supporting older adults and people with disabilities in care facilities who exhibit negative thinking. Second, the communication skills necessary for judging social situations are important for capturing the anxieties and concerns among older adults and people with disabilities in care facilities and lead them to develop problem-solving approaches. Third, communication skills are important for reducing anxiety associated with workplace relationships and welfare work performance.

The above considerations indicate the following three conclusions. First, it is necessary to develop human resources so that the opportunities to receive guidance and advice through welfare work are not affected by employment status or occupation. Second, welfare workers should be placed in the workplace, and it is necessary to take measures to encourage active participation in trainings to enhance knowledge and skills related to communication. Third, instruction methods should be developed to allow the recipient of guidance and advice to accept the ideas and policies of the leader and manager.

In performance evaluation, the rubric evaluation method is stated to be “effective in assessing the degree of acquisition of abilities and skills in nursing education, and is powerful in self-evaluation and mutual evaluation among learners.” In addition, simulation education to enhance authenticity is needed in lectures before clinical practice, since it is the most authentic task for nursing students in clinical practice. Therefore, a rubric evaluation based on portfolio evaluation was implemented for project learning using simulation education in lectures on pediatric nursing, with the purpose of the usefulness of rubric evaluation for students. As a result, the use of the rubric evaluation chart served as an intrinsic motivator and cultivated the students’ self-learning ability through problem solving to achieve the goal. In addition, more than 80% of the students responded that they were satisfied with the use of the rubric evaluation, and we believe that the students were able to gain confidence by reaching the goal while realizing their self-learning ability, and were able to raise their awareness to utilize this experience in their practical training.

Russian Federation (Russia) invaded Ukraine on February 24^th, 2022. The behavior has been widely condemned internationally. Over a month of the armed conflict has had a devastating impact on Ukraine’s medical and health systems.

　This manuscript focuses on the medical and health impact of the boycotts in the academic (academic boycott) aspects among main enacted or to be enacted as part of the sanctions against Russia. Academic boycotts from medical journals made it impossible to disseminate valuable cases and treatment techniques in Russia to the world, deterioration and stagnation in the research quality are also expected due to boycotts in academic cooperation projects. According to these results, there are concerns that the global development of medical care and human health maintenance might thus be adversely affected.

This manuscript summarizes the papers on the academic boycotts, and actions on Russia taken by international medical journals and scholarly associations of medical field in Japan. This process results might be in the adverse effects on global issues of medical and human health fields. We hope that this manuscript make you think about medical and health issues along with the notion of peace and human rights.