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The plant hormone auxin (indole-3-acetic acid [IAA]) has previously been suggested to regulate diverse forms of dormancy in both seed plants and liverworts. Here, we use loss- and gain-of-function alleles for auxin synthesis- and signaling-related genes, as well as pharmacological approaches, to study how auxin regulates development and dormancy in the gametophyte generation of the liverwort Marchantia polymorpha. We found that M. polymorpha possess the smallest known toolkit for the indole-3-pyruvic acid (IPyA) pathway in any land plant and that this auxin synthesis pathway mainly is active in meristematic regions of the thallus. Previously a Trp-independent auxin synthesis pathway has been suggested to produce a majority of IAA in bryophytes. Our results indicate that the Trp-dependent IPyA pathway produces IAA that is essential for proper development of the gametophyte thallus of M. polymorpha. Furthermore, we show that dormancy of gemmae is positively regulated by auxin synthesized by the IPyA pathway in the apex of the thallus. Our results indicate that auxin synthesis, transport, and signaling, in addition to its role in growth and development, have a critical role in regulation of gemmae dormancy in M. polymorpha.

Background Few studies exploring the actual practices implemented for long-term mental health and psychosocial support after a natural disaster have been published. This study aimed to reveal (1) the types of activities that were actually provided as mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS) in the long-term phase after the Great East Japan Earthquake (GEJE) and (2) the problems that must be addressed to provide post-disaster MHPSS activities. Methods An open-ended questionnaire was sent to organizations in the Iwate, Miyagi and Fukushima prefectures that were potentially involved in providing MHPSS to communities affected by the GEJE. The organizations were asked to describe their activities and the problems that needed to be addressed to provide these support activities. The collected statements were analysed using content analysis with NVivo11. Results The support activities conducted to provide MHPSS in the long-term phase after the catastrophe were diverse and classified into 7 major categories, namely, (1) one-on-one support for individuals in need of assistance, (2) support for collective activities, (3) support around living conditions and income, (4) increasing public awareness about mental health, (5) human resource development to improve response capabilities for MHPSS, (6) support for MHPSS providers, and (7) facilitating collaborations among the MHPSS activities provided to affected communities. Problems with human resources and funding were the most frequently mentioned concerns among the organizations participating in the survey. Conclusions The establishment of systems to collect and share sufficient and relevant knowledge and to coordinate organizations for long-term post-disaster postventions would be desirable.

Personality has been shown to predict postpartum depressive symptoms (PDS) assessed by the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS). However, existing studies have not considered the underlying symptom dimensions in the EPDS. We analyzed data from 15,012 women who participated in the Tohoku Medical Megabank Project Birth and Three-Generation Cohort Study. Personality was assessed in middle pregnancy using the short-form Eysenck Personality Questionnaire-Revised. PDS were defined as EPDS score ≥ 9 at 1 month after delivery. The EPDS items were further divided into three dimensions: depressed mood, anxiety, and anhedonia. Multiple analyses were conducted to examine the associations of each personality scale with PDS and three dimensions in the EPDS, adjusting for age, parity, mode of delivery, education, income, and social isolation. The prevalence of PDS assessed by the EPDS at 1 month after delivery was 13.1%. Higher neuroticism scores were associated with PDS (odds ratio [OR], 2.63; 95% confidence interval [CI], 2.48 to 2.79) and all three dimensions (all p  < 0.001). Lower extraversion scores were associated with PDS (OR, 0.74; 95% CI, 0.70 to 0.78) and all three dimensions (all p  < 0.001). Lower psychoticism scores were associated with PDS (OR, 0.89; 95% CI, 0.85 to 0.94) and anxiety ( p  < 0.001), but not with depressed mood ( p  = 0.20) or anhedonia ( p  = 0.92). In conclusion, higher neuroticism and lower extraversion were associated with PDS and the three underlying dimensions in the EPDS, while lower psychoticism was associated with anxiety, but not with depressed mood or anhedonia.

Leaf angle is an important agricultural trait of cereal crops because leaf inclination influences light interception, photosynthetic availability, cultivation density, and grain yield. Leaf angle enlargement in seedlings of a rice cultivar Shiokari is inhibited by increased strigolactone (SL) levels, which are produced by seedlings in response to nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and sulfur (S) deficiencies. In this study, we evaluated variations in the leaf angles of 12 rice cultivars in response to N-, P-, and S-limitation and analyzed the effects of SLs on leaf angle. The leaf angles of Shiokari, Koshihikari, and Hitomebore did not increase under N-, P-, and S-limitation when compared with each control. Under P- and S-deficient conditions, the leaf angles of Hinohikari, Kinumusume, Akitakomachi, Taichu 65, Kasalath, and Sasanishiki increased. However, under only N-deficient conditions, the leaves remained erect. The leaf angles of Hinohikari, Kinumusume, Akitakomachi, Taichu 65, Kasalath, and Sasanishiki increased under P- and S-deficient conditions, but the leaves were erect under only N-deficient condition. Expression levels of DWARF27 ( D27 ), D17 , and D10 increased and a natural SL 4-deoxyorobanchol was accumulated in Shiokari seedlings grown under N-deficient condition. Here, we showed that the leaf angles of all rice seedlings cannot increase under N-deficient condition and the influence of P- and S-deficiencies on the leaf angle depends on the rice cultivar. Moreover, we found that ammonium, but not nitrate, mainly affects the leaf angle in rice.

It is essential to clarify factors associated with mental health and behavioral problems in early childhood, because children are critical stages of life for mental health. We aimed to prospectively examine the associations between maternal social isolation and behavioral problems in preschool children. We analyzed data from 5842 mother–child pairs who participated in the Tohoku Medical Megabank Project Birth and Three-Generation Cohort Study. The Lubben Social Network Scale-abbreviated version was used to assess social isolation (defined as scores < 12) one year after delivery. The Child Behavior Checklist 1½–5 was used to assess behavioral problems, and its subscales were used to assess internalizing and externalizing problems in children at 4 years of age. Multiple logistic regression analyses were conducted to examine the associations between social isolation and behavioral problems, after adjustment for age, education, income, work status, marital status, extraversion, neuroticism, depressive symptoms, child sex, and number of siblings. Multiple logistic regression analyses were also conducted for internalizing problems and externalizing problems. The prevalence of maternal social isolation was 25.4%. Maternal social isolation was associated with an increased risk of behavioral problems in children: the odds ratio (OR) was 1.37 (95% confidence interval [CI] 1.14–1.64). Maternal social isolation was also associated with increased risks of internalizing problems and externalizing problems in children: the ORs were 1.33 (95% CI, 1.12–1.59) and 1.40 (95% CI, 1.18–1.66), respectively. In conclusion, maternal social isolation one year after delivery was associated with behavioral problems in children at 4 years of age.

Psychiatry has been consistently shown to be a profession characterised by 'high-burnout'; however, no nationwide surveys on this topic have been conducted in Japan. The objective of this study was to estimate the prevalence of burnout and to ascertain the relationship between work environment satisfaction, work-life balance satisfaction and burnout among psychiatrists working in medical schools in Japan. We mailed anonymous questionnaires to all 80 psychiatry departments in medical schools throughout Japan. Work-life satisfaction, work-environment satisfaction and social support assessments, as well as the Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI), were used. Sixty psychiatric departments (75.0%) responded, and 704 psychiatrists provided answers to the assessments and MBI. Half of the respondents (n = 311, 46.0%) experienced difficulty with their work-life balance. Based on the responses to the MBI, 21.0% of the respondents had a high level of emotional exhaustion, 12.0% had a high level of depersonalisation, and 72.0% had a low level of personal accomplishment. Receiving little support, experiencing difficulty with work-life balance, and having less work-environment satisfaction were significantly associated with higher emotional exhaustion. A higher number of nights worked per month was significantly associated with higher depersonalisation. A low level of personal accomplishment was quite prevalent among Japanese psychiatrists compared with the results of previous studies. Poor work-life balance was related to burnout, and social support was noted to mitigate the impact of burnout.

Purpose Studies examining the associations between maternal social relationships and early childhood development have mainly focused on social relationships after childbirth. We aimed to prospectively examine the associations between the transition of maternal social isolation from the prenatal to postnatal period and early childhood development. Methods We analyzed data for 6692 mother–child pairs who participated in the Tohoku Medical Megabank Project Birth and Three-Generation Cohort Study. Social isolation in the prenatal and postnatal periods was assessed by the Lubben Social Network Scale-abbreviated version and categorized into four groups: none, prenatal only, postnatal only, and both. The Ages and Stages Questionnaire, Third Edition, which consists of five developmental areas, was used to assess developmental delays in children at 2 and 3.5 years of age. Multiple logistic regression analyses were conducted to examine the associations between maternal social isolation and developmental delays. Results The prevalence of social isolation in both the prenatal and postnatal periods was 13.1%. Social isolation in both the prenatal and postnatal periods was associated with developmental delays in children at 2 and 3.5 years of age: the multivariate-adjusted odds ratios (95% confidence intervals) were 1.68 (1.39–2.04) and 1.43 (1.17–1.76), respectively. Social isolation in the prenatal period only and social isolation in the postnatal period only were not associated with developmental delays in children at 2 and 3.5 years of age. Conclusion Maternal social isolation in both the prenatal and postnatal periods was associated with an increased risk of developmental delays in early childhood.

Although there is some evidence regarding an association between maternal bonding disorder and child development, studies have mainly focused on development during the period of infancy. We aimed to examine the associations between maternal postnatal bonding disorder and developmental delays in children beyond 2 years of age. We analyzed data from 8380 mother–child pairs who participated in the Tohoku Medical Megabank Project Birth and Three-Generation Cohort Study. Maternal bonding disorder was defined as Mother-to-Infant Bonding Scale score of ≥5 at 1 month after delivery. The Ages & Stages Questionnaires, Third Edition, which consists of five developmental areas, was used to assess developmental delays in children at 2 and 3.5 years of age. Multiple logistic regression analyses were conducted to examine the associations between postnatal bonding disorder and developmental delays after adjustment for age, education, income, parity, feelings toward pregnancy, postnatal depressive symptoms, child’s sex, preterm birth, and birth defects. Bonding disorder was associated with developmental delays in children at 2 and 3.5 years of age: the odds ratios (95% confidence intervals) were 1.55 (1.32–1.83) and 1.60 (1.34–1.90), respectively. Bonding disorder was associated with delay in communication only at 3.5 years of age. Bonding disorder was associated with delay in gross motor, fine motor, and problem solving, but not delay in the personal-social domain, at 2 and 3.5 years of age. In conclusion, maternal bonding disorder 1 month after delivery was associated with an increased risk of developmental delays in children beyond 2 years of age.

Aim The aim of this study was to evaluate depression at 6 and 12 months postpartum, using the Edinburgh Postpartum Depression Scale (EPDS) total score and its subitem regarding self‐harm ideation (SHI) at 1 month postpartum. Methods A sample of 12,358 postpartum women answered the EPDS and questionaries at 1, 6, and 12 months postpartum longitudinally. Results For participants with postpartum depression (PPD; EPDS total score ≥9) and SHI (SHI sub‐score ≥1) at 1 month postpartum, the risk of depression at 6 and 12 months postpartum (odds ratio [95% confidence interval] at 6 and 12 months postpartum: 20.03 [16.8–23.8] and 14.55 [12.3–17.2], respectively) was higher than for those with PPD but without SHI at 1 month postpartum (OR: 8.57 [7.36–10.0], and 6.24 [5.38–7.24], respectively). Additionally, SHI even without depressive symptoms at 1 month postpartum is also a risk for depression at 6 and 12 months postpartum. To support our longitudinal evaluation of depression at 6 and 12 months postpartum, these related factors were examined: traumatic events or relocations after the Great East Japan Earthquake, employment status, household income, personality traits, sleep status, psychological distress, and social networks. The result showed employment status, low household income and poor social networks were significantly associated with depression at 12 months postpartum but not at 6 months postpartum. Conclusion This study showed a high risk of depression at 6 and 12 months postpartum for those who had depressive symptoms with SHI at 1 month postpartum. Our findings may contribute to the precise evaluation of depression at 6 and 12 months postpartum while considering sleep status, psychological distress and social network during pregnancy.

Aim To examine the association of the combination of taking neuropsychiatric medications from the onset of pregnancy to mid‐pregnancy and maternal psychological distress at mid‐pregnancy, with children's behavioral problems. Methods Neuropsychiatric medication use from the onset of pregnancy to mid‐pregnancy was defined by the self‐reported name of the neuropsychiatric medication in the questionnaire in early and mid‐pregnancy. Maternal psychological distress was defined by the Kessler Psychological Distress Scale (K6) ≥13 on the questionnaire in mid‐pregnancy. We classified the participants into four categories based on the combination of taking neuropsychiatric medications and psychological distress: “None,” “Medications only,” “K6 ≥ 13 only,” and “Both.” Children's behavioral problems were assessed using the Child Behavior Checklist for Ages 1½–5 (CBCL) at 2 years of age. The clinical ranges of the internalizing and externalizing scales of the CBCL were defined as behavioral problems. We conducted a multivariable logistic regression analysis to examine the associations between the four categories of maternal exposure and children's behavioral problems. Results Compared with the “None” category (n = 9873), the “K6 ≥ 13 only” category (n = 308) was statistically significantly associated with internalizing and externalizing problems. In contrast, the “Medications only” (n = 93) and “Both” (n = 22) categories were not statistically significantly associated with internalizing and externalizing problems, although the point estimates of the odds ratio in the “Both” category were relatively high (1.58 for the internalizing problem and 2.50 for the externalizing problem). Conclusion The category of mothers taking neuropsychiatric medications and having no psychological distress during pregnancy was not associated with children's behavioral problems in the present population.