Collagen-derived dipeptide prolyl-hydroxyproline cooperates with Foxg1 to activate the PGC-1α promoter and induce brown adipocytelike phenotype in rosiglitazone-treated C3H10T1/2 cells

Background: The global obesity epidemic is a significant public health issue, often leading to metabolic disorders such as diabetes and cardiovascular diseases. Collagen peptides (CP) and their bioactive component, Prolyl-hydroxyproline (Pro-Hyp), have shown potential in reducing adipocyte size, with unclear mechanisms concerning brown adipocyte differentiation.Methods: We investigated the effects of Pro-Hyp on the differentiation of brown adipocytes in C3H10T1/2 mesenchymal stem cells, focusing on its impact on adipocyte size, gene expression related to brown fat function, and mitochondrial activity.Results: Pro-Hyp treatment decreased adipocyte size and upregulated brown fat-specific genes, including C/EBPα, PGC-1α, and UCP-1. Remarkably, it did not alter PPARγ expression. Pro-Hyp also elevated mitochondrial activity, suggesting enhanced brown adipocyte functionality. A Pro-Hyp responsive element was identified in the PGC-1α gene promoter, which facilitated the binding of the Foxg1 transcription factor, indicating a novel regulatory mechanism.Conclusion: Pro-Hyp promotes brown adipocyte differentiation, potentially offering a therapeutic strategy for obesity management. This study provides a molecular basis for the anti-obesity effects of CP, although further in vivo studies are needed to confirm these findings and to investigate the potential impact on beige adipocyte differentiation.journal articl

Development Strategies of Farm Restaurants in Suburban Areas from the Perspective of Manager’ Strategies and Customer’s Needs ─ Two Case Studies in the Tokyo Area─

都市・農村交流の一形態として関心を集めた農家レストランは，これまで農村女性起業や新たな所得 確保の方策として，農村部を中心に様々な知見が蓄積されてきた。一方，都市住民の利便性や都道府県間の 移動が制限されたコロナ禍のような非常時を考慮すると，都市近郊に農家レストランが普及し，食と農の繋 がりを日常的に実感できる場が存在することは，食と農の乖離が進行する現代において有意義なことだと考 えられる。そこで本論では，運営者の戦略及び来店者ニーズを踏まえた都市近郊の農家レストランの普及・ 発展方策に関する検討を行った。分析方法は，東京圏の農家レストラン運営者へのアンケート調査から全体 的傾向や運営状況の把握を行った後，それを踏まえて抽出した2 つの成功事例への事例分析により，運営者 の経営方針や取組（聞き取り調査），及び来店者の特性と潜在的ニーズ（来店者アンケート調査）の解明を試 みた。その結果，東京圏の主要な立地形態である独立店舗型は，実施取組や運営者の意識から，食事提供に とどまらない存在価値を発揮できる可能性が確認できた。その上で，都市近郊では独立店舗型農家レストラ ンを中心に1）地元産食材を積極的に使用することに加え，独自の要素を持たせた料理提供を行うこと，2） 地産地消型の食事提供のみならず，癒やしを感じられる空間や接客，食や農に関する学びを提供することで， 来店者の継続的利用及び常連客の確保に繋げていくことが重要であると結論づけた。Farm restaurants have attracted attention as a form of urban-rural exchange, and a variety of research has been accumulated, mainly of those in rural areas, regarding issues such as how rural women start businesses and how local business owners earn income. On the other hand, when the convenience of city residents or emergency situations such as the coronavirus pandemic which caused the restriction of movement between prefectures are considered, farm restaurants in suburban areas can provide more meaningful options, as they create places where people can experience the connection between food and agriculture on a daily basis, especially in an era of disconnection between food and agriculture. This study investigates measures to popularize and develop farm restaurants in suburban areas, by taking into account the operators’ strategies and the customers’ needs. The analysis method is 1) understanding the trends and operation conditions of the restaurants through a questionnaire survey of farm restaurant operators in the Tokyo area, 2) determining the management policies of the operators by means of two leading case studies, and 3) elucidating the characteristics and needs of the customers by questionnaire survey at the cite of these cases. The results confirmed that the independent type restaurants, which are the main in the Tokyo area, have the potential to demonstrate its value as well as providing meals, according to the efforts and the awareness of the operators. It concludes that, in the suburban areas, independent farm restaurants can play important roles to attract regular customers by 1) actively using locally produced ingredients and offering dishes with unique elements and by 2) providing relaxing spaces, customer service and learning opportunities about food and agriculture as well as locally produced meals.E1P論文Articledepartmental bulletin pape

農業法人の人事管理に関する研究― 雇用システム論による分析 ―

東京農業大学博士（農学）2023doctoral thesi

Ammonia tolerance of Corbicula japonica (brackish water clam) at various growth stages in rearing water

journal articl

The vomeronasal organ and incisive duct of harbor seals are modified to secrete acidic mucus into the nasal cavity

Most terrestrial mammals have a vomeronasal system to detect specific chemicals. The peripheral organ of this system is a vomeronasal organ (VNO) opening to the incisive duct, and its primary integrative center is an accessory olfactory bulb (AOB). The VNO in seals is thought to be degenerated like whales and manatees, unlike otariids, because of the absence of the AOB. However, olfaction plays pivotal roles in seals, and thus we conducted a detailed morphological evaluation of the vomeronasal system of three harbor seals (Phoca vitulina). The VNO lumen was not found, and the incisive duct did not open into the oral cavity but was recognized as a fossa on the anteroventral side of the nasal cavity. This fossa is rich in mucous glands that secrete acidic mucopolysaccharides, which might originate from the vomeronasal glands. The olfactory bulb consisted only of a main olfactory bulb that received projections from the olfactory mucosa, but an AOB region was not evident. These findings clarified that harbor seals do not have a VNO to detect some chemicals, but the corresponding region is a specialized secretory organ.journal articl

近代日本における木炭産業に関する史的研究

東京農業大学博士（農学）2023doctoral thesi

Interspecific Differences in Phosphorus Use and Acquisition Strategies of Trees in Bornean Lowland Tropical Rainforests

東京農業大学博士（農学）2023doctoral thesi

Quantitative Landscape Indices using 3D Point Cloud Data and Psychological Analysis to Quantitatively Understand the Landscape

庭園や公園などの景観空間は，さまざまな景観構成要素によって構成され，多様な景観を作り出している。一方，景観を客観的に評価することが可能となれば，景観空間の管理・創造において，より良い空間づくりに活用することができる。近年，都市部や自然地域において，点群データが取得されるようになってきた。本研究では，点群データを用いた定量的な景観指標の適用可能性と，景観構成要素と人間との心理的な関係性を把握することを目的とし，定量的な指標の適用可能性を検証した。また，定量的指標の適用可能性に加え，空間内の環境および人間の心理状態は大きく変化する。そこで，景観構成要素の変化との関係に着目し，点群データを景観構成要素ごとに分類すると共に占有率を算出し，心理的側面との関係を算出して検証を行った。Landscape spaces such as gardens and parks are composed of various landscape components, creating diverse landscapes. However, if landscapes can be evaluated objectively, they can be used to create better spaces in the management and creation of landscape spaces. Recently, point cloud data has been obtained in urban and natural areas. In this study, we aimed to understand the applicability of quantitative landscape indices using point cloud data and the psychological relationship between landscape components and humans. The applicability of the quantitative indexes was also verified. In addition to the applicability of the quantitative index, the environment, and human psychological conditions in a space change significantly. Therefore, we paid attention to the relationship with the change of landscape components, categorized the point cloud data by landscape components, calculated the occupancy rate of each landscape component, and calculated the relationship with the psychological aspect for verification.E1P論文Articledepartmental bulletin pape

ウシ卵子の成熟と発生を制御するmiRNAに関する研究

東京農業大学博士（農学）2023doctoral thesi

Precipitation Patterns Reducing Wheat Yield in Northern Kyushu Since 2000

2000年以降の北部九州のコムギの10 a当たり収量は，2007～08年に約500 kgであったが，2010～11年に約300 kgまで減少し，2021～22年は再び約500 kgに回復した．そこで，気象条件がコムギ収量に与える影響について 2000～2022年の23年間を対象として日単位の詳細な解析を行った．筑紫平野のコムギ収量を目的変数として重回帰分析を行った結果，12月10～21日および4月12～23日の降水量および2月17～3月1日の日照時間の合計3つの気象条件が5％水準で有意な説明変数として選択された．それぞれの標準偏回帰係数は，12月10～21日の降水量が–0.357，4月12～23日の降水量が–0.433，2月17～3月1日の日照時間が0.407で，自由度調整済みの重相関係数は0.826，決定係数は0.682であった．12月10～21日および4月12～23日の降水量はシンクサイズを制限しており，前者は穂数と1 m2当たり粒数，後者は千粒重を低下させていた． 2月17～3月1日の日照時間は，節間伸長が盛んな茎立期であるため，シンクおよびソースサイズの決定に関わるとみられた．北部九州のコムギで安定した多収を達成するには，12月と4月の2つの特定時期の降水によるシンクサイズの制限を回避することが重要である．Since 2000, wheat yield per 10 a in Northern Kyushu was about 500 kg in 2007–2008, less than 300 kg in 2010–2011, and about 500 kg again in 2021–2022. Therefore, the effect of climatic conditions on wheat yield in Northern Kyushu was analyzed in detail on a daily basis for 23 years from 2000 to 2022. Three significant weather conditions, namely precipitation from December 10 to 21 and April 12 to 23, and sunshine duration from February 17 to March 1, were adopted as explanatory variables at the 5% level. The standard partial regression coefficients were –0.357 for precipitation from December 10 to 21, –0.433 for precipitation from April 12 to 23, and 0.407 for sunshine hours from February 17 to March 1, with a degree of freedom adjusted multiple correlation coefficient of 0.826 and coefficient of determination of 0.682. Precipitation from December 10–21 decreased the number of ears and grains per square meter, and precipitation from April 12–23 decreased the thousand-grain weight and limited sink size, respectively. Sunshine hours from February 17 to March 1 appeared to be related to sink and source size determination because this is the jointing stage when internode elongation is most active. Avoiding sink size limitation due to precipitation at two specific times of the year, December and April, is important to achieve stable and high yields in wheat in northern Kyushu.journal articl