Development of an Air Volume Measuring Instrument: WINSPEC

Abstract: Prior to completion, the various facilities associated with a building undergo performance testing. For air conditioning facilities, it is necessary to confirm that each apparatus meets the design values for air supply and emission volume. In keeping, rather than a fully automated robot, we developed a human-operated instrument that enables ceiling outlets to be reached without using a stepladder; we also engaged in development to make it possible for the instrument to move smoothly around worksites. This instrument has been used in actual completion inspections, and results have been obtained for dozens of properties to the present. Although WINSPEC has primarily contributed to lowering costs through reduced labor power and shortened work time, it is also used for the purpose of guaranteeing measurement accuracy. This report provides an overview of WINSPEC and presents how the instrument has been evaluated from results of actual use at construction sites

日本人中国語 学習者を対象とした中国語語彙習得 : 漢字を語構造素とする視点からの考察

関西大

以日本学习者为对象的汉外词汇习得 : 汉字作为构词素视角的考察 [論文要旨及び審査の要旨]

関西大

Interaction between Pheromone and Its Receptor of the Fission Yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe Examined by a Force Spectroscopy Study

Interaction between P-factor, a peptide pheromone composed of 23 amino acid residues, and its pheromone receptor, Mam2, on the cell surface of the fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe was examined by an atomic force microscope (AFM). An AFM tip was modified with P-factor derivatives to perform force curve measurements. The specific interaction force between P-factor and Mam2 was calculated to be around 120 pN at a probe speed of 1.74 μm/s. When the AFM tip was modified with truncated P-factor derivative lacking C-terminal Leu, the specific interaction between the tip and the cell surface was not observed. These results were also confirmed with an assay system using a green fluorescent protein (GFP) reporter gene to monitor the activation level of signal transduction following the interaction of Mam2 with P-factor

Trace element concentrations in the small Indian mongoose (\u3ci\u3eHerpestes auropunctatus\u3c/i\u3e) from Hawaii, USA

Concentrations of 26 trace elements including essential (Mg, Ca, Cr, V, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Se, Sr and Mo) and toxic (As, Cd and Pb), were determined in the liver, kidney, brain, hair, muscle, and stomach contents of the small Indian mongooses inhabiting eight areas on three Hawaiian Islands, Oahu, Maui and Hawaii. There were significant differences in concentrations of some metals among the habitats. Cadmium concentrations in mongooses from the macadamia nut orchards on Island of Hawaii were relatively higher than those in populations from other seven areas. Lead concentrations in mongooses from the Ukumehame firing range were significantly higher than those from other areas. Compared to data reported in mongooses from other countries, Pb concentrations in the brain were higher in the animals from Hawaiian islands, but almost similar levels were observed in the liver and kidney. Intriguingly, brain concentrations of Pb in three specimens from the Ukumehame firing range exceeded 3.79 μg g−1 WW, which was the mean cerebral Pb level in rats that caused some toxic symptoms after administration in the previous study. Furthermore, two fetuses exhibited higher brain Pb concentrations than each of their dams. These results prompted us to consider the potential exposure and health effects of Pb derived from firing range operations on the small Indian mongoose and other animal species including human

Trace element concentrations in the small Indian mongoose (\u3ci\u3eHerpestes auropunctatus\u3c/i\u3e) from Hawaii, USA

Concentrations of 26 trace elements including essential (Mg, Ca, Cr, V, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Se, Sr and Mo) and toxic (As, Cd and Pb), were determined in the liver, kidney, brain, hair, muscle, and stomach contents of the small Indian mongooses inhabiting eight areas on three Hawaiian Islands, Oahu, Maui and Hawaii. There were significant differences in concentrations of some metals among the habitats. Cadmium concentrations in mongooses from the macadamia nut orchards on Island of Hawaii were relatively higher than those in populations from other seven areas. Lead concentrations in mongooses from the Ukumehame firing range were significantly higher than those from other areas. Compared to data reported in mongooses from other countries, Pb concentrations in the brain were higher in the animals from Hawaiian islands, but almost similar levels were observed in the liver and kidney. Intriguingly, brain concentrations of Pb in three specimens from the Ukumehame firing range exceeded 3.79 μg g−1 WW, which was the mean cerebral Pb level in rats that caused some toxic symptoms after administration in the previous study. Furthermore, two fetuses exhibited higher brain Pb concentrations than each of their dams. These results prompted us to consider the potential exposure and health effects of Pb derived from firing range operations on the small Indian mongoose and other animal species including human

Yeast screening system reveals the inhibitory mechanism of cancer cell proliferation by benzyl isothiocyanate through down-regulation of Mis12

Benzyl isothiocyanate (BITC) is a naturally-occurring isothiocyanate derived from cruciferous vegetables. BITC has been reported to inhibit the proliferation of various cancer cells, which is believed to be important for the inhibition of tumorigenesis. However, the detailed mechanisms of action remain unclear. In this study, we employed a budding yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae as a model organism for screening. Twelve genes including MTW1 were identified as the overexpression suppressors for the antiproliferative effect of BITC using the genome-wide multi-copy plasmid collection for S. cerevisiae. Overexpression of the kinetochore protein Mtw1 counteracts the antiproliferative effect of BITC in yeast. The inhibitory effect of BITC on the proliferation of human colon cancer HCT-116 cells was consistently suppressed by the overexpression of Mis12, a human orthologue of Mtw1, and enhanced by the knockdown of Mis12. We also found that BITC increased the phosphorylated and ubiquitinated Mis12 level with consequent reduction of Mis12, suggesting that BITC degrades Mis12 through an ubiquitin-proteasome system. Furthermore, cell cycle analysis showed that the change in the Mis12 level affected the cell cycle distribution and the sensitivity to the BITC-induced apoptosis. These results provide evidence that BITC suppresses cell proliferation through the post-transcriptional regulation of the kinetochore protein Mis12

Yeast screening system reveals the inhibitory mechanism of cancer cell proliferation by benzyl isothiocyanate through down-regulation of Mis12

Benzyl isothiocyanate (BITC) is a naturally-occurring isothiocyanate derived from cruciferous vegetables. BITC has been reported to inhibit the proliferation of various cancer cells, which is believed to be important for the inhibition of tumorigenesis. However, the detailed mechanisms of action remain unclear. In this study, we employed a budding yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae as a model organism for screening. Twelve genes including MTW1 were identified as the overexpression suppressors for the antiproliferative effect of BITC using the genome-wide multi-copy plasmid collection for S. cerevisiae. Overexpression of the kinetochore protein Mtw1 counteracts the antiproliferative effect of BITC in yeast. The inhibitory effect of BITC on the proliferation of human colon cancer HCT-116 cells was consistently suppressed by the overexpression of Mis12, a human orthologue of Mtw1, and enhanced by the knockdown of Mis12. We also found that BITC increased the phosphorylated and ubiquitinated Mis12 level with consequent reduction of Mis12, suggesting that BITC degrades Mis12 through an ubiquitin-proteasome system. Furthermore, cell cycle analysis showed that the change in the Mis12 level affected the cell cycle distribution and the sensitivity to the BITC-induced apoptosis. These results provide evidence that BITC suppresses cell proliferation through the post-transcriptional regulation of the kinetochore protein Mis12