The primary structure of superoxide dismutase purified from anaerobically maintained Bacteroides gingivalis

AbstractThe superoxide dismutase (SOD) of Bacteroides gingivalis can use either iron or manganese as a cofactor in its catalytic activity. In this study, the complete amino acid sequence of this SOD purified from anaerobically maintained B. gingivalis cells was determined. The proteins consisted of 191 amino acid residues and had a molecular mass of 21 500. The sequence of B. gingivalis SOD showed 44–51% homology with those for iron-specific SODs (Fe-SODs) and 40–45% homology with manganese-specific SODs (Mn-SODs) from several bacteria. However, this sequence homology was considerably less than that seen among the Fe-SOD (65–74%) or Mn-SOD family (42–60%). This indicates that B. gingivalis SOD, which accepts either iron or manganese as metal cofactor, is a structural intermediate between the Fe-SOD and Mn-SOD families

Consistent map building in petrochemical complexes for firefighter robots using SLAM based on GPS and LIDAR

The objective of this study was to achieve simultaneous localization and mapping (SLAM) of firefighter robots for petrochemical complexes. Consistency of the SLAM map is important because human operators compare the map with aerial images and identify target positions on the map. The global positioning system (GPS) enables increased consistency. Therefore, this paper describes two Rao-Blackwellized particle filters (RBPFs) based on GPS and light detection and ranging (LIDAR) as SLAM solutions. Fast-SLAM 1.0 and Fast-SLAM 2.0 were used in grid maps for RBPFs in this study. We herein propose the use of Fast-SLAM to combine GPS and LIDAR. The difference between the original Fast-SLAM and the proposed method is the use of the log-likelihood function of GPS; the proposed combination method is implemented using a probabilistic mathematics formulation. The proposed methods were evaluated using sensor data measured in a real petrochemical complex in Japan ranging in size from 550–380 m. RTK-GPS data was used for the GPS measurement and had an availability of 56%. Our results showed that Fast-SLAM 2.0 based on GPS and LIDAR in a dense grid map produced the best results. There was significant improvement in alignment to aerial data, and the mean square root error was 0.65 m. To evaluate the mapping consistency, accurate 3D point cloud data measured by Faro Focus 3D (± 3 mm) was used as the ground truth. Building sizes were compared; the minimum mean errors were 0.17 and 0.08 m for the oil refinery and management building area and the area of a sparse building layout with large oil tanks, respectively. Consequently, a consistent map, which was also consistent with an aerial map (from Google Maps), was built by Fast-SLAM 1.0 and 2.0 based on GPS and LIDAR. Our method reproduced map consistency results for ten runs with a variance of ± 0.3 m. Our method reproduced map consistency results with a global accuracy of 0.52 m in a low RTK-Fix-GPS environment, which was a factory with a building layout similar to petrochemical complexes with 20.9% of RTK-Fix-GPS data availability

A Case of High-Grade Neuroendocrine Carcinoma That Improved with Bevacizumab plus Modified FOLFOX6 as the Fourth-Line Chemotherapy

High-grade neuroendocrine carcinoma differs from usual neuroendocrine carcinoma, and its prognosis is dismal. In this case report, a case of high-grade neuroendocrine carcinoma that improved with bevacizumab plus modified FOLFOX6 as the fourth-line chemotherapy is presented. A 29-year-old male with a huge liver tumor was diagnosed with high-grade neuroendocrine carcinoma originating from the liver. Multiple liver and bone metastases were found one month after surgery. He was treated with three chemotherapy regimens used for the management of small-cell lung cancer with extensive disease. However, none of them could be maintained because of tumor progression. He was then treated with bevacizumab plus modified FOLFOX6 as the fourth-line regimen. Dramatic tumor shrinkage was obtained, and a partial response was achieved. This case suggests that high-grade neuroendocrine carcinoma can be treated with bevacizumab in combination with cytotoxic chemotherapy

Study of Training Programs Designed for Teachers Providing Education in a Globalizing Society : The Development and Delivery of Lessons Based on Principles of Inclusive Teaching of Special Support Class Teachers and Normal Curriculum Teachers

本研究では，教育のグローバル化や共生社会の実現に向け，児童の個別教育ニーズに対応するための教員研修に着目し，教員間の共生関係や教師の力量形成につながる研修を実施した。研究の２年目にあたり，インクルーシブ教育研修を校内研修に位置づけ，その第１段階として異学級編成の集団における授業を実施した。その結果，特別支援学級と通常学級の教員の連携によって互いの専門性を生かし合いながら授業を行い，それぞれの児童実態の把握の仕方・捉え方の違いを検討すること，教科の指導については，学習したことを次の学習に生かしたり，生活に反映させたりするための視点について検討することを通して，成果と課題を得ることができた。This study investigated training programs designed to correspond to the demands of individual tutoring needs and the delivery of training programs. We aimed to enable teachers to develop stronger teaching skills as well as socializing ability with other teachers. In the second year, we set an inclusive educating training program as a staff training. At the first stage, teachers taught a class in a group of the different class organization. By teaching a class in which special support class teachers and normal curriculum teachers cooperated, emphasizing their ability and skills in their field, strong results and future tasks were clarified. The study examined how children are observed and recognized by each of the teaching parties, how children apply the method of learning obtained from one subject of study to another, and how children adapted the learned matter into real life situations

Review of global teacher lecture development training for the realization of symbiotic society: Taking into consideration the development of lessons in special support class and normal curriculum class can collaborate

本研究では，教育のグローバル化や共生社会の実現に向け，児童の個別教育ニーズに対応するための教員研修に着目し，教員間の共生関係や教師の力量形成につながる研修を実施した。研究の３年目にあたり，第２段階である複数学級編成の児童に対して，特別支援学級と通常学級の教員が協力して授業開発し，実践・協議を行った。その協議会では，授業における児童の学び合いやかかわりについての議論が中心となり，その代案ついても話し合いが行われた。また，授業者においても協議における多面的な見方・考え方から，新たな課題に気づくことができたことからも，研修の有効性を明らかにすることができた。今後の課題においては，児童の学び合いやかかわりについて，質を高めていく授業デザインを検討していく必要がある。This study focused on globalization and inclusive society by focusing on training programs designed to correspond towards demands of individual tutoring needs and conducting of training programs for teachers to develop stronger teaching skills as well as socializing ability between other teachers. In the third year of the research, special support classes and regular class faculty members cooperated with the second stage, multi-class organization children, to develop lessons, practice and consultation. Discussions on learning and engagement of students in classes focused mainly on discussions at the council, and discussions on alternatives were also held. In addition, it was possible for the lesson to clarify the effectiveness of the training also from being able to notice the new task from the multifaceted viewpoint and way of thinking in consultation. In the future tasks, we need to consider class design to improve the quality of learning and engagement of children

Intraoperative ultrasonographic localization of pulmonary ground-glass opacities

ObjectivesGround-glass opacities are typically difficult to inspect and to palpate during video-assisted thoracic surgery. We therefore examined whether ultrasonographic assessments could localize ground-glass opacities and help to achieve adequate resection margins.MethodsAn intraoperative ultrasonographic procedure was prospectively performed on 44 patients harboring ground-glass opacities of less than 20 mm in diameter to localize these lesions and to achieve adequate margins. We also examined whether there were any complications resulting from the intraoperative ultrasonogram, such as lung injury, heart injury, or arrhythmia. We excluded patients with both asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease from this study inasmuch as the intraoperative ultrasonographic procedure is more difficult to interpret when residual air is present in the lung.ResultsA total of 53 ground-glass opacities were successfully identified by intraoperative ultrasonography without any complications. Of the 20 mixed ground-glass opacities that we examined, 15 were found on palpation. However, only 4 (12.1%) of the 33 pure ground-glass opacities could be palpated. In all instances in which complete collapse of the lung was achieved (30/53 of these cases), high-quality echo images were obtained. Additionally, a strong correlation was found between the resection margins measured by ultrasonogram and the margins determined by histologic examination in the resected lung specimens (r2 = 0.954, P < .001).ConclusionsIntraoperative ultrasonography can both safely and effectively localize pulmonary ground-glass opacities in a completely deflated lung. This procedure is also useful for the evaluation of surgical margins in a resected lung. Hence, ultrasonography may assist surgeons to perform minimally invasive lung resections with clear surgical margins during the treatment of solitary lung ground-glass opacity

Consistent map building in petrochemical complexes for frefghter robots using SLAM based on GPS and LIDAR

The objective of this study was to achieve simultaneous localization and mapping (SLAM) of frefghter robots for petrochemical complexes. Consistency of the SLAM map is important because human operators compare the map with aerial images and identify target positions on the map. The global positioning system (GPS) enables increased consistency. Therefore, this paper describes two Rao-Blackwellized particle flters (RBPFs) based on GPS and light detection and ranging (LIDAR) as SLAM solutions. Fast-SLAM 1.0 and Fast-SLAM 2.0 were used in grid maps for RBPFs in this study. We herein propose the use of Fast-SLAM to combine GPS and LIDAR. The diference between the original FastSLAM and the proposed method is the use of the log-likelihood function of GPS; the proposed combination method is implemented using a probabilistic mathematics formulation. The proposed methods were evaluated using sensor data measured in a real petrochemical complex in Japan ranging in size from 550–380 m. RTK-GPS data was used for the GPS measurement and had an availability of 56%. Our results showed that Fast-SLAM 2.0 based on GPS and LIDAR in a dense grid map produced the best results. There was signifcant improvement in alignment to aerial data, and the mean square root error was 0.65 m. To evaluate the mapping consistency, accurate 3D point cloud data measured by Faro Focus 3D (± 3 mm) was used as the ground truth. Building sizes were compared; the minimum mean errors were 0.17 and 0.08 m for the oil refnery and management building area and the area of a sparse building layout with large oil tanks, respectively. Consequently, a consistent map, which was also consistent with an aerial map (from Google Maps), was built by Fast-SLAM 1.0 and 2.0 based on GPS and LIDAR. Our method reproduced map consistency results for ten runs with a variance of ± 0.3 m. Our method reproduced map consistency results with a global accuracy of 0.52 m in a low RTK-Fix-GPS environment, which was a factory with a building layout similar to petrochemical complexes with 20.9% of RTK-Fix-GPS data availability

Improvement in the productivity of xylooligosaccharides from waste medium after mushroom cultivation by hydrothermal treatment with suitable pretreatment

The effective xylooligosaccharides (XOs) production from the waste medium after mushroom cultivation (WM) was investigated. The WM contains rich nutrients (protein, etc.) which induce Maillard reaction with reducing sugars under hydrothermal conditions. To improve the productivity of XOs, the suitable pretreatment combined with washing and grinding was investigated, and subsequently hydrothermal treatment was demonstrated with batch type and continuous flow type reactor. The washing pretreatment with hot water of 60 degrees C was effective to remove nutrients from the WM, and it led to prevent brownish discoloration on the hydrothermal treatment. On the basis of experimental data, industrial XOs production processes consisting of the pretreatment, hydrothermal treatment and purification step was designed. During the designed process, 2.3 kg-dry of the purified XOs was produced from 30 kg-wet of the WM (15% yield as dry basis weight). Theoretical yield of XOs attained to 48% as xylan weight in the WM.ArticleBioresource Technology. 101(15):6006-6011 (2010)journal articl