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ABSTRACT: The water retention curve (WRC), which shows the relationship between the volumetric water content and matric potential, is a fundamental part of the characterisation of hydraulic properties. Therefore, the formulation of the WRC as a function of snow characteristics is essential for establishing a model of water movement through snow cover. In this study, we measured the WRC of granular snow (550 kg m -3 ) of various grain sizes in gravity drainage column experiments. Our experiments revealed many similarities between the WRC of snow and that of sand. Consequently, to analyze the WRC of snow, we applied the van Genuchten model (VG model), which is a standard model in soil analysis, to the WRC of snow. Two parameters in the VG model that determine the form of the WRC have a strong relationship with sample grain size. Our results suggest that the WRC of snow can be described as a function of grain size using the VG model

Identification of novel sesterterpenes by genome mining of phytopathogenic fungi Phoma and Colletotrichum sp.

Two homologous gene clusters for the biosynthesis of sesterterpenes betaestacins were identified from two phytopathogens, Phoma betae and Colletotrichum orbiculare. Heterologous expression of identified oxidation enzymes with previously-characterized PbTS1 (BtcA(pb)) resulted in the production of seven novel sesterterpenes. Although both strains possessed homologous enzymes, oxidation state of corresponding products were different from each other, suggesting that structural diversification of sesterterpene skeletons might be achieved by these homologous enzymes with different functions. (C) 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved

Aiming at the Establishment of a New Japanese-style Doctor of Education Program: Attempts of Aichi University of Education and Shizuoka University

The purposes of this study are to introduce our newly established doctoral program and to discuss what the program aims at with some issues to be improved in the future. In April 2012, Aichi University of Education and Shizuoka University cooperatively began a new doctoral program; Cooperative Doctoral Course in Subject Development (CDCSD). Students fulfilling the course requirements are expected to receive a degree of Doctor of Education, which we would like to abbreviate as “DoE” in this paper because this DoE is fundamentally different from the Ed.D. or Ph.D. administered in America. The faculty members have been trying to establish a new type of Doctor of Education, which we believe is suitable for Japan. The main purpose of CDCSD is to foster teachers who can teach at university-level teacher training programs in Japan. In other words, we would like to foster university professors who have a wide range of academic knowledge. Thus, graduates from the program are required to have both theoretical and applied knowledge of their specialized fields, and also teach university students in undergraduate and Master level programs

Aiming at the Establishment of a New Japanese-style Doctor of Education Program : Attempts of Aichi University of Education and Shizuoka University

愛知教育大学大学院教育学研究科・静岡大学大学院教育学研究科publishe

<i>Arabidopsis</i> AtRRP44A Is the Functional Homolog of Rrp44/Dis3, an Exosome Component, Is Essential for Viability and Is Required for RNA Processing and Degradation

<div><p>The RNA exosome is a multi-subunit complex that is responsible for 3ʹ to 5ʹ degradation and processing of cellular RNA. Rrp44/Dis3 is the catalytic center of the exosome in yeast and humans. However, the role of Rrp44/Dis3 homologs in plants is still unidentified. Here, we show that <i>Arabidopsis</i> AtRRP44A is the functional homolog of Rrp44/Dis3, is essential for plant viability and is required for RNA processing and degradation. We characterized AtRRP44A and AtRRP44B/SOV, two predicted <i>Arabidopsis</i> Rrp44/Dis3 homologs. AtRRP44A could functionally replace <i>S. cerevisiae</i> Rrp44/Dis3, but AtRRP44B/SOV could not. <i>rrp44a</i> knock-down mutants showed typical phenotypes of exosome function deficiency, 5.8S rRNA 3ʹ extension and rRNA maturation by-product over-accumulation, but <i>rrp44b</i> mutants did not. Conversely, AtRRP44B/SOV mutants showed elevated levels of a selected mRNA, on which <i>rrp44a</i> did not have detectable effects. Although T-DNA insertion mutants of AtRRP44B/SOV had no obvious phenotype, those of AtRRP44A showed defects in female gametophyte development and early embryogenesis. These results indicate that AtRRP44A and AtRRP44B/SOV have independent roles for RNA turnover in plants.</p> </div

Environmental factors affecting cognitive function among community-dwelling older adults : A longitudinal study

Although neighborhood environmental factors have been found to be associated with cognitive decline, few longitudinal studies have focused on their effect on older adults living in rural areas. This longitudinal study aimed to investigate the role of neighborhood environmental factors in cognitive decline among rural older adults. The data of 485 older adults aged ≥60 years who were living in Unnan City in Japan and had participated in two surveys conducted between 2014 and 2018 were analyzed. Cognitive function was assessed using the Cognitive Assessment for Dementia, iPad version 2. Elevation, hilliness, residential density, and proximity to a community center were determined using geographic information system. We applied a generalized estimating equation with odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) of cognitive decline in the quartiles of neighborhood environmental factors. A total of 56 (11.6%) participants demonstrated a decrease in cognitive function at follow up. Elevation (adjusted OR 2.58, 95% CI (1.39, 4.77) for Q4 vs. Q1) and hilliness (adjusted OR 1.93, 95% CI (1.03, 3.63) for Q4 vs. Q1) were associated with a higher likelihood of cognitive decline. The second quartiles of residential density showed significantly lower likelihoods of cognitive decline compared with the first quartiles (adjusted OR 0.36, 95% CI (0.19, 0.71) for Q2 vs. Q1). Thus, an elevated hilly environment and residential density predicted cognitive decline among rural older adults

Model for the roles of <i>A. thaliana</i> AtRRP44A and AtRRP44B/SOV in RNA processing and degradation.

<p>AtRRP44A localizes to the nucleus and processes rRNAs with the exosome complex. However, AtRRP44B/SOV localizes to the cytoplasm and targets a select subset of mRNAs.</p

Analysis of rRNA processing and degradation.

<p>(A) Diagram illustrating the 5.8S rRNA processing intermediates and the rRNA maturation by-product generated from the 5ʹ ETS (P-Pʹ) compared with the 35S precursor [27]. Horizontal red arrows represent the positions of oligonucleotide probes used in this study. (B) The 5.8S rRNA 3ʹ extension is processed by AtRRP44A, AtRRP4 and AtRRP41, but not AtRRP44B/SOV. (C) The 5ʹ ETS is degraded by AtRRP44A, AtRRP4 and AtRRP41, but not AtRRP44B/SOV. RNA gel blots of 5.8S rRNA precursors (B) or the 5ʹ ETS (C). Total RNAs were isolated from 10 dpg rosette leaves of Col-0 (wild type: WT), <i>gusKD-2</i> (VC), <i>rrp44aKD-1</i>, <i>rrp44aKD-2</i>, <i>rrp44b-1</i>, <i>rrp44b-2</i> and <i>mtr4-1</i> plants or from <i>gusKD-2</i>, <i>rrp4KD-3</i>, <i>rrp41KD-1</i> and <i>rrp44aKD-1</i> plants (B and C). <i>mtr4-1</i> was used to determine the sequence of 5.8S processing intermediates [27]. Total RNAs were separated on 6% polyacrylamide gels. Methylene blue staining of 5S rRNA is shown as a loading control. Relative RNA levels estimated from band signals are indicated at the bottom of each lane as mean values ± SE with RNA levels in Col-0 plants set to 1.0.. Values for which P<0.05 (Tukey’s test) compared to corresponding wild type plants (<i>gusKD-2</i> or Col-0) were shown in red. Two (B and C: Left panels) or three (B and C: Right panels) biological replicates were performed for all RNA gel blots. </p