Computational Procedure for Estimating the Effects of Sea Sprays on Temperature Fields over the Sea Surface

Source: ICHE Conference Archive - https://mdi-de.baw.de/icheArchiv

Caregiver burden mediates between caregiver\u27s mental health condition and elder\u27s behavioral problems among Japanese family caregivers

Objectives: In Japan, the prevalence of depression has been reported to occur among 1 in 4 family caregivers. The purpose of this study was to investigate the self-rated burden associated with mental health conditions among caregivers.Methods: We studied 95 caregivers aged 38-87 years in a cross-sectional study. The General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12) score of 4 or more was defined as poor mental health.Results: The proportion of caregivers with poor mental health was 24%. Caregivers with a high GHQ-12 score had the number of caregiver burdens increased by 2.5-fold compared to those with a low GHQ-12 score (p = 0.001). The proportion of caregivers with a high GHQ-12 score was significantly higher with an increasing number of behavioral problems among care recipients (p = 0.003). A mediational model was used to identify the underlying mechanism of the relationship between the number of behavioral problems and poor mental health in caregivers. Consequently, we found that mental health conditions in caregivers were associated with both the number of caregiver burdens and behavioral problems among care recipients.Conclusions: It is vital to provide support not only to the caregivers but also to their elderly relatives, paying particular attention to early identification of poor mental health in caregivers so as to administer effective interventions, and to offer useful advice concerning how to deal with behavioral problems

Evolution of the Genus Camellia Based on the Biological Interaction and the Historical Background

departmental bulletin pape

Microflora and Selected Metabolites of Potato Pulp Fermented with an Indonesian Starter Ragi Tapé

When potato pulp was mixed with Indonesian starter ragi tapé and incubated, both lactic acid and ethanol were gradually formed and attained certain concentrations during 2 days of fermentation. Viable counts of fungi in fresh weight matter, yeasts and lactic acid bacteria after fermentation were 105, 107 and 105 CFU/g, respectively. Denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis of the PCR-amplified internal transcribed spacer of 18S–28S rRNA genes detected Amylomyces rouxii-Rhizopus oryzae, Mucor indicus, Candida tropicalis and Saccharomycopsis fibuligera and revealed that Amylomyces rouxii-Rhizopus oryzae dominated throughout the fermentation period. Amylomyces rouxii cannot be discriminated from the lactic acid-accumulating group of Rhizopus oryzae because the amplified sequences of these fungi were shown to be identical. Morphological characteristics were then studied for Rhizopus-like fungi isolated from fermented potato pulp. Those strains that had produced an enormous number of chlamydospores in the aerial and substrate mycelium were identified as Amylomyces rouxii. The microflora of fermented potato pulp was similar to that made from glutinous rice, namely tapé ketan

Extracellular and intraneuronal HMW-AbetaOs represent a molecular basis of memory loss in Alzheimer's disease model mouse

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Several lines of evidence indicate that memory loss represents a synaptic failure caused by soluble amyloid β (Aβ) oligomers. However, the pathological relevance of Aβ oligomers (AβOs) as the trigger of synaptic or neuronal degeneration, and the possible mechanism underlying the neurotoxic action of endogenous AβOs remain to be determined.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>To specifically target toxic AβOs <it>in vivo</it>, monoclonal antibodies (1A9 and 2C3) specific to them were generated using a novel design method. 1A9 and 2C3 specifically recognize soluble AβOs larger than 35-mers and pentamers on Blue native polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, respectively. Biophysical and structural analysis by atomic force microscopy (AFM) revealed that neurotoxic 1A9 and 2C3 oligomeric conformers displayed non-fibrilar, relatively spherical structure. Of note, such AβOs were taken up by neuroblastoma (SH-SY5Y) cell, resulted in neuronal death. In humans, immunohistochemical analysis employing 1A9 or 2C3 revealed that 1A9 and 2C3 stain intraneuronal granules accumulated in the perikaryon of pyramidal neurons and some diffuse plaques. Fluoro Jade-B binding assay also revealed 1A9- or 2C3-stained neurons, indicating their impending degeneration. In a long-term low-dose prophylactic trial using active 1A9 or 2C3 antibody, we found that passive immunization protected a mouse model of Alzheimer's disease (AD) from memory deficits, synaptic degeneration, promotion of intraneuronal AβOs, and neuronal degeneration. Because the primary antitoxic action of 1A9 and 2C3 occurs outside neurons, our results suggest that extracellular AβOs initiate the AD toxic process and intraneuronal AβOs may worsen neuronal degeneration and memory loss.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Now, we have evidence that HMW-AβOs are among the earliest manifestation of the AD toxic process in mice and humans. We are certain that our studies move us closer to our goal of finding a therapeutic target and/or confirming the relevance of our therapeutic strategy.</p

Recombinant human FGF-2 for the treatment of early-stage osteonecrosis of the femoral head: TRION, a single-arm, multicenter, Phase II trial

Aim: This study aimed to evaluate the 2-year outcomes from a clinical trial of recombinant human FGF-2 (rhFGF-2) for osteonecrosis of the femoral head (ONFH). Patients & methods: Sixty-four patients with nontraumatic, precollapse and large ONFHs were percutaneously administered with 800 μg rhFGF-2 contained in gelatin hydrogel. Setting the end point of radiological collapse, we analyzed the joint preservation period of the historical control. Changes in two validated clinical scores, bone regeneration and safety were evaluated. Results: Radiological joint preservation time was significantly higher in the rhFGF-2 group than in the control group. The ONFHs tended to improve to smaller ONFHs. The postoperative clinical scores significantly improved. Thirteen serious adverse events showed recovery. Conclusion: rhFGF-2 treatment increases joint preservation time with clinical efficacy, radiological bone regeneration and safety

Chondroitin sulfate N-acetylgalactosaminyltransferase-1 is required for normal cartilage development

CS (chondroitin sulfate) is a glycosaminoglycan species that is widely distributed in the extracellular matrix. To understand the physiological roles of enzymes involved in CS synthesis, we produced CSGalNAcT1 (CS N-acetylgalactosaminyltransferase 1)-null mice. CS production was reduced by approximately half in CSGalNAcT1-null mice, and the amount of short-chain CS was also reduced. Moreover, the cartilage of the null mice was significantly smaller than that of wild-type mice. Additionally, type-II collagen fibres in developing cartilage were abnormally aggregated and disarranged in the homozygous mutant mice. These results suggest that CSGalNAcT1 is required for normal CS production in developing cartilage

Genomic Analysis of the Basal Lineage Fungus Rhizopus oryzae Reveals a Whole-Genome Duplication

Rhizopus oryzae is the primary cause of mucormycosis, an emerging, life-threatening infection characterized by rapid angioinvasive growth with an overall mortality rate that exceeds 50%. As a representative of the paraphyletic basal group of the fungal kingdom called “zygomycetes,” R. oryzae is also used as a model to study fungal evolution. Here we report the genome sequence of R. oryzae strain 99–880, isolated from a fatal case of mucormycosis. The highly repetitive 45.3 Mb genome assembly contains abundant transposable elements (TEs), comprising approximately 20% of the genome. We predicted 13,895 protein-coding genes not overlapping TEs, many of which are paralogous gene pairs. The order and genomic arrangement of the duplicated gene pairs and their common phylogenetic origin provide evidence for an ancestral whole-genome duplication (WGD) event. The WGD resulted in the duplication of nearly all subunits of the protein complexes associated with respiratory electron transport chains, the V-ATPase, and the ubiquitin–proteasome systems. The WGD, together with recent gene duplications, resulted in the expansion of multiple gene families related to cell growth and signal transduction, as well as secreted aspartic protease and subtilase protein families, which are known fungal virulence factors. The duplication of the ergosterol biosynthetic pathway, especially the major azole target, lanosterol 14α-demethylase (ERG11), could contribute to the variable responses of R. oryzae to different azole drugs, including voriconazole and posaconazole. Expanded families of cell-wall synthesis enzymes, essential for fungal cell integrity but absent in mammalian hosts, reveal potential targets for novel and R. oryzae-specific diagnostic and therapeutic treatments

地域を基盤とした老年看護基礎教育における学生の学び : 中山間地域での高齢者の暮らしから

S県立大学Iキャンパス看護学科平成21年度3年次生7名に地域を基盤とした老年看護基礎教育を試み，学びの内容を質的記述的に分析した。学生は健康問題として緊急事態の対応，高塩分・低栄養の食事を捉え，交通手段の不十分さや孤独な環境との関連を学んだ。一方で，高齢者のいつまでもこの地域で暮らしたいというニーズを知り，高齢者がもつ地域に対する愛着心や高齢者のセルフケア能力の向上への支援方法，高齢者を尊重した専門家としての態度を学んだ