The Construction Of A Business Model For Intellectually Disabled Workers

The Japanese welfare system has undergone rapid change. A law has been enacted that requires the handicapped to work in order to be independent from government assistance. However, it is difficult for the intellectually disabled (ID) to earn a living wage because of a lack of understanding with respect to their ability and communication skills. Our organization conducts business with ID individuals such as those with autism. The business model for the income of our organization and the ID individuals concerned was successfully constructed through an understanding and application of the characteristics of ID individuals. This paper shows the current environment affecting the ID and presents our strategic and successful business model that is designed to enable them to achieve a realistic livelihood

PLD4 Is Involved in Phagocytosis of Microglia: Expression and Localization Changes of PLD4 Are Correlated with Activation State of Microglia

Phospholipase D4 (PLD4) is a recently identified protein that is mainly expressed in the ionized calcium binding adapter molecule 1 (Iba1)-positive microglia in the early postnatal mouse cerebellar white matter. Unlike PLD1 and PLD2, PLD4 exhibits no enzymatic activity for conversion of phosphatidylcholine into choline and phosphatidic acid, and its function is completely unknown. In the present study, we examined the distribution of PLD4 in mouse cerebellar white matter during development and under pathological conditions. Immunohistochemical analysis revealed that PLD4 expression was associated with microglial activation under such two different circumstances. A primary cultured microglia and microglial cell line (MG6) showed that PLD4 was mainly present in the nucleus, except the nucleolus, and expression of PLD4 was upregulated by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) stimulation. In the analysis of phagocytosis of LPS-stimulated microglia, PLD4 was co-localized with phagosomes that contained BioParticles. Inhibition of PLD4 expression using PLD4 specific small interfering RNA (siRNA) in MG6 cells significantly reduced the ratio of phagocytotic cell numbers. These results suggest that the increased PLD4 in the activation process is involved in phagocytosis of activated microglia in the developmental stages and pathological conditions of white matter

Educational Effects of Various Team Childcare Styles in Preschool Education

本論は，幼稚園で実践されているティーム保育について，その多様な形態を分類することを目的に，１県内全域の幼稚園に対する質問紙調査を行い，実証的に明らかにしたものである。ティーム保育の形態の分類は，保育経験豊富な研究協力者によって，質問紙調査の結果を基にしたグループディスカッションで検討され，各形態に見る教育効果や特性，運営上の課題が精査された。その結果，園内の全教師が１つのティームとなり，全園児を全教師で保育するという意識を強く持っていることが明らかになった。そのことを前提に，ティーム保育の形態について，次に示す３つの分類が見出された：①「教師の配置に注目したティーム保育の形態」，②「保育内容や生活を重視したティーム保育の形態」，③「幼児理解や保育等に関する保育時間外のティーム保育の形態」。The purpose of this study is to classify various styles of team childcare practicing in preschools. We adopted a questionnaire method to preschool teachers in a prefecture to research it empirically. The classification of team childcare styles was discussed based on the results of our questionnaire by co-researchers who has enough experiences of childcare, and we could examine educational effect, characteristics, and some problems of each team childcare style. As a result, it is clear that all teachers in the same preschool become members of team, and they are strongly conscious of “all teachers for all children.” Based on the premise mentioned, three categories of team childcare styles are found; 1) A team childcare style to focus on teachers’ arrangement, 2) A team childcare style to put emphasis on contents of childcare and life, and 3) A team childcare style after a childcare time on child understanding, childcare and so on

リン脂質過酸化物の生物有機化学的合成

Chemoenzymatic synthesis of 1-stearoyl-2-hydropeoxyacyl-sn-glycerophospholipids including phosphatidylcholine (PC-OOH), phosphatidic acid (PA-OOH), phosphatidylethanolamine (PE-OOH), phosphatidylglycerol (PG-OOH) and phosphatidylserine (PS-OOH). The hydroperoxy acyl moieties were prepared via hydroperoxidation of linoleic, dihomo-γ-linolenic and arachidonic acids by soybean, potate lipoxygenase or autoxidation. Their hydroperoxy group was protected as a dimethylperacetal before condensation with lysophosphatidylcholine. Optically active lysophosphatidylcholine was prepared via short pathway involving lipase-catalyzed direct enantioselective stearoylation of 2-O-benzylglycerol and choline phosphate synthesis. Peroxy fatty acids and lysophosphatidylcholine thus obtained were condensed using dicyclohexylcarbodiimide in chloroform. Removing the peracetal group in the product and purification by reverse-phase chromatography afforded the desired PC-OOH’s. PA-OOH, PG-OOH, PE-OOH and PS-OOH were obtained by phospholipase-D catalyzed transphosphatidylation from PC-OOH. As a reference compound for biological studies of hydroperoxy phopholipid, PC-OH's were also prepared in which hydroxy unsaturated fatty acyl group was linked to the sn-2 position of the glycerophospholipids.健康正常人の血液などの組織中にはリン脂質過酸化物が極微量で存在し，疾病や老化によってその濃度が顕著に上昇する事が知られている．その事が明らかにされた当初は，極めて複雑な混合物をなす生体脂質中に含まれる不安定な極微量の過酸化脂質を単離・構造決定する事は殆ど不可能と考えられていた．現在もなお，そのような脂質過酸化物を生体組織から純粋に取り出し，構造決定したという報告は無い．従ってそのような分子種の化学的・生理学的性質は不明であったが，脂肪酸過酸化物が毒性を示す事から，リン脂質過酸化物もおそらく毒性を示すだろうと考えられてきた．このような漠然とした推定を科学的に明らかにするためには，化学合成によらざるを得ない．我々はこの未知の合成に取りかかった．しかし，従来の化学的手法のみでは不可能である事も明らかであった．その中で予想された困難の一つは極めて不安定なヒドロペルオキシ基を不飽和脂肪酸のある特定の位置にどのように導入するかという問題と，ヒドロペルオキシ基に影響を与える事なく合成中間体をどのように化学変換するかであった．第一の問題に対する解決策として，不飽和脂肪酸に大豆リポキシゲナーゼを作用させる事で解決する事ができた．植物に広く分布する酵素であるリポキシゲナーゼは植物中でリノール酸に作用して過酸化し，その生成物にヒドロペルオキシドリアーゼという酵素が作用して種々のアルデヒドが精製し，これは植物の青臭みを与える．第二の問題に対しては，リノール酸に導入された不安定なヒドロペルオキシ基をパーアセタールとしての保護する事により解決した．この保護基は，中間体から最終生成物に至るまでの反応条件，例えばDCCによるアシル化反応に対して安定である事が明らかとなった．この二つの問題を解決する事によって，リン脂質過酸化物の一つであるホスファチジルコリン過酸化物を世界に先駆けて成功した．さらにこのホスファチジルコリン過酸化物に微生物由来のホスフォリパーゼDを作用させる事によってホスファチジルエタノールアミン過酸化物，ホスファチジルセリン過酸化物やホスファチジルグリセロール過酸化物の合成にも成功した．また，トリグリセリド過酸化物の合成も可能になった．これらの脂質過酸化物が化学的に実態のあるものとして認識されてから，その生理作用に関する研究が広範に行われている．しかし，生体組織に存在するリン脂質過酸化物の生理学的役割は依然として明らかになっていない．ある種のリン脂質過酸化物が動物の免疫系を活性化するという報告もあり，必ずしも生体に対して悪い作用をするばかりではないようである

Risk Factor Analysis for C5 Palsy after Double-Door Laminoplasty for Cervical Spondylotic Myelopathy

Study DesignA retrospective comparative study.PurposeTo clarify the risk factors related to the development of postoperative C5 palsy through radiological studies after cervical double-door laminoplasty (DDL).Overview of LiteratureAlthough postoperative C5 palsy is generally considered to be the result of damage to the nerve root or segmental spinal cord, the associated pathology remains controversial.MethodsA consecutive case series of 47 patients with cervical spondylotic myelopathy treated by DDL at our institution between April 2008 and April 2015 were reviewed. Postoperative C5 palsy occurred in 5 of 47 cases after DDL. We investigated 9 radiologic factors that have been reported to be risk factors for C5 palsy in various studies, and statistically examined these between the two groups of palsy and the non-palsy patients.ResultsWe found a significant difference between patients with and without postoperative C5 palsy with regards to the posterior shift of spinal cord at C4/5 (p=0.008). The logistic regression analyses revealed posterior shift of the spinal cord at C4/5 (odds ratio, 12.066; p=0.029; 95% confidence interval, 1.295–112.378). For the other radiologic factors, there were no statistically significant differences between the two groups.ConclusionsIn the present study, we showed a significant difference in the posterior shift of the spinal cord at C4/5 between the palsy and the non-palsy groups, indicating that the "tethering phenomenon" was likely a greater risk factor for postoperative C5 palsy

An Attempt at Curriculum Improvement through an Evaluation by External Experienced Childcare Workers

　本論は，保育現場における園のカリキュラム・マネジメントを活性化させるために，園外の保育経験者にカリキュラムの外部評価を依頼し，その評価内容と一連の評価方法について検討するものである。具体的には，地方政令市にあるA 保育園のカリキュラムを取り上げ，保育所保育士経験者及び幼稚園教諭経験者によって構成させる７名の外部評価者から，カリキュラムの評価を得た。その結果，外部評価者の勤務経験の違いを反映した，幅広い観点から，カリキュラムの評価できる点や問題点を確認することができた。カリキュラム改善の観点としては，「表記・表現の統一と分かりやすい様式の採用」「園の独自性や子どもの実態に即した計画の作成」「保健計画の作成」「PDCA サイクルによる再編成」「職員間での確認」の項目を明示することができた。カリキュラム改善の一方策として，保育経験者による外部評価に一定の有効性を確認した。　We commissioned external seven childcare workers with experience of early childhood education and care to evaluate the curriculum of a nursery school. Evaluation results reflected wide points of view based on the experiences of each evaluator. It was possible to specify the items of "unification of transcription and expression, and adoption of the plain style," "making of a plan in conformity with originality in facilities and the reality of the child," "making of a preservation of health plan," "reorganization by the PDCA cycle," and "confirmation between the staff" as factors related to curriculum improvement. The validity of the external evaluation by the childcare workers with experience was confirmed as a policy of curriculum improvement

A Myelin Galactolipid, Sulfatide, Is Essential for Maintenance of Ion Channels on Myelinated Axon But Not Essential for Initial Cluster Formation

Myelinated axons are divided into four distinct regions: the node of Ranvier, paranode, juxtaparanode, and internode, each of which is characterized by a specific set of axonal proteins. Voltage-gated N

Pyridoxal in the Cerebrospinal Fluid May Be a Better Indicator of Vitamin B6–dependent Epilepsy Than Pyridoxal 5′-Phosphate

Background We aimed to demonstrate the biochemical characteristics of vitamin B6–dependent epilepsy, with a particular focus on pyridoxal 5′-phosphate and pyridoxal in the cerebrospinal fluid. Methods Using our laboratory database, we identified patients with vitamin B6–dependent epilepsy and extracted their data on the concentrations of pyridoxal 5′-phosphate, pyridoxal, pipecolic acid, α-aminoadipic semialdehyde, and monoamine neurotransmitters. We compared the biochemical characteristics of these patients with those of other epilepsy patients with low pyridoxal 5′-phosphate concentrations. Results We identified seven patients with pyridoxine-dependent epilepsy caused by an ALDH7A1 gene abnormality, two patients with pyridoxal 5′-phosphate homeostasis protein deficiency, and 28 patients with other epilepsies with low cerebrospinal fluid pyridoxal 5′-phosphate concentrations. Cerebrospinal fluid pyridoxal and pyridoxal 5′-phosphate concentrations were low in patients with vitamin B6–dependent epilepsy but cerebrospinal fluid pyridoxal concentrations were not reduced in most patients with other epilepsies with low cerebrospinal fluid pyridoxal 5′-phosphate concentrations. Increase in 3-O-methyldopa and 5-hydroxytryptophan was demonstrated in some patients with vitamin B6–dependent epilepsy, suggestive of pyridoxal 5′-phosphate deficiency in the brain. Conclusions Low cerebrospinal fluid pyridoxal concentrations may be a better indicator of pyridoxal 5′-phosphate deficiency in the brain in vitamin B6–dependent epilepsy than low cerebrospinal fluid pyridoxal 5′-phosphate concentrations. This finding is especially helpful in individuals with suspected pyridoxal 5′-phosphate homeostasis protein deficiency, which does not have known biomarkers