OCEANOGRAPHIC DATA OF THE 23RD JAPANESE ANTARCTIC RESEARCH EXPEDITION FROM NOVEMBER 1981 TO APRIL 1982

This report presents the data of the oceanographic observations made on board the icebreaker Fuji and the tidal observation at Syowa Station, which were carried out in the summer mission of the 23rd Japanese Antarctic Research Expedition in 1981-1982

Xenoantigen, an αGal epitope-expression construct driven by the hTERT-promoter, specifically kills human pancreatic cancer cell line

BACKGROUND: We previously reported the usefulness of the αGal epitope as a target molecule for gene therapy against cancer. To induce cancer cell specific transcription of the αGal epitope, an expression vector which synthesizes the αGal epitope under the control of a promoter region of the human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT), NK7, was constructed. METHODS: NK7 was transfected into a human pancreatic carcinoma cell line, MIA cells, and telomerase-negative SUSM-1 cells served controls. Expression of the αGal epitope was confirmed by flow cytometry using IB4 lectin. The susceptibility of transfected MIA cells to human natural antibodies, was examined using a complement-dependent cytotoxic cross-match test (CDC) and a flow cytometry using annexin V. RESULTS: The αGal epitope expression was detected only on the cell surfaces of NK7-transfected MIA cells, i.e., not on naive MIA cells or telomerase negative SUSM-1 cells. The CDC results indicated that MIA cells transfected with NK7 are susceptible to human natural antibody-mediated cell killing, and the differences, as compared to NK-7 transfected telomerase negative SUSM-1 cells or telomerase positive naïve MIA cells, were statistically significant. The flow cytometry using annexin V showed a higher number of the apoptotic cells in NK-7 transfected MIA cells than in naïve MIA cells. CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that αGal epitope-expression, under the control of the hTERT-promoter, may be useful in cancer specific gene therapy

平和モニュメントと復興

現代平和構築活動の視点から見た広島の戦後復興

Peace Monuments and Reconstruction

SHINODA Hideaki(eds.) : Post-war Reconstruction of Hiroshima: From the Perspective of Contemporary Peacebuildin

Sea gravity measurements in the Antarctic regions during the 22nd and 23rd Japanese Antarctic Research Expeditions

Sea gravity measurements on board the icebreaker FUJI in the Antarctic regions were conducted in the 23rd Japanese Antarctic Research Expedition (JARE-23). They are the second intensive measurements following the work of JARE-22. Cruise tracks of JARE -22 and -23 have some crossing points in the Antarctic regions. Gravity data at the crossing points were used to calibrate outputs of the sea gravity meter NIPRORI. The icebreaker FUJI entered Amundsen Bay for the first time during the cruise of JARE -23. Detailed sea gravity survey in the bay revealed a significant, local free-air gravity low down to -70 mgal in the area

Toward a Better Understanding of Multiparty Mediation in International Relations

Peacemaking in contemporary violent conflict tends to involve a myriad of third-party actors of various kinds, including states, international and regional intergovernmental organizations, and non-governmental organizations. The past experiences of such "multiparty mediation" in many conflict situations have shown that interconnections between individual third-party initiatives significantly affect the overall effectiveness of the mediation process. Indeed, much of scholarly attention has been devoted to the issue of how the involvement of multiple external actors can be managed and turned into assets, not liabilities, for international peacemaking. This article is an attempt to put the accumulated body of literature in perspective and highlight concepts and issues to be addressed to improve a conceptual understanding and practical efficacy of multiparty mediation efforts