Nap patterns of children in kindergartens and childcare transit facility: a study in northern Peninsular Malaysia

Objective: The purpose of this study was to compare the duration of sleep and nap patterns between children in private kindergartens and those in a tabika-transit facility, in Malaysia. Methods: The sleep duration of children aged 3-6, who attended either a kindergarten or a childcare transit facility (tabika-transit in Malay) was investigated. Observational sleeping records were maintained for 24 hours, over 14 consecutive days. A self-administered questionnaire for caregivers investigated the children’s lifestyles. Naps were optional at kindergartens but mandatory at the tabika-transit. Results: Of 35 participating children, data from 33 were analyzed. All respondents belonged to the Malay ethnicity, with 16 boys (48.5%) and 17 girls (51.5%). The average age of the children was 5.4 years; 11 of them were from kindergartens and 22 from a tabika-transit. The children slept longer and woke up later on weekends than on weekdays. There was a significant difference in the naptaking rate between the two groups; it was 100% in the tabika-transit, and 30% in the kindergartens during weekdays. However, on weekends, 19 of 22 tabika- transit children did not nap on any of the days (86.4%). The kindergarten group’s naps showed no outstanding differences between weekdays and weekends. Concerning the bedtime and wake-up times, no differences were found between the two groups. Discussion: During weekdays, all children in the tabika-transit took naps, whereas one-third of them did in the kindergartens. Larger study is needed to assess how this mandatory napping style affects children’s lifestyle and development

Efficient derivation and banking of clinical-grade human embryonic stem cell lines in accordance with Japanese regulations

[Introduction] We recently established clinical-grade human embryonic stem cell (hESC) line KthES11 in accordance with current good manufacturing practice standards in Japan. Despite this success, the establishment efficiency was very low at 7.1% in the first period. [Methods] To establish clinical-grade hESC lines, we used xeno-free chemically defined medium StemFit AK03N with the LM-E8 fragments instead of feeder cells. The protocol was then optimized, especially in the early culture phase. [Results] We established five hESC lines (KthES12, KthES13, KthES14, KthES15, and KthES16) with 45.5% efficiency. All five hESC lines showed typical hESC-like morphology, a normal karyotype, pluripotent state, and differentiation potential for all three germ layers. Furthermore, we developed efficient procedures to prepare master cell stocks for clinical-grade hESC lines and an efficient strategy for quality control testing. [Conclusions] Our master cell stocks of hESC lines may contribute to therapeutic applications using human pluripotent stem cells in Japan and other countries

Curriculum Development to Promote the Ability to Live in Society-Social and Vocational Independence through a Special Support Class at Junior High School

グロール化が一層進行するこれからの社会において，将来の就労を含む生活に向けた生活力の育成を目指し，教科「職業・家庭」に新たに社会生活に関する内容を加味した，教科「キャリアマネジメント」を教育課程に位置づけ，カリキュラム開発を行っている。評価の４観とキャリア教育における４つの基礎的・汎用的能力を用いた評価によって生徒の変容を見取り授業評価を行うことで，カリキュラムについて検討した結果，生徒や保護者，教員に対して一定の効果があった。今後は，学習過程とそれによって身につく資質・能力について整理することが課題である。With the ongoing globalization in society, it is necessary to develop a new type of curriculum to prepare today's students for their future lives, especially their careers. TI1e curriculum developed in this study places an emphasis on vocation and home life, and it includes a new subject-Career Management-which deals with social life. The lessons in each unit for this subject were evaluated using reference criteria and in terms of four career abilities. From these results, adjustments were made to the lesson content, and the effect of the new curriculum was measured. The curriculum was found to be effective for students, their parents, and teachers. It will be necessary in a future study to examine ways of developing the associated learning process and assess its effects with regard to promoting competencies

Low Surface Potential with Glycoconjugates Determines Insect Cell Adhesion at Room Temperature

Cell-coupled field-effect transistor (FET) biosensors have attracted considerable attention because of their high sensitivity to biomolecules. The use of insect cells (Sf21) as a core sensor element is advantageous due to their stable adhesion to sensors at room temperature. Although visualization of the insect cell-substrate interface leads to logical amplification of signals, the spatiotemporal processes at the interfaces have not yet been elucidated. We quantitatively monitored the adhesion dynamics of Sf21 using interference reflection microscopy (IRM). Specific adhesion signatures with ring-like patches along the cellular periphery were detected. A combination of zeta potential measurements and lectin staining identified specific glycoconjugates with low electrostatic potentials. The ring-like structures were disrupted after cholesterol depletion, suggesting a raft domain along the cell periphery. Our results indicate dynamic and asymmetric cell adhesion is due to low electrostatic repulsion with fluidic sugar rafts. We envision the logical design of cell-sensor interfaces with an electrical model that accounts for actual adhesion interfaces.Matsuzaki T., Terutsuki D., Sato S., et al. Low Surface Potential with Glycoconjugates Determines Insect Cell Adhesion at Room Temperature. Journal of Physical Chemistry Letters 2022 13(40), 9494-9500. DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpclett.2c01673. Copyright © 2022 American Chemical Society

Christopher Simpson The Division-Viol, or The Art of PLAYING Ex tempore upon a GROUND. EDITIO SECVNDA Part III "The Method of ordering Division to a Ground" (1)

本訳稿はChristopher Simpson (1605頃－1669) 著 The Division-Viol, or, The Art of PLAYING Ex tempore upon a GROUND. DIVIDED INTO THREE PARTS. EDITIO SECVNDA, London, 1665 のPart III "The Method of ordering Division to a Ground" より§1～§6(pp.27-40)の全訳である

Enhancing Optical Up-Conversion Through Electrodynamic Coupling with Ancillary Chromophores

In lanthanide-based optical materials, control over the relevant operating characteristics–for example transmission wavelength, phase and quantum efficiency–is generally achieved through the modification of parameters such as dopant/host combination, chromophore concentration and lattice structure. An alternative avenue for the control of optical response is through the introduction of secondary, codoped chromophores. Here, such secondary centers act as mediators, commonly bridging the transfer of energy between primary absorbers of externally sourced optical input and other sites of frequency-converted emission. Utilizing theoretical models based on experimentally feasible, three-dimensional crystal lattice structures; a fully quantized theoretical framework provides insights into the locally modified mechanisms that can be implemented within such systems. This leads to a discussion of how such effects might be deployed to either enhance, or potentially diminish, the efficiency of frequency up-conversion

Ectopic endometrium in human foetuses is a common event and sustains the theory of müllerianosis in the pathogenesis of endometriosis, a disease that predisposes to cancer

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Endometriosis is a gynecological disease defined by the histological presence of endometrial glands and stroma outside the uterine cavity. Women with endometriosis have an increased risk of different types of malignancies, especially ovarian cancer and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. Though there are several theories, researchers remain unsure as to the definitive cause of endometriosis. Our objective was to test the validity of the theory of müllerianosis for endometriosis, that is the misplacing of primitive endometrial tissue along the migratory pathway of foetal organogenesis</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>We have collected at autopsy 36 human female foetuses at different gestational age. We have performed a morphological and immunohistochemical study (expression of oestrogen receptor and CA125) on the pelvic organs of the 36 foetuses included en-block and totally analyzed.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>In 4 out of 36 foetuses we found presence of misplaced endometrium in five different ectopic sites: in the recto-vaginal septum, in the proximity of the Douglas pouch, in the mesenchimal tissue close to the posterior wall of the uterus, in the rectal tube at the level of muscularis propria, and in the wall of the uterus. All these sites are common location of endometriosis in women.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>We propose that a cause of endometriosis is the dislocation of primitive endometrial tissue outside the uterine cavity during organogenesis.</p

MafB is a critical regulator of complement component C1q

The transcription factor MafB is expressed by monocytes and macrophages. Efferocytosis (apoptotic cell uptake) by macrophages is important for inhibiting the development of autoimmune diseases, and is greatly reduced in Mafb-deficient macrophages. Here, we show the expression of the first protein in the classical complement pathway C1q is important for mediating efferocytosis and is reduced in Mafb-deficient macrophages. The efferocytosis defect in Mafb-deficient macrophages can be rescued by adding serum from wild-type mice, but not by adding serum from C1q-deficient mice. By hemolysis assay we also show that activation of the classical complement pathway is decreased in Mafb-deficient mice. In addition, MafB overexpression induces C1q-dependent gene expression and signals that induce C1q genes are less effective in the absence of MafB. We also show that Mafb-deficiency can increase glomerular autoimmunity, including anti-nuclear antibody deposition. These results show that MafB is an important regulator of C1q

On the top of ARB N/L type Ca channel blocker leads to less elevation of aldosterone

Synopsis The activation of the renin-angiotensin system (RAS) is one of the unfavourable characteristics of calcium channel blocker (CCB). N type calcium channel is thought to be involved in renin gene transcription and adrenal aldosterone release. Accordingly, N/L type CCB has a possibility of less elevation of plasma aldosterone concentrations (PAC) among CCBs. In a monotherapy study, we had already demonstrated that N/L type CCB leads to less activation of the RAS compared with L type CCB. The objective of this study is to substantiate the hypothesis that at the condition of additive administration on the top of an angiotensin receptor blocker (ARB), still N/L type CCB leads to less elevation of PAC compared with L type one. Subjects were 60 hypertensives administered with valsartan. As an open label study, amlodipine (L type) or cilnidipine (N/L type) were administered on the top of valsartan (ARB) in a cross-over manner. Results were as follows (valsartan + amlodipine compared with valsartan + cilnidipine): systolic blood pressure (SBP)/diastolic blood pressure (DBP) (mmHg): 132 + − 10/76 + − 10 compared with 131 + − 10/77 + − 9, P = 0.95/0.48, plasma renin activity (PRA) (ng/ml·h): 2.41 + − 2.67 compared with 2.00 + − 1.50 P = 0.20, PAC (pg/ml): 77.3 + − 31.0 compared with 67.4 + − 24.8, P &lt; 0.05, urinary albumin excretion (UAE) (mg/gCr): 105.9 + − 216.1 compared with 73.9 + − 122.2, P &lt; 0.05. Thus, PAC at cilnidipine was significantly lower than those at amlodipine in spite of the comparable BP reductions. Besides, UAE was significantly lower at cilnidipine. In conclusion, on the top of the ARB, it is suggested that cilnidipine administration might lead to less elevation of PAC and reduction in UAE compared with amlodipine