深海に生息する好圧性微生物における酵素の高水圧環境下への適応戦略と環境問題への応用

深海という環境は、恒常的な高水圧・低温といった極限環境にさらされた世界である。また、全海洋底に拡がっているプレート境界域には、熱水活動が繰り広げられており、水圧の影響により400℃を超える熱水の噴出が起こっている。そうした極限世界にも、現場環境に適応した実に多様な生物の世界が拡がっている。 　こうした深海世界には、高水圧下に適応した「好圧性微生物」が存在すると信じられてきており、その存在は、1979年、Yayanosらにより分離・培養され、証明された1)。その後、1990年に我が国の海洋科学技術センター(現、海洋研究開発機構)において、深海環境プログラム(DEEPSTAR計画)が組織されると、その知見は爆発的に拡がっていった2)。しかしながら、多様な「好圧性微生物」の世界が明らかになるに従い、いくつかの疑問が生じた。「なぜ、好圧菌は高圧下でよく生育できるのか？その分子生物学的なメカニズムは陸上微生物と比較してどこが違うのか？」、更には「好圧菌って役に立つの？」といった質問が投げかけられるようになった。 　本報告では、こうした疑問点に答えるために私たちの研究の現状を紹介し、未開拓の微生物資源でもある、深海微生物の隠された能力について解説する。発表要旨, 日本農芸化学会2013年度第1回関東支部例会（2013年7月6日, 東京農業大学世田谷キャンパス

Pressure Effects on the Chimeric 3-Isopropylmalate Dehydrogenases of the Deep-Sea Piezophilic Shewanella benthica and the Atmospheric Pressure-Adapted Shewanella oneidensis

The chimeric 3-isopropylmalate dehydrogenase enzymes were constructed from the deep-sea piezophilic Shewanella benthica and the shallow water Shewanella oneidensis genes. The properties of the enzymatic activities under pressure conditions indicated that the central region, which contained the active center and the dimer forming domains, was shown to be the most important region for pressure tolerance in the deep-sea enzyme

Antiwar protest in post-9.11 Japan, 2001-2004

Thesis (M.A.)--University of Hawaii at Manoa, 2008.Includes bibliographical references (leaves 104-110).ix, 110 leaves, bound 29 cmThis thesis used Asahi newspaper data for a protest event analysis of antiwar protest in post-9.11 Japan. Although the post-9.11 conflicts were wars by other COWltries in faraway places, the global anti-Iraq War campaign triggered substantial protest activity in Japan. By collecting protest event data from September 2001 to August 2004 using two keywords, "antiwar" and "Iraq War," the study was able to examine the broader context of protest activity and the interplay between protest issues. Post-9.l1 antiwar protests in Japan were framed and mobilized through a combination of domestic and international issues. Preexisting antiwar and anti-nuclear movements influenced anti-Iraq War protest by providing frames, resources, and opportunities for mobilization. At the same time, the anti-Iraq War campaign stimulated domestic political concerns relate to Japan's participation in the Iraq War. The protesters created some new cultur8I forms of protest in addition to conventional forms

The Role of Atoh1 in Mucous Cell Metaplasia

A key issue in otitis media is mucous cell metaplasia which is responsible for mucous hypersecretion and persistence of the disease. However, little is known about the molecular mechanisms of mucous cell metaplasia in otitis media. Numerous studies of intestinal epithelial homeostasis have shown that Atonal homolog 1 (Atoh1), a basic helix-loop-helix (bHLH) transcription factor, is essential for the intestinal goblet cell differentiation. On the other hand, SAM-pointed domain-containing Ets transcription factor (SPDEF), a member of the “Ets” transcription factor family, has been reported to trigger the mucous cell metaplasia of pulmonary infectious diseases or athsma. Recent studies have demonstrated the relation of these factors, that is, Spdef functions downstream of Atoh1. We could take the adventages of these findings for the study of otitis media because both middle ear and pulmonary epithelia belong to the same respiratory tract. Atoh1 and SPDEF could be the therapeutic targets for otitis media associated with mucous cell metaplasia which is frequently considered “intractable” in the clinical settings

Factors associated with postpartum depression among women in Vientiane Capital, Lao People's Democratic Republic: A cross-sectional study.

Postpartum depression is a worldwide public health concern. The prevalence of postpartum depression is reported to be greater in developing countries than in developed countries. However, to the best of our knowledge, no papers on postpartum depression in the Lao People's Democratic Republic have been published. In order to strengthen maternal and child health, the current situation of postpartum depression should be understood. This study aims to determine the prevalence of postpartum depression and identify factors associated with postpartum depression in Vientiane Capital, Lao People's Democratic Republic. Study participants were 428 women 6-8 weeks postpartum who visited four central hospitals in Vientiane Capital for postnatal care from July to August 2019. Structured questionnaires were used to collect socio-demographic, obstetrical and infant, and psychiatric data about the women and their partners. The Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) was used to identify suspected cases of postpartum depression with the cut-off score of 9/10. Multivariable logistic regression was used to examine independent factors that were associated with suspected postpartum depression (EPDS ≥10). The mean age of the 428 women was 28.1 years, and the prevalence of suspected postpartum depression was 31.8%. Multivariable logistic regression using variables that were statistically significant on bivariate analyses indicated that three variables were associated with suspected postpartum depression: unintended pregnancy (AOR = 1.66, 95% CI 1.00-2.73, P = 0.049), low birth satisfaction (AOR = 1.85, 95% CI 1.00-3.43, P = 0.049), and depression during pregnancy (AOR = 3.99, 95% CI 2.35-6.77, P <0.001). In this study, unintended pregnancy, low birth satisfaction, and depression during pregnancy were independent risk factors for postpartum depression. These results suggest that the mental health of pregnant women should be monitored, and that health care services, especially family planning and supportive birth care, should be strengthened to prevent postpartum depression