Molecular Evolutionary Analysis of the Influenza A(H1N1)pdm, May–September, 2009: Temporal and Spatial Spreading Profile of the Viruses in Japan

BACKGROUND: In March 2009, pandemic influenza A(H1N1) (A(H1N1)pdm) emerged in Mexico and the United States. In Japan, since the first outbreak of A(H1N1)pdm in Osaka and Hyogo Prefectures occurred in the middle of May 2009, the virus had spread over 16 of 47 prefectures as of June 4, 2009. METHODS/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: We analyzed all-segment concatenated genome sequences of 75 isolates of A(H1N1)pdm viruses in Japan, and compared them with 163 full-genome sequences in the world. Two analyzing methods, distance-based and Bayesian coalescent MCMC inferences were adopted to elucidate an evolutionary relationship of the viruses in the world and Japan. Regardless of the method, the viruses in the world were classified into four distinct clusters with a few exceptions. Cluster 1 was originated earlier than cluster 2, while cluster 2 was more widely spread around the world. The other two clusters (clusters 1.2 and 1.3) were suggested to be distinct reassortants with different types of segment assortments. The viruses in Japan seemed to be a multiple origin, which were derived from approximately 28 transported cases. Twelve cases were associated with monophyletic groups consisting of Japanese viruses, which were referred to as micro-clade. While most of the micro-clades belonged to the cluster 2, the clade of the first cases of infection in Japan originated from cluster 1.2. Micro-clades of Osaka/Kobe and the Fukuoka cases, both of which were school-wide outbreaks, were eradicated. Time of most recent common ancestor (tMRCA) for each micro-clade demonstrated that some distinct viruses were transmitted in Japan between late May and early June, 2009, and appeared to spread nation-wide throughout summer. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that many viruses were transmitted from abroad in late May 2009 irrespective of preventive actions against the pandemic influenza, and that the influenza A(H1N1)pdm had become a pandemic stage in June 2009 in Japan

Possibility of demonstrating agency aiming at well-being in the curriculum by linking social education and home education :From the consideration of the learning connection between a junior high school student's experiential activities and "the Period of Integrate Study"

本研究の目的は、現行日本の学校カリキュラムで設定されている「総合的な学習の時間」の目標であり、育成を目指している「自己の生き方を考えていくための資質・能力(CSM:Competency of Self-Management)」をもとにしたエージェンシーが実際に発揮されていく可能性をある中学生の体験事例をもとに探ることである。 本事例の考察の結果、社会教育、家庭教育、学校教育の果たす教育的役割の発揮と子どもの学びを円滑にする三者の連携によって、CSMをもとにしたエージェンシーが発揮されていく可能性が示唆された。The purpose of this research is to meet the goal of " the Period of Integrate Study " set in the current Japanese school curriculum, and to cultivate "qualities and abilities for thinking about way of life.This paper is to explore the experience of junior high school students who have the possibility that agency based on (CSM: "Competency of Self-Management") will actually be demonstrated. As a result of consideration, it is possible that an agency based on CSM will be demonstrated through cooperation between social education, home education, and school education and cooperation between three parties that facilitate children's learning was suggested.departmental bulletin pape

Possibility of regional revitalization through children's after-school support : From the perspective of after-school cooperation with regional community

本稿の目的は, 子どもの放課後の学習支援による地域創生の可能性を検討することである。 ある事例を考察した結果，地域創生のための子どもの放課後の学習支援を行うには，子どもの学びの多様性を保障し，子どもが自身の将来の夢に向かうための仕組みをつくることが示唆された。その仕組みには，子どもを支援する地域の大人にとっても得られるものがあり，子どもと大人双方にとってWIN-WINの関係が存在することがわかった。放課後，子どもへの積極的な学習支援によって，子どもの力が育まれることと同時に，地域の活性化のため子どもを支援する大人たちにとっても自身の得意なことを発揮できる場が放課後の学習支援には存在した。The purpose of this paper is to examine the possibility of community revitalization through afterschool learning support for children. As a result of considering a certain case, in order to support children's after-school learning for regional revitalization, it is necessary to guarantee the diversity of children's learning and create a mechanism for children to pursue their own dreams for the future was suggested. It was found that there was something to be gained by the adults in the community who support the children, and that there was a win-win relationship for both children and adults.departmental bulletin pape

Beneficial Effects of Estrogen in a Mouse Model of Cerebrovascular Insufficiency

BACKGROUND: The M(5) muscarinic acetylcholine receptor is known to play a crucial role in mediating acetylcholine dependent dilation of cerebral blood vessels. Previously, we reported that male M(5) muscarinic acetylcholine knockout mice (M5R(-/-) mice) suffer from a constitutive constriction of cerebral arteries, reduced cerebral blood flow, dendritic atrophy, and short-term memory loss, without necrosis and/or inflammation in the brain. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: We employed the Magnetic Resonance Angiography to study the area of the basilar artery in male and female M5R(-/-) mice. Here we show that female M5R(-/-) mice did not show the reduction in vascular area observed in male M5R(-/-) mice. However, ovariectomized female M5R(-/-) mice displayed phenotypic changes similar to male M5R(-/-) mice, strongly suggesting that estrogen plays a key role in the observed gender differences. We found that 17beta-estradiol (E2) induced nitric oxide release and ERK activation in a conditional immortalized mouse brain cerebrovascular endothelial cell line. Agonists of ERalpha, ERbeta, and GPR30 promoted ERK activation in this cell line. Moreover, in vivo magnetic resonance imaging studies showed that the cross section of the basilar artery was restored to normal in male M5R(-/-) mice treated with E2. Treatment with E2 also improved the performance of male M5R(-/-) mice in a cognitive test and reduced the atrophy of neural dendrites in the cerebral cortex and hippocampus. M5R(-/-) mice also showed astrocyte swelling in cortex and hippocampus using the three-dimensional reconstruction of electron microscope images. This phenotype was reversed by E2 treatment, similar to the observed deficits in dendrite morphology and the number of synapses. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: Our findings indicate that M5R(-/-) mice represent an excellent novel model system to study the beneficial effects of estrogen on cerebrovascular function and cognition. E2 may offer new therapeutic perspectives for the treatment of cerebrovascular insufficiency related memory dysfunction

Stereotactic Radiosurgery for Lung Cancer with a Risk-Adapted Strategy Using the Volumetric Modulated Arc Therapy Technique: A Single Arm Phase II Study

Purpose: A phase II study carried out to assess the efficacy of a risk-adapted strategy of stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) for lung cancer. The primary endpoint was 3-year local recurrence, and the secondary endpoints were overall survival (OS), disease-free survival (DFS), rate of start of systemic therapy or best supportive care (SST-BSC), and toxicity. Materials and Methods: Eligible patients fulfilled the following criteria: performance status of 2 or less, forced expiratory volume in 1 s of 700 mL or more, and tumor not located in central or attached to the chest wall. Twenty-eight Gy was prescribed for primary lung cancers with diameters of 3 cm or less and 30 Gy was prescribed for primary lung cancers with diameters of 3.1–5.0 cm or solitary metastatic lung cancer diameters of 5 cm or less. Results: Twenty-one patients were analyzed. The patients included 7 patients with adenocarcinoma, 2 patients with squamous cell carcinoma, 1 patient with metastasis, and 11 patients with clinical diagnosis. The median tumor diameter was 1.9 cm. SRS was prescribed at 28 Gy for 18 tumors and 30 Gy for 3 tumors. During the median follow-up period of 38.9 months for survivors, 1 patient had local recurrence, 7 patients had regional or distant metastasis, and 5 patients died. The 3-year local recurrence, SST-BSC, DFS, and OS rates were 5.3% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.3–22.2%), 20.1% (95% CI: 6.0–40.2%), 59.2% (95% CI: 34.4–77.3%), and 78.2% (95% CI: 51.4–91.3%), respectively. The 95% CI upper value of local recurrence was lower than the null local recurrence probability. There was no severe toxicity, and grade 2 radiation pneumonitis occurred in 1 patient. Conclusions: Patients who received SRS for lung cancer had a low rate of 3-year local recurrence and tolerable toxicity