An Analysis of Inquiries to the International Students Advisory Office at Okayama University from Organizations/Individuals Outside the University

　　In this paper, the authors examine the reasons why outsiders such as the staff of public and private sector organizations as well as individuals made contact with the International Students Advisory Office（ ISAO） at Okayama University during the period from November 1999 to March 201₇. At ISAO 80% of the visitors are the students, staff and faculty of Okayama University, and the rest, 20%, are non-university people. Because of its name, people assume that ISAO visitors are only university-related people. However, advising and supporting international students cannot be done only on-campus, but also requires support and help from people outside of the university. The purpose of this paper is to focus on this 20% of ISAO visitors and to analyze the reasons for and frequencies of their inquiries. 　A total number of ₆,808 queries were made from outside the campus during the 1₇ year and ₅ month period under study. ₇8% of these were from Japanese and 22% were from foreigners. ₇₆% were residents of Okayama Prefecture. 　As for their affiliation, ₃9% were individuals; 20%, the staff of educational institutions; 18%, NPO’s and other private groups; 1₇%, government officials; ₆%, company workers and managers. As for the reasons for contacting the office, the majority, ₅1%, were related to exchange/support; while 2₇%, daily life-related matters; 8%, information exchange with other students advisors; ₆%, study-related matters; and ₅%, university admission related. 　In the discussion, the authors examine the inquiries by other universities, foreign governments and mass media, and analyze their meaning and characteristics. The authors also point out the typical problems pertaining to“ cultural exchanges” with schools. Finally, they look at issues related to the alumni and alumna who return as continuous users of ISAO

Free amino acid content in infant formulas

Purpose – Infant formula is the sole nutrition and food source for many infants. Information on the free amino acid (FAA) content of formulas, particularly those that are protein hydrolysate based, is limited, despite emerging evidence for the role of FAAs in regulating eating behaviour. The purpose of this paper is to measure levels of essential, semi‐essential, and nonessential FAAs in commercially available infant formulas to provide a foundation for future research examining the influence of FAAs on infant development. Design/methodology/approach – Using an automatic amino acid analyzer, we measured the concentrations of FAAs in four types of formula: two cow milk (CMF); three soy protein (SPF); and three protein hydrolysate (PHF), one of which was a partial hydrolysate (pPHF) and two of which were extensive hydrolysate (ePHF). Findings – It was found that the amount and number of FAAs varied significantly across formula types: for CMF, total FAAs ranged from 523‐864 μmol/L, with taurine being the most prominent; SPF, 1933‐2450, methionine; pPHF, 2329, taurine; and ePHF, 80375‐85445, leucine. ePHF had the highest levels and the most diversified profiles of FAAs. Research limitations/implications – Striking discrepancies exist for FAA profiles of infant formulas. Comparison of these data to published psychophysical data on the taste qualities of individual FAAs provides insights into the unique flavor profiles of infant formulas. Overall, the data from this study provide a necessary foundation for future research examining the influence of FAAs in formulas on infant growth and development. Originality/value – Published data on the FAA content of PHF is limited, despite their increased availability and use. This research is the first to report the FAA content of partial and extensive PHF, and to compare these values to CMF and SPF

The Current Situation and the Issues Concerning Tutoring for International Students by WAWA Volunteer Tutors : Based on the Results of the Questionnaire for Volunteer Tutors

Uzuka and Oka （2016） studied the result of the questionnaire for international students who had tutorials by International Student Support Volunteer Group, WAWA during the period from April 2007 to March 2015 and clarified some issues such as the necessity of regular tutoring, demand to accommodate a wide variety of situations, enhancing the quality of volunteer tutors and so on. Meanwhile, a questionnaire survey for volunteer tutors was also conducted. In this paper, the authors examine the situation and the issues of tutoring for international students based on the results of this tutor survey. 　A total of 113 volunteer tutors （a response rate 77.9%） responded to the survey. Research has found that periodicity, frequency and the number of items covered by tutoring are the three factors that are related to tutor satisfaction. Authors recognize statistical difficulties that there can be a mutual influence relationship among the three factors and the satisfaction of the tutors and the data used in this study are irregular repeated measurements. Based on these points of consideration, the results of this survey targeting tutors revealed that the satisfaction level of tutors who conducted periodic tutoring was significantly higher than those who did not. In addition, it was confirmed that the degree of satisfaction of tutors with more frequent tutoring was significantly higher than those with less frequent one and the satisfaction of tutors who accommodated more items was significantly higher than those who did less. Therefore, the result shows that it is the most important tasks for WAWA staff and advising teachers to build a tutoring system that can conduct periodic tutoring which offer multiple services including various living support along with Japanese language learning support at least once a week for four months

Centromere/kinetochore is assembled through CENP-C oligomerization

Kinetochore is an essential protein complex required for accurate chromosome segregation. The constitutive centromere-associated network (CCAN), a subcomplex of the kinetochore, associates with centromeric chromatin and provides a platform for the kinetochore assembly. The CCAN protein CENP-C is thought to be a central hub for the centromere/kinetochore organization. However, the role of CENP-C in CCAN assembly needs to be elucidated. Here, we demonstrate that both the CCAN-binding domain and the C-terminal region that includes the Cupin domain of CENP-C are necessary and sufficient for chicken CENP-C function. Structural and biochemical analyses reveal self-oligomerization of the Cupin domains of chicken and human CENP-C. We find that the CENP-C Cupin domain oligomerization is vital for CENP-C function, centromeric localization of CCAN, and centromeric chromatin organization. These results suggest that CENP-C facilitates the centromere/kinetochore assembly through its oligomerization.Hara M., Ariyoshi M., Sano T., et al. Centromere/kinetochore is assembled through CENP-C oligomerization. Molecular Cell 83, 2188 (2023); https://doi.org/10.1016/j.molcel.2023.05.023

A Case of Androgen Receptor-positive Triple Negative Breast Cancer with Good Response to Anti-androgen Therapy

Anti-androgen therapy has been proposed to be effective in the treatment of androgen receptor (AR)-positive triple negative breast cancer (TNBC). Herein, we report on the case of a 91-year-old female patient with AR-positive TNBC who underwent anti-androgen therapy and had a good response. Because of dementia, the patient lives in an aged care facility. It was here that a staff member noticed a mass with a rash on the patient\u27s breast. Consequently, the patient was sent for further examination. Ultrasonography revealed an irregularly shaped, indistinct hypoechoic mass measuring 19×18×9mm located in the upper outer quadrant of the left breast. Core needle biopsy (CNB) was performed and the mass was diagnosed as apocrine carcinoma. Further immunohistochemical analysis showed that the mass was AR-positive TNBC. Anti-androgen therapy was determined to be the optimal treatment option for this patient. The Institutional Review Board approval the off-label use of an anti-androgen for the treatment of this patient, who was subsequently treated with the anti-androgen flutamide. After 8 months, the size of the tumor had reduced to 15×9×5mm

Mating Aggregation in the Japanese Treefrog, Rhacophorus arboreus (Anura: Rhacophoridae): a Test of Cooperation Hypothesis

Volume: 4Start Page: 693End Page: 69