〈研究論文〉OECD のキー・コンピテンシーの「理論的基礎」に関する一考察（2）: 「省察性」に焦点を当てて

In this paper, we focus on the “reflectiveness” of Key Competencies of the DeSeCo Project and examine its“theoretical foundations.”First, using the “Executive Summary” and the final report (2003) as materials, we summarize the significance and content of reflectiveness. Next, we examine the relationship between the three key competencies and reflectiveness by tracing the processes of discussion in the DeSeCo Project. Also, we clarify the actual situation of use of terminology from Country Reports. Then, we consider the theoretical foundations by　examining literature that indicate meaningful influence on the significance and content of reflectiveness.The results of the examination addressed in this paper are as follows.OECD’s key competencies have a theoretical framework of categories and levels. Categories include acting autonomously, using tools and interaction with others. Levels indicate required levels of competencies that meet the demands of contemporary society. And these levels are called reflectiveness. Key competencies are　formulated by these categories and levels. This implies two things. One is that reflectiveness is always a level, so it does not represent the contents of concrete competencies, and the other is that it can be represented as various competencies at the same time. It is for this reason that navigating in social spaces, handling differences　and contradictions, and taking responsibility are represented as examples of reflectiveness.　Also, by examining the processes of its formulation, it was revealed that initially, reflectiveness is a relationship that cannot be separated from “acting autonomously.” In other words, although reflectiveness was structured as a level, as an end result, that is, as it relates to all three categories, initially it is related to only one of the categories. As to what is appropriate as a label representing the level of competencies demanded by contemporary society, it was difficult to select terminology as it is termed “a reflective-integrated-holistic approach.” From the background of the formulation, the influence of Kegan is decisive, and therefore, it is considered likely that the “self-authoring stage” is likely to be chosen, however, this term is not common. It can be inferred that “reflection” used by both Canto-Sperber and Dupuy and Perrenoud was, in conclusion, the preferred term

Low-Temperature Characteristics of an AlN/Diamond Surface Acoustic Wave Resonator

Phonons confined in mechanical resonators can be coupled to a variety of quantum systems and are expected to be applied to hybrid quantum systems. Diamond surface acoustic wave (SAW) devices are capable of high efficiency in phonon interaction with color centers in diamond. The temperature dependence of the quality factor is crucial for inferring the governing mechanism of coupling efficiency between phonons and color centers in diamond. In this paper, we report on the temperature dependence of the quality factor of an AlN/diamond SAW device from room temperature to 5 K. The temperature dependence of the quality factor and resonant frequency suggests that the mechanism of SAW dissipation in the AlN/diamond SAW resonator at 5 GHz is the phonon-phonon scattering in the Akheiser region, and that further cooling can be expected to improve the quality factor. This result provides a crucial guideline for the future design of AlN/diamond SAW devices.Comment: 10 pages, 5 figure

Transgenic mouse lines expressing the 3xFLAG-dCas9 protein for enChIP analysis

Fujita, T, Kitaura, F, Oji, A, et al. Transgenic mouse lines expressing the 3xFLAG‐dCas9 protein for enChIP analysis. Genes Cells. 2018; 23: 318– 325. https://doi.org/10.1111/gtc.1257

Identification of a Regulatory T Cell Specific Cell Surface Molecule that Mediates Suppressive Signals and Induces Foxp3 Expression

Regulatory T (Treg) cells control immune activation and maintain tolerance. How Tregs mediate their suppressive function is unclear. Here we identified a cell surface molecule, called GARP, (or LRRC32), which within T cells is specifically expressed in Tregs activated through the T cell receptor (TCR). Ectopic expression of GARP in human naïve T (TN) cells inhibited their proliferation and cytokine secretion upon TCR activation. Remarkably, GARP over-expression in TN cells induced expression of Treg master transcription factor Foxp3 and endowed them with a partial suppressive function. The extracellular but not the cytoplasmic region of GARP, was necessary for these functions. Silencing Foxp3 in human Treg cells reduced expression of GARP and attenuated their suppressive function. However, GARP function was not affected when Foxp3 was downregulated in GARP-overexpressing cells, while silencing GARP in Foxp3-overexpressing cells reduced their suppressive activity. These findings reveal a novel cell surface molecule-mediated regulatory mechanism, with implications for modulating aberrant immune responses

サイセンタン ノ サンジゲン イメージング システム : シンゾウ ケッカン ゲカ ニオケル Virtual Reality ギジュツ ノ ユウヨウセイ

滋賀医科大学心臓血管外科では医療用画像を三次元構築し、臓器を立体表示するVirtual Reality (VR) 技術を用いて心臓血管系の3D解析研究を進めている。VRでは臓器の内腔を可視化することができ、また3D構築した画像に直接介入し、従来の2D解析では評価困難であった複雑な構造も術者の視点で直観的に計測できるという利点がある。あらゆる医療画像データを三次元化し, かつ直感的な立体計測が可能なVR技術は, これまでの診断精度を上回る形態学的な情報を臨床医に提示し得ると考えられる。特に外科医にとって有用な手術支援VR画像は, 難易度が高い手術の治療成績を向上させる可能性が高い。Adequate preoperative planning may facilitate successful procedures in cardiovascular surgery. We have newly developed a system the Vesalius 3D suite, combining three-dimensional (3D) image-processing software with an optic-tracking spatial navigation, allowing quick, accessible 3D image interpretation for virtual reality (VR) exploration and measurement of complex anatomy. In this review, we present a novel method of virtual imaging analysis for preoperative planning and simulation in cardiovascular operation using this 3D-VR system. Based on unimodal or multimodal medical imaging data, DICOM data sets can be reconstructed for 3D visualization. Virtually reconstructed images can be viewed on stereoscopic 3D display, revealing each patient’s specific anatomy and the internal structures in exquisite detail. Highly accessible 3D interpretation promptly permits precise and intuitive measurements of repair-relevant anatomical parameters including geometrically complex shapes. This technology may promote understanding of form and function in the cardiovascular system, and facilitate operative procedures in more challenging cases. Furthermore, this system can be especially valuable for any surgeon to gain experience in practicing for rarely-performed procedures or uncommon patient-specific preoperative surgical simulations

Nuclear translocation of 2-amino-3-ketobutyrate coenzyme A ligase by cold and osmotic stress

Cells are continuously exposed to environmental stresses and respond to them to maintain cellular homeostasis. Failure to respond to these stresses may cause pathological states such as renal failure, complications of diabetes, and autoimmune diseases. Signal transduction induced by osmotic and cold stresses is not fully understood. In addition, mechanisms of these stress responses are yet to be elucidated. Activation of many signaling pathways induces translocation of proteins into the nucleus to transduce signals and regulate nuclear functions. By using inducible translocation trap (ITT), a reporter gene–based screening technique, nuclear translocation of 2-amino-3-ketobutyrate coenzyme A ligase (KBL) was detected in response to cold and osmotic stresses. Rapid nuclear translocation of KBL was confirmed by biochemical analysis and fluorescent microscopy. A large region of KBL was required for stress-induced nuclear translocation. The KBL reporter system will be a useful tool for the investigation of cold and osmotic stress responses

Applications of Engineered DNA-Binding Molecules Such as TAL Proteins and the CRISPR/Cas System in Biology Research

Engineered DNA-binding molecules such as transcription activator-like effector (TAL or TALE) proteins and the clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR) and CRISPR-associated proteins (Cas) (CRISPR/Cas) system have been used extensively for genome editing in cells of various types and species. The sequence-specific DNA-binding activities of these engineered DNA-binding molecules can also be utilized for other purposes, such as transcriptional activation, transcriptional repression, chromatin modification, visualization of genomic regions, and isolation of chromatin in a locus-specific manner. In this review, we describe applications of these engineered DNA-binding molecules for biological purposes other than genome editing

Direct identification of insulator components by insertional chromatin immunoprecipitation.

Comprehensive understanding of mechanisms of epigenetic regulation requires identification of molecules bound to genomic regions of interest in vivo. However, non-biased methods to identify molecules bound to specific genomic loci in vivo are limited. Here, we applied insertional chromatin immunoprecipitation (iChIP) to direct identification of components of insulator complexes, which function as boundaries of chromatin domain. We found that the chicken β-globin HS4 (cHS4) insulator complex contains an RNA helicase protein, p68/DDX5; an RNA species, steroid receptor RNA activator 1; and a nuclear matrix protein, Matrin-3, in vivo. Binding of p68 and Matrin-3 to the cHS4 insulator core sequence was mediated by CCCTC-binding factor (CTCF). Thus, our results showed that it is feasible to directly identify proteins and RNA bound to a specific genomic region in vivo by using iChIP