ニホンゴ ノ オンドク ニ オイテ ガクシュウシャ ハ ドノヨウニ ポーズ ヲ オクカ : エイゴ ・ フランスゴ ・ チュウゴクゴ ・ カンコクゴ ヲ ボゴ ト スル ガクシュウシャ ト ニホンゴ ボゴ ワシャ ノ ヒカク

本研究では、英語・フランス語・中国語・韓国語を母語とする学習者の音読、および日本語母語話者の音読を資料として、学習者と母語話者ではポーズのパターンが異なるか、学習者の母語によって差があるかを検討した。その結果、学習者間で母語による差はみられなかったが、 母語話者との比較から、(1)学習者は、母語話者より発話節が短い。(2)左枝分れ境界で、学習者は母語話者よりポーズの頻度が高い。(3)母語話者は文節中にポーズを置かないが、学習者は文節中にポーズを置く場合がある。(4)母語話者は文末に必ずポーズを置くが、学習者には文末のポーズの欠落がみられる。(5)学習者の文末のポーズは、母語話者より短い。という学習者に共通した特徴が観察された。This paper examines whether there are any differences in the pause patterns of learners of Japanese as opposed to native Japanese speakers, according to data on the voices of learners who speak English, French, Chinese and Korean as their native languages reading compositions aloud, and on the voices of native speakers reading aloud. The results show that no differences based on native languages were observed among the learners. The following characteristics were observed to be common for learners when compared to native speakers.(1) The articulated sequences of learners are shorter than those of native speakers.(2) Learners pause more in left-branching boundaries than native speakers.(3) Although native speakers do not insert pauses into clauses, learners sometimes insert pauses into their clauses.(4) Although native speakers place pauses at the end of a sentence, learners sometimes do not place such pauses.(5) At the end of sentences, learners leave shorter pauses than native speakers

Fluid dynamics in patients with nasal disease

Computational fluid dynamics （CFD） analysis is useful for quantitative assessment in patients with upper airway obstructions. We compared CFD analysis with rhinomanometry （RM） and acoustic rhinometry （AR）. Twenty patients with nasal and paranasal diseases who required computed tomography assessment underwent RM and AR. We measured the pressure and velocity at four parts of the upper airway using CFD analysis. Then we evaluated the correlation among CFD analysis, RM, and AR. CFD analysis detected obstruction sites in the nasal airway and pharynx in 14 and 2patients, respectively. High negative pressure accompanied the nasal obstruction, even behind the nasal cavity. Nasal airway pressure measured using CFD analysis strongly correlated with nasal resistance in RM （Spearman correlation coefficient＝0.853）. CFD analysis’s sensitivity and specificity to detect the obstruction were 84.6％ and 57.1％, respectively （compared to those of RM） and 83.3％ and 50.0％, respectively （compared to those of AR）. The CFD analysis’s ability to detect obstruction was comparable to that of RM and AR; therefore, it may help evaluate the upper airways in patients with nasal and paranasal diseases. We found impaired nasal ventilation also affected other parts of the upper airway. Further studies with a larger sample size are required to validate the use of CFD analysis for assessing the degree of upper airway ventilation disorders

Rhophilin, a small GTPase Rho-binding protein, is abundantly expressed in the mouse testis and localized in the principal piece of the sperm tail

AbstractTissue distribution and cellular localization of rhophilin, a 71 kDa Rho-binding protein, were examined in mice. Rhophilin mRNA was highly expressed in adult testis, but was absent in the testis of W/WV mice deficient in germ cells. An anti-rhophilin antibody detected a band of an expected size in sperm extracts, which was enriched in the tail fraction. Immunofluorescence analysis revealed two lines of striated staining running in parallel in the principal piece of the sperm tail. These results suggest that rhophilin is expressed in germ cells and localized in the fibrous sheath of the sperm tail

Computational fluid dynamics analysis in patients with nasal disease

Computational fluid dynamics （CFD） analysis is useful for quantitative assessment in patients with upper airway obstructions. We compared CFD analysis with rhinomanometry （RM） and acoustic rhinometry （AR）. Twenty patients with nasal and paranasal diseases who required computed tomography assessment underwent RM and AR. We measured the pressure and velocity at four parts of the upper airway using CFD analysis. Then we evaluated the correlation among CFD analysis, RM, and AR. CFD analysis detected obstruction sites in the nasal airway and pharynx in 14 and 2patients, respectively. High negative pressure accompanied the nasal obstruction, even behind the nasal cavity. Nasal airway pressure measured using CFD analysis strongly correlated with nasal resistance in RM （Spearman correlation coefficient＝0.853）. CFD analysis’s sensitivity and specificity to detect the obstruction were 84.6％ and 57.1％, respectively （compared to those of RM） and 83.3％ and 50.0％, respectively （compared to those of AR）. The CFD analysis’s ability to detect obstruction was comparable to that of RM and AR; therefore, it may help evaluate the upper airways in patients with nasal and paranasal diseases. We found impaired nasal ventilation also affected other parts of the upper airway. Further studies with a larger sample size are required to validate the use of CFD analysis for assessing the degree of upper airway ventilation disorders

Human NINEIN polymorphism at codon 1111 is associated with the risk of colorectal cancer

NINEIN serves an essential role in centrosome function as a microtubule organizing center, and in the reformation of the interphase centrosome architecture following mitosis. In the present study, the association between NINEIN Pro1111Ala (rs2236316), a missense single nucleotide polymorphism, and the risk of colorectal cancer (CRC), related to smoking and alcohol consumption habits in 200 patients with CRC and 1,141 cancer‑free control participants were assessed in a case‑control study performed in Japan. The results showed that the NINEIN Ala/Ala genotype compared with the Pro/Pro genotype was significantly more associated with an increased risk of CRC, and the males with the Ala/Ala genotype exhibited a significantly increased risk of CRC compared with those with Pro/Pro and Pro/Ala genotypes. Stratified analyses of the Ala/Ala genotype with CRC risk further showed an increased association in never/light drinkers (<23 g of ethanol/day), in male never/light drinkers and in male patients with rectal cancer. These findings suggest that the genetic variant of the NINEIN Pro1111Ala polymorphism has a significant effect on CRC susceptibility in the Japanese population

Molecular Epidemiology of Trichophyton tonsurans Strains Isolated in Japan between 2006 and 2010 and Their Susceptibility to Oral Antimycotics

SUMMARY: Trichophyton tonsurans has been isolated among judo practitioners, wrestlers, and sumo wrestlers during an epidemic of tinea corporis and tinea capitis in Japan. A previous study using restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) analysis of the non-transcribed spacer (NTS) region of the ribosomal RNA gene revealed different sources for the causative fungus in epidemics among judo practitioners and among wrestlers. Many different fungal strains have since been isolated from practitioners of these sports. The present study evaluated fungal characteristics of strains newly isolated between July 2006 and December 2010 using this molecular method. PCR-RFLP analysis using MvaI and AvaI was performed on 263 strains, composed of 186 isolates from judo practitioners, 32 from wrestlers, 30 from sumo wrestlers, 5 from other sports, 7 from family members or friends of the sports practitioner patients, and 3 from sporadic (non-epidemic) cases. Four molecular types, NTS I, II, III, and VII were detected. Of these, NTS I was the most predominant, occurring in 243 of 263 strains (92.4z). All of the 30 strains isolated from sumo wrestlers were classified as NTS I, suggesting that the epidemic among sumo wrestlers originated from an earlier epidemic among judo practitioners. Thirteen strains were classified as NTS II; all were related to wrestling and were isolated mainly from the Chubu and Kansai areas in the central part of Honshu island. NTS III was detected in 6 strains, and one strain classified as NTS VII was isolated from a sporadic case of tinea capitis in a Peruvian immigrant. The minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of terbinafine, itraconazole, fluconazole, and griseofulvin on 10 strains of NTS I and NTS II and 4 strains of NTS III were examined; there were no differences in MIC between these molecular types

Changes in Pediatric Patient Trends in Eating and Swallowing Disorders: A Comparison between the First and Fifth Year after Establishment of the Special Needs Dental Center

A Special Needs Dental Center （hereafter referred to as the Center） was established at Showa University Dental Hospital in April 2012 to treat patients who need special care. In cooperation with the Division of Dentistry for Persons with Disabilities, the Division of Hygiene and Oral Health is mainly engaged in the treatment of patients with eating and swallowing disorders. It has been five years since the establishment of the Center. The present study was aimed to establish an effective medical support method through a comparative study of changes in patient trends. A total of 65 patients who visited the Center from April 2017 to March 2018 were examined and their statistics were compared with those of 60 previously reported patients who initially visited the Center for medical examination in 2012. In 2012, many visits occurred during the nursing period; however, in 2017, the number of patients who visited after the weaning period increased. Other noted trends were increased diversity in primary disease, more patient referrals, fewer patients with severe swallowing dysfunction, and more patients with oral dysfunction. The necessity of eating and swallowing practice is thought to increase when lifestyle and oral environment change. The treatment of eating and swallowing disorders is important in the dental profession. Due to the introduction of insurance coverage in Japan in 2018 for developmental insufficiency of oral function, more pediatric patients with eating and swallowing disorders will likely be treated in the future

Clinical Statistics for Dysphagia Patients ≦ 18 Years of Age in the Center of Special Needs Dentistry, April 2012-March 2013

In April 2012, the Center of Special Needs Dentistry (SND) was established at Showa University Dental Hospital to provide function training for children with eating and swallowing disorders. A statistical clinical assessment was performed on new patients ≤18 years of age who visited the Center over a 1-year period (April 2012–March 2013) to assess the conditions present at the initial visit. In all, 60 patients (29 boys, 31 girls, mean (± SD) age 4.2±4.1 years, range 0-18 years of age) were included in the study. Most patients were <1 year of age (32%) and most came from one of four cities in the Johnan area (Shinagawa City, Meguro City, Ota City and Setagaya City). The most common primary diseases at the initial visit were cerebral palsy and cleft lip and palate. The third largest patient group was of healthy children with oral function problem. Over 60% of patients attended the Center of SND because of an eating-related complaint. More than 50% of patients were obtaining nutrients via oral intake; the remaining patients were obtaining nutrients via non-oral or a combination of oral and non-oral intake. Because of the young age of the patients and the fact that most were from neighboring areas, it can be inferred that effective community health care is being provided. It is necessary for the Center of SND to continue to provide professional treatment for dysphagia and to contribute to community medicine

Finishing the euchromatic sequence of the human genome

The sequence of the human genome encodes the genetic instructions for human physiology, as well as rich information about human evolution. In 2001, the International Human Genome Sequencing Consortium reported a draft sequence of the euchromatic portion of the human genome. Since then, the international collaboration has worked to convert this draft into a genome sequence with high accuracy and nearly complete coverage. Here, we report the result of this finishing process. The current genome sequence (Build 35) contains 2.85 billion nucleotides interrupted by only 341 gaps. It covers ∼99% of the euchromatic genome and is accurate to an error rate of ∼1 event per 100,000 bases. Many of the remaining euchromatic gaps are associated with segmental duplications and will require focused work with new methods. The near-complete sequence, the first for a vertebrate, greatly improves the precision of biological analyses of the human genome including studies of gene number, birth and death. Notably, the human enome seems to encode only 20,000-25,000 protein-coding genes. The genome sequence reported here should serve as a firm foundation for biomedical research in the decades ahead