NMR solution structure of a chymotrypsin inhibitor from the Taiwan cobra Naja naja atra

The Taiwan cobra (Naja naja atra) chymotrypsin inhibitor (NACI) consists of 57 amino acids and is related to other Kunitz-type inhibitors such as bovine pancreatic trypsin inhibitor (BPTI) and Bungarus fasciatus fraction IX (BF9), another chymotrypsin inhibitor. Here we present the solution structure of NACI. We determined the NMR structure of NACI with a root-mean-square deviation of 0.37 Å for the backbone atoms and 0.73 Å for the heavy atoms on the basis of 1,075 upper distance limits derived from NOE peaks measured in its NOESY spectra. To investigate the structural characteristics of NACI, we compared the three-dimensional structure of NACI with BPTI and BF9. The structure of the NACI protein comprises one 310-helix, one α-helix and one double-stranded antiparallel β-sheet, which is comparable with the secondary structures in BPTI and BF9. The RMSD value between the mean structures is 1.09 Å between NACI and BPTI and 1.27 Å between NACI and BF9. In addition to similar secondary and tertiary structure, NACI might possess similar types of protein conformational fluctuations as reported in BPTI, such as Cys14–Cys38 disulfide bond isomerization, based on line broadening of resonances from residues which are mainly confined to a region around the Cys14–Cys38 disulfide bond

Cyclic Bending Deformation and Fracture of Al and Al-1.0mass%Mg Alloy

AbstractThe characteristics of cyclic bending deformation and fatigue fracture are studied on polycrystalline aluminum and Al-1.0mass%Mg alloy from the metallurgical point of view. It is found that the fatigue life mainly depends on grain size and the kind of materials. Cracks are preferentially formed at grain boundaries inclined 40 – 60°to the tension-compression direction, suggesting that shear stress affects the crack formation. EBSD measurements reveal the inhomogeneity of deformation. Intense development of sub-grain is seen in the grain interior close to a crack. It indicates that the work hardening close to grain boundaries triggers the crack formation

留学生との交流授業が日本人に与える影響と意義

日本語を母語としない日本語学習者（留学生）にとって、日本人との交流授業が有効であることは知られているが、留学生との交流が日本人学生にどのような影響を与えるのかということはあまり明らかになっていない。なぜなら留学生がキャンパスにいることが、本当に「国際化」を促しているのかはなかなか検証しにくい問題であるからである。キャンパス内にいる留学生と授業を通して交流することが、自然に多文化共生を学ぶ機会となり、日本人学生の意識の内側から「国際化」を促していることを確認していく。また、それは学年が上がるごとに強くなっており、キャンパスの国際化に対して、海外へ学生を送り出す以上に、日常生活で様々な文化的な背景をもった留学生と交流し意見を交わすことが、大きな役割を果たしていることをデータからみていく。It is widely known that the Joint Instruction with Japanese students is effective for Japanese Learners, however, little is known about the influence on the Japanese students who experienced the interactions with international students. This understatement also represents the difficulties in measuring to what extent “internationalization”, in the true sense of the word, takes place by the presence of international students on campus.The purpose of this study is to clarify the propelling effect of internationalization for the Japanese students who had the opportunity to study with international students in their classrooms. This study also highlights the fact that the continuing personal development of Japanese students can be brought about by campus diversity in Japan, not only by sending them abroad. The data shows that internationalization of Japanese students can occur, even if they are in Japan, through immersion in multicultural settings by interacting with international students in classrooms and daily campus life

Optically stimulated luminescence of meteorite

Optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) measurements were performed on several meteorites and terrestrial plagioclase, pyroxene and olivine to test the possibility of OSL characterization of meteorites. Intense OSL has been observed for the first time in Ca-Al rich inclusions (CAIs) of the Allende meteorite. The equivalent dose of 150 Gy was obtained from the growth of OSL intensity by artificial γ-irradiation

ESR applications to meteorite samples

Electron spin resonance (ESR) measurements were performed on several meteorites. Preliminary results demonstrate some significant features. After the magnetic separation of powdered samples, some of ESR measurements gave ferromagnetic resonance-type spectra similar to the lunar soils. ESR spectra, presumably associated with radiation-induced defects, were observed in Allan Hills-765 and the CAI portion of the Allende meteorite