Teachers\u27 Resistance: Japanese Teachers Stories From the 1960s

The purpose of this study is to listen to teachers\u27 stories and reconstruct their classrooms in the midst of the global upheaval of people\u27s movements in the 1960s-70s through teachers\u27 narratives. The primary research questions are: How did social movements in the 1960s-1970s influence their teaching practices? What was their intention and how did they carry out their daily teaching practice? In the educational research field, narrative inquirers explore teachers\u27 stories, their life experiences and teaching practices, in order to understand how teachers view the world. I collected stories, through in-depth interviews, of ten Japanese teachers who taught in Japanese public school system, and were active in social and educational movements during the 1960s-70s in order to understand how teachers understood and resisted dominant oppressive forces which create and perpetuate social inequality. Teacher narratives were analyzed using two complementary methods: contents analysis and interactional positioning theory. First, stories of teachers\u27 struggles in their classrooms and schools were contextualized in a wider social struggle for humanity and a more just society, in order to explore teachers\u27 understanding of social oppression and their resistance, and multiculturalism in Japanese classrooms in the 1960s-1970s. Through their stories, an indigenous multicultural nature of Japanese classrooms was revealed, even before the multiculturalism became an imported educational topic in the 1980s. Furthermore, using interactional positioning theory, I discussed how teacher activist identities were constructed during the narration, at the same time, uncover how social stigma of being an activist possibly suppressed the participants overtly constructing an activist identity in narratives

Analysis of the Binding of the Schizosaccharomyces pombe Protein Protection of Telomeres 1 Telomeric Single-Stranded DNA through the Examination of Specific Amino Acid Mutations

Protection of Telomeres 1 (Pot1) is a protein that binds with high specificity and affinity to the single-stranded DNA overhang of telomeres in yeast and humans. Pot1 serves crucial functions in telomere regulation and in the protection of free telomere ends from catastrophic DNA damage responses. Ongoing research in the lab involves characterization of the fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe Pot1 protein (SpPot1) as a means for understanding the mechanism of how Pot1 binds to telomeres. SpPot1 binds DNA through its DNA-binding domain (Pot1-DBD), which consists of two OB-fold subdomains, Pot1pN and Pot1pC. The interdomain interface between the two subdomains had been proposed to play an important role in shaping the specific binding of Pot1-DBD to telomeric DNA. Additionally, specific residues within the DNA-binding interface of Pot1pN were shown to play critical roles in Pot1-DBD DNA recognition. This thesis project aims to provide a more complete understanding of Pot1 binding by expanding upon studies of both the interdomain and DNA-binding interfaces. Previous data indicated that the interdomain interface makes a significant contribution to DNA binding under high salt conditions. Since salt concentration is known to affect some protein/DNA interactions, the role of the interface was investigated at low salt using specific alanine mutations. Binding studies indicated that the interface has no significant effect on binding at low salt, suggesting a complexity in the binding scheme of SpPot1, which is at least partially salt-dependent. Examination of DNA-binding activity was extended to the DNA-binding interface of Pot1pC. With no structural information available, systematic analysis of server-generated 3D models of Pot1pC was used to predict residues on the binding surface. Alanine mutants were constructed and circular dichroism was used to perform preliminary studies on the structure and stability of the free and DNA-bound mutant proteins compared to wild-type. The data revealed that, while secondary structures seem unaffected by the mutations or by DNA binding, Pot1pC displays an atypical melting curve, indicative of a conformational change during melting

Bisbenzamidine derivative, pentamidine represses DNA damage response through inhibition of histone H2A acetylation

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>MRE11 is an important nuclease which functions in the end-resection step of homologous recombination (HR) repair of DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs). As MRE11-deficient ATLD cells exhibit hyper radio-sensitivity and impaired DSB repair, MRE11 inhibitors could possibly function as potent radio-sensitizers. Therefore, we investigated whether a bisbenzamidine derivative, pentamidine, which can inhibit endoexonuclease activity, might influence DSB-induced damage responses <it>via </it>inhibition of MRE11.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>We first clarified that pentamidine inhibited MRE11 nuclease activity and also reduced ATM kinase activity in vitro. Pentamidine increased the radio-sensitivity of HeLa cells, suggesting that this compound could possibly influence DNA damage response factors in vivo. Indeed, we found that pentamidine reduced the accumulation of γ-H2AX, NBS1 and phospho-ATM at the sites of DSBs. Furthermore, pentamidine decreased HR activity <it>in vivo</it>. Pentamidine was found to inhibit the acetylation of histone H2A which could contribute both to inhibition of IR-induced focus formation and HR repair. These results suggest that pentamidine might exert its effects by inhibiting histone acetyltransferases. We found that pentamidine repressed the activity of Tip60 acetyltransferase which is known to acetylate histone H2A and that knockdown of Tip60 by siRNA reduced HR activity.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>These results indicate that inhibition of Tip60 as well as hMRE11 nuclease by pentamidine underlies the radiosensitizing effects of this compound making it an excellent sensitizer for radiotherapy or chemotherapy.</p

Synergistic effect of fosfomycin and fluoroquinolones against Pseudomonas aeruginosa growing in a biofilm.

Ulifloxacin is the active form of the prodrug prulifloxacin and shows a highly potent antipseudomonal activity. In this study, we examined the combined effect of fosfomycin and ulifloxacin against Pseudomonas aeruginosa (P. aeruginosa) growing in a biofilm using a modified Robbins device with artificial urine, and compared it to that of the combination of fosfomycin and ciprofloxacin or levofloxacin. An ATP bioluminescence assay was used to evaluate the antibacterial activity of the agents against sessile cells in a mature biofilm developed on a silicon disk. The total bioactivity of P. aeruginosa growing in a biofilm that had not been fully eradicated by fosfomycin or any of the fluoroquinolones alone at 10 times the MIC decreased after combination treatment with fosfomycin and fluoroquinolones. Morphological changes occurred in a time-dependent fashion; namely, swollen and/or rounding cells emerged within a couple of hours after combination treatment, marking the initial stage in the process leading to the destruction of the biofilms. We could not find any difference among the 3 fluoroquinolones with regard to their synergistic effects when administered with fosfomycin. The combination treatment of fosfomycin and fluoroquinolones with highly potent antipseudomonal activities was effective in eradicating sessile cells of P. aeruginosa in the biofilm and promises to be beneficial against biofilm-associated infectious diseases.</p

The Relationship between Symptom Flare of Atopic Dermatitis and Airborne Japanese Cedar and Cypress Pollen Counts: A Self-Scoring Diary Study

Background. With an increase in Japanese cedar and cypress (JC) pollinosis, the relationship between JC pollen and atopic dermatitis (AD) has been studied. Some reports suggest that JC pollen can be one exacerbating factor for AD, but there has been no report that discusses JC pollen counts relating to AD symptom flare although actual airborne JC pollen counts can widely fluctuate throughout the pollen season. Objective. The relationship between symptom flare of AD and airborne JC pollen counts was examined. Methods. We monitored JC pollen counts in real time and divided the counts into low and high level. We then analyzed self-scored “itch intensity” recorded by 14 AD patients through a self-scoring diary. Results. Among the 14 patients, 7 had significantly higher itch intensity while the pollen counts were high. Conclusion. Even during the pollen season, actual airborne pollen counts can widely fluctuate. Our study suggested that symptom flare of AD could be influenced by the actual pollen counts

Perfluorooctane Sulfonate (PFOS) and Related Perfluorinated Compounds in Human Maternal and Cord Blood Samples: Assessment of PFOS Exposure in a Susceptible Population during Pregnancy

Fluorinated organic compounds (FOCs), such as perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS), perfluorooctanoate (PFOA), and perfluorooctane sulfonylamide (PFOSA), are widely used in the manufacture of plastic, electronics, textile, and construction material in the apparel, leather, and upholstery industries. FOCs have been detected in human blood samples. Studies have indicated that FOCs may be detrimental to rodent development possibly by affecting thyroid hormone levels. In the present study, we determined the concentrations of FOCs in maternal and cord blood samples. Pregnant women 17–37 years of age were enrolled as subjects. FOCs in 15 pairs of maternal and cord blood samples were analyzed by liquid chromatography–electrospray mass spectrometry coupled with online extraction. The limits of quantification of PFOS, PFOA, and PFOSA in human plasma or serum were 0.5, 0.5, and 1.0 ng/mL, respectively. The method enables the precise determination of FOCs and can be applied to the detection of FOCs in human blood samples for monitoring human exposure. PFOS concentrations in maternal samples ranged from 4.9 to 17.6 ng/mL, whereas those in fetal samples ranged from 1.6 to 5.3 ng/mL. In contrast, PFOSA was not detected in fetal or maternal samples, whereas PFOA was detected only in maternal samples (range, < 0.5 to 2.3 ng/mL, 4 of 15). Our results revealed a high correlation between PFOS concentrations in maternal and cord blood (r(2) = 0.876). However, we did not find any significant correlations between PFOS concentration in maternal and cord blood samples and age bracket, birth weight, or levels of thyroid-stimulating hormone or free thyroxine. Our study revealed that human fetuses in Japan may be exposed to relatively high levels of FOCs. Further investigation is required to determine the postnatal effects of fetal exposure to FOCs

Myeloperoxidase-Antineutrophil Cytoplasmic Antibody-Negative Microscopic Polyangiitis with Pulmonary Haemorrhage and IgA Nephropathy

Aim: To report a case of a patient with myeloperoxidase-antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA)-negative microscopic polyangiitis (MPA) and IgA nephropathy associated with severe pulmonary haemorrhage. Case Report: A 59-year-old man presented with ANCA-negative systemic vasculitis accompanied by purpura, nephritis and pulmonary haemorrhage. A skin biopsy specimen revealed pandermal leucocytoclastic vasculitis without IgA deposition and a kidney biopsy showed mesangial nephritis with IgA deposition. Considering these findings, the patient was diagnosed as having MPA with IgA nephropathy. Discussion: In most cases, MPA presents with rapidly progressive necrotizing glomerulonephritis and sometimes lung haemorrhage, while IgA nephropathy is less common among MPA cases. As recent research suggested that in MPA immunoglobulin deposition in the kidney may be an exacerbating factor for renal dysfunction and poor prognosis, close observation is required in these cases

Distribution and Endocrine Morphology of Polypeptide YY (PYY) Containing Cells in the Human Gut

Using human materials, the distribution of PYY containing cells was determined by immunocytochemical methods and discussion was made on their morphological endocrinology. PYY cells were fairly numerous in the lower gastrointestinal tract of man, particularly in the colon and rectum. The cells were also present in the pancreas and duodenum but quite rarely. PYY cells were not observed at all in the lower part of the esophagus, stomach and gall bladder. Their peculiar and characteristic shapes as well as distribution suggest that PYY may have some action (probably specific) on the function of the distal gastrointestinal tract