Estimation of consumption-capital asset pricing model (C-CAPM) with two clusters of consumption expenditures

In this paper, we develop a new model that explicitly considers two endogenous consumption items and investigates its applicability to consumption-capital asset pricing model (C-CAPM) by testing it with various sets of instruments. We found that our model is not rejected with reasonable values for both risk aversion and time preference parameters.C-CAPM, multiple consumption commodities, inter-temporal and intra-temporal choice

Molecular cloning and tissue-specific expression of a new member of the regenerating protein family, islet neogenesis-associated protein-related protein1The sequence data reported in this paper have been deposited to DDBJ/EMBL/Genbank databases under the accession no. AB028625.1

AbstractIslet neogenesis-associated protein (INGAP) is a protein expressed during islet neogenesis. We have cloned a novel cDNA having a similar sequence to INGAP cDNA. The cDNA encodes 175 amino acids designated INGAP-related protein (INGAPrP). INGAP is expressed in cellophane-wrapped pancreas, but not in normal pancreas, whereas INGAPrP was abundantly expressed in normal pancreas

Tracking the direct impact of rainfall on groundwater at Mt. Fuji by multiple analyses including microbial DNA

A total of 2 to 3 million tons of spring water flushes out from the foot of Mt. Fuji, the largest volcanic mountain in Japan. Based on the concept of piston flow transport, residence time of stored groundwater at Mt. Fuji was estimated at  ∼ 15–30 years by the 36Cl∕Cl ratio (Tosaki et al., 2011). This range, however, represents the average residence time of groundwater that was mixed before it flushed out. To elucidate the route of groundwater in a given system, we determined signatures of direct impacts of rainfall on groundwater, using microbial, stable isotopic (δ18O), and chemical analyses (concentration of silica). Chemical analysis of the groundwater gave an average value of the water, which was already mixed with waters from various sources and routes in the subsurface environment. The microbial analysis suggested locations of water origin and paths.In situ observation during four rainfall events revealed that the stable oxygen isotopic signature obtained from spring water (at 726ma.s.l., site SP-0m) and shallow groundwater (at 150ma.s.l., site GW-42m), where the average recharge height from rainfall was 1700–1800m, became greater than values observed prior to a torrential rain producing more than 300mm of precipitation. The concentration of silica decreased after this event. In addition, the abundance of Bacteria in spring water increased, suggesting the influence of heavy rain. Such changes did not appear when rainfall was less than 100mm per event. The above findings indicate a rapid flow of rain through the shallow part of the aquifer, which appeared within a few weeks of torrential rain extracting abundant microbes from soil in the studied geologic setting. Interestingly, we found that after the torrential rain, the abundance of Archaea increased in the deep groundwater at site GW-550m,  ∼ 12km downstream of SP-0m. However, chemical parameters did not show any change after the event. This suggests that strengthened piston flow caused by the heavy rain transported archaeal particles from the geologic layer along the groundwater route. This finding was supported by changes in constituents of Archaea, dominated by Halobacteriales and Methanobacteriales, which were not seen from other observations. Those two groups of Archaea are believed to be relatively tightly embedded in the geologic layer and were extracted from the environment to the examined groundwater through enforced piston flow. Microbial DNA can thus give information about the groundwater route, which may not be shown by analysis of chemical materials dissolved in the groundwater

Awareness-Building Seminar on Aging-Related Issues for the Public in Tokushima : Overview and Report

我が国は2022年現在，世界で最も高齢化が進行しており，中でも徳島県は全国有数の高齢化先進県として，それにまつわる諸問題が全国に先駆けて顕在化しつつある。本稿は，こうした状況を踏まえ，筆者らが「徳島県の高齢化問題を地域で考えよう！」と題するセミナーを徳島大学において実施した結果と，今後地域で高齢化問題に取り組むにあたっての展望を概括するものである。 本セミナーは，高齢化問題への関与の有無にかかわらず，制度・分野ごとの「縦割り」や「支え手」「受け手」という関係性や年代を超えて集まった多様な参加者が，高齢化問題の概略を知り，考えや思いを共有する第一歩となった。参加者からは，今後徳島県が取り組むべき事項として，①「介護者の立場」を考えた支援，②健康寿命を延ばし，認知症の「予防」にもなる地域活動，③高齢者・認知症の人の経済的自立につながる社会的取り組みの展開，④多世代交流や地域の助け合いを促進するしくみの構築，等が挙げられた。 本セミナーにおける課題として，参加者による具体的な活動を導き出す前に，様々に異なる経歴，年代の人々の意見を効果的に集約し，相互の知見を共有する中で，次のステップをどのように見出し，具現化していくかが求められていることが判明した。今後，活動を継続する中で，地域社会での高齢化問題解決に資する，幅広い世代や多様な経歴を持つ参加者への効果的な意識啓発のあり方を徐々に明らかにしていきたい

Neuropathology does not Correlate with Regional Differences in the Extent of Expansion of CTG Repeats in the Brain with Myotonic Dystrophy Type 1

Myotonic dystrophy (DM1) is known to be an adult-onset muscular dystrophy caused by the expansion of CTG repeats within the 3' untranslated region of the dystrophin myotonin protein kinase (DMPK) gene. The clinical features of DM1 include CNS symptoms, such as cognitive impairment and personality changes, the pathogenesis of which remains to be elucidated. We hypothesized that the distribution of neuropathological changes might be correlated with the extent of the length of the CTG repeats in the DMPK genes in DM1 patients. We studied the neuropathological changes in the brains of subjects with DM1 and investigated the extent of somatic instability in terms of CTG repeat expansion in the different brain regions of the same individuals by Southern blot analysis. The neuropathological changes included état criblé in the cerebral deep white matter and neurofibrillary tangles immunoreactive for phosphorylated tau in the hippocampus and entorhinal cortex, both of which were compatible with the subcortical dementia in DM1 patients. However, the length of the CTG repeats did not correlate with the regional differences in the extent of neuropathological changes. Our data suggested that pathomechanisms of dementia in DM1 might be more multifactorial rather than a toxic gain-of-function due to mutant RNA

COOH-terminal isoleucine of lysosome-associated membrane protein-1 is optimal for its efficient targeting to dense secondary lysosomes.

Lysosome-associated membrane protein-1 (LAMP-1) consists of a highly glycosylated luminal domain, a single-transmembrane domain and a short cytoplasmic tail that possesses a lysosome-targeting signal (GYQTI(382)) at the COOH terminus. It is hypothesized that the COOH-terminal isoleucine, I(382), could be substituted with any other bulky hydrophobic amino acid residue for LAMP-1 to exclusively localize in lysosomes. In order to test this hypothesis, we compared subcellular distribution of four substitution mutants with phenylalanine, leucine, methionine and valine at the COOH-terminus (termed I382F, I382L, I382M and I382V, respectively) with that of wild-type (WT)-LAMP-1. Double-labelled immunofluorescence analyses showed that these substitution mutants were localized as significantly to late endocytic organelles as WT-LAMP-1. However, the quantitative subcellular fractionation study revealed different distribution of WT-LAMP-1 and these four COOH-terminal mutants in late endosomes and dense secondary lysosomes. WT-LAMP-1 was accumulated three to six times more in the dense lysosomal fraction than the four mutants. The level of WT-LAMP-1 in late endosomal fraction was comparable to those of I382F, I382M and I382V. Conversely, I382L in the late endosomal fraction was approximately three times more abundant than WT-LAMP-1. These findings define the presence of isoleucine residue at the COOH-terminus of LAMP-1 as critical in governing its efficient delivery to secondary lysosomes and its ratio of lysosomes to late endosomes.Lysosome-associated membrane protein-1 (LAMP-1) consists of a highly glycosylated luminal domain, a single-transmembrane domain and a short cytoplasmic tail that possesses a lysosome-targeting signal (GYQTI(382)) at the COOH terminus. It is hypothesized that the COOH-terminal isoleucine, I(382), could be substituted with any other bulky hydrophobic amino acid residue for LAMP-1 to exclusively localize in lysosomes. In order to test this hypothesis, we compared subcellular distribution of four substitution mutants with phenylalanine, leucine, methionine and valine at the COOH-terminus (termed I382F, I382L, I382M and I382V, respectively) with that of wild-type (WT)-LAMP-1. Double-labelled immunofluorescence analyses showed that these substitution mutants were localized as significantly to late endocytic organelles as WT-LAMP-1. However, the quantitative subcellular fractionation study revealed different distribution of WT-LAMP-1 and these four COOH-terminal mutants in late endosomes and dense secondary lysosomes. WT-LAMP-1 was accumulated three to six times more in the dense lysosomal fraction than the four mutants. The level of WT-LAMP-1 in late endosomal fraction was comparable to those of I382F, I382M and I382V. Conversely, I382L in the late endosomal fraction was approximately three times more abundant than WT-LAMP-1. These findings define the presence of isoleucine residue at the COOH-terminus of LAMP-1 as critical in governing its efficient delivery to secondary lysosomes and its ratio of lysosomes to late endosomes

Molecular Cloning and Expression Analysis of a Putative Nuclear Protein, SR-25

We cloned a full-length mouse cDNA and its human homologue encoding a novel protein designated as “SR-25.” In Northern blot analysis, SR-25 mRNA was expressed in all organs tested, and relatively abundant in testis and thymus. Deduced amino acid sequences of mouse SR-25 and human SR-25 showed 77.7% identity. SR-25 has a serine-arginine repeat (SR repeat) and two types of amino acid clusters: a serine cluster and a highly basic cluster. Based on the presence of many nuclear localizing signals and a similarity to RNA splicing proteins, SR-25 is strongly suggested to be a nuclear protein and may contribute to RNA splicing

Psychological characteristics of Japanese patients with chronic pain assessed by the Rorschach test

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The increasing number of patients with chronic pain in Japan has become a major issue in terms of the patient's quality of life, medical costs, and related social problems. Pain is a multi-dimensional experience with physiological, affective, cognitive, behavioral and social components, and recommended to be managed via a combination of bio-psycho-social aspects. However, a biomedical approach is still the dominant method of pain treatment in Japan. The current study aimed to evaluate comprehensive psychological functions and processes in Japanese chronic pain patients.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>The Rorschach Comprehensive System was administered to 49 in-patients with non-malignant chronic pain. Major variables and frequencies from the test were then compared to normative data from non-patient Japanese adults by way of the t-test and chi-square test.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Patients exhibited high levels of emotional distress with a sense of helplessness with regard to situational stress, confusion, and ambivalent feelings. These emotions were managed by the patients in an inappropriate manner. Cognitive functions resulted in moderate dysfunction in all stages. Information processing tended to focus upon minute features in an inflexible manner. Mediational dysfunction was likely to occur with unstable affective conditions. Ideation was marked by pessimistic and less effective thinking. Since patients exhibited negative self-perception, their interpersonal relationship skills tended to be ineffective. Originally, our patients displayed average psychological resources for control, stress tolerance, and social skills for interpersonal relationships. However, patient coping styles were either situation- or emotion-dependent, and patients were more likely to exhibit emotional instability influenced by external stimuli, resulting in increased vulnerability to pain.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Data gathered from the Rorschach test suggested psychological approaches to support chronic pain patients that are likely to be highly beneficial, and we thus recommend their incorporation into the course of current pain treatments.</p