神経誘導因子Netrin-1は軟骨形成や骨形成においてBMPまたはNogginにより調節される

This is the first report describing neurogenic factor of Netrin-1 related to chondrogenesis or osteogenesis in a human cells. Netrin is a morphogenetic factor that induces a growth cone of an axial filament of the nervous system. However, the roles of Netrin in chondrogenesis or osteogenesis are not yet understood. We analyzed the relationship between Netrin and bone morphogenetic protein-2 (BMP-2) in chondrogenesis or osteogenesis, using a human chondrocyte-like cell line (USAC), which also retains multi-potency to differentiate into osteoblasts and adipocytes. Netrin-1 mRNA was decreased in USAC cells, though the expression was increased during osteogenic differentiation at the stage when osteocalcin mRNA were increased by BMP-2. Furthermore, inhibition of Netrin-1 gene increased Cbfa1 mRNA expression, and decreased Sox9 mRNA expression. We also found that Netrin-1was strongly expressed in immature chondrocytes of cartilage-like tissues that were formed in an exo vivo experiment with diffusion chambers. The se findings indicate that Netrin-1 and BMP-2 regulates in the stage dependent process of mesenchymal cell differentiation to chondrocytes or osteoblasts.骨芽細胞または脂肪細胞への分化多能を保持するヒト軟骨細胞様細胞系(USAC)を用い、軟骨形成または骨形成におけるNetrinと骨形成蛋白質-2(BMP-2)との関係を調べた。Netrin-1 mRNAはUSAC細胞中では減少するが、オステオカルシンmRNA濃度がBMPによって上昇する際の骨芽細胞分化時にNetrin-1 mRNAの発現が増加した。Netrin-1遺伝子を阻害すると、Cbfal mRNA発現は増加しSox9 mRNA発現は減少した。またNetrin-1は軟骨様組織の未成熟軟骨細胞において強く発現した。Netrin-1とBMP-2が、間葉細胞の軟骨細胞または骨芽細胞へ分化プロセスを制御すると考えた

Distribution of Air Temperature in Tajimi City in Summer

To research the distribution of air temperature in the city of Tajimi, Gifu prefecture, a total of 15 thermometers were placed at the schools and parks in the city of Tajimi, and the city of Kasugai, Aichi prefecture in August 2010. From the distribution of monthly average air temperature, air temperature at the center of Tajimi city was higher than the suburbs. Also, the days of daily minimum air temperature more than or equal to 25°C and daily maximum air temperature more than or equal to 35°C at the elementary school near the center of Tajimi city was more than those at other schools. This tendency appeared more clearly on the days of daily minimum air temperature more than or equal to 25°C. Also, the air temperature near the center of the city was higher than that ofthe suburbs in the early morning. Thus, it was indicated that the air temperature was hard to decrease as the bottom of the basin. From these results, the influence of urbanization to the formation of the daily minimum temperature in Tajimi city was indicated

Observational Study and Numerical Prediction Experiments on Wet-Bulb Globe Temperature in Tajimi, Gifu Prefecture: Consideration of Uncertainty with a Physics Parameterization Scheme and Horizontal Resolution of the Weather Research and Forecasting Model

As part of research on the actual conditions of the thermal environment surrounding the city of Tajimi, Gifu prefecture, and the city of Kasugai, Aichi prefecture, the surface air temperature and wet-bulb globe temperature (WBGT) were investigated by observation at these locations on clear-sky days in August 2010. Numerical prediction experiments on the WBGT were performed to confirm the utility of the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model. Sensitivity experiments utilizing physics parameterization schemes and horizontal resolution of the WRF model were conducted to confirm the predicted WBGT. The resultsshowed that the maximum sensitivity with the parameterization scheme was 8.4°C for the daytime average, and especially, the simple thermal diffusion surface (SLAB) scheme caused an over/estimation of 6.8°C. On the other hand, the maximum sensitivity with horizontal resolution was 0.5°C, which is much less than that with the parameterization scheme

On the Fukugita-Tanimoto-Yanagida Ansatz with Partially Non-degenerate Right-handed Majorana Neutrinos

Taking three right-handed Majorana neutrino masses $M^{}_i$ to be partially non-degenerate, we make a new analysis of the Fukugita-Tanimoto-Yanagida ansatz and confront it with current neutrino oscillation data. We determine the parameter space for cases (A) $M^{}_3 = M^{}_2 \neq M^{}_1$, (B) $M^{}_2 = M^{}_1 \neq M^{}_3$ and (C) $M^{}_1 = M^{}_3 \neq M^{}_2$, and examine their respective deviations from the original $M^{}_1 = M^{}_2 = M^{}_3$ case. The numerical constraints on three light neutrino masses, three neutrino mixing angles and three CP-violating phases are also obtained, together with the predictions for the Jarlskog invariant of CP violation and the effective masses of the tritium beta decay and the neutrinoless double-beta decay.Comment: 17 pages, 4 figures, references added, minor change

Low-dose Warfarin Functions as an Immunomodulator to Prevent Cyclophosphamide-induced NOD Diabetes

Warfarin has been used as an anticoagulant for a long time. Recently, the pleiotropic effect of warfarin has been investigated. As low-dose warfarin has been reported to have anti-inflammatory effect through suppression of IL-6 secretion and inhibit the immune-associated signal between Tyro3 and its ligand, Gas6, the effect of low-dose warfarin on autoimmune diabetes in NOD mice was examined. To investigate the anti-inflammatory effect of warfarin, IL-6 secretion by splenocytes was examined in the presence of various concentrations of warfarin. Low concentration of warfarin inhibited IL-6 secretion. mRNA expression of Rse, one of the Tyro3 receptor family members, and Gas6 were analyzed in NOD mice. It was detected in islets, splenocytes and bone-marrow derived dendritic cells. 0.25 mg/l or 0.50 mg/l of warfarin was orally administered to NOD mice as a cyclophosphamide-induced diabetes model. Oral administration of warfarin at much lower doses than those clinically used as an anticoagulant significantly reduced the degree of insulitis and diabetes incidence in this model. We previously demonstrated that anti-FasL Ab-treatment led to complete prevention of autoimmune diabetes in NOD mice. As Fas/FasL signaling is reported to be essential for cyclophosphamide-induced diabetes model, we extracted RNA from lymphocytes of the inguinal lymph nodes of anti-FasL Ab-treated NOD mice and performed real-time PCR to determine expression of Rse gene. Interestingly, the expression of Rse gene related to the blockade of Fas/FasL signaling was reduced to less than half the level of untreated mice. In conclusion, low-dose warfarin is a potential immunomodulator which can prevent autoimmune diabetes. Type 1 diabetes is a chronic autoimmune disease caused by autoreactive T cells promoting the specific destruction of insulin-producing β cells of the pancreatic islets (1,6). Nonobese diabetic (NOD) mouse is an animal model of human autoimmune diabetes (19). In the NOD mouse, diabetes develops as the result of a chronic inflammation that starts with leukocytic infiltration of islets from 3-5 weeks of age and gradually exacerbates until hyperglycemia develops after 16 weeks of age in a high percentage of female mice. Warfarin has been widely used for a long time as an oral anticoagulant agent. In addition, Kater et al. reported the pleiotropic effect of low-dose warfarin related with inflammation, demonstrating that low-dose warfarin inhibited inflammatory signal transduction through suppression of TNF-α induced IL-6 secretion from murine macrophages (12)

Factors causing climatologically high temperatures in a hottest city in Japan: a multi-scale analysis of Tajimi

In this study, multi-scale climatological features of extreme high temperature (EHT) events in Tajimi, the hottest cities in Japan, were investigated using observational data collected by the Japan Meteorological Agency over the past 23 years, and original data observed by the authors over the last 3 years. Results revealed the background factors that lead to climatologically high temperatures in Tajimi: the occurrence of a characteristic pressure pattern called ‘whale’: the synoptic-scale factors, and the urbanization of Tajimi: the meso-γ-scale factors. In addition, the high temperatures measured in Tajimi are affected by the foehn-like westerly airflow coming from the mountains located in the northwest/west towards the Nobi Plain where Tajimi is located at the east end: the meso-β-scale factors, and the location of the Tajimi observation site, which is within an urbanized area where the highest temperatures tend to be observed: the micro-scale factors. In contrast, statistical analysis demonstrated that the small-scale basin effects and soil dryness around Tajimi were of lesser importance than aforementioned factors, in the occurrence of EHT events in Tajimi

Strong anti-tumor effect of NVP-AUY922, a novel Hsp90 inhibitor, on non-small cell lung cancer

The anti-tumor activity of a newly developed Hsp90 inhibitor, NVP-AUY922 (AUY922), against non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) was examined. Twenty-one NSCLC cell lines were used, the somatic alterations of which were characterized. Cell proliferation was analyzed using a modified MTS assay. Expression of the client proteins was assessed using Western blotting. The cell cycle was analyzed using flow cytometry. The IC50 value of AUY922 for the NSCLC cell lines ranged from 5.2 to 860 nM (median, 20.4 nM). Based on previous data, cells with an IC50 of less than 50 nM were classified as sensitive cells and 19 of the 21 NSCLC cell lines were judged to be sensitive. The IC50 of five malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) cell lines revealed that the MPM cells had a significantly higher IC50 value (median, 89.2 nM; range, 22.2-24, 100 nM) than the NSCLC cells (p = 0.015). There was significant depletion of both the total and phosphorylated client proteins - EGFR, MET, HERZ and ART - at low drug concentrations (50-100 nM) in drug-sensitive cell lines. Cell-cycle analysis was performed for two sensitive cell lines, H1975 and H838. Following AUY922 treatment, an increase in the sub-G(0)-G(1) cell population, as well as appearance of cleaved PARP expression, indicated the induction of apoptosis. In conclusion, AUY922 was effective against most NSCLC cell lines, independent of the type of known molecular alteration, and appears to be a promising new drug for the treatment of NSCLC. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved

ルーブリック オ シヨウシタ カンリ エイヨウシ ヨウセイ カテイ ニオケル リンチ ジッシュウ ノ ヒョウカ

【目的】管理栄養士養成課程において、学生の臨地実習の事前事後の学修成果について到達度評価に適しているとされるルーブリックを用いて評価し、総合演習を含む事前事後指導の在り方を振り返る。【方法】本校において設定された管理栄養士養成課程におけるルーブリックによる自己評価を臨地実習の事前と事後に実施し学修成果を分析した。【結果及び考察】臨地実習前の評価では、３年生女性では、主体性及びコミュニケーション力を除いた４項目（課題設定・解決力、情報活用力、知識と情報の統合力、職業観）で評価規準３または４と評価した学生が少なく、知識と情報の統合力の評価規準を１と評価した学生が２割いた。３年生男性は、コミュニケーション力の評価は高いが、その他の５項目（主体性、課題設定・解決力、情報活用力、知識と情報の統合力、職業観）の評価が低かった。またコミュニケーション力以外の項目で３年生の女性と同様に評価規準４と評価した割合が低かった。４年生の女性は、知識と情報の統合力の項目を除いた５項目（主体性、コミュニケーション力、課題設定・解決力、情報活用力、職業観）について半数以上の学生が評価規準３または４と評価し３年生女性より評価規準が高かった。男性については、該当人数が４名と少ないが、すべての項目で評価規準２または３と評価し評価規準４と評価した学生はいなかった。臨地実習後の評価については、３年生女性は課題設定・解決力が若干低かったが、それ以外の５項目について評価規準３または４と評価した学生が多くなり、３年生の男性は、主体性及び情報活用力以外の４項目について評価規準３または４と評価した学生が多かった。４年生女性の事後評価では、評価基準の各項目において評価規準３と評価した割合が高くなり評価規準４と評価した割合が減少した。４年生の男性は主体性及び情報活用力を除いて全員が評価規準３または４と評価した。どの項目も実習後の評価は評価規準３または４に評価した学生が増加し、その割合は６割強以上となり、管理栄養士として備えたい必要な力についておおむね獲得できたこと、本大学の学生は社会における管理栄養士としての資質（知識、技術、態度）についての理解が臨地実習後におおむね獲得できたという評価となり、今回用いた「管理栄養士課程における臨地実習ルーブリック」により臨地実習の教育効果を可視化できたととらえることができた