Properties of concrete using crushed stone powder with various specific surface areas

Many countries use crushed stone and crushed sand as the aggregate for concrete. However, a large amount of crushed stone powder is produced as by-products in the manufacturing process. Unless effective utilization of crushed stone powder is considered, it is not a sufficient measure in terms of sustainability. In this study, the properties of concrete using crushed stone powders with different specific surface areas are investigated. As the results, a strong correlation was found between the unit water content of concrete and the total surface area of the crushed stone powder contained in the concrete. Furthermore, it was concluded that the correlation between the strength index, the CO2 index, and the virgin resource index of concrete using crushed stone powder depends on the types of crushed stone powder and crushed sand

第2言語熟達度テストとしてのOxford Placement Test とMichigan English Placement Test の分析

The purpose of this study was to analyze two second language (L2) English placement tests, the Oxford Placement Test and the Michigan English Placement Test, to evaluate the degree to which the tests function as L2 proficiency tests. Descriptive statistics, normality tests, and correlation coefficients were calculated for the two tests. Factor analytic methods and Rasch scaling were also applied to the data set. The results suggest that both tests can function as proficiency tests for Japanese learners of English. However, the distribution of the Michigan English Placement Test scores deviated from normality, and the reliability estimates of the scores on some of the subsections of that test were low. The implications of the results are that researchers need to choose a testing instrument that measures the aspect of proficiency that is related to a particular study, and that subsection scores may not be reliable enough to use as a unidimensional scale

family members and health-related behaviors

The aim of this study was to clarify the associations of family members living together with health-related behaviors in Japanese young workers. The participants were 300 men and women aged 20-39 years in 2015 who had a job. A web-based self-administered questionnaire on status of partnering and parenting, number of family members living together, dietary habits, drinking habit, smoking habit, self-rated health, employment status, working time and commuting time was conducted through Internet. Multiple logistic regression analysis and general linear models were used to assess the association of family members living together with health-related behaviors. The multivariate-adjusted odds ratio (95% confidence interval, p-value) for current drinking in unmarried participants living with their parents compared to unmarried participants living alone was 0.35 (0.13-0.93, p=0.036). The adjusted means of frequency of breakfast skipping and frequency of eating out showed a trend for inverse associations with the presence of a partner and children. However, those associations disappeared after adjustment for age of youngest child. The findings suggest that the presence of parents might affect drinking behavior and that age of youngest child living together might affect the frequency of breakfast skipping in young Japanese workers

ノビレチンは17型ヘルパーT細胞の分化調節により、実験的自己免疫性脳脊髄炎の発症を抑制する

Multiple sclerosis is an organ-specific autoimmune disease that targets the myelin antigen in the central nervous system. Nobiletin is a dietary polymethoxylated flavonoid found in citrus fruits. In this study, we investigated how nobiletin affects the disease state and immune responses to myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein in experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis mice. Nobiletin was administered orally from 14 days before immunization until the end of the experiment, and clinical scores were determined. The production levels of interleukin-17A and interferon-γ were measured in a culture supernatant of splenocytes stimulated with myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein. In addition, flow cytometric analysis was performed to examine the effect of nobiletin on T cell differentiation in vitro. Admin­istration of nobiletin significantly decreased the clinical score and interleukin-17A production in splenocytes. Furthermore, in vitro analysis showed that nobiletin significantly suppressed Th17 cell differentiation and interleukin-17A production in a dose-dependent manner. The results suggest that nobiletin attenuates experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis severity through modulation of Th17 cell differentiation

Dual-alkylator Conditioning Regimen with Busulfan and Melphalan for Bone Marrow Allogeneic Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation in Patients with Myelofibrosis : The Results of a Retrospective Study at a Single Institution in Japan

Myelofibrosis (MF) is a myeloproliferative neoplasm associated with significant morbidity and mortality, and allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT) remains the only curative approach. While the optimal conditioning regimen before allo-HSCT for MF patients remains to be determined, recent studies have suggested that a thiotepa-busulfan-containing dual-alkylator regimen, FBT regimen, may be associated with favorable outcomes. In Japan, however, thiotepa is not indicated for MF. Here we describe the results of 6 cases of MF treated with melphalan-busulfan containing dual-alkylator regimen, FBM regimen, followed by their first allo-HSCT at a single institution. Neutrophil and platelet engraftment was achieved in all patients. And a full donor chimerism was confirmed in all patients at ＋30 days after allo-HSCT. The relatively small size and short observation period of our study make it difficult to draw a definitive conclusion ; however, our results suggest that a dualalkylator regimen of FBM may be a candidate for an conditioning for allo-HSCT for MF, which should be verified with a large cohort of patients.Article信州医学雑誌 71(6) : 393-402, (2023)journal articl

Polymethoxyflavonids and T helper 17 cells

We examined the effects of polymethoxyflavonoids (PMFs) on T helper (Th) 17 cell differentiation in vitro and in vivo. Five different PMFs including nobiletin (NOB), sudachitin (SUD), demethoxysudachitin, heptamethoxyflavone and natsudaidain were used for the in vitro study, and effects of those flavonoids on Th17 responses were investigated. NOB and heptamethoxyflavone significantly suppressed the proliferation response, but SUD, demethoxysudachitin and natsudaidain did not suppress the proliferation response. All of the five flavonoids decreased IL-17A production. Mice with experimentally induced autoimmune encephalomyelitis were used as an in vivo Th17 differentiation model. We focused on two flavonoids, NOB and SUD, and examined the effects of those flavonoids. NOB significantly suppressed Th17 cell proliferation and cytokine responses, but SUD only decreased proliferation responses. The results suggest that the suppressive effect of NOB on Th17 response in vivo is stronger than that of SUD

Psychological Reactance to Mobility Restrictions Due to the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Japanese Population Study

In Japan, mobility restrictions were enforced by the government to abate the spread of COVID-19. The current study examined whether experiences of such mobility restrictions affected motivation for future going-out activities. To this end, we conducted a one-time online survey of 1,000 adults in Tokyo to measure going-out activities in four different time periods at once: before the spread of infection, during and after the emergency declaration, and after the end of the pandemic (future desire). In addition, to examine the impact of preferences for online services that make it easier to stay home, we measured the usage history of online services to obtain food during the mobility restriction period. Results indicated that desire for going-out activities after the end of the pandemic increased compared with those before the pandemic, particularly for leisure-related purposes. In addition, the use of online services to obtain food tended to suppress the increased desire for future going-out activities, although this effect was not significant. In conclusion, mobility restrictions resulted in motivational arousal for going-out activities after the end of the pandemic. Our findings indicate that psychological reactance plays a role in determining going-out activities in the future

エイヨウ ト メンエキ キノウ : ヒヒッス エイヨウソ テイエイヨウ ジョウタイ カエイヨウ ジョウタイ ト メンエキ

It is known that nutritional state crucially affects immune function. In recent years, the contributionof the diet to the optimal working of the immune system has become wildly appreciatedand the influence of different dietary components on specific aspects of immune function has beenextensively studied. Soy isoflavone genistein suppresses antigen-specific immune response inBALB/c mice and suppresses development of atopic-like dermatitis in NC/Nga mice. In other soyisoflavone equol enhances antigen-specific IgE production via IL-13-mediated pathway. Further,equol exacerbates colitis of dextran sulfate sodium-treated mice. Therefore, immune stimulatoryeffects are strikingly different among soy isoflavones. In this reviews, in addition of the isoflavone,we overview the effects of dietary nucleic acid and protein-deficiency on antigen-specific immuneresponses. Furthermore, we present hot topics researches in the field of obesity and T cellfunction

validity of dietary diversity

The validity of dietary variety score (DVS) using a short-form questionnaire has not been investigated using dietary diversity based on a quantitative distribution of consumed foods in older Japanese. We examined the association between DVS and objective dietary diversity using a Quantitative Index for Dietary Diversity (QUANTIDD) based on the quantitative distribution of foods consumed by older Japanese community dwellers. The subjects were 65 older Japanese community dwellers aged 60–79 years. We used two kinds of scores for assessment of dietary diversity. At first, dietary diversity was determined using DVS calculated from answers to a questionnaire about frequencies of intake of 10 food groups. Second, dietary intake was assessed using a 3-day dietary record with photographs, and dietary diversity was determined using QUANTIDD. The relationships between DVS and QUANTIDD were assessed using partial correlation coefficients controlling for confounders. The correlation coefficient between DVS and QUANTIDD was moderate (r = 0.212-0.458). After controlling for confounders, those correlation coefficient between DVS and QUANTIDD remained moderate. The findings suggest that there was a moderate relationship between DVS and QUANTIDD, and DVS using a short-form questionnaire may be useful for assessing dietary diversity in older Japanese community dwellers

Dietary diversity and healthy lifestyle

The aim of this study was to clarify the characteristics of lifestyle and health awareness according to dietary diversity in a Japanese worksite population. The participants were 1,312 men and women aged 20 to 63 years who were living in Tokushima Prefecture, Japan during the period 2012-2013. We obtained anthropometric data and information on lifestyle characteristics using a self-administered questionnaire. Dietary intake was assessed using a food frequency questionnaire, and dietary diversity was determined using the Quantitative Index for Dietary Diversity (QUANTIDD). The characteristics of lifestyle and health awareness according to quartiles of the QUANTIDD score were assessed using the chi-square test and a general linear model. The higher the QUANTIDD score was, the larger were the proportions of participants who knew the appropriate amount of dietary intake and participants who referred to nutritional component information when choosing and / or buying food. Among participants with higher QUANTIDD scores, the proportion of participants who considered their current diet was good was high in women, whereas the proportion of participants who wanted to improve their diet in the future was high in men. Those results indicate that higher dietary diversity was related to better characteristics of lifestyle and awareness of health