Successional changes in mycorrhizal type in the pioneer plant communities of a subalpine volcanic desert on Mt. Fuji, Japan

Isolated island-like plant communities dominated by the perennial herb Polygonum cuspidatum are typical pioneer vegetation in the subalpine volcanic deserts of Japan. To study the relationship between mycorrhizal associations and plant community development, we conducted a survey of the mycorrhizal status of plants in subalpine island communities in a volcanic desert on Mt. Fuji. Roots of 45 native species, belonging to 23 families, were collected from island communities at 3 different successional stages: (I) pioneer communities dominated by P. cuspidatum, (II) mixed communities of herbs and grass, and (III) mixed communities of herbs and shrubs. Arbuscular mycorrhiza (AM) was the predominant mycorrhizal type in the early stages of community successions (I and II). P. cuspidatum, which had previously been reported as a non-mycorrhizal species, formed AM at the study site. In the later stage (III), 5 mycorrhizal types, AM, ecto-, ericoid, arbutoid and orchid mycorrhizal, were observed. Seven woody species had two types of mycorrhizas (AM and ectomycorrhiza). High spore densities of AM fungi were observed in the soil of the island communities, whereas few spores were observed in bare ground without vegetation cover. The average colonization levels of the AM fungi were within a wide range of 0.1 to 72%, independent of successional progress. These data show that marked increases in mycorrhizal types occur during the succession of island communities, although AM is the predominant mycorrhizal type throughout the successional process

Mycorrhizal status of alpine plant communities on Mt. Maedake Cirque in the Japan South Alps

To clarify the mycorrhizal status of alpine plants, we sampled roots of 33 species from 15 families growing on Mt. Maedake Cirque in the Japan South Alps. Ericoid mycorrhiza, ectomycorrhiza and arbuscular mycorrhiza (AM) were observed in the study site. Colonization classified as ericoid mycorrhizal was observed with Phyllodoce aleutica, Tripetaleia bracteata, Vaccinium uliginosum, Rhododendron aureum, Arcterica nana and Shortia soldanelloides f. alpina, and ectomycorrhizal colonization with Pinus pumila and Polygonum viviparum. AM plants were found in species belonging to the following families: Compositae, Geraniaceae, Ranunculaceae, Rosaceae, Gramineae, Liliaceae, Violaceae, Crassulaceae, Gentianaceae and Campanulaceae. AM was the predominant mycorrhizal type in the study site and average colonization levels of AM fungi were within a wide range of 1.2 to 76.1%. In conclusion, mycorrhizal associations were observed in most (91%) of the plant species examined under the severe climate conditions of the study site

ダイガクセイ ノ ジソン カンジョウ ト タイイク ジュギョウ ニオケル ジコ ヒョウカ セイセキ トノ カンレン ニツイテ

The purpose of this study was to analyze the relationship between self-esteem and self estimation and it\u27s relevance to physical education and achievement scores. In order to attain this purpose, two questionnaires were administered to 58 college students both in the first and last class. The questionnaire was composed of a self-esteem scale, a general self-efficacy scale, a motor competency scale, an attitude scale for the enjoyment of physical education class and a face sheet. The achievement scores were reported by each class teacher. And then, the correlation coefficients between self-esteem scores both at the first and the last class and other variables were calculated, and a multiple regression analysis with stepwise method was executed. As a result of correlation analysis, there was a strong correlation between self-esteem in the first class and self-esteem in the last class. Moreover, there was medium correlation between self-esteem and general self-efficacy both in the first and last class. As a result of multiple regression analysis with stepwise method, the following three variables were selected (p<0.05). The name of these scales were General self-efficacy scale for the last class, Self-esteem scale for the first class and General self-efficacy scale for the first class. The beta-coefficients of these scales were 0.8779, 0.6653 and -0.3164 respectively. From these results, it was suggested that the general self-efficacy of each student might affect self-esteem more than other variables that are relevant to physical education class.国立情報学研究所『研究紀要公開支援事業』により電子化

Par6 regulates skeletogenesis and gut differentiation in sea urchin larvae

Partitioning-defective (par) genes were originally identified as genes that are essential for the asymmetric division of the Caenorhabditis elegans zygote. Studies have since revealed that the gene products are part of an evolutionarily conserved PAR-atypical protein kinase C system involved in cell polarity in various biological contexts. In this study, we analyzed the function of par6 during sea urchin morphogenesis by morpholino-mediated knockdown and by manipulation swapping of the primary mesenchyme cells (PMCs). Loss of Par6 resulted in defects in skeletogenesis and gut differentiation in larvae. Phenotypic analyses of chimeras constructed by PMC swapping showed that Par6 in non-PMCs is required for differentiation of archenteron into functional gut. In contrast, Par6 in both PMCs and ectodermal cells cooperatively regulates skeletogenesis. We suggest that Par6 in PMCs plays an immediate role in the deposition of biomineral in the syncytial cable, whereas Par6 in ectoderm may stabilize skeletal rods via an unknown signal(s). © 2012 Springer-Verlag

ダイガク タイイク ジュギョウ ニオケル レジリエンス イクセイ ノ ココロミ : ジョシ ダイガクセイ ニオケル シンタイ カツドウ ジョウキョウ ト シンリテキ トクセイ トノ カンレン

The purposes of this study were to reconstruct the resilience scale, the time perspective scale and the physical self−perception profile scale, and to analyze the relationship between resilience and time perspective, physical self−perception on the view points of transtheoretical model（TTM）. The results of analysis were as follows ; First, the reliability of three scales mentioned above were fulfilled the criterion by chronbach alpha coefficient. Second, the students on the higher level stage in TTM showed the higher resilience point, time perspective point and physical self−perception point. Especially, the tendency was strong on the “pursuit of originality” of resilience scale, the “reception of the past” of time perspective scale and the “attractive body”, “sports competence”, “physical strength”, “condition management”, “physical self value” of physical self−perception scale. From these results, the measures for resilience training through physical education classes were suggested

ショウガッコウ コウガクネン ジドウ ノ ジソン カンジョウ ト タイイク ジュギョウ ニオケル カチカン オヨビ ウンドウ ユウノウカン トノ カンレン

A purpose of this study was to analyze the relationship between Self-esteem of higher grade children in primary school and Values, Motor Competence in physical education class. In ordre to achieve this purpose, four kinds of questionnaires were administered to the 2549 higher grade children in primary school. The questionnaires were composed of following scales; Self-esteem, Reflective Self-esteem, Values in physical education, Sense of attainment in physical education and Motor competence. The scale of Values and the scale of Motor competence were devided into four sub-scales, respectively. The name of these subscales were as follows; Effort and Challenge, Observance of rules, Consideration and Investigation, Self-superiority (the foregoings were in Values scale), Cognition of physical competence, Sense of control, Sense of acceptance (the foregoings were in Motor Competence scale). As a result of correlation analysis, the significant correlation coefficients between the self-esteem acale and the other scales were indicated (p unstable high self-esteem > unstable low self-esteem > stable low self-esteem. From these results, it was suggested that the following points were important for teachers in physical education class. The first point was to make children to feel motor competence, and the second point was to praise children for their rule observance behaviors. And through these attentions of teachers, the self-recognition of unstable low self-esteem children could be improved.国立情報学研究所『研究紀要公開支援事業』により電子化

ニンチテキ トレーニング ソフト ノ サクセイ ト ソノ シヨウ コウカ ニツイテ : バレーボール ニオケル シュウダンテキ ギノウ ノ シュウトク オ メザシテ

国立情報学研究所『研究紀要公開支援事業』により電子化

Mirtazapine exerts astrocyte-mediated dopaminergic neuroprotection

Mirtazapine, a noradrenergic and specific serotonergic antidepressant (NaSSA), is known to activate serotonin (5-HT) 1A receptor. Our recent study demonstrated that stimulation of astrocytic 5-HT1A receptors promoted astrocyte proliferation and upregulated antioxidative property in astrocytes to protect dopaminergic neurons against oxidative stress. Here, we evaluated the neuroprotective effects of mirtazapine against dopaminergic neurodegeneration in models of Parkinson's disease (PD). Mirtazapine administration attenuated the loss of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra and increased the expression of the antioxidative molecule metallothionein (MT) in the striatal astrocytes of 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA)-injected parkinsonian mice via 5-HT1A receptors. Mirtazapine protected dopaminergic neurons against 6-OHDA-induced neurotoxicity in mesencephalic neuron and striatal astrocyte cocultures, but not in enriched neuronal cultures. Mirtazapine-treated neuron-conditioned medium (Mir-NCM) induced astrocyte proliferation and upregulated MT expression via 5-HT1A receptors on astrocytes. Furthermore, treatment with medium from Mir-NCM-treated astrocytes protected dopaminergic neurons against 6-OHDA neurotoxicity, and these effects were attenuated by treatment with a MT-1/2-specific antibody or 5-HT1A antagonist. Our study suggests that mirtazapine could be an effective disease-modifying drug for PD and highlights that astrocytic 5-HT1A receptors may be a novel target for the treatment of PD