Contrasts in Vital Rates: Madras and Punjab in the Colonial Period

It is well known that there have been persistent differences in demographic rates between northern and southern areas in post-independence India: in the north marital fertility is higher, infant mortality higher and life expectancy shorter than in the south. As Tim Dyson has shown for infant mortality, this probably has pre-independence origins. In this paper the post-WWII contrasts in demographic performances between north and south India will be traced back to the colonial period. By choosing Madras and Punjab, by selecting districts whose registration statistics are reasonably usable in each province (Madras: Coimbatore, Salem, North Arcot, South Arcot, and Tilnelvelli; Punjab: Gurdaspur, Jallundur, Amritsar, Hoshiarpur, Ferozepore, and Ambala, Karnal and Rohtak), and then by adopting W. Brass's relational Gompertz fertility model, logit life-table system and growth balance method, as exemplified by Dyson's seminal work on Berar, we estimate annual series of e0 and TFR for both provinces. The series clearly show that even in the colonial period both fertility and mortality were higher in the north than in the south, which will have wider implications in historical contexts.

Direct Detection of the Wino- and Higgsino-like Neutralino Dark Matters at One-Loop Level

The neutralino-nucleon (\tilde{\chi}^0-N) scattering is an important process for direct dark matter searches. In this paper we discuss one-loop contributions to the cross section in the wino-like and Higgsino-like LSP cases. The neutralino-nucleon scattering mediated by the Higgs \tilde{\chi}^0\tilde{\chi}^0 and Z\tilde{\chi}^0\tilde{\chi}^0 couplings at tree level is suppressed by the gaugino-Higgsino mixing at tree level when the neutralino is close to a weak eigenstate. The one-loop contribution to the cross section, generated by the gauge interaction, is not suppressed by any SUSY particle mass or mixing in the wino- and Higgsino-like LSP cases. It may significantly alter the total cross section when \sigma_{\tilde{\chi}^0 N}\sim 10^{-45} cm^2 or less.Comment: 26 pages, 9 figures. Version to be published in Physical Review

Non-Perturbative Effect on Dark Matter Annihilation and Gamma Ray Signature from Galactic Center

Detection of gamma rays from dark matter annihilation in the galactic center is one of the feasible techniques to search for dark matter. We evaluate the gamma ray flux in the case that the dark matter has an electroweak SU(2)_L charge. Such dark matter is realized in the minimal supersymmetric standard model (MSSM) when the lightest SUSY particle is the Higgsino- or Wino-like neutralino. When the dark matter is heavy compared to the weak gauge bosons, the leading-order calculation of the annihilation cross sections in perturbation breaks down due to a threshold singularity. We take into account non-perturbative effects by using the non-relativistic effective theory for the two-body states of the dark matter and its SU(2)_L partner(s), and evaluate precise cross sections relevant to the gamma ray fluxes. We find that the annihilation cross sections may be enhanced by several orders of magnitude due to resonances when the dark matter mass is larger than 1 TeV. Furthermore, the annihilation cross sections in the MSSM may be changed by factors even when the mass is about 500 GeV. We also discuss sensitivities to gamma ray signals from the galactic center in the GLAST satellite detector and the large Air Cerenkov Telescope arrays.Comment: 44 pages, 25 figures, some typos in Sec.V-2 (related to fitting functions) correcte

Architectures of archaeal GINS complexes, essential DNA replication initiation factors

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>In the early stage of eukaryotic DNA replication, the template DNA is unwound by the MCM helicase, which is activated by forming a complex with the Cdc45 and GINS proteins. The eukaryotic GINS forms a heterotetramer, comprising four types of subunits. On the other hand, the archaeal GINS appears to be either a tetramer formed by two types of subunits in a 2:2 ratio (α₂β₂) or a homotetramer of a single subunit (α₄). Due to the low sequence similarity between the archaeal and eukaryotic GINS subunits, the atomic structures of the archaeal GINS complexes are attracting interest for comparisons of their subunit architectures and organization.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>We determined the crystal structure of the α₂β₂GINS tetramer from <it>Thermococcus kodakaraensis </it>(<it>Tko</it>GINS), comprising Gins51 and Gins23, and compared it with the reported human GINS structures. The backbone structure of each subunit and the tetrameric assembly are similar to those of human GINS. However, the location of the C-terminal small domain of Gins51 is remarkably different between the archaeal and human GINS structures. In addition, <it>Tko</it>GINS exhibits different subunit contacts from those in human GINS, as a consequence of the different relative locations and orientations between the domains. Based on the GINS crystal structures, we built a homology model of the putative homotetrameric GINS from <it>Thermoplasma acidophilum </it>(<it>Tac</it>GINS). Importantly, we propose that a long insertion loop allows the differential positioning of the C-terminal domains and, as a consequence, exclusively leads to the formation of an asymmetric homotetramer rather than a symmetrical one.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>The DNA metabolizing proteins from archaea are similar to those from eukaryotes, and the archaeal multi-subunit complexes are occasionally simplified versions of the eukaryotic ones. The overall similarity in the architectures between the archaeal and eukaryotic GINS complexes suggests that the GINS function, directed through interactions with other protein components, is basically conserved. On the other hand, the different subunit contacts, including the locations and contributions of the C-terminal domains to the tetramer formation, imply the possibility that the archaeal and eukaryotic GINS complexes contribute to DNA unwinding reactions by significantly different mechanisms in terms of the atomic details.</p

PAX6 isoforms, along with reprogramming factors, differentially regulate the induction of cornea-specific genes

PAX6 is the key transcription factor involved in eye development in humans, but the differential functions of the two PAX6 isoforms, isoform-a and isoform-b, are largely unknown. To reveal their function in the corneal epithelium, PAX6 isoforms, along with reprogramming factors, were transduced into human non-ocular epithelial cells. Herein, we show that the two PAX6 isoforms differentially and cooperatively regulate the expression of genes specific to the structure and functions of the corneal epithelium, particularly keratin 3 (KRT3) and keratin 12 (KRT12). PAX6 isoform-a induced KRT3 expression by targeting its upstream region. KLF4 enhanced this induction. A combination of PAX6 isoform-b, KLF4 and OCT4 induced KRT12 expression. These new findings will contribute to furthering the understanding of the molecular basis of the corneal epithelium specific phenotype

Natural capitals for nature’s contributions to people: the case of Japan

Recently, natural capital has gained the attention of researchers and policymakers to promote sustainability. Previous studies have investigated the value of ecosystem services with respect to specific areas or species. Other studies have investigated the value of various types of ecosystem services and natural capital by integrating a number of findings using meta-analyses at the global level. Although these studies have provided information on either the global value of natural capital or the local value of specific subjects, there is little evidence on the country-specific values of natural capital in Japan, which will provide useful information for national environmental policies. We investigated the perceived values of terrestrial and marine natural capital in Japan using internet surveys and payment card methods. Data on various natural forms of capital were collected in a unified format and comparable manner. We found that some explanatory variables, such as perceived importance and visit frequency, as well as sociodemographic characteristics, are significant drivers of the willingness to pay (WTP), which maintains each aspect of natural capital. In addition, we conducted future predictions of terrestrial and marine natural capital using a scenario developed in a previous study. Our results indicate that Japan should follow a population dispersed scenario for the sustainable management of natural capital up to 2050

Characterization of two cotton cDNAs encoding trans-2-enoyl-CoA reductase reveals a putative novel NADPH-binding motif

Very long chain fatty acids are important components of plant lipids, suberins, and cuticular waxes. Trans-2-enoyl-CoA reductase (ECR) catalyses the fourth reaction of fatty acid elongation, which is NADPH dependent. In the present study, the expression of two cotton ECR (GhECR) genes revealed by quantitative RT-PCR analysis was up-regulated during cotton fibre elongation. GhECR1 and 2 each contain open reading frames of 933 bp in length, both encoding proteins consisting of 310 amino acid residues. GhECRs show 32% identity to Saccharomyces cerevisiae Tsc13p at the deduced amino acid level, and the GhECR genes were able to restore the viability of the S. cerevisiae haploid tsc13-deletion strain. A putative non-classical NADPH-binding site in GhECR was predicted by an empirical approach. Site-directed mutagenesis in combination with gas chromatography–mass spectrometry analysis suggests that G(5X)IPXG presents a putative novel NADPH-binding motif of the plant ECR family. The data suggest that both GhECR genes encode functional enzymes harbouring non-classical NADPH-binding sites at their C-termini, and are involved in fatty acid elongation during cotton fibre development

近赤外分光法による実験動物の血糖値および内臓脂肪の非侵襲測定

近赤外領域の光は、測定対象物の中に深く入り込みやすい特徴があるため、測定対象物を加工することなく、そのままの形で測定することが可能である。そのため、近赤外分光法は、非破壊測定の1つとしてさまざまな分野で注目されている。近赤外分光法を用いることで、血糖値や内臓脂肪の非侵襲測定が可能になれば、それらの値をリアルタイムでモニタリングすることが可能になり、臨床検査分野の測定装置開発等に応用できるものと期待できる。特に、ヒトにおける血糖値測定については、これまでに多くの試みがなされているが、普及には至っていないのが現状である。そこで、本研究では近赤外分光法を用いて、まずヒトの血糖値を非浸襲測定することが可能かどうかを調べ、さらに実験動物の血糖値、内臓脂肪、血清中性脂肪の非浸襲測定が可能かどうかの検討を行った。その結果、ヒトの血糖値、マウスの内臓脂肪、ラットの血清中性脂肪と近赤外分光法による測定値の間に高い相関が認められた。また、マウスの血糖値についても近赤外分光法による測定値を用いて、ある程度の推定が可能であることが示唆された

「農業体験学習事業」 農業体験を通した地域連携による家政学群学生の学び 平成23（2011）～ 25（2013）年度和洋女子大学教育振興支援助成成果報告

平成23年度から同25年度に和洋女子大学教育振興支援助成を受け、農業体験を通して家政学群学生の学びを促進した。体験実習にあたり、学外の農業従事者、自治体（長野県立科町、千葉県市川市、千葉県神崎町）の農業担当職員や農業委員、JA職員、農業に関するNPO法人スタッフ、静岡大学、千葉大学の関係者など、様々な地域の方々と交流し、指導されて実践した農業体験により、学生はコミュニケーション能力や連携力を身につけた。また、農作物や花を育てる方法を学び、食べ物や花を育てることは生きている植物を自然と共生しながら育てることであることを認識し、農業の大変さと喜びも体験した。学内では農業ファッション制作の活動も行い、農業する女性のための作業服づくりを初めて体験し、専門技術の修得にも繋げた。また、収穫物から加工食品を開発、販売する活動も行い、地域の人たちから高い評価を受けた。現場での作業体験は学生同士や教員と学生間の協力や協調の体験となり、同時に様々な活動体験から実践力、判断力などの育成に繋がった。これらの農業体験を通して実施した実践的学習は、家政学を学ぶ学生に大きな刺激と成長をもたらしたと考える。本稿では本取り組みにおける家政学群学生の学びの内容と学生の様子について報告した

Post-intervention Status in Patients With Refractory Myasthenia Gravis Treated With Eculizumab During REGAIN and Its Open-Label Extension

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate whether eculizumab helps patients with anti-acetylcholine receptor-positive (AChR+) refractory generalized myasthenia gravis (gMG) achieve the Myasthenia Gravis Foundation of America (MGFA) post-intervention status of minimal manifestations (MM), we assessed patients' status throughout REGAIN (Safety and Efficacy of Eculizumab in AChR+ Refractory Generalized Myasthenia Gravis) and its open-label extension. METHODS: Patients who completed the REGAIN randomized controlled trial and continued into the open-label extension were included in this tertiary endpoint analysis. Patients were assessed for the MGFA post-intervention status of improved, unchanged, worse, MM, and pharmacologic remission at defined time points during REGAIN and through week 130 of the open-label study. RESULTS: A total of 117 patients completed REGAIN and continued into the open-label study (eculizumab/eculizumab: 56; placebo/eculizumab: 61). At week 26 of REGAIN, more eculizumab-treated patients than placebo-treated patients achieved a status of improved (60.7% vs 41.7%) or MM (25.0% vs 13.3%; common OR: 2.3; 95% CI: 1.1-4.5). After 130 weeks of eculizumab treatment, 88.0% of patients achieved improved status and 57.3% of patients achieved MM status. The safety profile of eculizumab was consistent with its known profile and no new safety signals were detected. CONCLUSION: Eculizumab led to rapid and sustained achievement of MM in patients with AChR+ refractory gMG. These findings support the use of eculizumab in this previously difficult-to-treat patient population. CLINICALTRIALSGOV IDENTIFIER: REGAIN, NCT01997229; REGAIN open-label extension, NCT02301624. CLASSIFICATION OF EVIDENCE: This study provides Class II evidence that, after 26 weeks of eculizumab treatment, 25.0% of adults with AChR+ refractory gMG achieved MM, compared with 13.3% who received placebo