Structure of inert layer 4He adsorbed on a mesoporous silica

We have studied the structure of inert layer 4He adsorbed on mesoporous silica (FSM-16), by the vapor pressure and heat capacity measurements. The heat capacity shows a Schottky-like peak due to the excitation of a part of localized solid to fluid. We analyzed the heat capacity over a wide temperature region based on the model including the contribution of the localized solid and excited fluid and clarified that the excited fluid coexists with the localized solid at high temperature. As the areal density approaches the value at which superfluid appears (n_C), the fluid amount is likely to go to zero, suggesting a possibility that the inert layer is solidified just below n_C

ルソーの人間関係における金銭の問題をめぐって

金沢大学国際基幹教育院外国語教育

Depth profiles of radioactive cesium in soil using a scraper plate over a wide area surrounding the Fukushima Dai-ichi Nuclear Power Plant, Japan

AbstractDuring the Fukushima Dai-ichi Nuclear Power Plant (NPP) accident, radioactive cesium was released in the environment and deposited on the soils. Depth profiles of radioactive cesium in contaminated soils provide useful information not only for radiation protection and decontamination operations but also for geoscience and radioecology studies. Soil samples were collected using a scraper plate three times between December 2011 and December 2012 at 84 or 85 locations within a 100-km radius of the Fukushima Dai-ichi NPP. In most of the obtained radioactive cesium depth profiles, it was possible to fit the concentration to a function of mass depth as either an exponential or hyperbolic secant function. By using those functions, following three parameters were estimated: (i) relaxation mass depth β (g cm−2), (ii) effective relaxation mass depth βeff (g cm−2), which is defined for a hyperbolic secant function as the relaxation mass depth of an equivalent exponential function giving the same air kerma rate at 1 m above the ground as the inventory, and (iii) 1/10 depth L1/10 (cm), at which the soil contains 90% of the inventory. The average β value (wet weight) including ones by hyperbolic secant function in December 2012, was 1.29 times higher than that in December 2011. In fact, it was observed that depth profiles at some study sites deviated from the typical exponential distributions over time. These results indicate the gradual downward migration of radioactive cesium in the soils. The L1/10 values in December 2012 were summarized and presented on a map surrounding the Fukushima Dai-ichi NPP, and the average value of L1/10 was 3.01 cm (n = 82) at this time. It was found that radioactive cesium remained within 5 cm of the ground surface at most study sites (71 sites). The sech function can also be used to estimate the downward migration rate V (kg m−2 y−1). The V values in December 2012 (n = 25) were in good agreement with those found by a realistic approach using a diffusion and migration model. Almost all values ranged between 1.7 and 9.6 kg m−2 y−1 in this study

PAX5 alterations in an infant case of KMT2A-rearranged leukemia with lineage switch

Lineage switch is a rare event at leukemic relapse. While mostly known to occur in KMT2A-rearranged infant leukemia, the underlying mechanism is yet to be depicted. This case report describes a female infant who achieved remission of KMT2A-MLLT3-rearranged acute monocytic leukemia, but 6 months thereafter, relapsed as KMT2A-MLLT3-rearranged acute lymphocytic leukemia. Whole exome sequencing of the bone marrow obtained pre-post lineage switch revealed two somatic mutations of PAX5 in the relapse sample. These two PAX5 alterations were suggested to be loss of function, thus to have played the driver role in the lineage switch from acute monocytic leukemia to acute lymphocytic leukemia

The first Japanese biobank of patient‐derived pediatric acute lymphoblastic leukemia xenograft models

A lack of practical resources in Japan has limited preclinical discovery and testing of therapies for pediatric relapsed and refractory acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), which has poor outcomes. Here, we established 57 patient-derived xenografts (PDXs) in NOD.Cg-Prkdcscidll2rgtm1Sug/ShiJic (NOG) mice and created a biobank by preserving PDX cells including three extramedullary relapsed ALL PDXs. We demonstrated that our PDX mice and PDX cells mimicked the biological features of relapsed ALL and that PDX models reproduced treatment-mediated clonal selection. Our PDX biobank is a useful scientific resource for capturing drug sensitivity features of pediatric patients with ALL, providing an essential tool for the development of targeted therapies

An Exploratory Study of Thinness Trends and Health Problems in Healthy Young Japanese Women

【目的】やせは低出生体重児出産、耐糖能異常などとの関係が示唆されている。本研究では若年女性の体格と代謝関連物質の結果からやせに関する健康問題を探索することを目的とする。 【方法】18～29歳までの健常女性65名を対象として早朝空腹時に体組成測定、血液生化学検査、簡易型自記式食事歴法質問票（BDHQ）、国際標準化身体活動質問紙表（IPAQ）、３次元型睡眠尺度の調査を行った。 【結果】体脂肪率高値、骨格筋指数（SMI）低値、インスリン抵抗性等の問題が無く、普通体重の者は20人 (31％)であった。成長ホルモン、総ケトン体は各々基準値より高値の者が20％以上存在した。多重ロジスティック回帰分析の結果は、SMI低値を従属変数とした解析で、睡眠位相得点のみ有意（OR=0.808、95%CI=0.657-0.994、p=0.043）な結果が得られた。 【考察】若年女性が抱える健康問題として、慢性のエネルギー不足と偏った食生活、および睡眠の位相の乱れが示され、これらはサルコペニア予備群、糖尿病予備群、隠れ肥満と関連している可能性が考えられた。【Purpose】Thinness has been suggested to be related to baby’s low birth weight and glucose intolerance. This study aimed to explore health issues relating to thinness using physique and metabolism-related factors in young women. 【Methods】Sixty-five healthy women, aged 18–29 years were examined early in the morning in a fasting state. Measurements included body composition, blood biochemical markers, the Brief-type self-administered Diet History Questionnaire (BDHQ), the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ), and the 3-Dimensional Sleep Scale (3DSS). 【Results】Twenty of the 65 women (31%) were of normal weight, without problems such as high body fat percentage, low skeletal muscle index (SMI), or high insulin resistance (measured via the homeostatic model assessment for insulin resistance [HOMA-IR]). Of these women, more than 20% had growth hormone and total ketone levels higher than the respective reference values. Multiple logistic regression analysis showed that the sleep phase scores were significant (OR=0.808, 95% CI=0.657-0.994, p=0.043) only when low SMI was the dependent variable. 【Discussion】Chronic energy deficiency, unbalanced diet, and sleep phase disorders were identified as the health problems faced by thin young Japanese women; these may be associated with pre-sarcopenia, pre-diabetes, and hidden obesity.departmental bulletin pape

Alteration of the immune environment in bone marrow from children with recurrent B cell precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia

Due to the considerable success of cancer immunotherapy for leukemia, the tumor immune environment has become a focus of intense research; however, there are few reports on the dynamics of the tumor immune environment in leukemia. Here, we analyzed the tumor immune environment in pediatric B cell precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia by analyzing serial bone marrow samples from nine patients with primary and recurrent disease by mass cytometry using 39 immunophenotype markers, and transcriptome analysis. High-dimensional single-cell mass cytometry analysis elucidated a dynamic shift of T cells from naïve to effector subsets, and clarified that, during relapse, the tumor immune environment comprised a T helper 1-polarized immune profile, together with an increased number of effector regulatory T cells. These results were confirmed in a validation cohort using conventional flow cytometry. Furthermore, RNA transcriptome analysis identified the upregulation of immune-related pathways in B cell precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia cells during relapse, suggesting interaction with the surrounding environment. In conclusion, a tumor immune environment characterized by a T helper 1-polarized immune profile, with an increased number of effector regulatory T cells, could contribute to the pathophysiology of recurrent B cell precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia. This information could contribute to the development of effective immunotherapeutic approaches against B cell precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia relapse

Project Report: Development of an Effective Support System for a Foreign Language Proficiency Training Program (in Languages Other than English) for Students Studying Abroad

This article reports the results of a three-year education project (from 2015 to 2017) conducted by the Faculty of Foreign Language Studies of the Institute of Liberal Arts and Science. This project aimed developed an effective education system inside and outside of classes for students preparing to study abroad or continuing learning after coming back from studying abroad. According to the analysis of the investigation into the students’ actual learning requirements, we consider the further possibilities of learning support provided by teachers