ダンス シドウ ノ ゲンジョウ ト モンダイテン : シコクチク チュウガッコウ キョウイン オ タイショウ トシテ

The elective subjects system was introduced in the new course of study for physical education in Japan. In junior and senior high school, dance was changed to an elective subject from a required subject and, at the same time, the classes of mixed gender were introduced. This kind of renovation of the course of study brought forward new problems such as optionality and mixed learning in the field of dance education. Under this kind of situation, there is an urgent need to grasp the present state and the points at issue concerning dance lessons and to make some pertinent suggestions or proposals to improve dance education. The purpose of this study, therefore, is: 1) to investigate what kind of ideas the junior high school teachers in the Shikoku area have about teaching dance lessons including optionality and mixed-learning, 2) to clarify issues related to teaching those lessons, 3) to compare the results with the results of nationwide survey and 4) to propose some suggestions to improve dance education in the area. Method: 1) Subjects; 336 junior high school teachers situated in 4 prefectures in the Shikoku area. 2) Response rate; 47. 2%. 3) Time period; from October 15 to November 11, 1991. 4) Procedure; mail questionnaire consisting of 68 items concerning gender, age， years of dance experience， major in university， ideas for dance， problems in teaching dance， specific points in teaching dance, elective subjects system, mixed learning, and so on. The results are as follows: 1) Experience of learning dance in university greatly influences one's view of dance， view of teaching dance lessons， and teaching ability and tums out to be a motivating force toward the practice of teaching dance lessons. This result obtained in the Shikoku area is similar to the tendency observed in the results of the nation-wide survey. 2) Experience of teaching dance lessons is considered to forster one's view of teaching dance lessons and, at the same time， to become one's motivating force to the practice of teaching dance lessons. But in the Shikoku area， fewer opportunities are given to female teachers than the average of the whole nation. The problem here is how to secure opportunities for female teachers so that they can practice teaching dance lessons. 3) According to the nation-wide survey, the emphasis is placed upon improving one's practical skills in the content of university dance education and it is pointed out that not only practical dancing skills， but also practical ability in creating dance should be improved. This is also applicable to the Shikoku area. University curriculum and the content of short-term courses for in-service teachers should be renovated to put emphasis on teaching method, and the renovation is especially required in the Shikoku area. 4) Difference between male and female teachers conceming the experience of learning dance and the practice of teaching dance lessons is quite obvious on a nation-wide scale. As one of the ways to extend and enrich the practice of teaching dance lessons, more opportunities of learning dance should definitely be given to the male teachers

Coupled K+–Water Flux through the HERG Potassium Channel Measured by an Osmotic Pulse Method

The streaming potential (Vstream) is a signature feature of ion channels in which permeating ions and water molecules move in a single file. Vstream provides a quantitative measure of the ion and water flux (the water–ion coupling ratio), the knowledge of which is a prerequisite for elucidating the mechanisms of ion permeation. We have developed a method to measure Vstream with the whole-cell patch-clamp configuration. A HEK293 cell stably expressing the HERG potassium channel was voltage clamped and exposed to hyperosmotic solutions for short periods of time (<1 s) by an ultrafast solution switching system (the osmotic pulse [quick jump-and-away] method). The reversal potentials were monitored by a series of voltage ramps before, during, and after the osmotic pulse. The shifts of the reversal potentials immediately after the osmotic jump gave Vstream. In symmetrical K+ solutions (10 mM), the Vstreams measured at different osmolalities showed a linear relationship with a slope of −0.7 mV/ΔOsm, from which the water–ion coupling ratio (n, the ratio of the flux of water to the flux of cations; Levitt, D.G., S.R. Elias, and J.M. Hautman. 1978. Biochim. Biophys. Acta. 512:436–451) was calculated to be 1.4. In symmetrical 100 mM K+ solutions, the coupling ratio was decreased significantly (n = 0.9), indicating that the permeation process through states with increased ion occupancy became significant. We presented a diagrammatic representation linking the water–ion coupling ratio to the mode of ion permeation and suggested that the coupling ratio of one may represent the least hydrated ion flux in the single-file pore

In vitro assessment of six aspiration catheters using a distal protection filter

Background: We assessed performance of 6 aspiration catheters for distal embolization using a distal protection filter in an in vitro experiment. In acute myocardial infarction, a distal protection filter is used for lesions likely to induce a distal embolism. Which aspiration cathether is most effective when used with a distal protection filter remains still unclear.Methods: A 0.5-cm3 bolus of gelatin as a model of stagnant pools of coronary plaque debris was captured in the distal protection filter and aspirated by 6 aspiration catheters. We measured and compared the length of the suspended embolus matter.Results: Among the 6 catheters evaluated, the use of the Export Advance catheter (Medtronic) resulted in significantly shorter lengths of the suspended embolus matter compared to the use of the TVAC II (Nipro), Thrombuster III SL (Kaneka), and Rebirth Pro (Goodman) catheters (p &lt; 0.01). The residual embolus matter in all cases had drained distally to the distal protection filter when the filter was retrieved.Conclusions: The use of the Export Advance catheter showed better performance using a distal protection filter in this in vitro experiment, and its use might be more effective in preventing distal embolisms in combination with a distal protection filter

Tissue factor expression in human pterygium

Purpose: A pterygium shows tumor-like characteristics, such as proliferation, invasion, and epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT). Previous reports suggest that tissue factor (TF) expression is closely related to the EMT of tumor cells, and subsequent tumor development. In this study, we analyzed the expression and immunolocalization of TF in pterygial and normal conjunctival tissues of humans. Methods: Eight pterygia and three normal bulbar conjunctivas, surgically removed, were used in this study. Formalinfixed, paraffin-embedded tissues were submitted for immunohistochemical analysis with anti-TF antibody. Double staining immunohistochemistry was performed to assess TF and alpha-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) or epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) expression in the pterygia. Results: Immunoreactivity for TF was detected in all pterygial tissues examined. TF immunoreactivity was localized in the cytoplasm of basal, suprabasal, and superficial epithelial cells. The number of TF-immunopositive cells in pterygial epithelial cells was significantly higher than in normal conjunctival epithelial cells (p<0.001). TF immunoreactivity was detected in α-SMA-positive or -negative pterygial epithelial cells. EGFR immunoreactivity was detected in pterygial epithelium, which was colocalized with TF. Conclusions: These results suggest that TF plays a potential role in the pathogenesis and development of a pterygium, and that TF expression might be involved through EMT-dependent and -independent pathways

Amelioration of ultraviolet-induced photokeratitis in mice treated with astaxanthin eye drops

Purpose: Ultraviolet (UV) acts as low-dose ionizing radiation. Acute UVB exposure causes photokeratitis and induces apoptosis in corneal cells. Astaxanthin (AST) is a carotenoid, present in seafood, that has potential clinical applications due to its high antioxidant activity. In the present study, we examined whether topical administration of AST has preventive and therapeutic effects on UV-photokeratitis in mice. Methods: C57BL/6 mice were administered with AST diluted in polyethylene glycol (PEG) in instillation form (15 μl) to the right eye. Left eyes were given vehicle alone as controls. Immediately after the instillation, the mice, under anesthesia, were irradiated with UVB at a dose of 400 mJ/cm2. Eyeballs were collected 24 h after irradiation and stained with H&E and TUNEL. In an in vitro study, mouse corneal epithelial (TKE2) cells were cultured with AST before UV exposure to quantify the UV-derived cytotoxicity. Results: UVB exposure induced cell death and thinning of the corneal epithelium. However, the epithelium was morphologically well preserved after irradiation in AST-treated corneas. Irradiated corneal epithelium was significantly thicker in eyes treated with AST eye drops, compared to those treated with vehicles (p<0.01), in a doses dependent manner. Significantly fewer apoptotic cells were observed in AST-treated eyes than controls after irradiation (p<0.01). AST also reduced oxidative stress in irradiated corneas. The in vitro study showed less cytotoxicity of TKE2 cells in AST-treated cultures after UVB-irradiation (p<0.01). The cytoprotective effect increased with the dose of AST. Conclusions: Topical AST administration may be a candidate treatment to limit the damages by UV irradiation with wide clinical applications

Characteristics of unique endocytosis induced by weak current for cytoplasmic drug delivery

We previously reported that 20 a weak current (WC, 0.3-0.5mA/cm2) applied to cells can induce endocytosis to promote cytoplasmic delivery of hydrophilic macromolecules (MW: < 70,000), such as dextran and siRNA, which leak from WC-induced endosomes into the cytoplasm (Hasan et al., 2016). In this study, we evaluated the characteristics of WC-mediated endocytosis for application of the technology to cytoplasmic delivery of macromolecular medicines. WC induced significantly higher cellular uptake of exogenous DNA fragments compared to untreated cells; the amount increased in a time-dependent manner, indicating that endocytosis was induced after WC. Moreover, following WC treatment of cells in the presence of an antibody (MW: 150,000) with the lysosomotropic agent chloroquine, the antibody was able to bind to its intracellular target. Thus, high molecular weight protein medicines delivered by WC-mediated endocytosis were functional in the cytoplasm. Transmission electron microscopy of cells treated by WC in the presence of gold nanoparticles covered with polyethylene glycol showed that the WC-induced endosomes exhibited an elliptical shape. In the WC-induced endosomes, ceramide, which makes pore structures in the membrane, was localized. Together, these results suggest that WC can induce unique endocytosis and that macromolecular medicines leak from endosomes through a ceramide pore

VLBI Astrometry of AGB Variables with VERA -- A Semiregular Variable S Crateris --

We present a distance measurement for the semiregular variable S Crateris (S Crt) based on its annual parallax. With the unique dual beam system of the VLBI Exploration for Radio Astrometry (VERA) telescopes, we measured the absolute proper motion of a water maser spot associated with S Crt, referred to the quasar J1147-0724 located at an angular separation of 1.23$^{\circ}$. In observations spanning nearly two years, we have detected the maser spot at the LSR velocity of 34.7 km s$^{-1}$, for which we measured the annual parallax of 2.33$\pm$0.13 mas corresponding to a distance of 430$^{+25}_{-23}$ pc. This measurement has an accuracy one order of magnitude better than the parallax measurements of HIPPARCOS. The angular distribution and three-dimensional velocity field of maser spots indicate a bipolar outflow with the flow axis along northeast-southwest direction. Using the distance and photospheric temperature, we estimate the stellar radius of S Crt and compare it with those of Mira variables.Comment: 9 pages, 4 figures, accepted for publication in PASJ (Vol.60, No.5, October 25, VERA special issue

ショウガッコウ タイイク ガクシュウ ニオケル ヒョウゲン ウンドウ ガクシュウ シエン デジタル キョウザイ ノ カイハツ ト ヒョウカ : ドウガ チエン サイセイ ソウチ オ カツヨウ シタ オヤツ オ ツクロウ デ センタク シタ ウゴキ ノ シュウセイ

This is a continuing study aimed to devise a learning support software aiding primary school teachers to teach physically expressive movements in elementary P.E. class and to investigate its effectiveness by studying the educational materials taught for 6 years in elementary P.E. class. This time, we examined how learners modify and create a cluster of movement phrases by utilizing the device which automatically run back and play the Software ("Let\u27s make refreshments"). The device (Ratoc system) is an equipment which put images recorded on videotape into the computer, and automatically play the software after a fixed amount of time (in this study, 1minute). The equipment allows learners to make progress with their studies in the way that they stand in front of a video camera and do whatever movements they choose and then check the movements after 1minute without operating the video camera and computer. How learners utilized the device was analyzed by playing the video recorded on computer. The device was used in the second and the fourth classes within four classes as a whole. The evaluation items were such as "change in level," "change in spatial extension," "change in speed," "additional movements," "repetition," and "composition of the work (start/middle/end)." The result is as follows :1. The number of times that the learners used the device was 6.6 times on the average in both the second and the fourth classes. As the learners used the device 6.6 times on the average in 25 minutes exclusive of 10 minutes for introduction and 10 minutes for presentation of the works at the end of the class, it was clear they worked positively.2. The learners mainly selected and chose the new movements according to the content of the expression.3. As for the "change in level," "change in spatial extension" and "repetition," the learners evaluated positively as they answered that they understood well and modified the selected movements.4. As for the question "whether the qualities of refreshment were expressed," the learners evaluated positively as they answered that they selected the movements as they wanted.5. As for the composition of the work (start/end), the learners could not evaluate very well. And also, as for "change in speed," it became clear that both understanding and practice were difficult for them, and they did not know how to choose the movements and modify them

Temperature dependence of proton permeation through a voltage-gated proton channel

Voltage-gated proton channels are found in many different types of cells, where they facilitate proton movement through the membrane. The mechanism of proton permeation through the channel is an issue of long-term interest, but it remains an open question. To address this issue, we examined the temperature dependence of proton permeation. Under whole cell recordings, rapid temperature changes within a few milliseconds were imposed. This method allowed for the measurement of current amplitudes immediately before and after a temperature jump, from which the ratios of these currents (Iratio) were determined. The use of Iratio for evaluating the temperature dependence minimized the contributions of factors other than permeation. Temperature jumps of various degrees (ΔT, −15 to 15°C) were applied over a wide temperature range (4–49°C), and the Q10s for the proton currents were evaluated from the Iratios. Q10 exhibited a high temperature dependence, varying from 2.2 at 10°C to 1.3 at 40°C. This implies that processes with different temperature dependencies underlie the observed Q10. A novel resistivity pulse method revealed that the access resistance with its low temperature dependence predominated in high temperature ranges. The measured temperature dependence of Q10 was decomposed into Q10 of the channel and of the access resistances. Finally, the Q10 for proton permeation through the voltage-gated proton channel itself was calculated and found to vary from 2.8 at 5°C to 2.2 at 45°C, as expected for an activation enthalpy of 64 kJ/mol. The thermodynamic features for proton permeation through proton-selective channels were discussed for the underlying mechanism