Comparison of English Expressions from Science, Technology, and Other Fields by Examining Lexical Bundles

本研究では，6種類のコーパスで共通して使用される「単語連鎖」（lexical bundles）を比較することにより，分野の違いが明らかになるのかという点を調査した。また，どのような単語連鎖により，その違いが現れるのかを検討した．コーパスは，(1) 高校教科書，(2) Scientific American（一般科学雑誌），(3) Nature（専門科学雑誌），(4) 機械系論文，(5)映画スクリプト，(6) 創作散文（imaginative prose）の6 種類を使用し，上位100 位までの4-­gram を対象にコレスポンデンス分析を行った。その結果，広い範囲のディスコースの違いを単語連鎖によって明らかにできることが確認された．また，ある特定専門分野の4-­gramで抽出した特徴表現を効果的なESP教育に用いる手法の可能性が示された．This paper examines whether or not it is possible to identify differences between the use of English expressions in 6 different domains by comparing the lexical bundles extracted from 6 different corpora. The corpora used in this study are (1) the high school textbooks, (2) Scientific American (a popular science magazine), (3) Nature (a science journal), (4) journal papers of mechanical engineering, (5) movie scripts, and (6) imaginative prose. A correspondence analysis was conducted with the highest 100 4-­grams from these corpora. The results show the different discourses in varied domains can be explained by the extracted 4-­grams. This also suggests that the extraction of 4-­grams from a certain domain could lead to anefficient way of teaching domain specific expressions

Experimental model for the irradiation-mediated abscopal effect and factors influencing this effect

Radiotherapy (RT) is the primary treatment for cancer. Ionizing radiation from RT induces tumor damage at the irradiated site, and, although clinically infrequent, may cause regression of tumors distant from the irradiated site-a phenomenon known as the abscopal effect. Recently, the abscopal effect has been related to prolongation of overall survival time in cancer patients, though the factors that influence the abscopal effect are not well understood. The aim of this study is to clarify the factors influencing on abscopal effect. Here, we established a mouse model in which we induced the abscopal effect. We injected MC38 (mouse colon adenocarcinoma) cells subcutaneously into C57BL/6 mice at two sites. Only one tumor was irradiated and the sizes of both tumors were measured over time. The non-irradiated-site tumor showed regression, demonstrating the abscopal effect. This effect was enhanced by an increase in the irradiated-tumor volume and by administration of anti-PD1 antibody. When the abscopal effect was induced by a combination of RT and anti-PD1 antibody, it was also influenced by radiation dose and irradiated-tumor volume. These phenomena were also verified in other cell line, B16F10 cells (mouse melanoma cells). These findings provide further evidence of the mechanism for, and factors that influence, the abscopal effect in RT

Combination treatment with highly bioavailable curcumin and NQO1 inhibitor exhibits potent antitumor effects on esophageal squamous cell carcinoma

Background: Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) is one of the most intractable cancers, so the development of novel therapeutics has been required to improve patient outcomes. Curcumin, a polyphenol from Curcuma longa, exhibits various health benefits including antitumor effects, but its clinical utility is limited because of low bioavailability. Theracurmin® (THC) is a highly bioavailable curcumin dispersed with colloidal submicron particles. Methods: We examined antitumor effects of THC on ESCC cells by cell viability assay, colony and spheroid formation assay, and xenograft models. To reveal its mechanisms, we investigated the levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and performed microarray gene expression analysis. According to those analyses, we focused on NQO1, which involved in the removal of ROS, and examined the effects of NQO1-knockdown or overexpression on THC treatment. Moreover, the therapeutic effect of THC and NQO1 inhibitor on ESCC patient-derived xenografts (PDX) was investigated. Results: THC caused cytotoxicity in ESCC cells, and suppressed the growth of xenografted tumors more efficiently than curcumin. THC increased ROS levels and activated the NRF2–NMRAL2P–NQO1 expressions. Inhibition of NQO1 in ESCC cells by shRNA or NQO1 inhibitor resulted in an increased sensitivity of cells to THC, whereas overexpression of NQO1 antagonized it. Notably, NQO1 inhibitor significantly enhanced the antitumor effects of THC in ESCC PDX tumors. Conclusions: These findings suggest the potential usefulness of THC and its combination with NQO1 inhibitor as a therapeutic option for ESCC

HER2 G776S mutation promotes oncogenic potential in colorectal cancer cells when accompanied by loss of APC function

Clinical cancer genome sequencing detects oncogenic variants that are potential targets for cancer treatment, but it also detects variants of unknown significance. These variants may interact with each other to influence tumor pathophysiology, however, such interactions have not been fully elucidated. Additionally, the effect of target therapy for those variants also unclarified. In this study, we investigated the biological functions of a HER2 mutation (G776S mutation) of unknown pathological significance, which was detected together with APC mutation by cancer genome sequencing of samples from a colorectal cancer (CRC) patient. Transfection of the HER2 G776S mutation alone slightly increased the kinase activity and phosphorylation of HER2 protein, but did not activate HER2 downstream signaling or alter the cell phenotype. On the other hand, the HER2 G776S mutation was shown to have strong oncogenic potential when loss of APC function was accompanied. We revealed that loss of APC function increased Wnt pathway activity but also increased RAS-GTP, which increased ERK phosphorylation triggered by HER2 G776S transfection. In addition, afatinib, a pan-HER tyrosine kinase inhibitor, suppressed tumor growth in xenografts derived from HER2 G776S-transfected CRC cells. These findings suggest that this HER2 mutation in CRC may be a potential therapeutic target

在日中国人母親の産後うつ傾向の実態及び関連要因

Background and Purpose: Postnatal depression （PND） is prevalent in the generalpopulation in Japan. However, there are no data on the actual condition and relatedfactors for PND in Chinese women in Japan, which is the largest group of foreign womenliving in Japan. This study was performed to clarify the tendency of PND and its relatedfactors in Chinese mothers living in Japan. Methods: We carried out a mailed selfadministeredquestionnaire survey among Chinese mothers living in Japan who had givenbirth to a baby in the previous 3-4 months. Survey items included the status of mothersand children, family support, and the Edinburgh Postpartum Depression Scale （EPDS）.Logistic regression analysis was utilized for statistical analysis. Results: The proportion ofhigh-PND-risk respondents among the 80 participants was 36.3%. The results indicatedthat the factors affecting PND risk are parenting loneliness （Odds ratio: 7.416, p=0.003）and support from the husband（ Odds ratio: 0.357, p=0.047）. Conclusion: The loneliness ofchild-rearing and the support status of the husband in the 3rd-4th month after childbirthare DNP risk factors for Chinese mothers in Japan. The presence of support from thehusband will not only be helpful in housework and childcare, but will also support themother’s spirit and alleviate the loneliness of child-rearing. In addition, as the PND riskof Chinese mothers is high in the 3rd- 4th month after childbirth, it is necessary tostrengthen mental support during this period

ICTを活用した英語アカデミック・ライティング指導 : 支援ツールの開発と実践

平成27-28年度関西大学研究拠点形成支援「国際的な研究拠点としての関西大学英語ライティング・ハブの設立および英語論文ライティング支援ツールの開発

単語連鎖にみる科学技術分野と他分野の英語表現比較

本研究では，6種類のコーパスで共通して使用される「単語連鎖」（lexical bundles）を比較することにより，分野の違いが明らかになるのかという点を調査した。また，どのような単語連鎖により，その違いが現れるのかを検討した．コーパスは，(1) 高校教科書，(2) Scientific American（一般科学雑誌），(3) Nature（専門科学雑誌），(4) 機械系論文，(5)映画スクリプト，(6) 創作散文（imaginative prose）の6 種類を使用し，上位100 位までの4-­gram を対象にコレスポンデンス分析を行った。その結果，広い範囲のディスコースの違いを単語連鎖によって明らかにできることが確認された．また，ある特定専門分野の4-­gramで抽出した特徴表現を効果的なESP教育に用いる手法の可能性が示された．This paper examines whether or not it is possible to identify differences between the use of English expressions in 6 different domains by comparing the lexical bundles extracted from 6 different corpora. The corpora used in this study are (1) the high school textbooks, (2) Scientific American (a popular science magazine), (3) Nature (a science journal), (4) journal papers of mechanical engineering, (5) movie scripts, and (6) imaginative prose. A correspondence analysis was conducted with the highest 100 4-­grams from these corpora. The results show the different discourses in varied domains can be explained by the extracted 4-­grams. This also suggests that the extraction of 4-­grams from a certain domain could lead to an efficient way of teaching domain specific expressions

Protective effects of Alda-1, an ALDH2 activator, on alcohol-derived DNA damage in the esophagus of human ALDH2*2 (Glu504Lys) knock-in mice

Alcohol consumption is the key risk factor for the development of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC), and acetaldehyde, a metabolite of alcohol, is an alcohol-derived major carcinogen that causes DNA damage. Aldehyde dehydrogenase2 (ALDH2) is an enzyme that detoxifies acetaldehyde, and its activity is reduced by ALDH2 gene polymorphism. Reduction in ALDH2 activity increases blood, salivary and breath acetaldehyde levels after alcohol intake, and it is deeply associated with the development of ESCC. Heavy alcohol consumption in individuals with ALDH2 gene polymorphism significantly elevates the risk of ESCC; however, effective prevention has not been established yet. In this study, we investigated the protective effects of Alda-1, a small molecule ALDH2 activator, on alcohol-mediated esophageal DNA damage. Here, we generated novel genetically engineered knock-in mice that express the human ALDH2*1 (wild-type allele) or ALDH2*2 gene (mutant allele). Those mice were crossed, and human ALDH2*1/*1, ALDH2*1/*2 and ALDH2*2/*2 knock-in mice were established. They were given 10% ethanol for 7 days in the presence or absence of Alda-1, and we measured the levels of esophageal DNA damage, represented by DNA adduct (N2-ethylidene-2′-deoxyguanosine). Alda-1 significantly increased hepatic ALDH2 activity both in human ALDH2*1/*2 and/or ALDH2*2/*2 knock-in mice and reduced esophageal DNA damage levels after alcohol drinking. Conversely, cyanamide, an ALDH2-inhibitor, significantly exacerbated esophageal DNA adduct level in C57BL/6N mice induced by alcohol drinking. These results indicate the protective effects of ALDH2 activation by Alda-1 on esophageal DNA damage levels in individuals with ALDH2 gene polymorphism, providing a new insight into acetaldehyde-mediated esophageal carcinogenesis and prevention