How do college students understand Mathematics : Mathematical thinking and its application (A research based on a questionnaire)

In this paper we investigate that "how do college students usually think Mathematics", and "how do they understand Mathematical thinking and the application of Mathmatics"

The Soluble Factor from Oral Cancer Cell Lines Inhibits Interferon-γ Production by OK-432 via the CD40/CD40 Ligand Pathway

OK-432 is a potent immunotherapy agent for several types of cancer, including oral cancer. We previously reported that OK-432 treatment can induce the production of high levels of IFN-γ from peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs). Moreover, the IFN-γ production from PBMCs by OK-432 is impaired by conditioned media (CM) from oral cancer cells. To determine the inhibitory mechanism of IFN-γ production by CM, the genes involved in IFN-γ production was retrieved by cDNA microarray analysis. We found that CD40 played a key role in IFN-γ production via IL-12 production. Although the expression levels of CD40 were upregulated by OK-432 treatment in PBMCs, CM inhibited OK-432-induced CD40 expression. These findings suggest that uncertain soluble factor(s) in CM may suppress IFN-γ production via the CD40/CD40L–IL-12 axis in PBMCs.(1) Background: OK-432 is a penicillin-killed, lyophilized formulation of a low-toxicity strain (Su) of Streptococcus pyogenes (Group A). It is a potent immunotherapy agent for several types of cancer, including oral cancer. We previously showed that (i) OK-432 treatment induces a high amount of IFN-γ production from peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs), and (ii) conditioned medium (CM) from oral cancer cells suppresses both the IFN-γ production and cytotoxic activity of PBMCs driven by OK-432. The aim of this study was to determine the inhibitory mechanism of OK-432-induced IFN-γ production from PBMCs by CM. (2) Methods: We performed cDNA microarray analysis, quantitative RT-PCR, and ELISA to reveal the inhibitory mechanism of CM. (3) Results: We found that CD40 plays a key role in IFN-γ production via IL-12 production. Although OK-432 treatment upregulated the expression levels of the IL-12p40, p35, and CD40 genes, CM from oral cancer cells downregulate these genes. The amount of IFN-γ production by OK-432 treatment was decreased by an anti-CD40 neutralizing antibody. (4) Conclusions: Our study suggests that uncertain soluble factor(s) produced from oral cancer cells may inhibit IFN-γ production from PBMCs via suppressing the CD40/CD40L–IL-12 axis

マイクロファイバーを用いた多孔質炭酸アパタイト顆粒の開発とウサギ頭蓋骨における組織学的評価

Carbonate apatite (CO3Ap) granules are known to show good osteoconductivity and replaced to new bone. On the other hand, it is well known that a porous structure allows bone tissue to penetrate its pores, and the optimal pore size for bone ingrowth is dependent on the composition and structure of the scaffold material. Therefore, the aim of this study was to fabricate various porous CO3Ap granules through a two-step dissolution-precipitation reaction using CaSO4 as a precursor and 30-, 50-, 120-, and 205-μm diameter microfibers as porogen and to find the optimal pore size of CO3Ap. Porous CO3Ap granules were successfully fabricated with pore size 8.2-18.7% smaller than the size of the original fiber porogen. Two weeks after the reconstruction of rabbit calvarial bone defects using porous CO3Ap granules, the largest amount of mature bone was seen to be formed inside the pores of CO3Ap (120) [porous CO3Ap granules made using 120-μm microfiber] followed by CO3Ap (50) and CO3Ap (30). At 4 and 8 weeks, no statistically significant difference was observed based on the pore size, even though largest amount of mature bone was formed in case of CO3Ap (120). It is concluded, therefore, that the optimal pore size of the CO3Ap is that of CO3Ap (120), which is 85 μm

Current status and future development of carbonate apatite as a bone substitute

A main inorganic component of human bone is not hydroxyapatite but carbonate apatite (CQ3Ap). Hydroxyapatite is not resorbed in the body but C03Ap can be resorbed and replaced with bone. We have succeeded in fabricating low crystalline CQ3Ap without sintering by dissolution-precipitation reaction using calcium hydroxide as a precursor. C03Ap showed excellent biocompatibility and faster bone formation compared to other bone substitutes (anorganic bovine bone and hydroxyapatite) in rabbit femur and dog mandible. Clinical study on effectiveness and safety of C03Ap granules in sinus floor augmentation was successfully concluded in 2016. CQ3Ap granules were approved by Japanese government in 2017, and marketed in 2018 as Cytrans® Granules. This comprehensive review explains the clinical cases of sinus lift and alveolar ridge augmentation of Cytrans® and its recommended clinical usage. Furthermore, we have succeeded in developing porous C03Ap and showed it was useful for reconstruction of mandibular bone defect in rabbit model and also aim to use it as a scaffold for bone regenerative medicine.ヒトの骨の無機主成分はハイドロキシアパタイトではなく，炭酸アパタイト (CO3Ap) である．ハイドロキシアパタイトは体内で吸収されないが，CO3Apは吸収されて骨と置換する．われわれは水酸化カルシウムを前駆物質として，焼結操作を用いずに溶解析出反応によって低結晶性の炭酸アパタイトを人工合成することに成功した．炭酸アパタイ卜顆粒は，ウサギ大腿骨とイヌ顎骨における実験で，他の骨補填材よりも骨が速く形成すること，優れた生体親和性を示すことを明らかにした．2016年に上顎洞底挙上術での臨床治験を成功裏に終え，2017年に炭酸アパタイト顆粒は薬事承認され，2018年からサイトランス® グラニュールとして市販された本総説では，サイトランス® による上顎洞底挙上症例と歯槽堤造成術症例を紹介すると共に，その臨床的推奨使用法を説明した．さらに，著者らは多孔質の炭酸アパタイトの作製に成功し，炭酸アパタイト多孔体がウサギの下顎骨欠損モデルにおいて骨再建に有用であることを示した．現在，炭酸アパタイト多孔体の骨再生医療用スキャフォールドヘの応用を目指している

Reconstruction of rabbit mandibular bone defects using carbonate apatite honeycomb blocks with an interconnected porous structure

Carbonate apatite (CO3Ap) granules are useful as a bone substitute because they can be remodeled to new natural bone in a manner that conforms to the bone remodeling process. However, reconstructing large bone defects using CO3Ap granules is difficult because of their granular shape. Therefore, we fabricated CO3Ap honeycomb blocks (HCBs) with continuous unidirectional pores. We aimed to elucidate the tissue response and availability of CO3Ap HCBs in the reconstruction of rabbit mandibular bone defects after marginal mandibulectomy. The percentages of the remaining CO3Ap area and calcified bone area (newly formed bone) were estimated from the histological images. CO3Ap area was 49.1 ± 4.9%, 30.3 ± 3.5%, and 25.5 ± 8.8%, whereas newly formed bone area was 3.0 ± 0.6%, 24.3 ± 3.3%, and 34.7 ± 4.8% at 4, 8, and 12 weeks, respectively, after implantation. Thus, CO3Ap HCBs were gradually resorbed and replaced by new bone. The newly formed bone penetrated most of the pores in the CO3Ap HCBs at 12 weeks after implantation. By contrast, the granulation tissue scarcely invaded the CO3Ap HCBs. Some osteoclasts invaded the wall of CO3Ap HCBs, making resorption pits. Furthermore, many osteoblasts were found on the newly formed bone, indicating ongoing bone remodeling. Blood vessels were also formed inside most of the pores in the CO3Ap HCBs. These findings suggest that CO3Ap HCBs have good osteoconductivity and can be used for the reconstruction of large mandibular bone defects

Characterization of hemin-binding protein 35 (HBP35) in Porphyromonas gingivalis: its cellular distribution, thioredoxin activity and role in heme utilization

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The periodontal pathogen <it>Porphyromonas gingivalis </it>is an obligate anaerobe that requires heme for growth. To understand its heme acquisition mechanism, we focused on a hemin-binding protein (HBP35 protein), possessing one thioredoxin-like motif and a conserved C-terminal domain, which are proposed to be involved in redox regulation and cell surface attachment, respectively.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>We observed that the <it>hbp35 </it>gene was transcribed as a 1.1-kb mRNA with subsequent translation resulting in three proteins with molecular masses of 40, 29 and 27 kDa in the cytoplasm, and one modified form of the 40-kDa protein on the cell surface. A recombinant 40-kDa HBP35 exhibited thioredoxin activity <it>in vitro </it>and mutation of the two putative active site cysteine residues abolished this activity. Both recombinant 40- and 27-kDa proteins had the ability to bind hemin, and growth of an <it>hbp35 </it>deletion mutant was substantially retarded under hemin-depleted conditions compared with growth of the wild type under the same conditions.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p><it>P. gingivalis </it>HBP35 exhibits thioredoxin and hemin-binding activities and is essential for growth in hemin-depleted conditions suggesting that the protein plays a significant role in hemin acquisition.</p

PorA, a conserved C-terminal domain-containing protein, impacts the PorXY-SigP signaling of the type IX secretion system

Porphyromonas gingivalis, a periodontal pathogen, translocates many virulence factors including the cysteine proteases referred to as gingipains to the cell surface via the type IX secretion system (T9SS). Expression of the T9SS component proteins is regulated by the tandem signaling of the PorXY two-component system and the ECF sigma factor SigP. However, the details of this regulatory pathway are still unknown. We found that one of the T9SS conserved C-terminal domain-containing proteins, PGN_0123, which we have designated PorA, is involved in regulating expression of genes encoding T9SS structural proteins and that PorA can be translocated onto the cell surface without the T9SS translocation machinery. X-ray crystallography revealed that PorA has a domain similar to the mannose-binding domain of Escherichia coli FimH, the tip protein of Type 1 pilus. Mutations in the cytoplasmic domain of the sensor kinase PorY conferred phenotypic recovery on the ΔporA mutant. The SigP sigma factor, which is activated by the PorXY two-component system, markedly decreased in the ΔporA mutant. These results strongly support a potential role for PorA in relaying a signal from the cell surface to the PorXY-SigP signaling pathway

ドイツ連邦共和国におけるジェンダーに関する法曹継続教育序論

本報告は、ジェンダーに関する課題を中心に法曹継続教育についての比較研究を行うため、2007年7月にドイツ連邦共和国（以下ドイツ）において実施した調査に基づき、ドイツにおける法曹継続教育についてジェンダーを中心に考察することを目的としている。裁判官・検察官などの公務員についての継続教育は、国内に二ヶ所あるリヒターアカデミーが行っており、義務的なものではないが実質的な効果を持っていると考えられること、弁護士については、専門弁護士制度が継続教育の役割を果たしていることが明らかになった。ジェンダーにかかわる諸問題に対応する個別立法などが行われれば、当該法を扱う個別コースが提供されるが、いずれにおいても、ジェンダー法学／理論のみが取り扱われるコースは常設されていない。また、法曹全般に対して任意の団体による多様なセミナーが提供されており、それらセミナーも継続教育機能を果たす非公式の機会提供であることが明らかになった。As one of the results of the research project "International Comparative Research on the Process of Developing, Performing, Systematizing Continuing Legal Education Programs Concerning Gender Issues," （a 3 year research project with the government's Grants in Aid for Scientific Research）, this article focuses on an investigation done in Germany on gender perspectives in the Continuing Legal Education （CLE）. In the article, explained are the systems and programs of CLE for judges, prosecutors and lawyers and the evaluations given by them. We found no program which treats, especially and exclusively, "gender and law" or gender theory

Significant Asymmetry of the Bilateral Upper Extremities of a Skeleton Excavated from the Mashiki-Azamabaru Site, Okinawa Island, Japan

The human skeleton of a young adult male with marked asymmetry of the bilateral upper extremities was excavated from the Mashiki-Azamabaru site (3000–2000 BCE) on the main island of Okinawa in the southwestern archipelago of Japan. The skeleton was buried alone in a corner of the cemetery. In this study, morphological and radiographic observations were made on this skeleton, and the pathogenesis of the bone growth disorder observed in the left upper limb was discussed. The maximum diameter of the midshaft of the humerus was 13.8 mm on the left and 21.2 mm on the right. The long bones comprising the left upper extremity lost the structure of the muscle attachments except for the deltoid tubercle of the humerus. The bone morphology of the right upper extremity and the bilateral lower extremities was maintained and was close to the mean value of females from the Ohtomo site in northwestern Kyushu, Japan, during the Yayoi period. It is assumed that the anomalous bone morphology confined to the left upper extremity was secondary to the prolonged loss of function of the muscles attached to left extremity bones. In this case, birth palsy, brachial plexus injury in childhood, and acute grey matter myelitis were diagnosed. It was suggested that this person had survived into young adulthood with severe paralysis of the left upper extremity due to injury or disease at an early age

Biofilm Spreading by the Adhesin-Dependent Gliding Motility of Flavobacterium johnsoniae. 1. Internal Structure of the Biofilm

The Gram-negative bacterium Flavobacterium johnsoniae employs gliding motility to move rapidly over solid surfaces. Gliding involves the movement of the adhesin SprB along the cell surface. F. johnsoniae spreads on nutrient-poor 1% agar-PY2, forming a thin film-like colony. We used electron microscopy and time-lapse fluorescence microscopy to investigate the structure of colonies formed by wild-type (WT) F. johnsoniae and by the sprB mutant (∆sprB). In both cases, the bacteria were buried in the extracellular polymeric matrix (EPM) covering the top of the colony. In the spreading WT colonies, the EPM included a thick fiber framework and vesicles, revealing the formation of a biofilm, which is probably required for the spreading movement. Specific paths that were followed by bacterial clusters were observed at the leading edge of colonies, and abundant vesicle secretion and subsequent matrix formation were suggested. EPM-free channels were formed in upward biofilm protrusions, probably for cell migration. In the nonspreading ∆sprB colonies, cells were tightly packed in layers and the intercellular space was occupied by less matrix, indicating immature biofilm. This result suggests that SprB is not necessary for biofilm formation. We conclude that F. johnsoniae cells use gliding motility to spread and maturate biofilms