Evaluation of an economic model composed of producer agents

In recent years, the existence of a "social divide", comprising factors such as income and professional status, has been noted as one significant type of social issue. It has been stated that, among the disparate groups, a member belonging to one group cannot move to any other groups. Such a rigidity in terms of social status results in non-activation of the economy. In this study, we have suggested a dynamic economic model described by a multi-agent system, and have evaluated its dynamics in order to try to understand the mechanisms by which how the social divide emerges within the model. We used Gini's coefficient to evaluate the social divide and its economic efficiency. As a result, it is suggested that economies under conditions of low competitiveness, being a state composed of relatively more consumer agents than producer agents, display a higher negative relationship between Gini's coefficient and economic efficiency than those under conditions of high competitiveness

Transcription factor scleraxis vitally contributes to progenitor lineage direction in wound healing of adult tendon in mice

Tendon is a dense connective tissue that transmits high mechanical forces from skeletal muscle to bone. The transcription factor scleraxis (Scx) is a highly specific marker of both precursor and mature tendon cells (tenocytes). Mice lacking scx exhibit a specific and virtually complete loss of tendons during development. However, the functional contribution of Scx to wound healing in adult tendon has not yet been fully characterized. Here, using ScxGFP-tracking and loss-of-function systems, we show in an adult mouse model of Achilles tendon injury that paratenon cells, representing a stem cell antigen-1 (Sca-1)–positive and Scx-negative progenitor subpopulation, display Scx induction, migrate to the wound site, and produce extracellular matrix (ECM) to bridge the defect, whereas resident tenocytes exhibit a delayed response. Scx induction in the progenitors is initiated by transforming growth factor β (TGF-β) signaling. scx-deficient mice had migration of Sca-1–positive progenitor cell to the lesion site but impaired ECM assembly to bridge the defect. Mechanistically, scx-null progenitors displayed higher chondrogenic potential with up-regulation of SRY-box 9 (Sox9) coactivator PPAR-γ coactivator-1α (PGC-1α) in vitro, and knock-in analysis revealed that forced expression of full-length scx significantly inhibited Sox9 expression. Accordingly, scx-null wounds formed cartilage-like tissues that developed ectopic ossification. Our findings indicate a critical role of Scx in a progenitor-cell lineage in wound healing of adult mouse tendon. These progenitor cells could represent targets in strategies to facilitate tendon repair. We propose that this lineage-regulatory mechanism in tissue progenitors could apply to a broader set of tissues or biological systems in the body

Isolated gestational proteinuria preceding the diagnosis of preeclampsia : an observational study

Introduction. Some pregnant women develop significant proteinuria in the absence of hypertension. However, clinical significance of isolated gestational proteinuria (IGP) is not well understood. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of IGP in singleton pregnancies and the proportion of women with IGP who subsequently developed preeclampsia (IGP-PE) among all PE cases. Material and methods. This was an observational study of 6819 women with singleton pregnancies at 12 centers, including 938 women with at least once determination of protein-to-creatinine ratio (P/Cr). Significant proteinuria in pregnancy (SPIP) was defined as P/Cr (mg/mg) level >0.27. IGP was defined as SPIP in the absence of hypertension. Gestational hypertension (GH) preceding preeclampsia (GH-PE) was defined as preeclampsia (PE) in which GH preceded SPIP. Simultaneous PE (S-PE) was defined as PE in which both SPIP and hypertension occurred simultaneously. Results. IGP and PE were diagnosed in 130 (1.9%) and 158 (2.3%) of 6819 women, respectively. Of 130 women with IGP, 32 (25%) progressed to PE and accounted for 20% of all women with PE. Hence, women with IGP had a relative risk of 13.1 (95% CI; 9.2-18.5) for developing PE compared with those without IGP [25% (32/130) vs. 1.9% (126/6689)]. At diagnosis of SPIP, P/Cr levels already exceeded 1.0 more often in women with S-PE than in those with IGP-PE [67% (33/49) vs. 44% (14/32), respectively, p = 0.031]. Conclusions. IGP is a risk factor for PE, and IGP-PE accounts for a considerable proportion (20%) of all PE

Two cases of Taeniasis Infection.

We report two cases of taeniasis caused by tapeworm infection. The first was a Japanese female, 23 years old, who had a history of eating raw meat during a visit to Thailand. She was referred to our hospital with a history of passing proglottids in feces. Taenia saginata or T. asiatica was suspected based on the proglottid morphologic features in addition to supportive information regarding her travel and dietary history. The patient was given praziquantel and the tapeworm was excreted. The second was a 35-year-old Thai male who had lived in Japan since 2000 and not left the country since that time. He had consumed beef cooked in the so-called yakiniku style and also sometimes raw, because of nostalgia for that Thai custom. The patient passed proglottids several times and then came to us. The proglottids were compatible with those of T. saginata. Praziquantel was prescribed and the tapeworm was excreted. In both cases, mitochondrial DNA analysis identified the worm species as T. saginata. Since morphological discrimination of three human-infecting Taenia species, T. saginata, T. solium, and T. asiatica, is not always possible, it is necessary to employ DNA analysis for diagnosis of taeniasis to confirm the worm species