The Acquisition of Finance Knowledge and Optimization of a Portfolio

本稿では，金融資産管理シミュレーション・ゲームを実施して得たデータを基に，家計の選択するポートフォリオの効率性について検証を行う。資産選択の効率性を論じる指標として，平均分散アプローチによって導出した効率的フロンティアからの距離を用いる。Probit分析から得られた結果と，Panel Probit 分析から得られた結果は概ね整合的である。Panel Probit 分析の結果から示唆されることは，ゲーム参加者のうち，新たに習得した知識をより理解している者，過去の投資資産数の多い者，今後，株式市場が好転すると予測している者のポートフォリオの効率性は上昇し，資産選択の直前の株価の上昇は，ポートフォリオの効率性を低下させることである。また，ゲーム参加者の過去のポートフォリオの運用成績は，ポートフォリオの効率性に影響を与えない。In this paper, we examine the efficiency of portfolios on the basis of the simulation data of the portfolio management simulation game. The distance from the efficient frontier derived from the mean−variance portfolio theory is employed as the index of efficiency to select the assets. The results of the Probit analysis are consistent with the results derived from the Binary Panel Probit model analysis. The latter results suggest that the portfolio selected by one who understands new knowledge, possesses several types of assets, and predicts an improvement in the stock market, is efficient. Furthermore, a rise in the price index of stocks prior to portfolio selection decreases the efficiency of a portfolio. The previous portfolio performance does not affect the efficiency of the portfolio

Is increased fat content of hindmilk due to the size or the number of milk fat globules?

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>It is known that the fat content of breast milk is higher in hindmilk than in foremilk. However, it has not been determined if this increased fat content results from an increase in the number of milk fat globules (MFGs), an increase in the size of MFGs, or both. This study aims to determine which factor plays the most important role.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Thirteen breastfeeding mothers were enrolled in the study and we obtained 52 samples from 26 breasts before (foremilk) and after (hindmilk) a breastfeeding session. The fat content was evaluated by creamatocrit (CrCt) values. MFG size was measured with the laser light scattering method. We compared CrCt values and MFG size between foremilk and hindmilk.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Although the CrCt values were higher in the hindmilk (8.6 ± 3.6%) than in the foremilk (3.7 ± 1.7%), the MFG size did not change (4.2 ± 1.0 μm and 4.6 ± 2.1 μm, foremilk and hindmilk, respectively). There was no relationship between the changes in CrCt versus MFG size from foremilk to hindmilk.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The results indicate that the increase in fat content results mainly from the increased number of MFGs, which may be released into the milk flow as the mammary lobe becomes progressively emptied.</p

Sugar Scrub Effects on Skin Barrier Function and Heat Retention in Low Birth Weight Infants

Objective: This investigation sought to compare changes in body heat after using a sugar scrub to bathe lowbirth weight infants (< 2,500 g), compared with those bathed using conventional baby soap, and to evaluatethe relationship between skin barrier function and changes in body heat.Design: Non-Randomized clinical trialsSetting: A neonatal intensive care unit in a university hospital in JapanParticipants: 22 Low birth weight infants for whom bathing was permittedMethods: Sebum quantity and skin temperature were each measured before and after bathing for a control groupbathed with conventional baby soap and a group bathed with a sugar scrub skin care product. Ethical approvalfor this study was obtained from Aino university of Ethics committee review board (Approval number/27)Results: The results demonstrated that both sebum quantity and skin temperature increased significantly afterbathing in the sugar scrub group compared with the baby soap group.Conclusion: Increases in sebum quantity are thought to influence the normal barrier function of skin and to helpretain skin temperature. This study suggests that the use of this skin care product can be expected to effectivelyhelp maintain body temperature in low birth weight infants, who are prone to low body temperature

モロヘイヤ中のトリプシンインヒビターについて

プロテアーゼインヒビターは,タンパク質分解作用に関わるのみでなく,さまざまな生理作用を持ち,プロテアーゼの制御因子として重要な役割を果たしている。モロヘイヤから70%硫安分画法,ラウリル硫酸ナトリウムポリアクリルアミドゲル電気泳動(SDS-PAGE)法を用いて,トリプシンインヒビター(TI)活性を持ったタンパク質を分離精製した。モロヘイヤTI活性の測定にあたっては,モロヘイヤ70%硫安画分,トリプシン,基質としてカゼインを混和し,37℃,20分インキュベート後,トリクロロ酢酸を加え,遠心分離し,その上清の280nmの吸光度を分光光度計で測定した。その結果,TI存在下の反応液の吸光度の増加はみられなかった。プロテアーゼインヒビターのタンパク質をSDS-PAGE法を用いて解析した結果,100, 59, 55, 50kDaの分子量のタンパク質が存在することが分かった。非還元条件下でのSDS-PAGE解析の結果では,モロヘイヤのTIタンパク質の分子量は, 100kDa であることが分かった。TI活性の熱に対する安定性について,SDS-PAGE法を用いて解析したところ, 100℃で10分間処理したTIタンパク質は,トリプシンを阻害することはできなかった。The protease inhibitor may be playing an important role in the metabolism of the plant restraining the endogenous proteinases or protecting the plant against foreign proteinases. A trypsin inhibitor(TI) was isolated and purified from the tossa jute (Corchorus olitorius L.) juice by 70% ammonium sulfate treatment. The inhibitory activity of TI was examined by photometical method and sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE). The trypsin activity was analyzed by incubating 70% ammounium sulfate fraction of tossa jute mixed with trypsin and casein as substrate. The mixture was incubated at 37℃ for 20 minutes before trichloroacetic acid (TCA) solution was added to stop the process. After centrifugation, the absorbance of the supernatant of this reaction mixture was measured at 280nm with a spectrophotometer. The absorbance at 280nm of the reaction mixture containing TI has not increased at all. TI inhibited trypsin activities which catalyzed casein. Analyzed by SDS-PAGE, the molecular weights of TI was found to be 100, 59, 55, 50kDa. Under non-reducing conditions in SDS-PAGE gel, TI showed a single protein band with estimated molecular weight of 100kDa. After being treated at 100℃ for 10 minutes, TI could no longer inhibit trypsin activities, which proved that the trypsin-inhibitory activity of TI was heat-unstable

A Novel Tumor-Promoting Function Residing in the 5′ Non-coding Region of vascular endothelial growth factor mRNA

Shigetada Teshima-Kondo and colleagues find that cancer cells have a survival system that is regulated by vegf mRNA and that vegf mRNA and its protein may synergistically promote the malignancy of tumor cells

Functional MRIを用いた視中枢および眼球運動中枢の研究

科学研究費補助金研究成果報告書研究種目: 基盤研究(B)研究期間: 1996～1998課題番号: 08457463研究代表者: 西田 保裕（滋賀医科大学・医学部・講師）研究分担者: 可児 一孝（滋賀医科大学・医学部・教授）研究分担者: 稲富 昭太（滋賀医科大学・医学部・名誉教授）研究分担者: 永田 啓（滋賀医科大学・医学部・講師）研究分担者: 中村 二郎（滋賀医科大学・医学部・助手）研究分担者: 青木 佳子（滋賀医科大学・医学部・助手）研究分担者: 林 理（滋賀医科大学・医学部・助手）研究分担者: 吉田 健一（滋賀医科大学・医学部・助手

Effects of sugar scrub skin care On low birth weight infants in NICU -- Enhanced barrier function --

The skin of low birth weight infants (LBWIs) admitted to the neonatal infant care unit (NICU) has a very thin keratinous layer and is vulnerable to external irritation due to sparse connective tissues, which causes skin disorder easily. A bath using sugar scrub (formulation made of beet sugar and essential oil) has the mildest impact on babies, keeps the skin clean, increases the sebum content, and is expected to enhance the barrier function. The purposes of this study were to clarify the effectiveness of sugar scrub skin care on newborns by comparing a baby soap group and sugar scrub group, and to consider better skin care methods. The subjects were newborns who are born lighter than 2,500 g in NICU & GCU, having a conceptual age of 36 weeks or older. Baby soap was used for control group of six and sugar scrub for experimental group of eight. All were given a bath in the same manner. Data on the sebum content of the chest was collected by a Sebumeter (Sebumeter(R) SM 815; Courage + Khazaka) before and ten minutes after the bath for comparison. The sebum content of the soap group was 3.27+-3.18 (mean+-SD) before the care and 2.30+-2.75 after the care. That of the sugar group was 7.37+-10.77 before the care and 61.60+-15.83 after the care. A significant increase was identified. The difference in sebum content before and after the care was -97+-0.49 for the soap group and 54.23+-21.75 for the sugar group. The sugar group showed a significant increase. The sugar scrub skin care will contribute to an enhanced barrier function by increasing the sebum content

CD206+ M2-like macrophages regulate systemic glucose metabolism by inhibiting proliferation of adipocyte progenitors

Adipose tissue resident macrophages have important roles in the maintenance of tissue homeostasis and regulate insulin sensitivity for example by secreting pro-inflammatory or anti-inflammatory cytokines. Here, we show that M2-like macrophages in adipose tissue regulate systemic glucose homeostasis by inhibiting adipocyte progenitor proliferation via the CD206/TGFβ signaling pathway. We show that adipose tissue CD206+ cells are primarily M2-like macrophages, and ablation of CD206+ M2-like macrophages improves systemic insulin sensitivity, which was associated with an increased number of smaller adipocytes. Mice genetically engineered to have reduced numbers of CD206+ M2-like macrophages show a down-regulation of TGFβ signaling in adipose tissue, together with up-regulated proliferation and differentiation of adipocyte progenitors. Our findings indicate that CD206+ M2-like macrophages in adipose tissues create a microenvironment that inhibits growth and differentiation of adipocyte progenitors and, thereby, control adiposity and systemic insulin sensitivity