Lupus-like oral mucosal lesions in mercury-induced autoimmune response in Brown Norway rats.

BACKGROUND:Administration of mercury at nontoxic doses induces systemic autoimmune disease in Brown Norway (BN) rats. The pathogenesis of lupus-like oral mucosal lesion by mercury-induced autoimmunity is still unclear, even though the oral mucosa is observed to be commonly affected in mercury-treated BN rats. In this study, we investigated the immunopathology of lupus-like oral mucosal lesions in a model of mercury-induced systemic autoimmunity.METHODS:Brown Norway male rats were injected subcutaneously with either phosphate-buffered saline (control) or mercury at a dose of 1.0 mg per kilogram of body weight on days 0, 3, 5, and 7. Blood, kidney, and tongue samples were taken at various timepoints for evaluation by immunohistochemistry, RT-PCR, and lupus band test (LBT).RESULTS:Oral mucosal lesions were classified according to three consecutive temporal phases on the basis of infiltration of immunocompetent cells as follows: (phase I) infiltration of MHC class II+ dendritic cells (DC) and macrophages; (phase II) addition of ED1+ macrophage infiltrates; and (phase III) focal infiltration of pan T cells following increased infiltration of DC and macrophages. Dense infiltration of DC and macrophages was observed in the basement membrane (BM) zone of the oral epithelium. Tissue expression of IL-4 mRNA was detected in early lesions (phase I), suggesting that locally produced IL-4 may be responsible for Th2-mediated immune response. A linear and continuous smooth pattern of fluorescence was observed in the oral epithelial BM in addition to renal glomeruli, indicating immune complex deposits.CONCLUSIONS:Local autoimmune responses are involved in the pathogenesis of mercury-induced lupus-like lesions of the oral mucosa.福岡歯科大学2015年

The ASTRO-H X-ray Observatory

The joint JAXA/NASA ASTRO-H mission is the sixth in a series of highly successful X-ray missions initiated by the Institute of Space and Astronautical Science (ISAS). ASTRO-H will investigate the physics of the high-energy universe via a suite of four instruments, covering a very wide energy range, from 0.3 keV to 600 keV. These instruments include a high-resolution, high-throughput spectrometer sensitive over 0.3-2 keV with high spectral resolution of Delta E < 7 eV, enabled by a micro-calorimeter array located in the focal plane of thin-foil X-ray optics; hard X-ray imaging spectrometers covering 5-80 keV, located in the focal plane of multilayer-coated, focusing hard X-ray mirrors; a wide-field imaging spectrometer sensitive over 0.4-12 keV, with an X-ray CCD camera in the focal plane of a soft X-ray telescope; and a non-focusing Compton-camera type soft gamma-ray detector, sensitive in the 40-600 keV band. The simultaneous broad bandpass, coupled with high spectral resolution, will enable the pursuit of a wide variety of important science themes.Comment: 22 pages, 17 figures, Proceedings of the SPIE Astronomical Instrumentation "Space Telescopes and Instrumentation 2012: Ultraviolet to Gamma Ray

六甲山系の自然と地域特性を活かした高大連携授業に関する研究/総合学習の時間を利用したデザインカリキュラム

本研究は、文部科学省における「高等学校と大学との接続における一人一人の能力を伸ばすための連携（高大連携）の在り方について」の指針に基づいて、本校の位置する六甲山系の自然と地域の特性を活かした高大連携授業の在り方について、実践的活動を通して実地検証していくことを目的とした。　総合学習に於いて実施した科目は以下の通りである。講座①：神戸鈴蘭台高校を「計測」する（長濱・宮本）講座②：使いやすい減災グッズ制作（見寺・野口・ばんば）講座③：自然素材を用いた雑貨制作（大田・相澤・佐野・田頭）講座④：テクノ工作（相良・古賀・逸身・向井・見明）講座⑤：高大連携授業のドキュメンテーションと情報発信（曽和）。　本研究の結果、以下の成果を得た。①高等学校における総合学習に組み入れることにより、年間を通じたプロジェクトを推進するカリキュラムを作成することができた。②文部科学省における「高校生に対して、大学レベルの教育研究に触れる機会の促進」をデザイン教育の視点から取り組むことができた。③地域の特性を活用することで、高大連携を主軸とした、地域のデザイン教育活動の活性化を図ることが可能となった。This research had the purpose of verifying integrated study in high school by making use of regional and natural assets of Mt.Rokko through the activities with high school, based on “Cooperation in order to extend the person\u27s ability in connection with the high school and university” by Ministry of education.The subject of integrated study was;(1)“Measurement” of Kobe Suzurandai High School: NAGAHAMA and MIYAMOTO.(2)Making of useful disaster mitigation goods: MITERA, NOGUCHI and BAMBA.(3)Production of living goods used by natural material: OOTA, AIZAWA, SANO and TAGASHIRA.(4)Craft and Computer Programming: SAGARA, KOGA, ITSUMI, MUKAI and MIAKE.We had the results as follows; (1) We could make the curriculum for a year by based on including the integrated study. (2) We could provide the design subject based on the guideline of Ministry of Education. (3) We could activate the design education using by the character of region

Hitomi (ASTRO-H) X-ray Astronomy Satellite

The Hitomi (ASTRO-H) mission is the sixth Japanese x-ray astronomy satellite developed by a large international collaboration, including Japan, USA, Canada, and Europe. The mission aimed to provide the highest energy resolution ever achieved at E  >  2  keV, using a microcalorimeter instrument, and to cover a wide energy range spanning four decades in energy from soft x-rays to gamma rays. After a successful launch on February 17, 2016, the spacecraft lost its function on March 26, 2016, but the commissioning phase for about a month provided valuable information on the onboard instruments and the spacecraft system, including astrophysical results obtained from first light observations. The paper describes the Hitomi (ASTRO-H) mission, its capabilities, the initial operation, and the instruments/spacecraft performances confirmed during the commissioning operations for about a month

Estimation of Changes in Mechanical and Color Properties from the Weight Loss Data of “Shine Muscat” Fruit during Storage

“Shine Muscat” fruit is a table grape commonly consumed cultivar in Japan; however, the storage characteristics have not been investigated, especially physical properties. The objective of this study was to clarify changes in weight loss, mechanical, and color properties of Shine Muscat fruit during storage and the relationships between them. The storage tests were performed at 15°C under two relative humidity (RH) conditions, i.e., RH 95% and RH 40%. The weight loss of fruit was calculated from the mass changes during storage. The mechanical properties—stress, strain, and elasticity—at the break point were examined by compression tests. The color properties, color differences (ΔE), and chroma (C) were calculated from L∗a∗b∗ scale parameters. The breaking stress did not reflect changes in the mechanical characteristics of samples during storage. Weight loss was highly correlated with the breaking strain and elasticity, ΔE, and C. In addition, the physical properties could be estimated from weight loss data (R2 = 0.81–0.94). We showed the changes in weight loss and other physical properties and proposed equations to estimate the physical properties based on weight loss data. The equations indicated the importance of inhibiting the weight loss to maintain the quality and could be used as a nondestructive and easy method for assessment of storage characteristics of Shine Muscat fruit