〔研究ノート〕大森駅東口地区のまちづくり

　　The author surveyed the East Gate area of Omori Station which is in Ota-ward, Tokyo, for the purpose of collecting data useful in future town planning. First, the history and physical environment of Omori since the Edo Period, including its location, changes in the townscape of houses and buildings, and demographics are explained. 　　According to surveys by the ward, the population of the residents has been increasing, but the numbers of households has been decreasing for the past 27 years, and many of the ward residents hope to live in the area long term. 　　The author distributed a questionnaire asking about how residents of the area live. 51 parents of local elementary children and 76 local council members involved in town planning, members of neighborhood associations, and shopkeepers responded; more than half of the parents had lived in the district for less than 20 years while most of the latter respondents had lived in the district for more than 40 years. The neighborhood association members who lived near the shopping streets responded that they buy things at shops on those streets daily while many younger parents tended to respond that they are not regular customers of the shops in the shopping streets. An additional survey of traffic routes showed that many people travel on the shopping streets to the station and many people visit the shopping streets by bicycle. 　　The author suggests that the importance of communal gathering places in the district must also be taken into account by those hoping to invigorate it

Molecular cloning and expression analysis of a gene encoding KUP/HAK/KT-type potassium uptake transporter from Cryptomeria japonica

Potassium ion (K+) is an essential and the most abundant intracellular cation in plants. The roles of K+ in various aspects of plant life are closely linked to its transport across biological membranes such as the plasma membrane and the tonoplast, which is mediated by membrane-bound transport proteins known as transporters and channels. Information on the molecular basis of K+ membrane transport in trees, especially in conifers, is currently limited. In this study, we isolated one complementary DNA, CjKUP1, which is homologous to known plant K+ transporters, from Cryptomeria japonica. Complementation tests using an Escherichia coli mutant, which is deficient in K+ uptake activity, was conducted to examine the K+ uptake function of the protein encoded by CjKUP1. Transformation of the K+-uptake-deficient mutant with CjKUP1 complemented the deficiency of this mutant. This result indicates that CjKUP1 has a function of K+ uptake. The expression levels of CjKUP1 in male strobili were markedly higher from late September to early October than in other periods. The expression levels in male and female strobili were higher than those in other organs such as needles, inner bark, differentiating xylem, and roots. These results indicate that CjKUP1 is mainly involved in K+ membrane transport in the cells of reproductive organs of C. japonica trees, especially in male strobili during pollen differentiation.ArticleTrees-Struct. Funct. 28(5):1527-1537 (2014)journal articl

Prognostic Value of Left Ventricular Diastolic Dysfunction in Patients Undergoing Cardiac Catheterization for Coronary Artery Disease

We hypothesized that left ventricular (LV) diastolic dysfunction assessed by cardiac catheterization may be associated with increased risk for cardiovascular events. To test the hypothesis, we assessed diastolic function by cardiac catheterization (relaxation time constant (Tau) and end-diastolic pressure (EDP)) as well as Doppler echocardiography (early diastolic mitral annular velocity (e′) and a ratio of early diastolic mitral inflow to annular velocities (E/e′)) in 222 consecutive patients undergoing cardiac catheterization for coronary artery disease (CAD). During a followup of 1364 ± 628 days, 5 cardiac deaths and 20 unscheduled cardiovascular hospitalizations were observed. Among LV diastolic function indices, Tau > 48 ms and e′ < 5.8 cm/s were each significantly associated with lower rate of survival free of cardiovascular hospitalization. Even after adjustment for potential confounders (traditional cardiovascular risk factors, the severity of CAD, and cardiovascular medications), the predictive value of Tau > 48 ms and e′ < 5.8 cm/s remained significant. No predictive value was observed in EDP, E/e′, or LV ejection fraction. In conclusion, LV diastolic dysfunction, particularly impaired LV relaxation assessed by both cardiac catheterization and Doppler echocardiography, is independently associated with increased risk for cardiac death or cardiovascular hospitalization in patients with known or suspected CAD

Reconstrucción de la agricultura prehispánica en El Salvador previo a la erupción volcánica, a través del análisis de suelos

In El Salvador, substantial archaeological findings have been made related to pre-Hispanic agriculture practices in various archaeological sites. In Joya de Cerén, there were found very well-conserved evidences of furrows of maize fields corresponding to the Late Classic Period, as well as crops of corn, beans, maguey, cocoa, cassava and others. In Antiguo Cuscatlan, under a layer of tephra from Cuzcatlán (900-650 BC), several grooves and ditches that included a macrofossil with a corn leaf dating to 820 BC were found. On the other hand, archaeological sites, such as Cerrón Grande, Monseñor Oscar Arnulfo Romero Boulevard, Chalchuapa, reported grooves under the volcanic ash layer of Ilopango (TBJ / century IV-VI AC) although it was not reported the type of plants that there were grown there.The humus or humic support of the soil is constituted by a layer of fertile earth of dark color, which is formed through the remains and decomposition of native plants that develop and die on the surface. For this reason, the value of δ13C (o/o) of the soil is variable, depending on the type of plants that grew in the past.The value analysis has been carried out δ13C through the mass analyzer of stable isotopes to identify the crops of the period before the volcanic eruption of Ilopango, since no material of vegetation or crop has been found. By value analysis δ13C, it can be stated that C4 type plants were cultivated in the maize fields of Bulevar Monseñor Oscar Arnulfo Romero.Revista de Museología "Kóot" No.9 2018: 26-36En El Salvador se han realizado hallazgos arqueológicos substanciales relacionados con las prácticas de agricultura prehispánica en diversos sitios arqueológicos. En Joya de Cerén se encontraron muy bien conservadas evidencias de surcos de milpas correspondientes al periodo Clásico Tardío, así como cultivos de maíz, frijoles, chiles, maguey, cacao, yuca, y otros. En el Antiguo Cuscatlán, abajo de una capa de tefra de Cuzcatán (900-650 a.C.) hallaron varios surcos y zanjas, en las cuales se encontró un macrofósil de hoja de maíz con un fechamiento de 820 a.C. Por otra parte, en los sitios arqueológicos, como Cerrón Grande, Bulevar Monseñor Oscar Arnulfo Romero, Chalchuapa, se reportaron surcos abajo la capa de ceniza volcánica de Ilopango (T.B.J./siglo IV-VI d.c.), aunque no se informó que tipo de plantas se cultivaron ahí.El humus o sostenimiento húmico del suelo se constituye por una capa de tierra fértil de color obscuro, la cual se forma a través de los residuos y descomposición de plantas originarias que se desarrollan y mueren en la superficie. Por esta razón, el valor de δ13C (%) del suelo es variable, dependiendo del tipo de plantas que crecieron en el pasado.Se ha realizado el análisis de valor de δ13C a través del analizador de masa de isótopos estables para identificar los cultivos de la época anterior a la erupción volcánica del Ilopango, ya que no se ha encontrado ningún material de flora o de cultivo. Por análisis de valor de δ13C, se puede decir que se cultivaba plantas del tipo C4 en la milpa de Bulevar Monseñor Oscar Arnulfo Romero.Revista de Museología "Kóot" No.9 2018: 26-36

学校建築における沖縄県内の小学校オープンスクール型校舎の展開

The author reviews the post-war history of school buildings focusing on open-school-type buildings in Okinawa. Interviews with the local architects then in charge are also summarized.In Okinawa Prefecture, construction of school facilities increased rapidly after the return of administrative rights over Okinawa to Japan in 1972. Nakahara elementary school was built in 1977, and is an open-school-type building in Uruma city （then Gushikawa city）. Since its construction, thanks in part to support by the Ministry of Education （now MEXT） for multi-purpose spaces in schools in 1984, the style spread to almost all the newly-built or fully reconstructed elementary schools in the central and southern part of mainland Okinawa. The spread of the style in Okinawa is largely attributable to activities in Uruma city （then Gushikawa city） where Yasuhiko Nagakura planned various forms of open-school-type schools, and Naha city which also played a leading role in this style of school construction. The ideas of the local architect Eizo Sueyoshi, who understood the need to build in accordance with Okinawa’s climate, were accepted and standardized in other municipalities in Okinawa. Looking at schools in Naha we can see how this style has developed and improved over the years.In Okinawa Prefecture, the open-school-type elementary schools are still being built today. Many school children who learned in open-school-type schools years ago are now teaching at elementary schools and they know how to use them. Open-school-type buildings include learning environments that accommodate various types of learning. As we continue to use them more, and more effectively, in education these types of buildings will be a driving force for successful active learning

Pulmonary venous occlusion and death in pulmonary arterial hypertension: survival analyses using radiographic surrogates

BACKGROUND: Recent studies find that a considerable number of patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) develop fibrous obstruction of the pulmonary veins. Such obstruction more commonly accompanies connective tissue disorder (CTD)-associated PAH than idiopathic PAH. However, few researchers have gauged the risk of death involving obstruction of the pulmonary veins. METHODS: Thirty-seven patients with PAH were enrolled (18 patients, idiopathic PAH; 19 patients, CTD-associated PAH). The patients were 49 ± 18 years and had a World Health Organization functional class of 3.2 ± 0.6. Thickening of the interlobular septa, centrilobular ground-glass attenuation, and mediastinal adenopathy were surrogates for obstruction of the pulmonary veins, and were detected by a 16-row multidetector computed tomography scanner. RESULTS: The follow-up period was 714 ± 552 days. Fifteen deaths occurred. Thickening of the interlobular septa, centrilobular ground-glass attenuation, and mediastinal adenopathy were found in 37.8%, 24.3%, and 16.2% of patients, respectively. Cox proportional hazard analysis revealed an increased risk of death with each radiographic surrogate (mediastinal adenopathy: p < 0.0001, hazard ratio = 13.9; thickening of interlobular septa: p < 0.001, hazard ratio = 12.0; ground-glass attenuation: p = 0.02, hazard ratio = 3.7). The statistical significance of these relationships was independent of the cause of PAH and plasma concentration of brain natriuretic peptide. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study imply that obstruction of the pulmonary veins is associated with an increased risk of death in patients with PAH

Comparison of Hemorrhagic Risk between Prasugrel and Clopidogrel : a Retrospective Study using Adverse Drug Event Reporting Databases

Background: Prasugrel inhibits platelet aggregation more potently and exerts therapeutic action faster than clopidogrel. In the global phase III trial conducted in Western and South American countries that excluded Asian countries, prasugrel reduced ischemic events but increased hemorrhagic risk compared with clopidogrel in patients with acute coronary syndrome scheduled for percutaneous coronary intervention. In the Japanese phase III trial for similar patients, the efficacy of prasugrel compared with clopidogrel was comparable to the global trial, but the safety could not be confirmed because of an insufficient number of patients. Furthermore, given the strict enrollment criteria, the results of these trials may not be applicable to routine clinical practice. Accordingly, we compared the hemorrhagic risk of prasugrel and clopidogrel in real-world settings by analyzing adverse drug event reports in post-marketing stages provided by the Japanese regulatory authorities and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Methods: We analyzed a total of 3,970 reports for prasugrel (n = 518) or clopidogrel (n = 3,452) between 2014 and 2017 in the Japanese Adverse Drug Event Report (JADER) and a total of 91,914 reports for either prasugrel (n = 5,992) or clopidogrel (n = 85,922) between 2009 and 2019 in the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). Results: In JADER and FAERS, prasugrel was more frequently and significantly associated with hemorrhagic event reports than clopidogrel. After adjustment for known confounders including age, sex, and concomitant medications (aspirin, anticoagulants, and proton pump inhibitors), the hemorrhagic risk of prasugrel compared with clopidogrel remained significant (adjusted reporting odds ratios [95% CI] for total, intracranial, and gastrointestinal hemorrhagic events = 2.42 [1.97-2.96], 2.45 [1.85-3.24], and 2.27 [1.73-2.97] in JADER, and 2.21 [2.09-2.34], 1.21 [1.09-1.33], and 1.41 [1.29-1.54] in FAERS). Conclusions: The hemorrhagic risk was found to be greater with prasugrel than clopidogrel in real-world patients, including Japanese patients