Nondestructive characterization of Antarctic micrometeorites collected at the Dome Fuji Station by synchrotron radiation X-ray fluorescence analysis

The bulk trace element composition (Ca, Ti, Cr, Mn, Ni Cu, Zn, Ge, Se, Rb, Sr, Y, Zr, Mo) of eighty-three Antarctic micrometeorites was nondestructively analyzed using synchrotron radiation X-ray fluorescence analysis (SR-XRF), and these elements were characterized in terms of their abundance ratio relative to Murchison matrix composition. The relationship between heating history and chemical composition is also examined. We found a complementary relationship among I-type, S-type and unmelted AMMs in the micrometeorites\u27 elemental abundance, which is consistent with the hypothesis that I-type and S-type spherules were separated from chondritic meteoroids

Effects of self-perceived objectivity on hiring decisions : Reexamining the Experiment by Uhlmann and Cohen

Uhlmann and Cohen (2007) argued that self-perceived objectivity increased discrimination against women in hiring decisions; when decision makers have a sense of personal objectivity, they feel entitled to evaluate job applicants based on their gender stereotypical beliefs. We reexamined Experiment 2 by Uhlmann and Cohen (2007) with a sample of male university students in Japan. Contrary to their results, i.e., male participants high in stereotypic beliefs, primed with a sense of objectivity, gave male applicants more positive hiring evaluations than female applicants, we did not find any significant effects. The effects of self-perceived objectivity should be reexamined in future research considering factors, such as a sense of power, duration of effects after being primed, and participants’ sex.本論文は，2016年度に広島大学教育学部で開講した「心理学課題演習」において，第1著者の指導により第2著者から第5著者までが実施した研究をもとに執筆した。研究の一部は第2著者から第5著者により第72回中国四国心理学会学部生研究発表会において報告された。また，本研究の一部はJSPS科研費（JP26380844）による助成を受けたものである

Novel SPEF2 Variant in a Japanese Patient with Primary Ciliary Dyskinesia: A Case Report and Literature Review

Primary ciliary dyskinesia (PCD) is a genetic and congenital disease associated with an abnormal ciliary ultrastructure and function and is estimated to affect 1 in 15,000–20,000 individuals. A PCD diagnosis can be achieved by genotyping. Here, we performed whole-exome analysis for the diagnosis of PCD and described the detailed clinical characteristics of the case. A 39-year-old Japanese woman with sinusitis and bronchiectasis without situs inversus had had upper and lower respiratory symptoms since childhood and had received long-term macrolide therapy without an accurate diagnosis. A moderate deterioration of cilia function was observed by high-speed video microscopy analysis; additionally, the number of cells with moving cilia was fewer than that in patients without PCD. Electron microscopy revealed no apparent structural abnormalities. We performedwhole-exome analysis and identified novel biallelic variants of SPEF2 in the homozygous state (c.1860_1861insCT).We confirmed the absence of SPEF2 protein expression in the cilia of the nasal mucosa using fluorescent immunostaining. Accordingly, she was diagnosed as having PCD with the SPEF2 variant. The present case suggests that the deterioration of cilia function is moderate, the number of respiratory cells with moving cilia might be reduced, and the respiratory condition could be severe in patients with PCD with the SPEF2 variant

e-Learningによる英語学習の試行 : 学習促進のための効果的な支援の在り方の考察

本研究は、近年新しい教育方法として注目されているe-Learningを英語のリメディアル教育に応用し、英語力が比較的弱い大学生の英語学習を支援することを目的に取り組んだ試みをまとめたものである。 e-Leamingにおいては、「良質の教育コンテンツ」と「適切な学習支援」が学習効果の面で重要となるが、本研究では教育コンテンツはメディア教育開発センター開発の英語リメディアル教材「University Voices」および「Bridge教材」を利用する機会を得たため、当面の研究課題を学習支援の在り方に絞って取り組んだ。具体的には、所属学科・学年・英語力において多様な属性を持つ大学生の協力を得て、約2ヶ月間の自主学習期間中に様々な学習支援を試みた。具体的には、対面によるもの、各種印刷物の配布・掲示、電子メールの利用、電子ニュースレターの発行、電話の利用などの手段を、個別指導、集団指導の場面に応じて使い分けた。取り組みの結果、学習支援の面では電子メールによる活動報告と返信メールによる励まし・疑問への回答が非常に有効であったこと、特に返信メールを英文にしたことが学生の意欲を刺激したこと、また、学生の状況に応じて学習者に共通する課題などを中心にした電子ジャーナルを発行したことなどが、学習を支援する上で有効であった。結果的にドロップアウトする例は一般的に予想されるよりも相当少ないという結果を得た。e-Learning, or Web-based learning, was used for remedial English language education. e-Learning requires good educational materials and a good support system. Remedial English courseware "University Voices" and "Beginner\u27s Class" were made available by the National Institute of Multimedia Education. Thus, the main focus was the development of a support system for two months of self-study by students from a range of majors, grade levels and English language abilities. This included face-to-face consultation sessions, printed handouts, posted notices, email messages, email newsletters and telephone contact. Most helpful were responses to student email messages of progress reports, impressions, and questions about the materials as well as study skills. Instructors responded in English and Japanese with messages of support and advice. Repeatedly appearing questions were presented in newsletters. Overall, the dropout rate was much lower than usually found in Web-based programs, indicating the importance of human support

The whole blood transcriptional regulation landscape in 465 COVID-19 infected samples from Japan COVID-19 Task Force

「コロナ制圧タスクフォース」COVID-19患者由来の血液細胞における遺伝子発現の網羅的解析 --重症度に応じた遺伝子発現の変化には、ヒトゲノム配列の個人差が影響する--. 京都大学プレスリリース. 2022-08-23.Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a recently-emerged infectious disease that has caused millions of deaths, where comprehensive understanding of disease mechanisms is still unestablished. In particular, studies of gene expression dynamics and regulation landscape in COVID-19 infected individuals are limited. Here, we report on a thorough analysis of whole blood RNA-seq data from 465 genotyped samples from the Japan COVID-19 Task Force, including 359 severe and 106 non-severe COVID-19 cases. We discover 1169 putative causal expression quantitative trait loci (eQTLs) including 34 possible colocalizations with biobank fine-mapping results of hematopoietic traits in a Japanese population, 1549 putative causal splice QTLs (sQTLs; e.g. two independent sQTLs at TOR1AIP1), as well as biologically interpretable trans-eQTL examples (e.g., REST and STING1), all fine-mapped at single variant resolution. We perform differential gene expression analysis to elucidate 198 genes with increased expression in severe COVID-19 cases and enriched for innate immune-related functions. Finally, we evaluate the limited but non-zero effect of COVID-19 phenotype on eQTL discovery, and highlight the presence of COVID-19 severity-interaction eQTLs (ieQTLs; e.g., CLEC4C and MYBL2). Our study provides a comprehensive catalog of whole blood regulatory variants in Japanese, as well as a reference for transcriptional landscapes in response to COVID-19 infection

DOCK2 is involved in the host genetics and biology of severe COVID-19

「コロナ制圧タスクフォース」COVID-19疾患感受性遺伝子DOCK2の重症化機序を解明 --アジア最大のバイオレポジトリーでCOVID-19の治療標的を発見--. 京都大学プレスリリース. 2022-08-10.Identifying the host genetic factors underlying severe COVID-19 is an emerging challenge. Here we conducted a genome-wide association study (GWAS) involving 2, 393 cases of COVID-19 in a cohort of Japanese individuals collected during the initial waves of the pandemic, with 3, 289 unaffected controls. We identified a variant on chromosome 5 at 5q35 (rs60200309-A), close to the dedicator of cytokinesis 2 gene (DOCK2), which was associated with severe COVID-19 in patients less than 65 years of age. This risk allele was prevalent in East Asian individuals but rare in Europeans, highlighting the value of genome-wide association studies in non-European populations. RNA-sequencing analysis of 473 bulk peripheral blood samples identified decreased expression of DOCK2 associated with the risk allele in these younger patients. DOCK2 expression was suppressed in patients with severe cases of COVID-19. Single-cell RNA-sequencing analysis (n = 61 individuals) identified cell-type-specific downregulation of DOCK2 and a COVID-19-specific decreasing effect of the risk allele on DOCK2 expression in non-classical monocytes. Immunohistochemistry of lung specimens from patients with severe COVID-19 pneumonia showed suppressed DOCK2 expression. Moreover, inhibition of DOCK2 function with CPYPP increased the severity of pneumonia in a Syrian hamster model of SARS-CoV-2 infection, characterized by weight loss, lung oedema, enhanced viral loads, impaired macrophage recruitment and dysregulated type I interferon responses. We conclude that DOCK2 has an important role in the host immune response to SARS-CoV-2 infection and the development of severe COVID-19, and could be further explored as a potential biomarker and/or therapeutic target

The Practice in a Special Needs School to Support the Students with Intellectual Disabilities to Realize Properly Their Own Challenges : Through the Preparation for Internship Collaborating with External Resource <Original Article>

本研究では，知的障害特別支援学校高等部の教科「職業」において，外部資源である大学での作業活動を取り入れた就業体験の事前・事後指導の実践を行った。大学での作業は就業体験の場と近い状況であったため，緊張しながらも主体的に取り組む生徒の姿が引き出された。想定外の状況に失敗してしまう生徒もいたが，教師が支援しながら再度挑戦し成功させることができた。その結果，自信をもって就業体験に臨むことができた。事後指導においては失敗談を自ら語る生徒がおり，失敗経験が否定的なものとはならず，達成すべき課題として前向きに捉えられていた。大学での作業の場が，学校と職場の間の中間的な場として両者を橋渡しする役割を果たしており，そのような場を意図的に設定することで生徒は学校での学習と就業体験での経験とを結び付け，自身の課題について的確に認識し，主体的に改善していこうとする姿勢が身に付いていくことが示唆された。In the present study, we practiced vocational education for internship in a high school for students with disabilities. Students worked in college before they are work on an internship. Working in college was similar with the situation in internship and very hard, but students achieved their works with teacher’s support. Through these experiences, they became more confident and they realized their own challenges. Finally, they could work effectively in internship. In conclusion, it is important to prepare the “intermediate location” between school and workplace, where there is the same situation as the workplace and teachers can support students

CT Findings of Axillary Tuberculosis Lymphadenitis: A Case Detected by Breast Cancer Screening Examination

We report the first description of CT findings of axillary tuberculous lymphadenitis confirmed by the pathological specimen. The breast cancer screening examination is one of the prime methods of detection of axillary tuberculous lymphadenitis. The most common site of axillary tuberculous lymphadenitis is the deep axilla. Screening mammography often fails to cover the whole axilla. The presence on the contrast-enhanced CT of unilateral multiple circumscribed dense nodes, some of which have large and dotted calcifications, might suggest tuberculous lymphadenitis in axillary region