A study of Fujiwara Ainosuke(1) ： From Northeastern Japanese Folklore to Asian Folklore (<Special Edition ： Folkloric Viewpoints for North-east Japanese Culture>)

藤原勉は『東北民俗論－日本の古代文化と東北の民俗、その言語民俗学的研究－』(1960刊、東北民俗の会)の「父と語りたい」と副題した、あとがきの中で、自ら執筆した「言語民俗」（『宮城県史』20巻民俗編Ⅱ1960)と共に、この著作を父・藤原相之助(慶應3-昭和22年、1867-1947)に是非見て欲しかったと述懐している。・・

Scaling limit of digital circuits due to thermal noise

The error probability at a node of a digital circuit exposed to thermal noise agitation is investigated and the minimal dissipation–reliability relation for practical electronic circuits is derived. The digital circuit is modeled by an inverter chain with ideal transfer characteristics, and the error probability due to spurious data transfer caused by the thermal noise fluctuation is evaluated as a function of the node switching energy. The maximal error probability at each node allowed by the reliability requirement of the total system leads us to the minimal node energy dissipated per logical switching, which amounts to around 12 eV in the future 1010 gate system operated at a 10 GHz clock rate with a 104 FIT level reliability. In view of the device size-scaling trend of large-scale integrated circuits, the minimal node energy is expected to be reached at a feature size of 10–20 nm

Expression of RECK in endothelial cells of glioma: comparison with CD34 and VEGF expressions

Angiogenesis is thought to be involved in the progression of glioma grades, and reversion-inducing cysteine-rich protein with Kazal motifs (RECK) has been said to be involved in maturation of vessels. In this study, we aimed to determine whether high micro-vessel density (MVD) expressed by RECK in glioma tissue is correlated with grades of glioma. We also compared RECK expression with that of the formerly known vessel marker, CD34, and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). RECK, CD34, and VEGF immuno-reactivities of 72 glioma tissues were studied. RECK was seen in microvessels of glioma tissues. CD34 showed a similar pattern to RECK, whereas VEGF showed positive staining in cytoplasm of tumor cells and endothelial cells. Average MVD with RECK was 107.6 microvessels (range 7-290). RECK was positively correlated with grades of glioma. RECK and CD34 also showed a strong correlation (P = 0.001). Higher frequency of VEGF staining was also correlated with higher grade of glioma. This is the first study describing expression of RECK in glioma, and its angiogenesis-related nature may provide a potential therapeutic target for glioma treatment in the future.ArticleJOURNAL OF NEURO-ONCOLOGY. 107(3):559-564 (2012)journal articl

Quantitative Measurement and Analysis to Computational Thinking for Elementary Schools in Japan

In Japan, programming education has been made compulsory in elementary schools since 2020. The Programming Education Guide (GPE) explains the purpose of programming education and the abilities that can be fostered through programming education. In addition, the “Portal Site for Programming Education Focusing on Elementary Schools” introduces various examples of programming education. However, there is little information measuring whether programming classes are effective in improving OTWP (Objective Thinking as a Way of Programming) abilities based on CT (Computational Thinking), except for reports of improvement after simple statistical analysis. Therefore, we prepared 30 CT questions, 12 basic and 18 applied, for the CT test considering four key techniques, decomposition, pattern recognition, abstraction, and algorithms, of which 14 questions were pre-test and seven questions were assessment test. In the experiment, 18 elementary school students from grades 1st to 6th were given a short workshop only once, and the analysis of the effect was done statistically, considering their habituation to the problems. The results of the experiment showed that there was no effect of the one-time workshop, unlike other reports of improvement that used simple statistical methods. It became clear that the CT ability was not improved by the short education. On the other hand, a new finding is that females may be inferior to males in three techniques: decomposition, algorithm, and abstraction

Comparison of manual and digital microvascular density counting of RECK expression in glioma

A microvascular density (MVD) counting method for reversion-inducing cysteine-rich protein with Kazal motifs (RECK) expression, using a digital image analysis tool, has advantages over manual counting by microscope. Thirty glioma cases with RECK staining were photographed at a magnification of 200 x high power field and the photographs in RGB images were analyzed, and stained vessels were captured and were counted automatically. MVD with RECK expression using a digital image analysis tool showed comparable results to those of the manual method. RECK intensity expression could show linear correlation with grades of glioma by the digital method, which was superior compared to the manual method. The present method is recommended to researchers undertaking MVD study for glioma.ArticleNEUROPATHOLOGY. 32(3):245-251 (2012)journal articl

Development of spontaneous neuropathy in NF-κBp50-deficient mice by calcineurin-signal involving impaired NF-κB activation

信州大学博士（医学）・学位論文・平成24年3月28日授与（乙第21144号）・中村朋子Purpose: The transcriptional regulator, nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-kappa B)/Rel family are involved in neuronal cell death and survival. Previously, we reported that NF-kappa Bp50-deficient (p50-deficient) mice exhibit many features resembling human normal tension glaucoma (NTG). The developmental mechanism of human NTG is not clearly understood, and a radical curative treatment has yet to be established. Our aim is to elucidate the signal cascade which mediates the spontaneous optic neuropathy in p50-deficient mice as a model of NTG. Methods: To demonstrate the expression and activation of pro-apoptotic factors, which mediate the death of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) in p50-deficient mice, western blot (WB) and luciferase reporter assays with retinas from p50-deficient and wild type mice, and cultured RGC-5 cells were performed. Furthermore, we tested the neuroprotective effects of chemical reagents (memantine, lomerizine, and tacrolimus) against N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA)-susceptible RGC damage according to in vitro experiments with RGC-5 cells. To elucidate the NF-kappa B-mediated death signaling, the effects of chemical reagents on spontaneous optic neuropathy were examined by histopathological studies. Results: WB experiments and luciferase reporter assays showed that NF-kappa B-inducible BCL2-associated X protein (Bax) and a pro-apoptotic factor, activated caspase 3 were expressed in the retina of p50-deficient mice as well as NMDA-treated RGC-5 cells. Further, the constitutively active cleaved forms of calcineurin (CaN), which have been reported to lead to apoptosis, were detected in the retina of p50-deficient mice as well as NMDA-treated RGC-5 cells. Pre-treatment with tacrolimus markedly protected RGC-5 cells from NMDA-induced neurotoxicity, and then both spontaneous RGC death and degenerative changes to the optic nerve in p50-deficient mice were significantly reduced by the chronic administration of tacrolimus. The experiments with cultured RGC-5 cells supported the results of histological examinations with p50-deficient mice, suggesting that CaN activation leads to NF-kappa B-induced Bax activation and caspase 3 activation, and mediates spontaneous optic neuropathy in p50-deficient mice. Conclusions: Research findings show that the chronic administration of tacrolimus significantly reduces spontaneous optic neuropathy in p50-deficient mice. We demonstrated a potential CaN signal cascade, which spontaneously induces age-dependent RGC death and degenerative optic nerve changes in p50-deficient mice.ArticleMOLECULAR VISION. 17:2157-2170 (2011)journal articl

Development of spontaneous neuropathy in NF-kappa Bp50-deficient mice by calcineurin-signal involving impaired NF-kappa B activation

信州大学博士（医学）・学位論文・平成24年3月28日授与（乙第21144号）・中村朋子Purpose: The transcriptional regulator, nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-kappa B)/Rel family are involved in neuronal cell death and survival. Previously, we reported that NF-kappa Bp50-deficient (p50-deficient) mice exhibit many features resembling human normal tension glaucoma (NTG). The developmental mechanism of human NTG is not clearly understood, and a radical curative treatment has yet to be established. Our aim is to elucidate the signal cascade which mediates the spontaneous optic neuropathy in p50-deficient mice as a model of NTG. Methods: To demonstrate the expression and activation of pro-apoptotic factors, which mediate the death of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) in p50-deficient mice, western blot (WB) and luciferase reporter assays with retinas from p50-deficient and wild type mice, and cultured RGC-5 cells were performed. Furthermore, we tested the neuroprotective effects of chemical reagents (memantine, lomerizine, and tacrolimus) against N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA)-susceptible RGC damage according to in vitro experiments with RGC-5 cells. To elucidate the NF-kappa B-mediated death signaling, the effects of chemical reagents on spontaneous optic neuropathy were examined by histopathological studies. Results: WB experiments and luciferase reporter assays showed that NF-kappa B-inducible BCL2-associated X protein (Bax) and a pro-apoptotic factor, activated caspase 3 were expressed in the retina of p50-deficient mice as well as NMDA-treated RGC-5 cells. Further, the constitutively active cleaved forms of calcineurin (CaN), which have been reported to lead to apoptosis, were detected in the retina of p50-deficient mice as well as NMDA-treated RGC-5 cells. Pre-treatment with tacrolimus markedly protected RGC-5 cells from NMDA-induced neurotoxicity, and then both spontaneous RGC death and degenerative changes to the optic nerve in p50-deficient mice were significantly reduced by the chronic administration of tacrolimus. The experiments with cultured RGC-5 cells supported the results of histological examinations with p50-deficient mice, suggesting that CaN activation leads to NF-kappa B-induced Bax activation and caspase 3 activation, and mediates spontaneous optic neuropathy in p50-deficient mice. Conclusions: Research findings show that the chronic administration of tacrolimus significantly reduces spontaneous optic neuropathy in p50-deficient mice. We demonstrated a potential CaN signal cascade, which spontaneously induces age-dependent RGC death and degenerative optic nerve changes in p50-deficient mice.ArticleMOLECULAR VISION. 17:2157-2170 (2011)journal articl