Amplitude Domain Reflectometry法による不飽和砂地盤中のNAPL含有量と誘電率に関する基礎的研究

Subsurface contamination by non-aqueous phase liquid (NAPL) has become a serious environmental issue. Therefore, it is necessary to estimate the NAPL content (θNAPL) in unsaturated soil to detect and monitor the NAPL contaminations in soil and groundwater. The objective of this study was to investigate the relationship between θNAPL and permittivity (K) in unsaturated sandy soil as a fundamental study to estimate the θNAPL. An ADR (Amplitude Domain Reflectometry) method was used to measure the K in the soil including the NAPL which was a castor oil as light NAPL or a HFE-7100 as dense NAPL. The experimental study indicated the linear relation between θNAPL and K in unsaturated soil with soil-NAPL-air. Using this relationship, we can estimate the θNAPL. On the other hand, although we obtained the relationship between θNAPL, θw and (root) K in unsaturated soil with soil-NAPL-water-air, it was not possible to estimate the θNAPL using this relationship

What Sexual Minorities in Adulthood Want for the Present School Education

　本研究の目的は，カミングアウトが難しい性的マイノリティ当事者が学校教育にどのような支援を望んでいるのか明らかにすることである。方法として質問紙調査を行った。質問紙作成にあたり，当事者への学校での支援について文献検索を行い，主に授業外で取り組む支援例を収集した。収集した支援例の評価を当事者18 名に依頼した。学校教育に求めていることは，相談してきた児童生徒の気持ちに寄り添うこと，第三者に知られないよう配慮すること，性の多様性と正しい知識を教えることであった。また，「開示しようとしまいと，いることを前提とする」学校になってほしいと希望していることが伺えた。教員は性的マイノリティの児童生徒が抱える困難さを重要な課題と捉え，いつでも誰でも相談できる環境づくりや，児童生徒の気持ちを尊重する努力が必要とされていると考える

Pectin and high-amylose maize starch increase caecal hydrogen production and relieve hepatic ischaemia-reperfusion injury in rats.

We investigated whether the feeding of high H2-generating dietary fibre and resistant starch (RS) could suppress hepatic ischaemia-reperfusion (IR) injury, which results from oxidative stress, in rats fed a pectin (Pec) or high-amylose maize starch (HAS) diet. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were fed a control (C) diet, with or without Pec (0-5 % Pec) or HAS (0-30 % HAS) supplementation for 7 d. Portal H2 concentration showed a significant dose-dependent increase with the amount of Pec or HAS supplementation. Plasma alanine and aspartate aminotransferase activities remarkably increased in the C rats (5 % cellulose) due to IR treatment, while it decreased significantly or showed tendencies to decrease in 5 % Pec and 20 % HAS diet-fed rats. The hepatic oxidised glutathione (GSSG):total glutathione ratio increased significantly in IR rats maintained on the C diet compared with sham-operated rats. On the other hand, reduced glutathione (GSH):total glutathione and GSH:GSSG ratios decreased significantly. The GSSG:total glutathione ratio that increased due to IR treatment decreased significantly on HAS and Pec intake, while GSH:total glutathione and GSH:GSSG ratios increased significantly. Hepatic sinusoids of IR rats fed the C diet were occluded, but those of IR rats fed the Pec diet were similar to those in the sham-operated rats. In conclusion, we found that Pec or HAS, which enhance H2 generation in the large intestine, alleviated hepatic IR injury. The present study demonstrates another physiological significance of dietary fibre and RS.We investigated whether the feeding of high H2-generating dietary fibre and resistant starch (RS) could suppress hepatic ischaemia-reperfusion (IR) injury, which results from oxidative stress, in rats fed a pectin (Pec) or high-amylose maize starch (HAS) diet. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were fed a control (C) diet, with or without Pec (0-5 % Pec) or HAS (0-30 % HAS) supplementation for 7 d. Portal H2 concentration showed a significant dose-dependent increase with the amount of Pec or HAS supplementation. Plasma alanine and aspartate aminotransferase activities remarkably increased in the C rats (5 % cellulose) due to IR treatment, while it decreased significantly or showed tendencies to decrease in 5 % Pec and 20 % HAS diet-fed rats. The hepatic oxidised glutathione (GSSG):total glutathione ratio increased significantly in IR rats maintained on the C diet compared with sham-operated rats. On the other hand, reduced glutathione (GSH):total glutathione and GSH:GSSG ratios decreased significantly. The GSSG:total glutathione ratio that increased due to IR treatment decreased significantly on HAS and Pec intake, while GSH:total glutathione and GSH:GSSG ratios increased significantly. Hepatic sinusoids of IR rats fed the C diet were occluded, but those of IR rats fed the Pec diet were similar to those in the sham-operated rats. In conclusion, we found that Pec or HAS, which enhance H2 generation in the large intestine, alleviated hepatic IR injury. The present study demonstrates another physiological significance of dietary fibre and RS

The impact of different surface treatments on the shear bond strength of orthodontic metal brackets applied to different CAD/CAM composites

To investigate the shear bond strength (SBS) of orthodontic metal brackets applied to different CAD/CAM composites treated with different surface treatments. Specimens of two CAD/CAM composites were obtained of Lava Ultimate (LU; n=60) and Brilliant Cri

Efficacy of human resource development program for young industry personnel who will be involved in future medical device development

Background: Training next-generation personnel from small/medium enterprises (SMEs) is an urgent issue in promoting medical device research and development (R&D). Since 2014 we have engaged in governmentally funded human resource development program for medical/non-medical SMEs, and have assessed its effectiveness by analyzing self-evaluation of achievement level (SEAL) data obtained before and after the training course. Methods: Human resource development experts interviewed 34 key opinion leaders with deep knowledge of medical device R&D from industry, government, and academia. The skills required for R&D personnel were written down, and a set of skills was created by making a greatest common measure in the list of common elements among them. Using that skill sets, skill evaluations were conducted on trainees at “Osaka University Training Course,” twice before participation and after completion of the entire program using SEAL assessment. Results: There were 97 men and 25 women, with one-third in the’30 s. Among them, 61 participants (50%) were from R&D divisions, and 32 (26%) were from business/sales divisions. 94 (77%) were from medical SMEs, and 28 (23%) were from non-medical SMEs (new entry). After completing the training course, significant growth was observed in every item of both Soft and Hard skill sets. Especially in new entry SME members, a striking improvement was observed in practical medical knowledge to enhance communication with medical doctors (p < 0.0001). Conclusion: Our training course, though 7-day-short in total, showed that both Soft and Hard skills could be improved in young medical/non-medical SME members. Further assessment is needed to establish the necessary skill sets for our future partners from industries, to foster the creation of innovative medical devices through med-tech collaboration.The version of record of this article, first published in Surgical Endoscopy, is available online at Publisher’s website: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00464-023-10474-

A novel superior factor widely controlling the rice grain quality

Synthesis of storage starch and protein accumulation is the main action of endosperm organogenesis in term of the economic importance of rice. This event is strongly disturbed by abiotic stresses such as high temperature; thus, the upcoming global warming will cause a crisis with a great impact on food production^1,2^. The enzymes for the protein storage and starch synthesis pathway should work in concert to carry out the organogenesis of rice endosperm^3-5^, but the regulatory mechanism is largely unknown. Here we show that a novel regulatory factor, named OsCEO1, acts as the conductor of endosperm organogenesis during the rice grain filling stage. The physiological properties of _floury-endosperm-2_ (_flo2_) mutants showed many similarities to symptoms of grains developed under high-temperature conditions, suggesting important roles of the responsible gene in sensitivity to high-temperature stress. Our map-based cloning identified the responsible gene for the _flo2_ mutant, _OsCEO1_, which has no homology to any genes of known function. The _OsCEO1_ belongs to a novel conserved gene family and encodes a protein composed of 1,720 amino acid residues containing a TPR (tetratricopeptide repeat) motif, which is considered to mediate a protein-protein interaction. The yeast two-hybrid analysis raised an unknown protein showing homology to a late embryogenesis abundant protein and a putative basic helix-loop-helix protein as candidates for the direct interactor for _OsCEO1_, whereas no enzyme genes for the synthesis of storage substances were detected. The _flo2_ mutant exhibited reduced expression of several genes for putative regulatory proteins as well as many enzymes involved in storage starch and proteins. These results suggest that _OsCEO1_ is a superior conductor of the novel regulatory cascade of endosperm organogenesis and may have important roles in the response to high-temperature stress

Learning Experiences with Active Learning Method Applied during the Early Years of Undergraduate Nursing Students :Through Global Nursing Training Course in the Philippines

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to describe the experiences of the first year undergraduate\nursing students in a Japanese private university. It illustrates their progress in learning through\participating in sequential steps in preparatory studies with active learning methodology in the\Global Nursing Training Course held in the Philippines in March 2014.\Methods: All of the study participants (N=28) were 1st year undergraduate nursing students including\four male and 24 female students between the ages of 19 and 35 who participated in the\global nursing training course in the Philippines. They have voluntarily applied for the program\and all of them were selected.\Result : Analysis of active learning reflective journals demonstrated the learners’ progress in\three phases, preparatory, in the field, and post-training course. Study results illustrated that use\of active learning strategies led to gain in knowledge, critical thinking, behavioral modification,\and motivation, and willingness to challenge avoidant behavior of the learners. The sequential\steps of preparatory study helped the learners to overcome difficult tasks and to set goals that\reflect their future desires.\Conclusion: Data from participants’ reflective journal demonstrated changes in study attitudes,\sense of self, and the significance of having real involvement as global nurses. Although implementation\of active learning strategies requires planning and effort by both students and teachers\or mentors, this study has documented benefit from starting in the early stages of the undergraduate\program to maximize benefits such as critical thinking and self-reflection as students\continue their nursing education.\\研究目的：本研究の目的は、日本の某私立大学看護学部学士課程初年次に学ぶ看護学生の経験を記述する\事である。2014 年3 月にフィリピンにて行われた国際看護研修の参加者が、研修事前学習より研修に至る\までのシークエンスによる学びの中で、どのように学びが進んだかを記述する。\研究方法：国際看護フィリピン研修に任意参加した看護学生1 年生28 名(19 歳から35 歳までの4 人の男子\学生と24 人の女子学生) 全員が本研究の参加に同意したため研究対象者とした。\結果：学習者はアクティブ・ラーニング法を用いた学習経験を通して、関連知識を増やし、批判的考察能\力を高め、学習に対するモチベーションを向上させ、困難な課題を避けずにチャレンジする学習態度へ変\容したことが明らかになった。事前研修より研修に至るまでのシークエンスによる学びの深化が、学習者\がより高いレベルの課題を乗り越える力を高め、将来の志を果たすための目標形成を促した。\結論：国際看護学フィリピン研修の参加者らの記述したポートフォリオから、学習に対する態度の変化、\自尊心の変化、そしてグローバル・ナースとして実践することの重要性を感じていることが明らかになっ\た。アクティブ・ラーニングにおいては学習者と教育者の双方からの働きかけを必要とするが、先行研究\において指摘されているとおり、学士課程教育の初期における取り組みが、学習者の批判的考察能力、振\り返り考察する力を高め、初年次以降の看護教育の理解を深めることを促すと考えられる。\キーワード：アクティブ・ラーニング、国際看護、看護教育、自立的学

Genetic association of glutathione peroxidase-1 with coronary artery calcification in type 2 diabetes: a case control study with multi-slice computed tomography

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Although oxidative stress by accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in diabetes has become evident, it remains unclear what genes, involved in redox balance, would determine susceptibility for development of atherosclerosis in diabetes. This study evaluated the effect of genetic polymorphism of enzymes producing or responsible for reducing ROS on coronary artery calcification in type 2 diabetes (T2D).</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>An index for coronary-arteriosclerosis, coronary artery calcium score (CACS) was evaluated in 91 T2D patients using a multi-slice computed tomography. Patients were genotyped for ROS-scavenging enzymes, <it>Glutathione peroxidase-1 (GPx-1)</it>, <it>Catalase, Mn-SOD</it>, <it>Cu/Zn-SOD</it>, as well as SNPs of <it>NADPH oxidase </it>as ROS-promoting elements, genes related to onset of T2D (<it>CAPN10, ADRB3, PPAR gamma, FATP4</it>). Age, blood pressure, BMI, HbA_1c, lipid and duration of diabetes were evaluated for a multivariate regression analysis.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>CACS with Pro/Leu genotype of the <it>GPx-1 </it>gene was significantly higher than in those with Pro/Pro (744 ± 1,291 vs. 245 ± 399, respectively, <it>p </it>= 0.006). In addition, genotype frequency of Pro/Leu in those with CACS ≥ 1000 was significantly higher than in those with CACS < 1000 (45.5% vs. 18.8%; <it>OR </it>= 3.61, <it>CI </it>= 0.97–13.42; <it>p </it>= 0.045) when tested for deviation from Hardy-Weinberg's equilibrium. Multivariate regression analyses revealed that CACS significantly correlated with <it>GPx-1 </it>genotypes and age.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The presence of Pro197Leu substitution of the <it>GPx-1 </it>gene may play a crucial role in determining genetic susceptibility to coronary-arteriosclerosis in T2D. The mechanism may be associated with a decreased ability to scavenge ROS with the variant <it>GPx-1</it>.</p