ロンブン タナダ オーナー セイド ノ ジゾク カノウセイ ナガノケン コウショクシ オバステ タナダ オ ジレイ トシテ

近年、日本の代表的農村景観要素である棚田に対する国民の関心が高まりつつある。全国的に耕作放棄が著しい棚田において、耕作を維持し景観を保全しようという動きが広まっている。特に、都市住民が参加する棚田オーナー制度の人気が高く、各地で導入が相次いでいる。しかしながら、本制度は新しい取り組みであるために、制度の持続性については不透明である。そこで本研究ではオーナー制度の先駆事例である長野県更埴市をとりあげ、その構成員に着目し、制度の持続性について検討した。聞き取り調査およびアンケートの結果、地権者の役割は土地提供にとどまり、オーナーは資金提供者として、また農村へ新たな風を吹き込むといった意味で重要な役割を果たすが、事実上は地元農家のボランティア的労働力によって成り立っており、オーナーの労働力に期待することは難しいことが分かった。現状における最大の課題は、地元の支援グループの高齢化と流動的なオーナーの確保である。支援グループの後継者と目し，制度の持続性について検討した。聞き取り調査およびアンケートの結果、地権者の役割は土地提供にとどまり、オーナーは資金提供者として、また農村へ新たな風を吹き込むといった意味で重要な役割を果たすが、事実上は地元農家のボランティア的労働力によって成り立っており、オーナーの労働力に期待することは難しいことが分かった。現状における最大の課題は、地元の支援グループの高齢化と流動的なオーナーの確保である。支援グループの後継者と目し、制度の持続性について検討した。聞き取り調査およびアンケートの結果、地権者の役割は土地提供にとどまり、オーナーは資金提供者として、また農村へ新たな風を吹き込むといった意味で重要な役割を果たすが、事実上は地元農家のボランティア的労働力によって成り立っており、オーナーの労働力に期待することは難しいことが分かった。現状における最大の課題は、地元の支援グループの高齢化と流動的なオーナーの確保である。支援グループの後継者となる人材は周辺集落からも育成できる可能性はあるが、少人数制の利点を考慮しながら後継者育成を図る必要がある。また、リピーターの性格や要望を活かし、段階的にオーナーの役割に重みをつけるなどの方法で、新たな担い手としてのオーナーの可能性を引き出すことを提案した

Fish oil accelerates diet-induced entrainment of the mouse peripheral clock via GPR120

The circadian peripheral clock is entrained by restricted feeding (RF) at a fixed time of day, and insulin secretion regulates RF-induced entrainment of the peripheral clock in mice. Thus, carbohydrate-rich food may be ideal for facilitating RF-induced entrainment, although the role of dietary oils in insulin secretion and RF-induced entrainment has not been described. The soybean oil component of standard mouse chow was substituted with fish or soybean oil containing docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and/or eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA). Tuna oil (high DHA/EPA), menhaden oil (standard), and DHA/EPA dissolved in soybean oil increased insulin secretion and facilitated RF-induced phase shifts of the liver clock as represented by the bioluminescence rhythms of PER2::LUCIFERASE knock-in mice. In this model, insulin depletion blocked the effect of tuna oil and fish oil had no effect on mice deficient for GPR120, a polyunsaturated fatty acid receptor. These results suggest food containing fish oil or DHA/EPA is ideal for adjusting the peripheral clock

Differential abilities of nitrogen dioxide and nitrite to nitrate proteins in thylakoid membranes isolated from Arabidopsis leaves

<p>Exposure of Arabidopsis leaves to nitrogen dioxide (NO₂) results in nitration of specific chloroplast proteins. To determine whether NO₂ itself and/or nitrite derived from NO₂ can nitrate proteins, Arabidopsis thylakoid membranes were isolated and treated with NO₂-bubbled or potassium nitrite (KNO₂) buffer, followed by protein extraction, electrophoresis, and immunoblotting using an anti-3-nitrotyrosine (NT) antibody. NO₂ concentrations in the NO₂-bubbled buffer were calculated by numerically solving NO₂ dissociation kinetic equations. The two buffers were adjusted to have identical nitrite concentrations. Both treatments yielded an NT-immunopositive band that LC/MS identified as PSBO1. The difference in the band intensity between the 2 treatments was designated nitration by NO₂. Both NO₂ and nitrite mediated nitration of proteins, and the nitration ability per unit NO₂ concentration was ∼100-fold greater than that of nitrite.</p

N-Terminal Pro-B-Type Natriuretic Peptide as a Biomarker for Loss of Muscle Mass in Prevalent Hemodialysis Patients

<div><p>Protein-energy wasting (PEW) is common in hemodialysis (HD) patients. A recent study demonstrated that a high level of N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) may be associated with PEW in those patients. This prospective study aimed to assess the association of NT-proBNP with body composition and muscle loss. A cohort of prevalent HD patients (n = 238) was examined. Blood samples were obtained at baseline to measure high-sensitive C-reactive protein (hsCRP), interleukin-6 (IL-6), adiponectin and NT-proBNP. Nutritional status and changes in muscle mass were assessed by subjective global assessment, percentage creatinine generation rate (%CGR), creatinine index (CI) and lean body mass (LBM) estimated by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA). The %CGR and CI were calculated five times for one year, and DXA was performed at baseline and one year later. Cardiac function was estimated by ultrasonography at baseline. NT-proBNP was significantly higher in HD patients with PEW. High NT-proBNP was associated with cardiac dysfunction, increased levels of hsCRP and IL-6, and serially decreased levels of the indexes for muscle mass. Multiple regression analysis adjusted with confounders showed that NT-proBNP was an independent predictor for decrease in LBM and serial lower levels of %CGR and CI. In conclusion, the present study demonstrated a novel association between NT-proBNP and muscle loss. NT-proBNP may be an independent biomarker for malnutrition in HD patients, especially in patients with muscles loss, regardless of chronic inflammation, cardiac dysfunction, or overhydration.</p></div

Changes in lean body mass over 12 months (mean ± SEM) between the patients in the higher and middle–lower tertiles of N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) (a), changes in the percent creatinine generation rate between the patients in the higher and middle–lower tertiles of NT-proBNP (b), changes in creatinine index between the patients in the higher and middle–lower tertiles of NT-proBNP (c).

<p>*** P <0.001 between the higher versus middle–lower tertiles at the time point.</p

Patient characteristics and laboratory data at baseline in all patients and patients grouped according to NT-proBNP tertiles.

<p>Patient characteristics and laboratory data at baseline in all patients and patients grouped according to NT-proBNP tertiles.</p