The 2006 Revisions to Japan\u27s Equal Opportunity Employment Law: An Narrow Approach to a Pervasive Probem

In June 2006, Japan changed its approach to employment discrimination by amending the Equal Employment Opportunity Law (“EEOL”). The change was prompted by increased gender discrimination litigation, domestic economic pressures relating to the low birth rate, a stagnant economy and declining labor force, and criticism from the United Nations. The revised law attempts to address several of the shortcomings of the old law. First, Japan has made the law applicable to all workers rather than just to women workers. Second, the revisions expand the scope of the law by including a section on indirect discrimination. Third, the revisions provide greater protection for workers who take childcare and family leave by prohibiting employers from effectively denying employees’ rights to child care leave. While these revisions to the EEOL indicate a positive conceptual shift in employment discrimination law in Japan, they appear to fall short in three areas. First, the provisions on indirect discrimination are too narrowly drafted. Second, the childcare leave provisions fail to place an affirmative duty on employers to act. Third, the enforcement measures are still too weak. To correct these problems, a more general legal definition of indirect discrimination should be drafted, regulations should be issued to assist employers in providing more accommodating work environments for parents who exercise their right to child care leave, and the enforcement provisions of the law should be strengthened. This comment traces the development of the EEOL in Japan and highlights the issues that the old versions of the law did not address. It then discusses the specific changes in the 2006 revisions, their strengths and shortcomings, and recommends certain changes

The south-central United States magnetic anomaly

The South-Central United States Magnetic Anomaly is the most prominent positive feature in the MAGSAT scalar magnetic field over North America. The anomaly correlates with increased crustal thickness, above average crustal velocity, negative free air gravity anomalies and an extensive zone of Middle Proterozoic anorogenic felsic basement rocks. Spherical dipole source inversion of the MAGSAT scalar data and subsequent calculation of reduced to pole and derivative maps provide constraints for a crustal magnetic model which corresponds geographically to the extensive Middle Proterozoic felsic rocks trending northeasterly across the United States. These felsic rocks contain insufficient magnetization or volume to produce the anomaly, but are rather indicative of a crustal zone which was disturbed during a Middle Proterozoic thermal event which enriched magnetic material deep in the crust

Interactions between innexins UNC-7 and UNC-9 mediate electrical synapse specificity in the Caenorhabditis elegans locomotory nervous system

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Approximately 10% of <it>Caenorhabditis elegans </it>nervous system synapses are electrical, that is, gap junctions composed of innexins. The locomotory nervous system consists of several pairs of interneurons and three major classes of motor neurons, all with stereotypical patterns of connectivity that include gap junctions. Mutations in the two innexin genes <it>unc-7 </it>and <it>unc-9 </it>result in identical uncoordinated movement phenotypes, and their respective gene products were investigated for their contribution to electrical synapse connectivity.</p> <p>Results</p> <p><it>unc-7 </it>encodes three innexin isoforms. Two of these, UNC-7S and UNC-7SR, are functionally equivalent and play an essential role in coordinated locomotion. UNC-7S and UNC-7SR are widely expressed and co-localize extensively with green fluorescent protein-tagged innexin UNC-9 in the ventral and dorsal nerve cords. A subset of UNC-7S/SR expression visualizes gap junctions formed between the AVB forward command interneurons and their B class motor neuron partners. Experiments indicate that expression of UNC-7S/SR in AVB and expression of UNC-9 in B motor neurons is necessary for these gap junctions to form. In <it>Xenopus </it>oocyte pairs, both UNC-7S and UNC-9 form homomeric gap junctions, and together they form heterotypic channels. <it>Xenopus </it>oocyte studies and co-localization studies in <it>C. elegans </it>suggest that UNC-7S and UNC-9 do not heteromerize in the same hemichannel, leading to the model that hemichannels in AVB:B motor neuron gap junctions are homomeric and heterotypic.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>UNC-7S and UNC-9 are widely expressed and contribute to a large number of the gap junctions identified in the locomotory nervous system. Proper AVB:B gap junction formation requires UNC-7S expression in AVB interneurons and UNC-9 expression in B motor neurons. More broadly, this illustrates that innexin identity is critical for electrical synapse specificity, but differential (compartmentalized) innexin expression cannot account for all of the specificity seen in <it>C. elegans</it>, and other factors must influence the determination of synaptic partners.</p

Влияние ионного состава ППК на состояние почвенных коллоидов различных по генезису почв

Soil fertility depends to some extent on the nature and composition of soil-поглащающего complex, which ultimately determines the value of the resulting harvest. From the composition of the present in the soil-absorbing complex of ion exchange depend on the physical, physico-chemical properties of soil, the relationship between the soil and the plant, the productivity of the soil.Плодородие почвы зависит в той или иной мере от величины, характера и состава ППК, что в конечном итоге определяет величину получаемого урожая. От состава находящихся в ППК обменных ионов зависят физические, физико-химические свойства почвы, взаимосвязь между почвой и растением, производительность почвы

Innexin function dictates the spatial relationship between distal somatic cells in the Caenorhabditis elegans gonad without impacting the germline stem cell pool

Gap-junctional signaling mediates myriad cellular interactions in metazoans. Yet, how gap junctions control the positioning of cells in organs is not well understood. Innexins compose gap junctions in invertebrates and affect organ architecture. Here, we investigate the roles of gap-junctions in controlling distal somatic gonad architecture and its relationship to underlying germline stem cells i

НОВЫЙ СОРТ ТЫКВЫ ФИГОЛИСТНОЙ – ПАМЯТИ ТАРАКАНОВА

The characteristic of the new variety of Cucurbita ficifolia (Cucurbita ficifolia Bouche.), «In honor of Memory Tarakanov», is provided. The variety is mid ripening, the yield of marketable fruits is 16,0-22,0 t / ha. The fruits are transportable, tasting score - 4.5-4.6 points with a strong aroma of watermelon; keep marketable quality within 250-270 days after harvest. Intended use is fodder and universal.Приведена характеристика нового сорта тыквы фиголистной (Cucurbita ficifolia Bouche.) – Памяти Тараканова. Сорт среднеспелый, урожайность товарных плодов 16,0-22,0 т/га. Плоды транспортабельны, дегустационная оценка – 4,5-4,6 балла с сильным арбузным ароматом; сохраняют товарные качества в течение 250-270 суток после уборки. Назначение использования – кормовое, универсальное

p3d – Python module for structural bioinformatics

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>High-throughput bioinformatic analysis tools are needed to mine the large amount of structural data via knowledge based approaches. The development of such tools requires a robust interface to access the structural data in an easy way. For this the Python scripting language is the optimal choice since its philosophy is to write an understandable source code.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>p3d is an object oriented Python module that adds a simple yet powerful interface to the Python interpreter to process and analyse three dimensional protein structure files (PDB files). p3d's strength arises from the combination of a) very fast spatial access to the structural data due to the implementation of a binary space partitioning (BSP) tree, b) set theory and c) functions that allow to combine a and b and that use human readable language in the search queries rather than complex computer language. All these factors combined facilitate the rapid development of bioinformatic tools that can perform quick and complex analyses of protein structures.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>p3d is the perfect tool to quickly develop tools for structural bioinformatics using the Python scripting language.</p

Winter Aconite (Eranthis hyemalis) Lectin as a cytotoxic effector in the lifecycle of Caenorhabditis elegans

The lectin found in the tubers of the Winter Aconite (Eranthis hyemalis) plant is an N-acetyl-D-galactosamine specific Type II Ribosome Inactivating Protein (RIP); Type II RIPs have shown anti-cancer properties, and hence have potential as therapeutic agents. Here we present a modified protocol for the extraction and purification of the E. hyemalis lectin (EHL) using affinity chromatography. De novo amino acid sequencing of EHL confirms its classification as a Type II Ribosome Inactivating Protein. The biocidal properties of EHL have been investigated against the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans. Arrested first stage larvae treated with EHL have shown some direct mortality, with surviving larvae subsequently showing a range of phenotypes including food avoidance, reduced fecundity, developmental delay and constitutive dauer larvae formation. Both inappropriate dauer larvae development and failure to locate to bacterial food source are consistent with the disruption of chemosensory function and the ablation of amphid neurons. Further investigation indicates that mutations that disrupt normal amphid formation can block the EHL-induced dauer larvae formation. In combination, these phenotypes indicate that EHL is cytotoxic and suggest a cell specific activity against the amphid neurons of C. elegans

Impactos ambientais gerados pela construção e operação de rodovias

Shedding production is the dominant factor at the time of planning the construction of a highway. Transferring products from one corner to another is the goal of globalization that gives anyone a product regardless of where they are located in the world. However, it is not possible to carry out this transit by air or water in most cases. By the disposition of the continents and the high prices of the air cargo transport to send products by land is more attractive whenever possible. In this way, more roads means less cost, more practicality and speed in the delivery of goods. However, building and operating a highway requires a lot of care, especially with the environment and road quality. This paper presents the characteristics of the roads in Brazil, the expansion process and the challenges faced for the construction and operation of highways. An excerpt was selected in the state of Minas Gerais between the municipalities of Águas Formosas and Novo Oriente de Minas and raised the positive and negative social, environmental and structural impacts that occurred during the construction, paving and operation of the section called highway MG-409 e MG -105.El flujo de producción es el factor dominante en el momento de la planificación de la construcción de una carretera. Transferir productos de un canto a otro es el objetivo de la globalización que ofrece a cualquier persona un producto independientemente de donde esté ubicado en el mundo. Sin embargo, no es posible realizar este tránsito vía aérea o acuática la mayoría de las veces. Por la disposición de los continentes y los altos precios del transporte de cargas aéreas enviar productos por vía terrestre es más atractivo siempre que sea posible. De esta forma, más carreteras significa menor costo, más practicidad y rapidez en la entrega de mercancías. Sin embargo, construir y operar una carretera requiere muchos cuidados, principalmente con el medio ambiente y calidad de las vías. Este trabajo presenta las características de las vías de Brasil, el proceso de expansión y los desafíos enfrentados para la construcción y operación de las carreteras. Se eligió un trecho en el estado de Minas Gerais entre los municipios de Aguas Formosas y Nuevo Oriente de Minas y levantado cuáles los impactos positivos y negativos sociales, ambientales y estructurales ocurridos durante la construcción, pavimentación y operación del tramo denominado carretera MG-409 y MG -105.Escoar produção é o fator dominante no momento de planejamento da construção de uma rodovia. Transferir produtos de um canto a outro é o objetivo da globalização que disponibiliza a qualquer pessoa um produto independentemente de onde esteja localizado no mundo. Entretanto não é possível realizar esse trânsito via aérea ou aquática na maioria das vezes. Pela disposição geográfica dos continentes e dos altos preços do transporte de cargas aéreas, enviar produtos por via terrestre, sempre que possível, é mais atrativo. Dessa forma, mais estradas significa menor custo, mais praticidade e rapidez na entrega de mercadorias. Entretanto construir e operar uma rodovia requer muitos cuidados, principalmente com o meio ambiente e qualidade das vias. Esse trabalho apresenta as características das vias do Brasil, o processo de expansão e os desafios enfrentados para construção e operação das rodovias. Foi escolhido um trecho no estado de Minas Gerais entre os municípios de Águas Formosas e Novo Oriente de Minas e levantado quais os impactos positivos e negativos sociais, ambientais e estruturais ocorridos durante a construção, pavimentação e operação do trecho denominado rodovia MG-409 e MG -105

Role of a Class Dhc1b Dynein in Retrograde Transport of Ift Motors and Ift Raft Particles along Cilia, but Not Dendrites, in Chemosensory Neurons of Living Caenorhabditis elegans

The heterotrimeric motor protein, kinesin-II, and its presumptive cargo, can be observed moving anterogradely at 0.7 μm/s by intraflagellar transport (IFT) within sensory cilia of chemosensory neurons of living Caenorhabditis elegans, using a fluorescence microscope–based transport assay (Orozco, J.T., K.P. Wedaman, D. Signor, H. Brown, L. Rose, and J.M. Scholey. 1999. Nature. 398:674). Here, we report that kinesin-II, and two of its presumptive cargo molecules, OSM-1 and OSM-6, all move at ∼1.1 μm/s in the retrograde direction along cilia and dendrites, which is consistent with the hypothesis that these proteins are retrieved from the distal endings of the cilia by a retrograde transport pathway that moves them along cilia and then dendrites, back to the neuronal cell body. To test the hypothesis that the minus end–directed microtubule motor protein, cytoplasmic dynein, drives this retrograde transport pathway, we visualized movement of kinesin-II and its cargo along dendrites and cilia in a che-3 cytoplasmic dynein mutant background, and observed an inhibition of retrograde transport in cilia but not in dendrites. In contrast, anterograde IFT proceeds normally in che-3 mutants. Thus, we propose that the class DHC1b cytoplasmic dynein, CHE-3, is specifically responsible for the retrograde transport of the anterograde motor, kinesin-II, and its cargo within sensory cilia, but not within dendrites