Hardness analysis of metallic particles in ordinary chondrites

Mechanical properties of metallic particles in four shock-melted and seven unshocked ordinary chondrites were studied by means of the Micro Vickers Hardness Measurement. Together with the morphological and mineralogical properties, they were used to characterize the shock effects in the chondrites. Average value of hardness in Fe-Ni particles is smaller (less hard) than that of troilite. Average values of hardness of taenite particles in Y-790964 (LL) and Y-75258 (LL6) are 144 and 348kg/mm^2,respectively. The hardness increases as the Ni content increases. However, the range of hardness values in Fe-Ni particles shows little systematic changes with the petrologic type. The fractal dimension of two-dimensional shape of metallic particles was measured by the personal-computer-aided image processing system. The Vickers hardness varies in some systematic way. In shock-melted LL chondrites, when the amount of vesicles increases, the average of hardness decreases. Shock effects are heterogeneous even on a microscopic scale, and irregular grains (with higher values of the fractal dimension) seem to show shock effects more strongly

Investigating the role of the Itoigawa-Shizuoka tectonic line towards the evolution of the Northern Fossa Magna rift basin

AbstractThe Itoigawa-Shizuoka tectonic line (ISTL) fault system is considered to have one of the highest probabilities for a major inland earthquake occurrence in the whole of Japan. It is a complex fault system with the dip directions of the local fault segments changing from north to south between an east-dipping low-angle thrust fault, a strike slip fault and a west-dipping thrust fault. The tectonic relations between the different parts of the fault system and the surrounding geological units are yet to be fully explained. This study aims to reveal the juncture of the northern and central parts of the ISTL and investigate its contribution towards the shaping of the Northern Fossa Magna rift basin. We conducted 3 deployments of 1 or 2 linear arrays of seismic stations across the central and northern ISTL regions and observed local micro-earthquakes for a period of 3 years. Each deployment recorded continuous waveform data for approximately 3 months. Using arrival times of 1193 local earthquakes, we jointly determined earthquake locations and a 3D velocity model, applying the tomography method. We were able to image the regional crustal structures from the surface to a depth of 20km with a spatial resolution of 5km. Subsequently, we used the obtained 3D velocity model to relocate the background local seismicity from 2003 to 2009. The juncture of the northern and central parts of the ISTL was well constrained by our results. The depth extension of the northern parts of the ISTL fault segments follows the bottom of the Miocene Northern Fossa Magna rift basin (NFM) and forms an east-dipping low-angle fault. In contrast, the central parts of the ISTL fault segments are estimated to lie along the eastern boundary of the Matsumoto basin forming an oblique strike slip fault (Fig. 1)

Astrocytic dysfunction induced by ABCA1 deficiency causes optic neuropathy

Astrocyte abnormalities have received great attention for their association with various diseases in the brain but not so much in the eye. Recent independent genome-wide association studies of glaucoma, optic neuropathy characterized by retinal ganglion cell (RGC) degeneration, and vision loss found that single-nucleotide polymorphisms near the ABCA1 locus were common risk factors. Here, we show that Abca1 loss in retinal astrocytes causes glaucoma-like optic neuropathy in aged mice. ABCA1 was highly expressed in retinal astrocytes in mice. Thus, we generated macroglia-specific Abca1-deficient mice (Glia-KO) and found that aged Glia-KO mice had RGC degeneration and ocular dysfunction without affected intraocular pressure, a conventional risk factor for glaucoma. Single-cell RNA sequencing revealed that Abca1 deficiency in aged Glia-KO mice caused astrocyte-triggered inflammation and increased the susceptibility of certain RGC clusters to excitotoxicity. Together, astrocytes play a pivotal role in eye diseases, and loss of ABCA1 in astrocytes causes glaucoma-like neuropathy

Residual laminin-binding activity and enhanced dystroglycan glycosylation by LARGE in novel model mice to dystroglycanopathy

Hypoglycosylation and reduced laminin-binding activity of α-dystroglycan are common characteristics of dystroglycanopathy, which is a group of congenital and limb-girdle muscular dystrophies. Fukuyama-type congenital muscular dystrophy (FCMD), caused by a mutation in the fukutin gene, is a severe form of dystroglycanopathy. A retrotransposal insertion in fukutin is seen in almost all cases of FCMD. To better understand the molecular pathogenesis of dystroglycanopathies and to explore therapeutic strategies, we generated knock-in mice carrying the retrotransposal insertion in the mouse fukutin ortholog. Knock-in mice exhibited hypoglycosylated α-dystroglycan; however, no signs of muscular dystrophy were observed. More sensitive methods detected minor levels of intact α-dystroglycan, and solid-phase assays determined laminin binding levels to be ∼50% of normal. In contrast, intact α-dystroglycan is undetectable in the dystrophic Largemyd mouse, and laminin-binding activity is markedly reduced. These data indicate that a small amount of intact α-dystroglycan is sufficient to maintain muscle cell integrity in knock-in mice, suggesting that the treatment of dystroglycanopathies might not require the full recovery of glycosylation. To examine whether glycosylation defects can be restored in vivo, we performed mouse gene transfer experiments. Transfer of fukutin into knock-in mice restored glycosylation of α-dystroglycan. In addition, transfer of LARGE produced laminin-binding forms of α-dystroglycan in both knock-in mice and the POMGnT1 mutant mouse, which is another model of dystroglycanopathy. Overall, these data suggest that even partial restoration of α-dystroglycan glycosylation and laminin-binding activity by replacing or augmenting glycosylation-related genes might effectively deter dystroglycanopathy progression and thus provide therapeutic benefits

ショクブツ シキソ アントシアニン ノ ヒドロキシルラジカル ショウキョカッセイ ヲ カシカ シタ リカジッケン キョウザイ カイハツ ト ソノ キョウイク コウカ

本研究は，植物色素が光合成のみならず酸素毒性から細胞や種を守る抗酸化物質としても働いてきたことを，進化的側面から植物色素の存在意義について再考察させるための実験開発と教材開発を行った。実験開発では，過酸化水素と2価鉄から生じる最も酸化力の高いヒドロキシルラジカルによるDNA分解が，植物色素であるアントシアニンにより防ぐことができることを可視化するための最適実験条件を明らかにした。また，高校生を対象とした授業実践から，本実験教材を用いた授業の教育効果を検証し，高等学校生物への発展的導入について考察を行った。授業実践の事前・事後アンケートの比較の結果，本教材のアントシアニンによる抗酸化能を可視化した実験により，植物色素の抗酸化能について理解しやすい教材であることが明らかとなった。また，授業解説と実験を行うことで，植物色素の抗酸化能が，紫外線や光合成から生じる活性酸素の毒性に対する防御機構として，植物の細胞機能の維持に重要な働きをしていることを，進化的側面から理解させることのできる効果的な教材であることも明らかとなった。よって本研究は，光合成以外の働きとして重要な植物色素の抗酸化能に着目した新たな実験としてだけでなく，光合成とバイオテクノロジーで学ぶ知識と実験技術を融合したバイオテクノロジーの発展的教材として，生徒に生命進化の観点から植物色素を多面的に理解させるための探究活動として，高校生物への今後の導入が期待された。This study aims to reorient a foundation of the existing teaching material and experiment in school education toward putting more focus on the evolutionarily preserved implication that plant pigments function not only as photosynthesis but also as anti-oxidant to protect living cells and plant seeds from oxidative toxicity. A developed experiment was designed for high school students to visualize the anti-oxidant potential of anthocyanin preventing DNA decomposition from hydroxyl radicals (ROS) derived from hydrogen peroxide and ferrous iron through electrophoresis as showing the indicative optimum condition. In addition, to the educational practice conducted for high school students, the study considered the validation of educational effectiveness of the teaching material together with a view to ushering in a developmental approach to high school biology class.It is also indicative that the posteriori survey revealed that students clearly understand the anti-oxidant ability of plant pigments, and it is effective for students to associate the biological importance of plant pigments in the course of evolution by teaching this function as anti-oxidant material of plant pigments for species preservation against ROS toxicity resulting from ultraviolet rays and photosynthesis. The study suggests that hands on experimental teaching material elicits students’ multifaceted understanding of plant pigments and the evolutionary implication, in high school education. Furthermore, the study material could be utilized as an exploratory activity to fulfill the requirement of biotechnology class, which is supported by techniques of scientific experiment and knowledge taught through unit learning of photosynthesis and biotechnology. Thus, the experimental teaching material is encouraged to be introduced to high school biology class as part of progressive educational material

カサンカスイソ カラ ハッセイ スル ヒドロキシルラジカル ノ カッセイ ヲ カシカ シタ リカジッケン キョウザイ カイハツ ト ソノ キョウイク コウカ

本研究は，酵素の単元で学習した過酸化水素分解反応に関わる酵素の存在意義について，進化的側面からその重要性について再考察させることを目的とした。そして，本研究教材をバイオテクノロジーの探究活動として位置づけ，酵素とバイオテクノロジーの単元で学習する知識と実験技術を融合した発展的教材として，過酸化水素と2価鉄から生じる最も酸化力の高いヒドロキシルラジカルのDNAに対する酸化力の強さを可視化するための最適実験条件を電気泳動法により明らかにした。また，中学・高校生を対象とした教育実践から，本教材の教育効果の検証および高等学校生物への発展的導入について考察を行った。教育実践の事前・事後アンケートの比較の結果，本教材は，酸素を利用する生物にとって過酸化水素の無毒な水への分解反応が，いかに生物学的に重要な反応であるかを生徒に気付かせることに有効であることが明らかとなった。そして，過酸化水素分解反応が，エネルギー生産に酸素を利用する生物が進化の過程で獲得した過酸化水素の毒性に対する防御機構として重要な反応であることを，進化的側面と結び付けて理解させる効果的な教材であることが明らかとなった。よって，高等学校生物への発展的教材として，今後の導入が期待された。This study aims to reorient a foundation of the existing teaching material toward putting greater focus on the importance of the evolutionarily preserved implication of the meaningfulness of the reaction to hydrogen peroxide decomposition. The study material is placed as an exploratory activity of biotechnology and considered as a developmental learning tool backed up by techniques of experiment and knowledge taught through unit learning of enzyme and biology.An experiment was designed to discover an optimum condition by electrophoresis that visualizes the DNA decomposition from hydroxyl radicals (reactive oxygen species) derived from hydrogen peroxide and ferrous iron. In addition to the educational practice conducted for junior high and high school students, the study considered the validation of educational effectiveness of the teaching material together with a view to ushering in a developmental approach to high school biology class.As the result of the pre- and post-survey, the teaching material was found to be an effective means for students to associate the biological importance with reaction to hydrogen peroxide decomposition and put an emphasis on the significance of the reaction that is an important discovery of mankind to learn the course of evolution as an organism acquires its defense mechanism against the toxicity of hydrogen peroxide while using oxygen as a source of energy. Thus, the experimental teaching material is encouraged to be introduced to high school biology class as part of progressive educational material

<実践報告>発達障害学生における就労準備性を高める支援についての検討 : 「就職活動準備講座」の分析を通して

高等教育機関において発達障害学生数は年々増加しており、進路・就職に関する課題も様々検討されるようになった。発達障害学生の就職支援を考える際には、発達障害学生特有の課題を理解し、個々の障害特性に応じ包括的に検討することが重要となる。しかしながら、専門性も求められるため、学内リソースだけではなく学外の支援機関や各種プログラムなどとの連携も支援の柱となる。そこで、本研究では、発達障害学生を対象に学外リソースを活用した模擬職場体験を中核とする「就職準備講座」プログラムを開発・提供し、その効果について検討した。結果、2016年度及び2017年度の本プログラムに参加した学生12名より協力が得られ、就職に対する準備性の向上、及び障害特性のアセスメント機能についての効果があったことが考察された。The number of students with developmental disorders has been increasing year after year at higher education institutions, and issues related to career and employment have also been studied variously. When thinking about job hunting support for students with developmental disabilities, it is important to understand tasks peculiar to students with developmental disabilities and comprehensively examine them according to individual obstacle characteristics. However, because expertise is also required, cooperation with not only campus resources but also support organizations outside the university and various programs is a pillar of support. Therefore, in this research, we developed and offered the "Employment Preparation Course" program centered on simulated workplace experiences utilizing resources outside the school for students with developmental disabilities, and examined the effect. As a result, cooperation was obtained from 12 students who participated in this program in FY 2016 and FY 2017, and it was possible to consider that there was an effect on improvement of the preparation for employment and the assessment function of the characteristics

Upregulation of ANGPTL6 in mouse keratinocytes enhances susceptibility to psoriasis

Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory skin disease marked by aberrant tissue repair. Mutant mice modeling psoriasis skin characteristics have provided useful information relevant to molecular mechanisms and could serve to evaluate therapeutic strategies. Here, we found that epidermal ANGPTL6 expression was markedly induced during tissue repair in mice. Analysis of mice overexpressing ANGPTL6 in keratinocytes (K14-Angptl6 Tg mice) revealed that epidermal ANGPTL6 activity promotes aberrant epidermal barrier function due to hyperproliferation of prematurely differentiated keratinocytes. Moreover, skin tissues of K14-Angptl6 Tg mice showed aberrantly activated skin tissue inflammation seen in psoriasis. Levels of the proteins S100A9, recently proposed as therapeutic targets for psoriasis, also increased in skin tissue of K14-Angptl6 Tg mice, but psoriasis-like inflammatory phenotypes in those mice were not rescued by S100A9 deletion. This finding suggests that decreasing S100A9 levels may not ameliorate all cases of psoriasis and that diverse mechanisms underlie the condition. Finally, we observed enhanced levels of epidermal ANGPTL6 in tissue specimens from some psoriasis patients. We conclude that the K14-Angptl6 Tg mouse is useful to investigate psoriasis pathogenesis and for preclinical testing of new therapeutics. Our study also suggests that ANGPTL6 activation in keratinocytes enhances psoriasis susceptibility

Seismic exploration at Fuji volcano with active sources : The outline of the experiment and the arrival time data

Fuji volcano (altitude 3,776m) is the largest basaltic stratovolcano in Japan. In late August and early September 2003, seismic exploration was conducted around Fuji volcano by the detonation of 500 kg charges of dynamite to investigate the seismic structure of that area. Seismographs with an eigenfrequency of 2 Hz were used for observation, positioned along a WSW-ENE line passing through the summit of the mountain. A total of 469 seismic stations were installed at intervals of 250-500 m. The data were stored in memory on-site using data loggers. The sampling interval was 4 ms. Charges were detonated at 5 points, one at each end of the observation line and 3 along its length. The first arrival times and the later-phase arrival times at each station for each detonation were recorded as data. P-wave velocities in the surface layer were estimated from the travel time curves near the explosion points, with results of 2.5 km/s obtained for the vicinity of Fuji volcano and 4.0 km5/s elsewhere