Interpretation of the Pacifist Article of the Constitution by the Bureau of Cabinet Legislation: A New Source of Constitutional Law?

This article analyzes recent change of Japanese governmental interpretation of Article 9 of the Constitution of Japan concerning the right of collective self-defense. This governmental interpretation of Article 9 has been elaborated by the Bureau of Cabinet Legislation. This article criticizes a recent critique of this situation by main stream Japanese constitutional scholars as “crisis of constitutionalism”

solubility and polymerization of silica in salt solutions

The solubility of amorphous silica was determined in sodium chloride,potassium chloride, magnesium chloride and calium chloride solutions from 0.01 to 1moI/I and at temperatures of 21,36,50 and 65℃. The Setchenow equation was applied to the results, which enabled us to estimate the equilibrium concentration of "dissoloved silica" (molybdate-reactive silica) in the studied chloride solutions. Next, the effects of pH, supersaturation of silica and salt concentration on the polymerization rate of silica were investigated at 35℃. In the pH range from 6.4 to 7.9, the maximum polymerization rate increased with increasing pH. The maxima occurred when dissoloved silica decreased by 25% of the initial supersaturation concentrations irrespective of pH. The polymerization rate was found to be dependent on the supersaturation degree rather than on the supersaturation concentration of silica. The results in magnesium chloride solutions suggest that magnesium ions may act as nuclei in the formation of colloidal silica in geothermal waters

Differences in Involucrin Immunolabeling Within Cornified Cell Envelopes in Normal and Psoriatic Epidermis

Epidermal keratinocytes form a cornified cell envelope (CE) beneath the plasma membrane during the late stages of differentiation, This CE is stabilized by cross linking of several precursor proteins, including involucrin, In psoriasis, the expression pattern of the precursor proteins is known to be deranged; involucrin expression is increased and loricrin expression is decreased. However, these changes have not been previously evaluated ultrastructurally. In the present study, we performed light and electron microscopic immunohistochemistry in conjunction with conventional transmission electron microscopy to assess the nature of involucrin involvement in normal and psoriatic CEs. In normal epidermis, CEs were observed from the deepest cornified cells or, when present, from the transitional cells, increasing In thickness and changing electron densities with maturation. In psoriatic epidermis, CE formation started earlier, one to several cells below the cornified layer. Psoriatic CEs were generally thinner and showed a constant high electron density. Immunoelectron microscopy revealed that the normal CE was involucrin positive only at a very early stage, whereas psoriatic CE showed persistent involucrin immunoreactivity. These results suggest that in normal skin, involucrin is the major constituent of the CE only In its early stages of assembly. In contrast, CE formation seems to be initiated prematurely in psoriatic skin, where involucrin remains the major constituent of the CE during maturation

Fundamental Characteristics of a Cylindrical Linear Pulse Motor for the Artificial Heart

A new actuator using a cylindrical linear pulse motor for the artificial heart is proposed with descriptions of the principle of operation, theoretical expression of thrust, and experimental results. The actuator has a simple configuration and its size is much smaller than the ordinary external backup facility using a pneumatic power. The actuator consists chiefly of a linear pulse motor and two rooms of sacs for the right and left ventricles. Some problems have been found to be solved before the actuator can be applied to the actual artificial heart.Article信州大学工学部紀要 56: 59-72 (1984)departmental bulletin pape

Longitudinal association between mental health and future antibiotic prescriptions in healthy adults: Results from the LOHAS

Objectives: To investigate the association of mental health and subjective physical functioning with future antibiotic prescriptions. Design: Prospective cohort study. Setting: A rural town in Japan. Participants: Participants who completed the baseline survey (2008-2010) of the Locomotive Syndrome and Health Outcomes in the Aizu Cohort Study (LOHAS) were recruited. Participants were limited to those without comorbidities according to the Charlson comorbidity index. Participants using antibiotics at baseline were excluded. Mental health and physical functioning were assessed using the Mental Health and Physical Functioning domains of the Short-Form 12 Health Survey, and depressive symptoms were assessed using the Mental Health Inventories at baseline. Main outcome measures: The main outcome was antibiotic prescriptions found in claims data during 1 year after the baseline survey. Results: A total of 967 participants were included in the analysis, and 151 (15.6%) participants with at least one missing variable for the confounding factors were excluded, leaving 816 participants for the primary analysis. Among the 816 participants, 65 (8.0%) were newly prescribed at least one antibiotic during the 1-year follow-up period. The most frequently prescribed antibiotics were third-generation cephalosporins (44 prescriptions; 35.5%), macrolides (28 prescriptions; 22.6%), and quinolones (23 prescriptions; 18.6%). A multivariable logistic regression analysis showed an association between higher mental health scores and future antibiotic prescriptions (adjusted odds ratio [AOR], 1.40 per 1 standard deviation [SD] increase; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.03-1.90), whereas no significant relationship was observed between Physical Functioning scores and future antibiotic prescriptions (AOR, 0.95 per 1 SD increase; 95% CI, 0.75-1.22). During the secondary analysis, adults with depressive symptoms were less likely to be prescribed antibiotics (AOR, 0.27; 95% CI, 0.11-0.70). Conclusions: Better mental health was associated with increased future antibiotic prescriptions for healthy community-dwelling Japanese adults, suggesting that mentally healthier adults could be a target population for reducing antimicrobial use