Fundamental Study to Create a Joint Modeling Bringing up a Skill to Build a Relationship in a Childcare Facility

近年の社会変化により，子どもの遊びには変化が見られ，主体性を発揮して夢中になれる活動や，友達とやりとりをしながら創造性を発揮する機会が，必要とされている。つまり，遊びを通した子ども同士の関わりは，道徳性・社会性を育み，人間関係形成能力を育むための重要な課題であると指摘できる。人間関係形成能力を育むための活動の１つとして，共同造形制作が考えられる。本論では，子ども同士の関わりを作る造形表現活動の実践は，１人では作ることができない大きな作品で，アイデアを多く必要とする「寄せがき方式」の制作遊びを設定して行うことが望ましいと考えられる。創造的な遊びには，子どもにとって友達とイメージを共有して作る要素が多く，テーマや色や形を工夫していくことができると考える。Due to recent social changes, we can see changes in how children play and it is required to have activities that they can really into by exercising independence or opportunities in which they can exercise creativity by communicating with friends. Accordingly, we can indicate that communication among children through playing will be an important issue to grow morality and sociality as well as growing skills to build a relationship. As one of activities to grow skills to build a relationship, we can consider a joint modeling. In this study, we consider that practices of activities to express modeling that build a relationship among children should be a big work that cannot be created alone therefore it is desirable to proceed such practices by setting a play to create a “message method” that require a lot of ideas. Creative play has many elements created by sharing images with friends for children and we consider that they can devise themes, colors, and shapes

Identification of the agg1 mutation responsible for negative phototaxis in a “wild-type” strain of Chlamydomonas reinhardtii

AbstractThe unicellular green alga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii is a model organism for various studies in biology. CC-124 is a laboratory strain widely used as a wild type. However, this strain is known to carry agg1 mutation, which causes cells to swim away from the light source (negative phototaxis), in contrast to the cells of other wild-type strains, which swim toward the light source (positive phototaxis). Here we identified the causative gene of agg1 (AGG1) using AFLP-based gene mapping and whole genome next-generation sequencing. This gene encodes a 36-kDa protein containing a Fibronectin type III domain and a CHORD-Sgt1 (CS) domain. The gene product is localized to the cell body and not to flagella or basal body

Picture Book Materials to Support Infants to Understand Developmental Disorders Subtitle

　発達障害である自閉スペクトラム症・注意欠如多動症・学習障害は，幼児にとって難解であるが，これを取り上げる絵本は近年増加傾向にあり，幼児期からの障害理解に資する教材として考えられる。障害とその特徴的な行動について，物語を通して分かりやすく示すことができる視覚教材である絵本は，選択の幅も広く，保育現場の実態に適合した幼児の障害理解を支援する。また，障害児への支援においては，保護者・兄弟支援も重要であるが，障害理解絵本には家族の心情を描写するものも多く，保護者・兄弟に対する幼児の理解を深めることにも活用できると考えられる。一方，人的環境に関わる絵本の多様性に比べて，物的環境に関わるものやその改善について紹介されたものは少ないことが把握された。これらに関する絵本の増加が期待されると共に，実態に即した手作りの絵本教材も有効であると考えられる。Autism Spectrum Disorder（ASD）, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder（ADHD）, and Learning Disabilities（LD） are obscure for infants to understand, but picture books about these disabilities have recently increased, and are considered to be educational materials to understand these disabilities from early childhood. Picture books, that can clearly present disabilities and their characteristic behaviors through stories, offer various choices and support an understanding of disabilities in the real childcare. Also, many picture books for understanding disabilities describe the emotions of the family and can be used to deepen infants' understanding of their parents and siblings. On the other hand, the number of picture books about the environment and its improvement is small. An increase in the number of picture books on these topics is expected, and handmade picture book materials based on the real conditions w ould also be effective

In Search of a Binding Agent: Nano-Scale Evidence of Preferential Carbon Associations with Poorly-Crystalline Mineral Phases in Physically-Stable, Clay-Sized Aggregates

Mechanisms of protecting soil carbon (C) are still poorly understood despite growing needs to predict and manage the changes in soil C or organic matter (OM) under anticipated climate change. A fundamental question is how the submicron-scale interaction between OM and soil minerals, especially poorly-crystalline phases, affects soil physical aggregation and C stabilization. Nano-sized composites rich in OM and poorly-crystalline mineral phases were presumed to account for high aggregate stability in the Andisol we previously studied. Here we searched for these nanocomposites within a sonication-resistant aggregate using scanning transmission X-ray microscopy (STXM) and near-edge X-ray absorption fine structure (NEXAFS) as well as electron microscopy (SEM, TEM). Specifically, we hypothesized that nanometer-scale spatial distribution of OM is controlled by poorly-crystalline minerals as both co-exist as physically-stable nanocomposites. After maximum dispersion of the cultivated Andisol A-horizon sample in water, one aggregate (a few p.m in diameter) was isolated from 0.2-2 mu m size fraction which accounted for 44-47% of total C and N and 50% of poorly-crystalline minerals in bulk soil. This fraction as well as 2 mu m size fractions, implying high abundance of the nanocomposites in the smaller fractions. The isolated aggregate showed a mosaic of two distinctive regions. Smooth surface regions showed low adsorption intensity of carbon K-edge photon energy (284-290 eV) with well-crystalline mineralogy, whereas rough surface regions had features indicative of the nanocomposites: aggregated nanostructure, high C intensity, X-ray amorphous mineral phase, and the dominance of Si, O, Al, and Fe based on SEM/EDX and TEM/EDX. Carbon functional group chemistry assessed by NEXAFS showed the dominance of amide and carboxyl C over aromatic and aliphatic C with some variation among the four rough surface regions. Together with C and N isotopic patterns among the size fractions (relatively low C:N ratio, high N-15 natural abundance, and more positive Delta C-14 of the <2 mu m fractions), our results provided the direct evidence of preferential binding of microbially-altered, potentially-labile C with poorly-crystalline mineral phases at submicron scale. The role of the nanocomposite inferred from this study may help to bridge the knowledge gap between physical aggregation process and biogeochemical reactions taking place within the soil physical structure

The effects of Cigarette Smoking on the human VEP (Visual Evoked Potential) and EEG

The effects of cigarette smoking on the human CNS (Central Nervous System) were studied by VEP (Visual Evoked Potential) with 38 healthy male subjects (20～42 y. o., mean : 18. 6 cig./ day×8. 5 years). All subjects were deprived of smoking from the last night prior to the expriment. In the experimental session the subjects were asked to smoke two cigarettes (nicotine content 2. 7 mg/ cig.) in ten minutes after control recording. EEGs containing VEPs evoked by flash stimuli once every 5 second were recorded into the magnetic tape through the two derivations (2CH : O1→A1+2 and 5CH : O1→Cz) together with EEGs also through four other derivations, simultaneously. Reproducing the tape, VEPs from the two derivations were recorded, with 1000 msec of analysis time, for each recording session ; before, during and 10, 20, 30 min. after cigarette smoking. The EEGs were subjected to the quantitative frequency analysis. VEPs were converted into a series of numbers and subjected to the computer processing and statistical assessment with special reference to the EEG changes. The subjects were divied into the two groups, heavy smoker group and light smoker group (more than/within 15 cig./ day), for further study. The following results were obtained. 1. In the waveforms of group mean VEP recorded from the two drivations, N4 appeared only during cigarette smoking. Latencies of P2～P4 were tended to increase during and after smoking, other latencies tended to decrease during smoking and then increased thereafter. Peak-to-peak amplitudes tended to increase, and then decrease thereafter. In the group mean VEP from 5CH, peak-to-peak amplitudes decreased during and after smoking. Conponent analysis with individual VEPs verified these changes in the group mean VEP significant. These changes in the VEPs were attributed to the early exciting (arousal) effect due to the nicotin attaining to the brain, followed by the inhibiting (sedative) effect due to the short half-life period and tachyphylaxis of nicotin. 2. The correlation coefficients between the number of cigarette smoked in one day and ratio of change of latencies and peak-to-peak amplitudes indicated that the effects of smoking above mentioned appeared more markedly with heavy smokers than with light smokers, indicating more increased susceptibility to nicotin due to cigarette abstinence with the former. 3. Quantitative frequency analysis of EEG indicated arousal effect by the decrease of θ and increase of peak α frequency, and sedative effect by the derease of β1, namely desynchronization. These" arousal sedative effect" corresponded with the VEP changes by cigarette smoking in the present study

Visceral-to-subcutaneous fat ratio is a possible prognostic factor for type 1 endometrial cancer

[Background] Associations have been observed between obesity defined by the body mass index (BMI) and the incidence of endometrial cancer. However, the impact of obesity on the prognosis of endometrial cancer is not yet clear. Recently, visceral fat has been considered to have a greater impact on malignant disease in obese patients than subcutaneous fat. In this study, we investigated the association between prognostic factors of type 1 and type 2 endometrial cancer and obesity parameters. [Methods] The impacts of clinical factors on the progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) were analyzed retrospectively in 145 primary endometrial cancer patients. The factors included age, BMI, pathological findings, Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) stage, status of lymph node metastasis, and the amounts of visceral and subcutaneous fat obtained from computed tomography (CT) data. [Results] Only the visceral-to-subcutaneous fat ratio (V/S ratio) (cutoff value 0.5) corresponded to a significant difference in OS and PFS in type 1 endometrial cancer (p = 0.0080, p = 0.0053) according to the results of log-rank tests of Kaplan–Meier curves. The COX regression univariate analysis revealed that only the V/S ratio was a significant prognostic factor for PFS, but not OS (p = 0.033 and p = 0.270, respectively). [Conclusion] A V/S ratio > 0.5 is a possible factor for poor prognosis in type 1 endometrial cancer. Further research is needed to investigate the preventive and therapeutic effects of reducing visceral fat on the prognosis of this type of cancer

Sugoroku Play through Collaborative Molding Creation to Develop Skills to Establish Relationship among Children in 4-Year-Old Class of Nursery School

人間関係形成能力を育むための活動の１つとして，共同造形制作が考えられる。共同造形制作は，１人では作ることができない大きな作品で，着想を多く必要とする「寄せがき方式」の制作遊びを設定して行うことが望ましい。そこで，具体的な保育実践案として双六遊びを行い，人間関係形成能力育成における有効性の検証と，保育者に求められる指導・援助方法の考察を行った。双六の制作は，友達の発言や行動に関心を持ちやすい環境で行われ，話し合いによって色や形を工夫することができた。また，双六遊びの偶然性やルール作りの必要性から，発達過程に適合した楽しい遊びを通して友達と深く関われる活動であったと言える。保育者の援助においては，子どもが人間関係を形成する上で，イメージの共有を促す声掛けが必要であると共に，保育者が介入しない見守りも重要であった。We can consider that one of activities to develop skills to establish relationship is collaborative molding creation. Collaborative modeling creation is a large piece of work that cannot be created by a single person, and it is desirable to set up a "Yosegaki type" of creation play that requires a lot of inspiration. Accordingly, we conducted Sugoroku play as a detailed nursing practice idea to verify its effectiveness in developing skill to establish relationship and considered the teaching and support methods required of childcare-givers. Sugoroku was made in an environment where children were able to pay attention to what their friends said and did, and they were able to devise colors and shapes through discussion. Moreover, from the coincidental nature of Sugoroku play and the necessity of making rules, we could say that it was an activity to be deeply involved with friends through fun play adapted to the developmental process. In assisting childcare-givers, it was important to encourage children to share images and to watch them without intervention by childcare-givers in developing relationship among children

Threonine 138 is crucial for the Quaternary Structure and the Thermostability of Thermus thermophilus Inorganic Pyrophosphatase.

Inorganic pyrophosphatase (EC. 3.6.1.1) from Thermus thermophilus (Tth PPase) forms the thermostable hexamer，and it was suggested from X-ray studies that its intersubunit interactions stabilize the whole molecule. However，the contribution of Thr138 at the intertrimer interface to quatemary structure and thermostability was unknown functionally. Therefore，we prepared four Thr138-substituted variants (T138A，V ，N ，and H) by site-directed mutagenesis. Then，thermostabilities of the enzyme activity and the quatemary structure for T138V and A were decreased relative to those of the wild type Tth PPase，whereas T138H and N variants remained much hexamer contents and the enzyme activity than T138V and A. Therefore，we suggest that the polar group in Thr138 of Tth PPase is more crucial than the methyl group for thermostability and quatemary structure，and it may contribute to the formation of stable trimer-trimer interface

Fertilization controls tiller numbers via transcriptional regulation of a MAX1-like gene in rice cultivation

低施肥でも穂数が減らず、収量を確保できるイネを開発 --ゲノム編集技術で、SDGs時代の新しいイネ遺伝資源を創成--. 京都大学プレスリリース. 2023-06-13.Fertilization controls various aspects of cereal growth such as tiller number, leaf size, and panicle size. However, despite such benefits, global chemical fertilizer use must be reduced to achieve sustainable agriculture. Here, based on field transcriptome data from leaf samples collected during rice cultivation, we identify fertilizer responsive genes and focus on Os1900, a gene orthologous to Arabidopsis thaliana MAX1, which is involved in strigolactone biosynthesis. Elaborate genetic and biochemical analyses using CRISPR/Cas9 mutants reveal that Os1900 together with another MAX1-like gene, Os5100, play a critical role in controlling the conversion of carlactone into carlactonoic acid during strigolactone biosynthesis and tillering in rice. Detailed analyses of a series of Os1900 promoter deletion mutations suggest that fertilization controls tiller number in rice through transcriptional regulation of Os1900, and that a few promoter mutations alone can increase tiller numbers and grain yields even under minor-fertilizer conditions, whereas a single defective os1900 mutation does not increase tillers under normal fertilizer condition. Such Os1900 promoter mutations have potential uses in breeding programs for sustainable rice production