193 research outputs found

    Dense shelf water formation process in the Sea of Okhotsk based on an ice‐ocean coupled model

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    Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/95161/1/jgrc11630.pd

    A survey on recognition of the "bryophytes" targeting university students

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    The aim of the present study was to grasp the current situation of university students' understanding about the bryophytes. The survey was conducted on 49 students of National University "A", Faculty of Education. The contents of the questionnaire were (1) ability to distinguish the bryophytes, (2) knowledge about bryophytes, and (3) attitudes toward the bryophytes and science classes, nature experiences. The results were as follows. In the question (1), it was difficult to distinguish the bryophytes from the lichens or the algae. In the question (2), many students did not understand the classification and reproduction of the bryophytes. Factor analysis was conducted on the result of the question (3), and calculated Pearson’s correlation coefficient with the question (1) or (2). As the results, weak correlations (.227, .235) were observed between the total score of question (1) and the factors "interests in the bryophytes" or "interests in science (biology)". Weak correlation (.246) was also observed between "knowledge on reproduction of bryophytes" and "positive nature experiences". These results suggested that there are relevance between distinguishing or understanding and attitude of the bryophytes. However, more detailed examination is required.本研究の一部は,JSPS科研費17H01980および16K00966の助成を受けて行った

    Generation of Vascular Endothelial Cells and Hematopoietic Cells by Blastocyst Complementation.

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    In the case of organ transplantation accompanied by vascular anastomosis, major histocompatibility complex mismatched vascular endothelial cells become a target for graft rejection. Production of a rejection-free, transplantable organ, therefore, requires simultaneous generation of vascular endothelial cells within the organ. To generate pluripotent stem cell (PSC)-derived vascular endothelial cells, we performed blastocyst complementation with a vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-2 homozygous mutant blastocyst. This mutation is embryonic lethal at embryonic (E) day 8.5-9.5 due to an early defect in endothelial and hematopoietic cells. The Flk-1 homozygous knockout chimeric mice survived to adulthood for over 1 year without any abnormality, and all vascular endothelial cells and hematopoietic cells were derived from the injected PSCs. This approach could be used in conjunction with other gene knockouts which induce organ deficiency to produce a rejection-free, transplantable organ in which all the organ's cells and vasculature are PSC derived

    Genome-Scale CRISPR/Cas9 Screening Reveals Squalene Epoxidase as a Susceptibility Factor for Cytotoxicity of Malformin A1

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    Malformin A1 (MA1) is a fungus-produced cyclic pentapeptide. MA1 exhibits teratogenicity to plants, fibrinolysis-enhancing activity, and cytotoxicity to mammalian cells. To clarify the cytotoxic mechanism of MA1, we screened for the genes involved in the cytotoxicity of MA1 in monocytoid U937 cells by using a CRISPR/Cas9-based genome-wide knockout library. Screening was performed by positive selection for cells that were resistant to MA1 treatment, and single guide RNAs (sgRNAs) integrated into MA1-resistant cells were analyzed by high-throughput sequencing. As a result of the evaluation of sgRNAs that were enriched in MA1-resistant cells, SQLE, which encodes squalene epoxidase, was identified as a candidate gene. SQLE-depleted U937 cells were viable in the presence of MA1, and squalene epoxidase inhibitor conferred MA1 resistance to wild-type cells. These results indicate that squalene epoxidase is implicated in the cytotoxicity of MA1. This finding represents a new insight into applications of MA1 for treating ischemic diseases

    Comprehensive autoantibody profiling in systemic autoimmunity by a highly-sensitive multiplex protein array

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    Comprehensive autoantibody evaluation is essential for the management of autoimmune disorders. However, conventional methods suffer from poor sensitivity, low throughput, or limited availability. Here, using a proteome-wide human cDNA library, we developed a novel multiplex protein assay (autoantibody array assay; A-Cube) covering 65 antigens of 43 autoantibodies that are associated with systemic sclerosis (SSc) and polymyositis/dermatomyositis (PM/DM). The performance of A-Cube was validated against immunoprecipitation and established enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Further, through an evaluation of serum samples from 357 SSc and 172 PM/DM patients, A-Cube meticulously illustrated a diverse autoantibody landscape in these diseases. The wide coverage and high sensitivity of A-Cube also allowed the overlap and correlation analysis between multiple autoantibodies. Lastly, reviewing the cases with distinct autoantibody profiles by A-Cube underscored the importance of thorough autoantibody detection. Together, these data highlighted the utility of A-Cube as well as the clinical relevance of autoantibody profiles in SSc and PM/DM

    Gamma-polyglutamic acid-coated vectors for effective and safe gene therapy.

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    In the present study, we developed some novel gene delivery vectors, coated cationic complexes with gamma-polyglutamic acid (gamma-PGA) for effective and safe gene therapy. Cationic complexes were constructed with pDNA and cationic vectors, such as poly-L-arginine hydrochloride (PLA), poly-L-lysine hydrobromide (PLL), N-[1-(2, 3-dioleyloxy) propyl]-N, N, N-trimethylammonium chloride (DOTMA)-cholesterol (Chol) liposomes, and DOTMA-dioleylphosphatidylethanolamine (DOPE) liposomes. The cationic complexes showed high gene expression with strong cytotoxicity in melanoma B16-F10 cells. The cationic complexes were also strongly toxic to erythrocytes. On the other hand, the gamma-PGA was able to coat all cationic complexes and form stable nano-sized particles with negative charges. These gamma-PGA-coated complexes had high gene expression without cytotoxicity and toxicities to the erythrocytes. In in vivo transfection experiments, polyplexes showed high transfection efficiency over 10(5) RLU/g in the lung tissue after intravenous injection, although gamma-PGA-coated polyplexes showed a high value in the spleen. High transfection efficiency in lipoplexes and gamma-PGA-coated lipoplexes was observed in the spleen and lung. Thus, gamma-PGA-coated vectors are useful for clinical gene therapy

    Japanese Orthopaedic Association Hip Disease Evaluation Questionnaire (JHEQ): a patient-based evaluation tool for hip-joint disease. The Subcommittee on Hip Disease Evaluation of the Clinical Outcome Committee of the Japanese Orthopaedic Association

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    AbstractBackgroundThe Japanese Orthopaedic Association Hip Score is widely used in Japan, but this tool is designed to reflect the viewpoint of health-care providers rather than that of patients. In gauging the effect of medical therapies in addition to clinical results, it is necessary to assess quality of life (QOL) from the viewpoint of patients. However, there is no tool evaluating QOL for Japanese patients with hip-joint disease.MethodsWith the aim of more accurately classifying QOL for Japanese patients with hip-joint disease, we prepared a questionnaire with 58 items for the survey derived from 464 opinions obtained from approximately 100 Japanese patients with hip-joint disease and previously devised evaluation criteria. In the survey, we collected information on 501 cases, and 402 were subjected to factor analysis. From this, we formulated three categories—movement, mental, and pain—each comprising 7 items, for a total of 21 items to be used as evaluation criteria for hip-joint function.ResultsThe Cronbach’s α coefficients for the three categories were 0.93, 0.93, and 0.95, respectively, indicating the high reliability of the evaluation criteria. The 21 items included some related to the Asian lifestyle, such as use of a Japanese-style toilet and rising from the floor, which are not included in other evaluation tools.ConclusionsThis self-administered questionnaire may become a useful tool in the evaluation of not only Japanese patients, but also of members of other ethnic groups who engage in deep flexion of the hip joint during daily activities
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