LC/PDA/ESI-MS Profiling and Radical Scavenging Activity of Anthocyanins in Various Berries

Anthocyanin extracts of two blueberries, Vaccinium myrtillus (bilberry) and Vaccinium ashei (rabbiteye blueberry), and of three other berries, Ribes nigrum (black currant), Aronia melanocarpa (chokeberry), and Sambucus nigra (elderberry), were analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with photodiode array detection and electrospray ionization - mass spectrometry (LC/PDA/ESI-MS). Both bilberry and rabbiteye blueberry contained 15 identical anthocyanins with different distribution patterns. Black currant, chokeberry, and elderberry contained 6, 4, and 4 kinds of anthocyanins, respectively. The radical scavenging activities of these berry extracts were analyzed by using 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH). All these extracts showed potent antiradical activities

フォーリーが採集したヒナミクリSparganium natans L.(ガマ科) の産地は厚真である

The presumed locality of Sparganium natans L. collected by Faurie in 1893 has apparently been misidentified [Faurie10368 (K)]. Based on original label and the record of Faurie＇s planthunting itinerary, it is clear that the locality was Atsuma in Hokkaido, Japan

Generation of Germline-Competent Rat Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells

Recent progress in rat pluripotent stem cell technology has been remarkable. Particularly salient is the demonstration that embryonic stem cells (ESCs) in the rat (rESCs) can contribute to germline transmission, permitting generation of gene-modified rats as is now done using mouse ESCs (mESCs) or mouse induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs; miPSCs). However, determinations of whether rat iPSCs (riPSCs) can contribute to germ cells are not published. Here we report the germline competency of riPSCs.We generated riPSCs by transducing three mouse reprogramming factors (Oct3/4, Klf4, and Sox2) into rat somatic cells, followed by culture in the presence of exogenous rat leukemia inhibitory factor (rLIF) and small molecules that specifically inhibit GSK3, MEK, and FGF receptor tyrosine kinases. We found that, like rESCs, our riPSCs can contribute to germline transmission. Furthermore we found, by immunostaining of testis from mouse-rat interspecific chimeras with antibody against mouse vasa homolog, that riPSCs can contribute to embryonic development with chimera formation in mice (rat-mouse interspecific chimeras) and to interspecific germlines.Our data clearly demonstrate that using only three reprogramming factors (Oct3/4, Klf4, and Sox2) rat somatic cells can be reprogrammed into a ground state. Our generated riPSCs exhibited germline transmission in either rat-rat intraspecific or mouse-rat interspecific chimeras

Factor analysis for construct validity of a trunk impairment scale in Parkinson’s disease: a cross-sectional study

ObjectivesTo investigate the construct validity of the Trunk Impairment Scale (TIS), which was developed to assess trunk impairment in patients with stroke, in patients with Parkinson’s disease (PD).DesignThis retrospective, cross-sectional study enrolled consecutive PD inpatients. Correlation analysis was performed to clarify whether the TIS assessment was related to other balance functions, lower extremity muscle strength, or walking ability. Factor analysis was performed to see how the background factors of TIS differ from balance function, lower limb muscle strength, and walking ability.ResultsExamining the data of 471 patients with PD, there were relationships between TIS and the Mini-Balance Evaluation Systems Test (r = 0.67), Barthel Index (r = 0.57), general lower limb extension torque (r = 0.51), two-minute walk test (r = 0.54), Hoehn and Yahr stage (r = −0.61), and Movement Disorder Society Unified Parkinson’s Disease Rating Scale part III total points (r = −0.59). Factor analysis showed that TIS items were divided into three factors (an abdominal muscles and righting reflex component; a perception and verticality component; and a rotational component), differing from other scales that included clinical assessment items.ConclusionThe TIS can be useful for assessing the underlying trunk impairment as a basis for activities of daily living, gait function, and balance ability in patients with PD

ニホン ノ チュウトウ コウトウ キョウイク キカン デ 3ゲンゴ イジョウ ヲ オシエル ニホン ニ オケル タゲンゴ キョウイク ノ ジッセン

招待論文Invited Papers本論文では日本の中等、高等教育機関で3言語以上を伸ばすための教育を行ってきた事例を4つ取り上げ、日本における多言語教育の実践方法と可能性を検討した。これらの教育機関における取り組みは実に多様であったが、全ての事例において多言語性を動的に捉える姿勢が見られた。多言語話者が多く在籍するコリア国際学園では、公用語を設定せずに複数言語の自由な使用と往来を許容する土壌を作っていた。一方、似通った言語背景の学習者が集まる明晴学園、札幌国際情報高校、関西大学外国語学部では、第3言語の授業や海外研修、多言語留学を実施し、さらに科目間の横断や複数言語教師間の協働によって、学習者が複数の言語間を効果的に往来して学んでいくような、動的な多言語学習スペースが構築されていた。「多言語転回」の時代を迎えた今、日本でも学習者が自らの複数言語レパートリーを十分に活用する動的学習過程を前提とする言語教育が益々求められている。This paper explores multilingual education practices in four Japanese education settings, in which three (and additional) languages are taught. While these schools displayed vastly diverse ways of achieving multilingualism in their programs, these school communities always viewed and promoted multilingualism as dynamic process. For instance, at Korea International School, both students and teachers were strongly encouraged to fully use their linguistic repertoire for their learning and teaching in/outside the classroom. At Meisei Gakuen, Sapporo Intercultural and Technological High School, and Kansai University, where students with similar linguistic backgrounds learn together, their language programs were intentionally designed to create multilingual spaces by offering third language courses and (multilingual) study-abroad programs. Furthermore, through interdisciplinary efforts, these multilingual spaces were made to be more dynamic, where students were able to strategically use multiple languages for learning across different language and content areas. As we have been experiencing the multilingual turn for some time now, we argue that allowing and designing a dynamic language learning process for any multilingual learner is key to successful multilingual education in Japan

Aquatic Plants Collected in Kunashir and Iturup Islands, in 2012

A list of 37 species in 16 families of aquatic plants was prepared based on a field trip to Kunashir and Iturup Islands in 2012. Common aquatic plants in the islands of Kunashir and Iturup are Potamogeton perfoliatus, P. praelongus, Persicaria amphibia and Hippuris vulgaris.We recorded eight species of Potamogeton. The temperate family Hydrocharitaceae and the genus Trapa were not found