Development of continuum-based particle models of cell growth and proliferation for simulating tissue morphogenesis

Biological tissues acquire various characteristic shapes through morphogenesis. Tissue shapes result from the spatiotemporally heterogeneous cellular activities influenced by mechanical and biochemical environments. To investigate multicellular tissue morphogenesis, this study aimed to develop a novel multiscale method that can connect each cellular activity to the mechanical behaviors of the whole tissue by constructing continuum-based particle models of cellular activities. This study proposed mechanical models of cell growth and proliferation that are expressed as volume expansion and cell division by extending the material point method. By simulating cell hypertrophy and proliferation under both free and constraint conditions, the proposed models demonstrated potential for evaluating the mechanical state and tracing cells throughout tissue morphogenesis. Moreover, the effect of a cell size checkpoint was incorporated into the cell proliferation model to investigate the mechanical behaviors of the whole tissue depending on the condition of cellular activities. Consequently, the accumulation of strain energy density was suppressed because of the influence of the checkpoint. In addition, the whole tissues acquired different shapes depending on the influence of the checkpoint. Thus, the models constructed herein enabled us to investigate the change in the mechanical behaviors of the whole tissue according to each cellular activity depending on the mechanical state of the cells during morphogenesis

Mechanical and Environmental Proprieties of {UHP}-{FRCC} Panels Bonded to Existing Concrete Beams

Among the techniques used to retrofit existing reinforced concrete structures, methods involving Ultra High Performance Fiber Reinforced Cementitious Composites (UHP-FRCC) are widely regarded. However, current practices make the use of this material for in-situ application expensive and complicated to perform. Accordingly, a new method to strengthen existing concrete beams by applying a precast UHP-FRCC layer on the bottom side are introduced and described herein. Two test campaigns are performed with the aim of defining the best conditions at the interface between the reinforcing layer and the existing beam and to reducing the environmental impact of UHP-FRCC mixtures. As a result, the eco-mechanical analysis reveals that the best performances are attained when the adhesion at interface is enhanced by means of steel nails on the upper surface of the UHP-FRCC layer, in which 20% of the cement is replaced by fly ash

Continental weathering in the Early Triassic in Himalayan Tethys, central Nepal: Implications for abrupt environmental change on the northern margin of Gondwanaland

The geochemistry of Triassic mudstones in the Himalayan Tethys sequence, central Nepal, was studied with respect to changes in sedimentary facies, grain size, and source rocks. The Triassic sedimentary facies of mudstone and carbonates show deposition in offshore to hemiplegic environments. The rare earth element (REE) pattern of the Permian and Triassic mudstones suggests uniformity correlatable to average shale. The major element geochemistry of the Early Triassic Griesbachian-early Smithian mudstones indicates a sediment supply from strongly weathered sources with the chemical index of alteration (CIA) values of 76–81. However, the mudstones in the late Smithian show weakly weathered sources with CIA values of 68–74. The lower part of the Middle Triassic Anisian mudstones return to Early Triassic paleoweathering levels. There are no significant relationships among lithofacies, the grain size of the sediments, and CIA values. Thus, the abrupt change of the degree of paleoweathering in the Early Triassic, late Smithian time, suggests a dramatic decrease in continental weathering, which is related to a predominantly arid climate in the northern marginal area of Gondwana.ArticleJOURNAL OF ASIAN EARTH SCIENCES.79, Part A:288-301(2014)journal articl

Feeding habits of Netrostoma setouchianum (Kishinouye, 1902) collected from the central part of the Seto Inland Sea, Japan

根口クラゲ類エビクラゲの摂餌生態を解明するために，瀬戸内海産個体を用いて吸口構造および消化管内容物の観察を行った。吸口は長径約350μm，短径約130μm の楕円形に近い形であり，このサイズクラスの動物プランクトンが捕食されると推定される。採集した7個体の内，4個体の口腕水管内から小型浮遊性カイアシ類Paracalanus parvus s.l., Oithona sp. の2種が検出された。これらの体幅は吸口のサイズと一致する。The feeding habits of the rhizostome Netrostoma setouchianum (Kishinouye, 1902) collected from the central part of the Seto Inland Sea, Japan was examined based on observations of the structure of secondary mouths and contents in the canals and stomach. The mouths were oval, approximately 365 μm along the major axis and 130 μm along the minor axis. Small-sized planktonic copepods such as Paracalanus parvus s.l. and Oithona sp. were found in the canals and had body widths that fell well within the size of the mouths.本研究の一部は日本学術振興会科学研究補助金（基盤研究 B25304031，代表　大塚　攻；基盤研究B26304030，代表　西川　淳）によって行われた

The influence of various distractions prior to upper gastrointestinal endoscopy : a prospective randomized controlled study

Background Although many patients still have anxiety about upper gastrointestinal (GI) endoscopy, there have been few reports on the influence of distractions for a person who is going to undergo upper GI endoscopy soon. This study was a prospective randomized controlled study investigating the influence of distractions, such as auditive and visual distractions using subjective and objective assessments including autonomic nervous function prior to upper GI endoscopy. Methods 206 subjects who underwent upper GI endoscopy as regular health check-ups were divided randomly into 4 groups prior to upper GI endoscopy; group 1 (control group), group 2 (auditive group), group 3 (visual group), and group 4 (combination group). We measured vital signs, autonomic nervous function, profile of mood state (POMS), and the impression for upper GI endoscopy pre- and post-distraction in the 4 groups. Results There was no significant difference in vital signs between 5 and 15 min after sitting in group 1, however, several vital signs in all distraction groups improved significantly after distraction (Pulse rate (P): p <  0.001 in group 4; blood pressure: p <  0.05 in group 2, 3, 4) and the rate of decrease in P and diastolic blood pressure was highest in group 4 (p <  0.001). Several scores of POMS and the impression for upper GI endoscopy post-distraction improved significantly compared to pre-distraction between distraction groups and the satisfaction for distraction was highest in group 4 (p <  0.01). Regarding autonomic nerve function, the low- frequency power/ high- frequency power ratio post-distraction was significantly lower than that pre-distraction in all distraction groups (p <  0.001). Conclusions Although auditive distraction alone and visual distraction alone were effective, a combination distraction was more effective than any other distraction by subjective and objective assessments. These distractions, which were simple and safe, may play an assistive role in the stability of physical and psychological conditions prior to upper GI endoscopy. Trial registration This trial was registered in the University Hospital Medical Information Network (UMIN) Clinical Trials Registry as UMIN000022801 ( https://www.umin.ac.jp/ctr/ ). Registered on 10 July 2016

Effects of audio and visual distraction on patients’ vital signs and tolerance during esophagogastroduodenoscopy : a randomized controlled trial

Background: Esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) provides an indispensable and unambiguous inspection allowing the discovery upper gastrointestinal lesions. However, many patients are anxious about undergoing EGD. Few studies have investigated the influence on patients’ vital signs and tolerance during EGD using subjective and objective assessments. This study was a prospective randomized controlled study that investigated the influence of audio and visual distraction on EGD. Methods: We randomly divided 289 subjects who underwent EGD into 4 groups (control group, audio group, visual group, combination group) and examined their vital signs, heart rate variability (HRV), psychological items, and acceptance of distraction. Results: Pulse rate (PR) at post-distraction and post-EGD in the 3 distraction groups were significantly lower than those of control group (p< 0.001 and p < 0.01, respectively). Blood pressure (BP) during and post-EGD was significantly higher than that at pre-EGD in control group (p < 0.05), but no significant elevation of BP was observed during the latter half of EGD and post-EGD in the 3 distraction groups. BP at post-distraction improved significantly compared to pre-distraction in the 3 distraction groups (p < 0.05). There was a significant difference in the low-frequency (LF) power/ high-frequency (HF) power at post-distraction and post-EGD among the 4 groups (p< 0.001 and p < 0.001, respectively). The LF power/HF power at post-distraction and post-EGD in the 3 distraction groups was significantly lower than that in control group (p < 0.05). Several items of profile of mood states (POMS) and the impression of EGD at post-distraction improved significantly compared to those at pre-distraction among the 3 distraction groups (p < 0.05). Visual analog scale (VAS) of willingness for the next use of distraction in the 3 distraction groups was excellent because VAS was more than 70. Conclusions: Distractions effectively improved psychological factors, vital signs and some of HRV at pre and post-EGD. Distractions may suppress BP elevation during the latter half of EGD and lead to stability of HRV on EGD

Attitudes and behaviors relating to theme parks (2) : the psychological functions of unreality feelings caused by Tokyo Disneyland.

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脂質摂取の多い食習慣とたんぱく質及び甘い食べ物に対する欲求との関連

Reducing dietary calorie density (CD) is useful in body weight management. This study investigates the association between dietary habits and preferences for different CDs. We conducted a randomized crossover study of 232 healthy subjects who consumed packed lunch boxes containing a control, high-meat and low-rice, low-vegetable, medium-fat and low-vegetable, high-fat, and high-fat and low-vegetable meals over six sessions. The subjective levels of sensory properties were assessed over time using a visual analog scale and the area under the curve. Subjects were assessed for dietary habits using a brief-type self-administered diet history questionnaire (BDHQ) and were divided into two groups based on a daily fat energy ratio≥25% (high fat [HF], n=116) and <25% (normal, n=116) that was matched for age, body mass index, and sex ratio. Our findings indicate that the desire for sweetness was higher in the HF group than in the normal group, regardless of the meals consumed. Particularly, among the 500-kcal low-CD meals, a high-protein meal provided greater fullness and satisfaction and lower prospective consumption in the HF group than in the normal group. Therefore, our study demonstrates that postprandial appetite sensation is associated with dietary habits of fat intake

Translation of partially overlapping psbD-psbC mRNAs in chloroplasts: the role of 5′-processing and translational coupling

The chloroplast psbD and psbC genes encode the D2 and CP43 proteins of the photosystem II complex, and they are generally cotranscribed. We report studies on the basic translation process of tobacco psbD-psbC mRNAs using an in vitro translation system from tobacco chloroplasts. The primary transcript has an unusually long 5′-UTR (905 nt). We show that it is translatable. Processing of the 5′-UTR greatly enhances the translation efficiency of the psbD cistron. A striking feature is that psbD and psbC cistrons overlap by 14 nt. Removal of the psbD 5′-UTR plus the start codon and introduction of a premature termination codon in the psbD cistron considerably reduce the translation efficiency of the downstream psbC cistron. These results indicate that translation of the psbC cistron depends largely on that of the upstream psbD cistron and thus shows translational coupling; however, a portion is independently translated. These observations, together with the presence of monocistronic psbC mRNAs, suggest that the psbD and psbC cistrons are translated via multiple processes to produce necessary amounts of D2 and CP43 proteins