A novel superior factor widely controlling the rice grain quality

Synthesis of storage starch and protein accumulation is the main action of endosperm organogenesis in term of the economic importance of rice. This event is strongly disturbed by abiotic stresses such as high temperature; thus, the upcoming global warming will cause a crisis with a great impact on food production^1,2^. The enzymes for the protein storage and starch synthesis pathway should work in concert to carry out the organogenesis of rice endosperm^3-5^, but the regulatory mechanism is largely unknown. Here we show that a novel regulatory factor, named OsCEO1, acts as the conductor of endosperm organogenesis during the rice grain filling stage. The physiological properties of _floury-endosperm-2_ (_flo2_) mutants showed many similarities to symptoms of grains developed under high-temperature conditions, suggesting important roles of the responsible gene in sensitivity to high-temperature stress. Our map-based cloning identified the responsible gene for the _flo2_ mutant, _OsCEO1_, which has no homology to any genes of known function. The _OsCEO1_ belongs to a novel conserved gene family and encodes a protein composed of 1,720 amino acid residues containing a TPR (tetratricopeptide repeat) motif, which is considered to mediate a protein-protein interaction. The yeast two-hybrid analysis raised an unknown protein showing homology to a late embryogenesis abundant protein and a putative basic helix-loop-helix protein as candidates for the direct interactor for _OsCEO1_, whereas no enzyme genes for the synthesis of storage substances were detected. The _flo2_ mutant exhibited reduced expression of several genes for putative regulatory proteins as well as many enzymes involved in storage starch and proteins. These results suggest that _OsCEO1_ is a superior conductor of the novel regulatory cascade of endosperm organogenesis and may have important roles in the response to high-temperature stress

AXIS FOR ROTATION AT THE INTERVERTEBRAL JOINT IN JAPANESE MONKEYS

The position of axis for rotation at the intervertebral joint was investigated using ten Japanese monkeys. The position of axis for rotation at the intervertebral joint was shifted from dorsal to ventral direction on the superior and inferior views of the 1st thoracic vertebra and was next shifted from ventral to dorsal direction on the superior and inferior views of the 10th thoracic vertebra, with some exceptions. X-ray examination demonstrated that in the Japanese monkeys, lordosis was seen in both the cervical and lower lumbar(L5-L7) spine, whereas kyphosis was seen in the thoracic and upper lumbar (L1-L4) spine. Therefore, the possibility that the position of axis for rotation at the intervertebral joint was related to the curvature of the spinal column was not supported by the present study

The dual origin of the peripheral olfactory system: placode and neural crest

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The olfactory epithelium (OE) has a unique capacity for continuous neurogenesis, extending axons to the olfactory bulb with the assistance of olfactory ensheathing cells (OECs). The OE and OECs have been believed to develop solely from the olfactory placode, while the neural crest (NC) cells have been believed to contribute only the underlying structural elements of the olfactory system. In order to further elucidate the role of NC cells in olfactory development, we examined the olfactory system in the transgenic mice Wnt1-Cre/Floxed-EGFP and P0-Cre/Floxed-EGFP, in which migrating NC cells and its descendents permanently express GFP, and conducted transposon-mediated cell lineage tracing studies in chick embryos.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Examination of these transgenic mice revealed GFP-positive cells in the OE, demonstrating that NC-derived cells give rise to OE cells with morphologic and antigenic properties identical to placode-derived cells. OECs were also positive for GFP, confirming their NC origin. Cell lineage tracing studies performed in chick embryos confirmed the migration of NC cells into the OE. Furthermore, spheres cultured from the dissociated cells of the olfactory mucosa demonstrated self-renewal and trilineage differentiation capacities (neurons, glial cells, and myofibroblasts), demonstrating the presence of NC progenitors in the olfactory mucosa.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Our data demonstrates that the NC plays a larger role in the development of the olfactory system than previously believed, and suggests that NC-derived cells may in part be responsible for the remarkable capacity of the OE for neurogenesis and regeneration.</p

AXIS FOR ROTATION AT THE INTERVERTEBRAL JOINT IN JAPANESE MONKEYS

The position of axis for rotation at the intervertebral joint was investigated using ten Japanese monkeys. The position of axis for rotation at the intervertebral joint was shifted from dorsal to ventral direction on the superior and inferior views of the 1st thoracic vertebra and was next shifted from ventral to dorsal direction on the superior and inferior views of the 10th thoracic vertebra, with some exceptions. X-ray examination demonstrated that in the Japanese monkeys, lordosis was seen in both the cervical and lower lumbar(L5-L7) spine, whereas kyphosis was seen in the thoracic and upper lumbar (L1-L4) spine. Therefore, the possibility that the position of axis for rotation at the intervertebral joint was related to the curvature of the spinal column was not supported by the present study

キョウイク マテリアル ノ カツヨウ ニ カンスル ジッショウテキ ケンキュウ : 5リョウイキ (ケンコウ､ニンゲン カンケイ､カンキョウ､コトバ､ヒョウゲン) トノ セイゴウセイ ノ ケンショウ

ヨーロッパで開発された玩具（本稿では、教育マテリアルと記す）を日本の幼児教育および保育現場において活用できるのか、その可能性を探るため現場での実践を通じた検証をしている。ヨーロッパのいくつかの玩具メーカーが集まり組織化されたEuropean Educationall Group（以下、EEGと略す）においては、様々な国の就学前カリキュラムを踏襲し、独自のカリキュラムを考案している。そのカリキュラムをベースに子どもたちに学んでもらいたい6つ領域を示し、領域との結びつきを重要視しながら教育マテリアルの提供を行っている。本稿の目的は、EEGの6領域が日本の保育指針や幼稚園教育要領などが示している5つの領域にも分類が可能かどうかを調査し、日本での活用の可能性を探るための手がかりを示すことにある。検証の結果、日本国内の保育所等の教育・保育現場では、遊び手である子どもの姿からEEGのカリキュラムが提案する遊び方とは異なる遊びが展開されていることが明らかとなった。EEGでは、各玩具の制作者とは別に、幼児教育に特化した研究者や教育者が各マテリアルの基礎から応用まで遊び方・カリキュラムを開発している。そのため、子どもの学習面での教育的な効果に主眼が置かれ、子ども自身が遊びを発展させるという行為に積極的な傾向が見られた。逆に日本においては、子どもの主体的な遊びを保障することが重要視されていた。このことからも、日本においては、子どもの遊びを大切にし、環境構成をしていく際の一つの道標としてEEGの教育マテリアルを用い、個々の子どもの発達や学びの状況を確認するためのツールとして活用することが有効的であることが示される結果となった

キョウイクヨウ マテリアル ノ カツヨウ ニカンスル ジッショウテキ ケンキュウ ソノ2 : ホイク オ ササエル カンキョウ トシテノ ガング ノ カノウセイ

本研究は、ヨーロッパで開発された幼児教育カリキュラムに準じてデザインされたEuropean Educationall （sic） Group（以下、EEGと表記する）の玩具（以下、教育用マテリアルと呼ぶ）を保育の実践に持ち込み、保育を支える環境としての玩具のあり方を研究するものである。これまでの研究では、子どもたちの遊びの様子を検証した結果を考察し、各マテリアルに付属する「環境構成仕様書」及び「保育指導案」の開発を行った。本稿では、研究開発した「保育指導案」から３事例を取り上げ、遊びの検証と考察の結果と、開発後の留意点を考察する。検証の結果、「保育指導案」は保育者に好意的に受け止められ、保育を支える環境としての可能性が明らかとなった。保育者が求める指導案の具体的な傾向から、今後の教育用マテリアルの研究開発や販売展開の方向性が示唆された

Association of severe hypertension with pneumonia in elderly patients with acute ischemic stroke

Pneumonia is one of the most frequent complications in elderly patients with acute ischemic stroke. Although severe hypertension is often observed in the early phase of acute stroke, there are few studies of acute hypertension as a factor influencing the incidence of stroke-associated pneumonia (SAP) in elderly subjects with acute ischemic stroke. To assess the association of acute phase blood-pressure elevation with the incidence of SAP, we compared 10 elderly patients with acute ischemic stroke complicated with severe hypertension (⩾200/120 mm Hg) with 43 patients with moderate hypertension (160–199/100–119 mm Hg), as well as with 65 control normotensive or mildly hypertensive (<160/100 mm Hg) controls on admission. Data were collected on known risk factors, type of ischemic stroke and underlying chronic conditions. The significance of differences in risk factors was analyzed using univariate and multivariate comparisons of 38 SAP cases and others, 8 SAP death cases and others, and 28 patients with poor outcome associated with in-hospital death or artificial feeding at discharge and others. After adjustment for potential confounding factors, the relative risk estimates for SAP, SAP death and poor outcome were 2.83 (95% confidence interval 1.14–7.05), 5.20 (1.01–26.8) and 6.84 (1.32–35.4), respectively, for severe hypertension relative to normotensive or mildly hypertensive controls. We conclude that severe hypertension on admission is an independent predictive factor for SAP in elderly patients with acute ischemic stroke

Prevention of hypoglycemia by intermittent-scanning continuous glucose monitoring device combined with structured education in patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus : A randomized, crossover trial

Aims: We conducted a randomized, crossover trial to compare intermittent-scanning continuous glucose monitoring (isCGM) device with structured education (Intervention) to self-monitoring of blood glucose (SMBG) (Control) in the reduction of time below range. Methods: This crossover trial involved 104 adults with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) using multiple daily injections. Participants were randomly allocated to either sequence Intervention/Control or sequence Control/Intervention. During the Intervention period which lasted 84 days, participants used the first-generation FreeStyle Libre (Abbott Diabetes Care, Alameda, CA, USA) and received structured education on how to prevent hypoglycemia based on the trend arrow and by frequent sensor scanning (≥10 times a day). Confirmatory SMBG was conducted before dosing insulin. The Control period lasted 84 days. The primary endpoint was the decrease in the time below range (TBR; <70 mg/dL). Results: The time below range was significantly reduced in the Intervention arm compared to the Control arm (2.42 ± 1.68 h/day [10.1 %±7.0 %] vs 3.10 ± 2.28 h/day [12.9 %±9.5 %], P = 0.012). The ratio of high-risk participants with low blood glucose index >5 was significantly reduced (8.6 % vs 23.7 %, P < 0.001). Conclusions: The use of isCGM combined with structured education significantly reduced the time below range in patients with T1DM

A Potent Inhibitor of SIK2, 3, 3′, 7-Trihydroxy-4′-Methoxyflavon (4′-O-Methylfisetin), Promotes Melanogenesis in B16F10 Melanoma Cells

Flavonoids, which are plant polyphenols, are now widely used in supplements and cosmetics. Here, we report that 4′-methylflavonoids are potent inducers of melanogenesis in B16F10 melanoma cells and in mice. We recently identified salt inducible kinase 2 (SIK2) as an inhibitor of melanogenesis via the suppression of the cAMP-response element binding protein (CREB)-specific coactivator 1 (TORC1). Using an in vitro kinase assay targeting SIK2, we identified fisetin as a candidate inhibitor, possibly being capable of promoting melanogenesis. However, fisetin neither inhibited the CREB-inhibitory activity of SIK2 nor promoted melanogenesis in B16F10 melanoma cells. Conversely, mono-methyl-flavonoids, such as diosmetin (4′-O-metlylluteolin), efficiently inhibited SIK2 and promoted melanogenesis in this cell line. The cAMP-CREB system is impaired in Ay/a mice and these mice have yellow hair as a result of pheomelanogenesis, while Sik2+/−; Ay/a mice also have yellow hair, but activate eumelanogenesis when they are exposed to CREB stimulators. Feeding Sik2+/−; Ay/a mice with diets supplemented with fisetin resulted in their hair color changing to brown, and metabolite analysis suggested the presence of mono-methylfisetin in their feces. Thus, we decided to synthesize 4′-O-methylfisetin (4′MF) and found that 4′MF strongly induced melanogenesis in B16F10 melanoma cells, which was accompanied by the nuclear translocation of TORC1, and the 4′-O-methylfisetin-induced melanogenic programs were inhibited by the overexpression of dominant negative TORC1. In conclusion, compounds that modulate SIK2 cascades are helpful to regulate melanogenesis via TORC1 without affecting cAMP levels, and the combined analysis of Sik2+/− mice and metabolites from these mice is an effective strategy to identify beneficial compounds to regulate CREB activity in vivo