A Study about the Job Training Expenditure of Japanese Firms in the 1990s (Japanese)

In this study, I summarize the changes relating to the skill development of workers in Japan in recent years. I show that the decline of per-worker job training costs spent by Japanese firms during the 1990s was caused by a slowdown in the recruitment of new employees and an increased reliance on part-time workers, and that Japanese firms have actually been spending the same or more on job training costs for newly hired employees than before. As a result, the fundamental problem is not that there is a slowdown in job training of all workers but rather the differential of the training opportunities between regular and part-time workers. Also, it is feared that Japanese public job training aid or Kyouiku Kunren Kyufu Seido, which is granted by employment insurance, may in fact widen the gap in relation to job training opportunities and should therefore be reformed.

Clinical Applica­tion of Sialic Acid I. On Serum Sialic Acid Contents in Patients

1) The contents of sialic acid in patients of various diseases sera were determined and increases of it were noticed in several diseases. 2) Sialic acid contents ranged between 50 and 100 mg./dl. in the normal serum. 3) But in the pathological serum, it ranged between 90 and 170 mg./dl. in cancer patients, between 80 and 110 mg./dl. in peptic ulcer, between 75 and 135 mg./dl. in arachnoiditis, and between 90 and 120 mg./dl. in epilepsy. 4) In other several diseases, sialic acid contents were determined.</p

One‐Shot Radical Cross Coupling Between Benzyl Alcohols and Alkenyl Halides Using Ni/Ti/Mn System

金沢大学理工学域物質科学系A “one‐shot” cross coupling between benzyl alcohols and alkenyl halides has been established. A combination of low‐valent Ti‐mediated C−OH homolysis and the prominent chemistry of Ni‐based radical catalysis afforded the desired cross‐coupled product with good efficiency. The reaction proceeded regardless of the electronic property of benzyl alcohols, and Ar−B bond remained intact throughout the reaction. Alkenyl bromides with various substitution patterns were applicable to this reaction. Attempts for utilizing sterically demanding tri‐substituted alkenes indicated that the steric hinderance mainly inhibited the radical‐trapping by Ni species. This reaction can be a simple and efficient strategy for synthesizing densely substituted allylbenzene derivatives

Frequent Transmission of Streptococcus pneumoniae Serotype 35B and 35D, Clonal Complex 558 Lineage, across Continents and the Formation of Multiple Clades in Japan

Streptococcus pneumoniae is a common bacterial pathogen that causes infections in children worldwide, even after administration of the pneumococcal conjugate vaccine. S. pneumoniae serotype 35B, especially the clonal complex 558 (CC558) lineage, has emerged globally following implementation of the 13-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine. Serotype 35B strains are also associated with multidrug resistance to both β-lactams and non-β-lactam drugs. In addition, a novel serotype, 35D, which is closely related to 35B and differs in polysaccharide structure, was recently reported. However, the genetic relationship among globally disseminating serotype 35B and D (35B/D) strains remains unknown. To investigate the molecular epidemiology of global serotype 35B/D strains, we conducted a genomic analysis of serotype 35B/D strains from various continents, including those from the Japanese national surveillance collection. A total of 87 isolates were identified as serotype 35B/D in the Japanese surveillance collection (n = 1, 358). All the isolates were assigned to either CC558 or CC2755. Serotype 35D isolates were interspersed with serotype 35B isolates. Phylogenetic analysis revealed the formation of multiple clusters by the Japanese serotype 35B/D-CC558 isolates among the foreign isolates, which suggested multiple events of introduction of the clone into Japan. The global 35B/D-CC558 strains were found to share specific penicillin-binding protein profiles, pbp1a-4, pbp2b-7, and pbp2x-7, associated with penicillin, cephalosporin, and carbapenem nonsusceptibility. Moreover, 88.5% of the Japanese 35B/D-CC558 and 35B/D-CC2755 isolates were found to harbor the Tn916-like integrative and conjugative elements Tn2009, Tn2010, and Tn6002, associated with multidrug resistance to macrolides and tetracyclines. The results of this study imply that serotype 35B/D-CC558 strains could be frequently transmitted intercontinentally

Direct and Unified Access to Carbon Radicals from Aliphatic Alcohols by Cost-Efficient Titanium-Mediated Homolytic C-OH Bond Cleavage

金沢大学理工研究域物質化学系Low-valent Ti-mediated homolytic C–O bond cleavage offers unified access to carbon radicals from ubiquitous non-activated tertiary, secondary, and even primary alcohols. In contrast to the representative Ti reagents, which were ineffective for this purpose, "TiCl 2 (cat)"/Zn (cat = catecholate) was found to be specifically active. This method was applied to the addition reactions of radicals to alkenes and exhibited high generality and yields. More than 50 combinations were examined. The excellent cost-efficiency and accessibility of "TiCl 2 (cat)"/Zn further enhance its applicability. Control experiments proved the presence of a carbon radical intermediate and excluded the pathway via alkyl chlorides. Further mechanistic study indicated that the 1:2 complex of alkoxide (R–O – ) and Ti(III) is an active species in the C–O cleavage

A Novel Plasmid Carrying Capsule Gene Cluster Found in Lactococcus garvieae Isolated from Filefish

Lactococcus garvieae is recognized as a crucial bacterial pathogen of freshwater and marine fish species. It has been divided into two serological phenotypes, namely KG? and KG+. Difference of the two phenotypes is owing to the presence or absence of polysaccharide capsule, and a phenotypic change from KG? to KG+ occurs during stocking of isolates for a long period or by repeated subculturing. We found that the phenotypic change occurred more readily in L. garvieae isolates from cultured filefish, thread-sail filefish Stephanolepis cirrhifer and black scraper Thamnaconus modestus, than those from other fish species. Thus we studied the gene cluster for capsular polysaccharide biosynthesis (capsule gene cluster) of a filefish isolate, strain BSLG13015, and revealed that the strain possessed the same capsule gene cluster as those from other fish species, but that it was integrated in a newly identified plasmid. The plasmid, a size of 31,654 bp and circular, was named pBSLG13015. It was detected in all of KG? filefish isolates but not in KG+ filefish isolates or L. garvieae from other fish species. It is highly probable that the easier change from KG? to KG+ in L. garvieae filefish isolates is attributed to the loss of the plasmid

Functional anterior pituitary generated in self-organizing culture of human embryonic stem cells

Anterior pituitary is critical for endocrine systems. Its hormonal responses to positive and negative regulators are indispensable for homeostasis. For this reason, generating human anterior pituitary tissue that retains regulatory hormonal control in vitro is an important step for the development of cell transplantation therapy for pituitary diseases. Here we achieve this by recapitulating mouse pituitary development using human embryonic stem cells. We find that anterior pituitary self-forms in vitro following the co-induction of hypothalamic and oral ectoderm. The juxtaposition of these tissues facilitated the formation of pituitary placode, which subsequently differentiated into pituitary hormone-producing cells. They responded normally to both releasing and feedback signals. In addition, after transplantation into hypopituitary mice, the in vitro-generated corticotrophs rescued physical activity levels and survival of the hosts. Thus, we report a useful methodology for the production of regulator-responsive human pituitary tissue that may benefit future studies in regenerative medicine

Synthesis of 3,6-Dihydro-2H-1,2-oxazines via Dimethylsulfoxonium Methylide Addition to α,β-Unsaturated Nitrones

金沢大学理工学研究域物質化学系A unique and efficient formation of 3,6-dihydro-2H-1,2-oxazines starting from α,β-unsaturated nitrones has been achieved. The nucleophilic addition of dimethylsulfoxonium methylide to the C═N bond of an α,β-unsaturated nitrone to form an aziridine N-oxide followed by the Meisenheimer rearrangement affords 3,6-dihydro-2H-1,2-oxazine in up to 70% yield. Methylene was confirmed to be incorporated at the C3 position of the ring. A wide range of β-aryl-substituted α,β-unsaturated nitrones were applicable to this reaction.Embargo Period 12 month

Formal Methylene Insertion into the C–H Bond of α-Carbonyl Aldonitrones with Dimethylsulfoxonium Methylide

金沢大学理工学研究域物質化学系A methylene group was introduced into the C–H bond of α-carbonyl aldonitrones by reaction with dimethylsulfoxonium methylide, producing one-carbon homologated C-methyl ketonitrones. This formal methylene insertion was applied to one-pot synthesis of quaternary C3-methyl isoxazolidines via successive 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition with alkenes bearing an electron withdrawing group