Sedimentary environments of mangrove swamp in the Funaura Bay, Iriomote Island, Okinawa Prefecture, Southwest Japan

The distribution of conch shell contained in clastic sediments in the mangrove swamps in the Funaura Bay, Iriomote Island, Okinawa Prefecture was studied. The sediments in the mangrove swamp are mainly composed of up to 90% sands. The sand clasts are inferred to be derived from the sandstone of Miocene Yaeyama Group. The conch shells are richer in the muddy fraction than the sandy fraction. Many Terebralia palustris inhabit the mangrove swamp. However few dead shells were also observed in the sediments. Effect of selective transportation hermit crabs is considered to be the cause of this distribution

A study on students' idears about the school syllabus

1995年4月に初めての本学のシラバス（講義要覧）が発行され、学生に配布された。本報は約1年後の1996年2月の試験期間中にシラバスに対する学生の意見を問うために行われたアンケート調査の結果をまとめたものである。回答を寄せた学生は435人で、在籍学生の89.0％であった。よく利用したとする学生は18.2％、数回利用したとする学生は67.6％であった。学生の使用目的はテストの準備や履修科目の決定のためであった。以上のことから、現在のシラバスは学生が日常的により活用するためにはさらに教師が改善、工夫する必要があると思われた。The first syllabus of the School was published and distributed to all of the students in April,1995. Ten months later during the term examination, an opportunity arouse to question the sudents about their idears for the syllubus. A survery of all of the students was carried out and 435 students (89.0%) responded to it. They generally utilized it well, especially to decide which subjects they will take, to find out about the textbooks that will be used, and how to prepare for the examination. However it was found not to be sufficient for their daily use. Teachers therefore must make a greater effort in giving information about their lecture

Focal frontal epileptiform discharges in a patient with eyelid myoclonia and absence seizures

AbstractEyelid myoclonia with absences is classified as a unique type of generalized seizure. Its pathogenesis is proposed to involve the functional abnormalities in cortical–subcortical networks. Here, we describe the case of a 7-year-old boy who had eyelid myoclonia with absences, along with focal motor seizures. Video-EEG monitoring demonstrated eyelid myoclonia associated with 4- to 5-Hz generalized polyspike–waves preceded by focal frontal discharges. Interictal EEG showed focal epileptiform discharges over the frontal regions. Our case suggests an important role of the frontal lobe in the generation of eyelid myoclonia with absences

Missense Mutation in the Alternative Splice Region of the PAX6 Gene in Eye Anomalies

SummaryThe PAX6 gene is involved in ocular morphogenesis, and PAX6 mutations have been detected in various types of ocular anomalies, including aniridia, Peters anomaly, corneal dystrophy, congenital cataract, and foveal hypoplasia. The gene encodes a transcriptional regulator that recognizes target genes through its paired-type DNA-binding domain. The paired domain is composed of two distinct DNA-binding subdomains, the N-terminal subdomain (NTS) and the C-terminal subdomain (CTS), which bind respective consensus DNA sequences. The human PAX6 gene produces two alternative splice isoforms that have the distinct structure of the paired domain. The insertion, into the NTS, of 14 additional amino acids encoded by exon 5a abolishes the DNA-binding activity of the NTS and unmasks the DNA-binding ability of the CTS. Thus, exon 5a appears to function as a molecular switch that specifies target genes. We ascertained a novel missense mutation in four pedigrees with Peters anomaly, congenital cataract, Axenfeldt anomaly, and/or foveal hypoplasia, which, to our knowledge, is the first mutation identified in the splice-variant region. A T→A transition at the 20th nucleotide position of exon 5a results in a Val→Asp (GTC→GAC) substitution at the 7th codon of the alternative splice region. Functional analyses demonstrated that the V54D mutation slightly increased NTS binding and decreased CTS transactivation activity to almost half

Bone regeneration of induced pluripotent stem cells derived from peripheral blood cells in collagen sponge scaffolds

Stem cell-based regeneration therapy offers new therapeutic options for patients with bone defects because of significant advances in stem cell research. Although bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells are the ideal material for bone regeneration therapy using stem cell, they are difficult to obtain. Induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) are now considered an attractive tool in bone tissue engineering. Recently, the efficiency of establishing iPSCs has been improved by the use of the Sendai virus vector, and it has become easier to establish iPSCs from several type of somatic cells. In our previous study, we reported a method to purify osteogenic cells from iPSCs. Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the osteogenic ability of iPSCs derived from peripheral blood cells. Methodology: Mononuclear cells (MNCs) were obtained from human peripheral blood. Subsequently, T cells were selectively obtained from these MNCs and iPSCs were established using Sendai virus vectors. Established iPSCs were evaluated by the expression of undifferentiated markers and teratoma formation assays. Osteoblasts were induced from these iPSCs and evaluated by the expression of osteoblast markers. Additionally, the induced osteoblasts were transplanted into rat critical size calvaria bone defect models with collagen sponge scaffolds. Samples were evaluated by radiographical and histological assessments. Results: Induced osteoblasts expressed several osteoblast-specific markers. The results of radiographical and histological assessments revealed that the cell transplant group had bone formations superior to those of the control group. Conclusions: This study suggests that peripheral blood MNCs have the potential to differentiate into osteoblasts. Although there are some hurdles in iPSC transplantation, osteoblasts obtained from MNC-iPSCs could be applied to bone regeneration therapy in the future

Experimental Study on Reduction of the Horizontal Subgrade Reaction due to Liquefaction

It is important to evaluate resistance strength of foundation and the subgrade reaction of soil surrounding the foundation during an earthquake when a bridge is constructed on liquefiable ground. In this study, we evaluated reduction coefficient of the horizontal subgrade reaction during liquefaction DE based on shaking table tests. We examined the influence of liquefaction resistance factor FL, subgrade shear strain amplitude and velocity of the ground on the reduction coefficient DE from the test results. We made model grounds varying relative soil density in a container, which was placed on a shaking table. A piston was installed on the side wall of the container, and penetration force was measured as horizontal subgrade reaction when the piston was penetrated into the liquefied soil

Nickel-based phosphide superconductor with infinite-layer structure, BaNi2P2

Analogous to cuprate high-Tc superconductors, a NiP-based compound system has several crystals in which the Ni-P layers have different stacking structures. Herein, the properties of BaNi2P2 are reported. BaNi2P2 has an infinite-layer structure, and shows a superconducting transition at ~3 K. Moreover, it exhibits metallic conduction and Pauli paramagnetism in the temperature range of 4-300 K. Below 3 K, the resistivity sharply drops to zero, and the magnetic susceptibility becomes negative, while the volume fraction of the superconducting phase estimated from the diamagnetic susceptibility reaches ~100 vol.% at 1.9 K. These observations substantiate that BaNi2P2 is a bulk superconductor.Comment: 9 pages, 4 figures, Solid State Communications, in press. Received 4 March 2008. Accepted 2 May 2008. Available online 14 May 200