Determination of boron in thermal waters by emission spectrophotometry using "Spectraspan"

A plasma emission spectrophotometer "Spectraspan" (low power d. c. plasma arc, operating on argon) was evaluated for boron determination in thermal waters. The influence of acids (hydrochloric, nitric and sulfuric acids) and several metallic ions (Na(+). K(+), Mg(2+). Ca(2+)) on emission intensity was studied. There was a linear relationship between emission intensity and boron content from 0 to 500 mg/l. Boron in thermal waters was easily determined by standard addition method. Precision. coefficient of variance and recoveries of known amount of boron added to the sample for 11 repricate analyses were 0.12μg/ml, 2.02%, 95.0-101.7%, respectively. Boron content of 27 thermal waters in the Sanin district was determined. and the highest B content in the sample waters were 8.8 mg/l (Tottori spa) in Tottori Prefecture and 14.6-25.0 mg/l (the thermal springs at the foot of Mt. Sanbe. a non-active quaternary volcano) in Shimane Prefecture. The relationships between B content and water temperature, B content and pH value were not recognized. Significantly positive correlationship was observed between Band Li contents

Studies on sinter deposit Misasa radioactive hot springs

Sinter deposit in a distributing pipe used for about fifteen years in Misasa radioactive hot springs was investigated. The results were as follows; 1. The metal elements in this deposit were quaIi. tatively analysed by spectraspan plasma emission spectrophotometry (SPES), by fluorescent X-ray spectrometry, and following elements were detected; B, Na, Mg, AI, K, Ca, Mn, Fe, Cu, Zn, As, Sr, Ba and Pb. 2. The metal elements in this deposit were quantatively analysed by SPES and atomic absorption spectrophotometry, and following elements were determined; Fe : 508.7, As: 26.40, Ca: 7.85, Mn : 2.00, Al : 1.80, Na: 1.60, Zn: 1.33, K: 0.80, Cu: 0.67, Sr: 0.47, Mg: 0.35, Ba: 0.33 and B : 0.30 mg per gram. The color of this deposit was red brown, and the main component was ferric oxide. 3. Radioactive elements in this deposit were detected by autoradiography and radioluxography. Among the radioactive elements, concentration of radium was 320.5×10(-12)g/g (313.0×10(-12)Ci/g)

Implications of heat shock / stress proteins for medicine and disease

Heat shock/ stress proteins (HSPs) are crucial for maintenance of cellular homeostasis during normal cell growth and for survival during and after various cellular stresses. The HSP70 family functions as molecular chaperones and reduces stress-induced denaturation and aggregation of intracellular proteins. In addition to the chaperoning activities, HSP70 has been suggested to exert its protective action by protecting mitochondria and by interfering with the stress-induced apoptotic program. The biochemical and functional properties of HSPs observed in cultured cells may be relevant to organs and tissues in whole animals. The activation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis and the sympathetic nerve system elicits the stress response in selected peripheral tissues the HSP70 expression in the vasculature and stomach increases resistance against hemodynamic stress and stress-induced mucosal damage, respectively. Gastric mucosa pretreated with mild irritants acquires a tolerance against subsequent mucosal-damaging insults. This phenomenon is known as “adaptive cytoprotection”. Transient ischemia also induces ischemic tolerance in the brain and heart, which is called “ischemic preconditioning”. The heat shock response is believed to contribute to the acquisition of the tolerance. The therapeutic applications of chaperone inducers that induce HSPs without any toxic effect are also introduced

Membrane vesicle-mediated bacterial communication

The classical quorum-sensing (QS) model is based on the assumption that diffusible signaling molecules accumulate in the culture medium until they reach a critical concentration upon which expression of target genes is triggered. Here we demonstrate that the hydrophobic signal N-hexadecanoyl-L-homoserine lactone, which is produced by Paracoccus sp., is released from cells by the aid of membrane vesicles (MVs). Packed into MVs, the signal is not only solubilized in an aqueous environment but is also delivered with varying propensities to different bacteria. We propose a novel MV-based mechanism for binary trafficking of hydrophobic signal molecules, which may be particularly relevant for bacteria that live in open aqueous environments

Loss of heterozygosity at the ATBF1-A locus located in the 16q22 minimal region in breast cancer

Abstract Background Loss of heterozygosity (LOH) on the long arm of chromosome 16 is one of the most frequent genetic events in solid tumors. Recently, the AT-motif binding factor 1 (ATBF1)-A gene, which has been assigned to chromosome 16q22.3-23.1, was identified as a plausible candidate for tumor suppression in solid tumors due to its functional inhibition of cell proliferation and high mutation rate in prostate cancer. We previously reported that a reduction in ATBF1-A mRNA levels correlated with a worse prognosis in breast cancer. However, the mechanisms regulating the reduction of ATBF1-A mRNA levels (such as mutation, methylation in the promoter region, or deletion spanning the coding region) have not been fully examined. In addition, few studies have analyzed LOH status at the ATBF1-A locus, located in the 16q22 minimal region. Methods Profiles of ATBF1-A mRNA levels that we previously reported for 127 cases were used. In this study, breast cancer specimens as well as autologous blood samples were screened for LOH using 6 polymorphic microsatellite markers spanning chromosome band 16q22. For mutational analysis, we selected 12 cases and analyzed selected spots in the ATBF1-A coding region at which mutations have been frequently reported in prostate cancer. Results Forty-three cases that yielded clear profiles of LOH status at both D16S3106 and D16S3018 microsatellites, nearest to the location of the ATBF1-A gene, were regarded as informative and were classified into two groups: LOH (22 cases) and retention of heterozygosity (21 cases). Comparative assessment of the ATBF1-A mRNA levels according to LOH status at the ATBF1-A locus demonstrated no relationship between them. In the 12 cases screened for mutational analysis, there were no somatic mutations with amino acid substitution or frameshift; however, two germ line alterations with possible polymorphisms were observed. Conclusion These findings imply that ATBF1-A mRNA levels are regulated at the transcriptional stage, but not by genetic mechanisms, deletions (LOH), or mutations.</p

The harmful side of expressing thanks: Re-examining the Study 2 by Ksenofontov and Becker (2020)

This study re-examined the results of Study 2 by Ksenofontov and Becker (2020) that revealed the harmful effects of expressing thanks by low-power group members to a high-power group member who transgressed and then did them a favor, which resulted in undermining the low-power group members’ protest intentions. They also found a mediating effect of forgiveness; expressing thanks functions as an act of forgiveness, which lowers the intention to protest. Contrary to their results, we did not find any significant effects of expressing thanks on protest intentions or forgiveness in either of the two hypothetical scenarios. The original study involved participants from German universities, whereas the present study was conducted on Japanese students. Therefore, the cultural difference in expressing gratitude could have been a factor in the contrasting results.本研究はJPSP科研費21K02978の助成を受けた

Neuronal PAS Domain 2 (Npas2)‐Deficient Fibroblasts Accelerate Skin Wound Healing and Dermal Collagen Reconstruction

The circadian clock, which consists of endogenous self-sustained and cell-autonomous oscillations in mammalian cells, is known to regulate a wide range of peripheral tissues. The unique upregulation of a clock gene, neuronal PAS domain protein 2 (Npas2), observed along with fibroblast aging prompted us to investigate the role of Npas2 in the homeostasis of dermal structure using in vivo and in vitro wound healing models. Time-course healing of a full-thickness skin punched wound exhibited significantly faster wound closure in Npas2-/- mice than wild-type (WT) C57Bl/6J mice. Dorsal skin fibroblasts isolated from WT, Npas2+/-, and Npas2-/- mice exhibited consistent profiles of core clock gene expression except for Npas2 and Per2. In vitro behavioral characterizations of dermal fibroblasts revealed that Npas2-/- mutation was associated with increased proliferation, migration, and cell contraction measured by floating collagen gel contraction and single-cell force contraction assays. Npas2 knockout fibroblasts carrying sustained the high expression level of type XII and XIV FAICT collagens and synthesized dermis-like thick collagen fibers in vitro. Confocal laser scanning microscopy demonstrated the reconstruction of dermis-like collagen architecture in the wound healing area of Npas2-/- mice. This study indicates that the induced Npas2 expression in fibroblasts may interfere with skin homeostasis, wound healing, and dermal tissue reconstruction, providing a basis for novel therapeutic target and strategy. Anat Rec, 2019. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc

Neuronal PAS domain 2 (Npas2) facilitated osseointegration of titanium implant with rough surface through a neuroskeletal mechanism.

Titanium (Ti) biomaterials have been applied to a wide range of implantable medical devices. When placed in bone marrow, Ti-biomaterials integrate to the surrounding bone tissue by mechanisms that are not fully understood. We have previously identified an unexpected upregulation of circadian clock molecule neuronal PAS domain 2 (Npas2) in successfully integrated implant with a rough surface. This study aimed to elucidate the molecular mechanism of osseointegration through determining the role of Npas2. Human bone marrow stromal cells (BMSC) that were cultured on a Ti disc with SLA surface exhibited increased NPAS2 expression compared to BMSC cultured on a machined surface. A mouse model was developed in which miniature Ti implants were surgically placed into femur bone marrow. The implant push-out test and bone-to-implant contact measurements demonstrated the establishment of osseointegration in 3 weeks. By contrast, in Npas2 functional knockout (KO) mice, the implant push-out value measured for SLA surface Ti implant was significantly decreased. Npas2 KO mice demonstrated normal femur bone structure surrounding the Ti implant; however, the recovered implants revealed abnormal remnant mineralized tissue, which lacked dense collagen architecture typically found on recovered implants from wild type mice. To explore the mechanisms leading to the induced Npas2 expression, an unbiased chemical genetics analysis was conducted using mouse BMSC carrying an Npas2-reporter gene for high throughput screening of Library of Pharmacologically Active Compounds. Npas2 modulating compounds were found clustered in regulatory networks of the α2-adrenergic receptor and its downstream cAMP/CREB signaling pathway. Mouse primary BMSC exposed to SLA Ti disc significantly increased the expression of α2-adrenergic receptors, but the expression of β2-adrenergic receptor was unaffected. Our data provides the first evidence that peripheral clock gene component Npas2 plays a role in facilitating the enhanced osseointegration through neuroskeletal regulatory pathways induced by BMSC in contact with rough surface Ti implant

Acute effect of poly-gamma-glutamic acid on calcium absorption in post-menopausal women

Poly-gamma-glutamic acid (PGA) increases calcium (Ca) solubility in vitro and in vivo, and is associated with reduced bone loss in post-menopausal Japanese women. This study is the first to examine the effect of PGA on Ca absorption in humans

An Examination of Teacher Training for Art Appreciation (2)

実習生の教育実践力向上に資する条件整備, 実習指導のあり方を探るため, 学習指導要領で重視の方向性が示されている図画工作科・美術科鑑賞領域の学習場面を取り上げて行った事例研究である。研究二年次にあたる今年度は, 昨年度導き出された課題をもとに, ①実習生が行う鑑賞授業における目標設定から鑑賞作品選定までのプロセスの検討, ②授業設計の具体化とそれを見取るための観察録の作成と検討, の2点に焦点化して改善事例の検討を進めた。その結果, 指導教員が上位目標設定をすると同時に, 下位目標や教材を実習生に設定させることは, 教育実習の質を高める効果的な方法であった。また, 観察録を用いた鑑賞学習の観察は, 実習生に観察の視点を与え, 観察内容やその後の授業評価を質的に向上させるなどの効果が認められた