Interleukin-10 containing normal human serum inhibits granzyme B release but not perforin release from alloreactive and EBV-specific T cell clones

Interleukin-10 (IL-10), also known as cytokine synthesis inhibitory factor, has pleiotropic effects in immunoregulation and inflammation. It is capable of inhibiting synthesis of pro-inflammatory cytokines like interferon γ (IFNγ), IL-2, IL-3, tumor necrosis factor α(TNFα) and granulocyte macrophage colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF) made by cells such as macrophages and T helper Type 1 cells. We observed that normal human serum, derived from a healthy individual but containing large amounts of IL-10 (arbitrarily designated as "IL-10 serum"), inhibited cytotoxic activity and interfered with granzyme B release from alloreactive cytotoxic T cell (CTL) clones _in vitro_, but did not affect perforin release. The addition of normal human serum containing high levels of anti-IL-10 IgG (arbitrarily designated as "anti-IL-10 IgG serum") neutralized the inhibitory effects of IL-10 serum. Moreover, we have identified that cytotoxic activity and granzyme B release from an Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-specific CTL clone was similarly inhibited in the presence of IL-10 serum, while perforin release was unaffected. Anti-IL-10 IgG serum also appeared to neutralize the inhibitory effect of IL-10 serum on an EBV-specific CTL clone

Photoemission study of poly(dA)-poly(dT) DNA : Experimental and theoretical approach to the electronic density of states

We present results of an ultraviolet photoemission spectroscopy study of artificially synthesized poly(dA)-poly(dT) DNA molecules on $p$-type Si substrates. For comparison, we also present the electronic density of states (DOS) calculated using an \emph{ab initio} tight-binding method based on density-functional theory (DFT). Good agreement was obtained between experiment and theory. The spectra of DNA networks on the Si substrate showed that the Fermi level of the substrate is located in the middle of the band gap of DNA. The spectra of thick ($\sim 70$ nm) DNA films showed a downward shift of $\sim 2$ eV compared to the network samples.Comment: 4 pages, 4 figure

Characterization of the effect of ion irradiation on industrially produced GdBa₂Cu₃O₇−δ superconducting tapes using a slow positron beam

To investigate the effect of irradiation-induced defects on the superconducting characteristics of industrially produced superconductor—GdBa₂Cu₃O₇−δ (GdBCO)—coated conductors (CCs), we irradiated the GdBCO CCs with Au ions at 2 or 10 MeV and probed them using a slow positron beam. Vacancy clusters were detected in both unirradiated and irradiated GdBCO CCs. However, the effect of ion irradiation on the GdBCO CCs was characterized as a slight reduction in the positron annihilation rate with low-momentum electrons. We also found a correlation between the annihilation rate of low-momentum electrons and the superconducting transition temperature

〈原著〉自閉スペクトラム症のある児童生徒における、行い手の意図と相反する結果が生じる条件での道徳的判断 : 判断する視点による影響の検討

本研究では8～18歳の自I判スペクトラム症（ASD）のある児童生徒16名と定型発逹（TD）児童生徒37名を対象に、第三者視点および行為の受け手視点、行い手視点からの道徳的判断を実験的に検討した。道徳的判断では、ポジティブまたはネガティブな行い手の意図と行為の結果を変数とした物語を使用した。その結呆、ASD児童生徒はTD児童生徒と同様に、意図と結果の両方を考慮し、視点に応じて判断を変えていた。ただし、意図と相反するネガティブな結呆が生じる条件では、特に受け手視点において、ASD児童生徒はポジティブな意図よりもネガティブな結果を重視して判断をしていた。In this study, 16 children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and 37 typically developing (TD) children aged between 8 to 18 years were required moral judgments from the points of view on third person, recipient of action, and actor. Stories using as material included two variables, i.e., actor\u27s intention and outcome of action with positive or negative value. Results indicated that children with ASD and TD children could consider both intention and outcome in each material. Additionally, judgments according to the points of view changed in both groups. However, children with ASD put more weight on negative outcome than on positive intention when actor\u27s intention and negative outcome were incongruent, especially from the points of view of recipient of action

Influence of post-disaster evacuation on incidence of hyperuricemia in residents of Fukushima Prefecture: the Fukushima Health Management Survey

Aim: After the Great East Japan Earthquake, over 160, 000 residents in Fukushima Prefecture were forced to evacuate the area around the Fukushima Daiichi power plant following nuclear accident there. Health problems in these evacuees have since become a major issue. We have examined the association between evacuation and incidence of hyperuricemia among residents in Fukushima. Methods: We conducted a cohort study of residents aged 40–90 years without hyperuricemia at the time of the Fukushima disaster. Among 8173 residents who met the inclusion criteria before the disaster, 4789 residents (men: 1971, women: 2818; follow-up duration: 1.38 years; and follow-up rate: 58.6%) remained available for follow-up examinations at the end of March 2013. The main endpoint was incidence of hyperuricemia, defined by the Japanese committee guidelines, using local health data from before and after the disaster. We divided participants by evacuation status and compared outcomes between groups. Using a logistic regression model, we estimated the odds ratio for incidence of hyperuricemia, adjusting for potential confounders, age, gender, waist circumference, physical activity, and alcohol consumption. Results: Incidence of hyperuricemia was higher in evacuees (men 10.1%; women 1.1%) than in non-evacuees (men 7.4%, women 1.0%). Evacuees had higher body mass index, waist circumference, triglycerides, LDL-cholesterol, fasting plasma glucose, HbA1c, and lower HDL-cholesterol after the disaster than non-evacuees. We found that evacuation was associated with incidence of hyperuricemia (adjusted odds ratio: 1.38; 95% confidence interval: 1.03-1.86). Conclusion: This is the first study to demonstrate an association between evacuation after a disaster and increased incidence of hyperuricemia

保育者養成教育における基礎技能のあり方に関する研究(NO.2) : 旧カリキュラム学生の調査結果から

本稿は、岡崎女子短期大学幼児教育学科が実施したカリキュラム開発の自己点検・自己評価を目的とした調査結果の第二報である。新カリキュラム導入前2年間の入学生に対し実施した調査結果では、在学中に向上したとする知識・技能は基礎技能、保育理論、児童文化であり、国際理解、相談・助言に関する知識・力量に強い不安を抱いていることが分かった。また、習得した知識・技能や教育サービスの評価に、クラス、就職動向などが少なからず影響を与えていることが明らかになり、学科FDの課題としてそれら格差の拠って来る原因を解明し、最小限のものにしていく努力が求められていることを指摘した

「保育者養成教育における基礎技能のあり方に関する研究(NO.4)」 : 新旧カリキュラム生の調査結果の比較から

本稿は、岡崎女子短期大学幼児教育学科が実施したカリキュラム改編の自己点検・自己評価を目的とした調査結果の報告である。カリキュラム改編前後各2年間に入学した学生に対する卒業時調査をもとに、新旧カリキュラムにおける学生の知識・技能等の修得に関する意識の比較検討を行った結果、新カリキュラム生では、「一般的教養」、「音楽表現」、「身体表現」、「児童文化」に関する知識・技能等が向上したと答える割合が旧カリキュラム生に村し高率であった。この結果は、保育者の専門性の拡大と本学科人学生の社会・生活体験の変容に対応するため、基礎技能の系列に新設した「生活」、「児童文化」、「表現」をキーワードとする科目が有効に機能するという研究の仮説を支持するものと考えられる