Geographical Distribution of Ane-Katoku : The Case of Higashidori Village, Aomori Prefecture

男女の別を問わず，最初に生まれてきた子どもが家を継ぐことを初生子相続という。そして，この中でも特に長女が家を相続し，第二子以下に生まれた長男を婿に出すか，分家させる慣行を姉家督相続と呼ぶ。この姉家督を行なっている庶民の間には，現代の男女同権とは多少意味の異なった，いわゆる素朴な男女平等の思想がみられた。ところが妻の従順が美徳とされた儒教的武士的道徳が庶民の間にも浸透してきた明治の中頃に，この姉家督の慣行は衰退する。次に姉家督の地域的な分布を調査したところ，この慣行の南限が北関東地方であることが分った。そこで今回は，北へはどれほど広がっているかを調べてみた。その結果，本州の最北端の下北半島まで，この姉家督の慣行が強く存在したことが分った。Contrary to popular opinion, primogeniture in the strict sence of the eldest son inheriting his family\u27s entire estate, was not the sole method of inheritance and headship succession carried out under the traditional Japanese Family System. There were significant variations to this general pattern be found among peasant families throughout Japan during the Tokugawa and early Meiji periods. In certain areas the right of inheritance and succession to the family headship was held by the first born child regardless of sex (shoseishi sozoku). Under shoseishi sozoku, a female, if she happened to be the first born child, she took uxorilocal marrige, and received all or a major of the family property. Her younger brother, despite being the family\u27s oldest son was either sent to another family as an adopted son (yoshi) or else was forced to form a branch family (bunke). This form was called ane katoku ("oldest sister headship") and remained in Tohoku and northern Kanto regions until roughly the middle of the Meiji period. In this study, we explained Ane-katoku in Higashidori village

Regulation of Recombination between gtfB/gtfC

Streptococcus mutans produces 3 types of glucosyltransferases (GTFs), whose cooperative action is essential for cellular adhesion. The recombinase A (RecA) protein is required for homologous recombination. In our previous study, we isolated several strains with a smooth colony morphology and low GTF activity, characteristics speculated to be derived from the GTF fusions. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the mechanism of those fusions. S. mutans strain MT8148 was grown in the presence of recombinant RecA (rRecA) protein, after which smooth colonies were isolated. The biological functions and sequences of the gtfB and gtfC genes of this as well as other clinical strains were determined. The sucrose-dependent adherence rates of those strains were reduced as compared to that of MT8148. Determination of the sequences of the gtfB and gtfC genes showed that an approximately 3500 bp region was deleted from the area between them. Furthermore, expression of the recA gene was elevated in those strains as compared to MT8148. These results suggest that RecA has an important role in fusions of gtfB and gtfC genes, leading to alteration of colony morphology and reduction in sucrose-dependent adhesion

Nursing practice of advanced care planning for terminal cancer patients by general ward nurses

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Guideline for Hereditary Angioedema (HAE) 2010 by the Japanese Association for Complement Research - Secondary Publication

ABSTRACTThis guideline was provided by the Japanese Association for Complement Research targeting clinicians for making an accurate diagnosis of hereditary angioedema (HAE), and for prompt treatment of the HAE patient in Japan. This is a 2010 year version and will be updated according to any pertinent medical advancements

The Action of the Disaster Prevention Education in the Uekusa Gakuen Junior College（Part 8）:

本学では平成23年から繰り返される大災害にその都度被災地支援を行ってきた。平成26年度より体系化した教育プログラムを策定、実施し、４回の拠点的福祉避難所運営訓練を行い、マニュアルも作成した。今年度は２つの検証を行った。１つ目は教育プログラムの検証である。２つ目はより現実的な全学的に取り組む拠点的福祉避難所運営訓練の検証、検討を行った。departmental bulletin pape

Cathepsin E Deficiency Impairs Autophagic Proteolysis in Macrophages

Cathepsin E is an endosomal aspartic proteinase that is predominantly expressed in immune-related cells. Recently, we showed that macrophages derived from cathepsin E-deficient (CatE-/-) mice display accumulation of lysosomal membrane proteins and abnormal membrane trafficking. In this study, we demonstrated that CatE-/- macrophages exhibit abnormalities in autophagy, a bulk degradation system for aggregated proteins and damaged organelles. CatE-/- macrophages showed increased accumulation of autophagy marker proteins such as LC3 and p62, and polyubiquitinated proteins. Cathepsin E deficiency also altered autophagy-related signaling pathways such as those mediated by the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR), Akt, and extracellular signal-related kinase (ERK). Furthermore, immunofluorescence microscopy analyses showed that LC3-positive vesicles were merged with acidic compartments in wild-type macrophages, but not in CatE-/- macrophages, indicating inhibition of fusion of autophagosome with lysosomes in CatE-/- cells. Delayed degradation of LC3 protein was also observed under starvation-induced conditions. Since the autophagy system is involved in the degradation of damaged mitochondria, we examined the accumulation of damaged mitochondria in CatE-/- macrophages. Several mitochondrial abnormalities such as decreased intracellular ATP levels, depolarized mitochondrial membrane potential, and decreased mitochondrial oxygen consumption were observed. Such mitochondrial dysfunction likely led to the accompanying oxidative stress. In fact, CatE-/- macrophages showed increased reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and up-regulation of oxidized peroxiredoxin-6, but decreased antioxidant glutathione. These results indicate that cathepsin E deficiency causes autophagy impairment concomitantly with increased aberrant mitochondria as well as increased oxidative stress

Kyoto city hall plaza: redesigning an urban open space

The purpose of this study was to find how to activate a public open space as a transportation hub in an urban environment with limited open spaces, and to propose alternative designs for an urban plaza. The public transportation system was used to analyze the city’s condition and to find potential areas for a transportation hub to be developed in an urban space. Using the analyses and findings of the existing public transportation, City Hall Plaza was chosen as the proposed site for its potential and the opportunities it offered. Space uses and their relationship to their surroundings were carefully analyzed in order to design an urban plaza that would provide recreational opportunities and a good quality of life for the city’s residents. Underground spaces were examined for use in the proposed plaza. The findings demonstrate the potential for a transportation station area to be activated as an urban public space. The proposal for designing an urban plaza improves its space and function and provides new experiences by introducing the use of underground spaces. The proposed plaza may become a prototype for urban plazas within the city area