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Integrator complex subunit 6 promotes hepatocellular steatosis via β-catenin-PPARγ axis
No full textHepatic adipogenesis has common mechanisms with adipocyte differentiation such as PPARγ involvement and the induction of adipose tissue-specific molecules. A previous report demonstrated that integrator complex subunit 6 (INTS6) is required for adipocyte differentiation. This study aimed to investigate INTS6 expression and its role in hepatic steatosis progression. The expression of INTS6 and PPARγ was examined in the liver of a mouse model of steatohepatitis and in paired liver biopsy samples from 11 patients with severe obesity and histologically proven metabolic dysfunction associated steatohepatitis (MASH) before and one year after bariatric surgery. To induce hepatocellular steatosis in vitro, an immortalized human hepatocyte cell line Hc3716 was treated with free fatty acids. In the steatohepatitis mouse model, we observed hepatic induction of INTS6, PPARγ, and adipocyte-specific genes. In contrast, β-catenin which negatively regulates PPARγ was reduced. Biopsied human livers demonstrated a strong positive correlation (r2 = 0.8755) between INTS6 and PPARγ mRNA levels. After bariatric surgery, gene expressions of PPARγ, FABP4, and CD36 were mostly downregulated. In our in vitro experiments, we observed a concentration-dependent increase in Oil Red O staining in Hc3716 cells after treatment with the free fatty acids. Alongside this change, the expression of INTS6, PPARγ, and adipocyte-specific genes was induced. INTS6 knockdown using siRNA significantly suppressed cellular lipid accumulation together with induction of β-catenin and PPARγ downregulation. Collectively, INTS6 expression closely correlates with PPARγ. INTS6 suppression significantly reduced hepatocyte steatosis via β-catenin-PPARγ axis, indicating that INTS6 could be a novel therapeutic target for treating MASH
Fabricating hydrothermally robust ceramic membranes from amorphous yttrium-doped SiO2-ZrO2 composites
No full textSiO2-ZrO2 ceramic composites are necessary for highly demanding separation processes. We demonstrated the efficacy of using yttrium doping to improve the hydrothermal stability of SiO2-ZrO2 composite-derived membranes. In long-term hydrothermal stability tests involving steam-N2 mixture permeation between 500–800 °C, N2 permeance for an undoped SiO2-ZrO2 membrane fabricated on an α-Al2O3 substrate decreased from 5.0 × 10−6 to 2.5 × 10−6 mol m−2 s−1 Pa−1 after 60 h between 500–700 °C and to 3.2 × 10−8 mol m−2 s−1 Pa−1 after 32 h at 800 °C. The yttrium-doped SiO2-ZrO2 membrane achieved a stable N2 permeance of 6.5 × 10−6 mol m−2 s−1 Pa−1 after 60 h between 500–700 °C, which decreased to 8.0 × 10−7 mol m−2 s−1 Pa−1 after 32 h at 800 °C. Microstructural analyses revealed that integrating yttrium into a SiO2-ZrO2 matrix suppressed segregation and aggregation rates of ZrO2 nanocrystals to form more stable microstructures.This work was financially supported by the New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO)
Emergency medical service response for cases of stroke-suspected seizure: A population-based study
No full textObjectives
We evaluated the on-scene time of emergency medical services (EMS) for cases where discrimination between acute stroke and epileptic seizures at the initial examination was difficult and identified factors linked to delays in such scenarios.
Materials and Methods
A retrospective review of cases with suspected seizure using the EMS database of fire departments across six Japanese cities between 2016 and 2021 was conducted. Patient classification was based on transport codes. We defined cases with stroke-suspected seizure as those in whom epileptic seizure was difficult to differentiate from stroke and evaluated their EMS on-scene time compared to those with epileptic seizures.
Results
Among 30,439 cases with any seizures, 292 cases of stroke-suspected seizure and 8,737 cases of epileptic seizure were included. EMS on-scene time in cases of stroke-suspected seizure was shorter than in those with epileptic seizure after propensity score matching (15.1±7.2 min vs. 17.0±9.0 min; p = 0.007). Factors associated with delays included transport during nighttime (odds ratio [OR], 1.73, 95 % confidence interval [CI] 1.02–2.93, p = 0.041) and transport during the 2020–2021 pandemic (OR, 1.77, 95 % CI 1.08–2.90, p = 0.022).
Conclusion
This study highlighted the difference between the characteristics in EMS for stroke and epileptic seizure by evaluating the response to cases with stroke-suspected seizure. Facilitating prompt and smooth transfers of such cases to an appropriate medical facility after admission could optimize the operation of specialized medical resources
The relationship between the rule of law and environmental performance: Empirical evidence from the analysis of global indices
No full textThe rule of law has been found central in promoting environmentalsustainability. While existing literature has examined certain aspects of the rule of law and environmental sustainability in analyzing their association, there remains a gap in our understanding of the intricate linkages between these two concepts. Specifically, there is a lack of a holistic approach to exploring the relationship between the rule of law and environmental sustainability. To address this gap, this study aims to conduct a thorough examination of the relationship between the rule of law and environmental sustainability. Our study, based on the rule of law index (ROLI) and the environmental performance index (EPI), reveals that environmental performance is closely associated with the rule of law. Environmental performance is particularly related to certain dimensions of the rule of law, such as ‘constraints on government powers’, ‘open government’, ‘fundamental rights’, and ‘criminal justice’. However, it should be noted that regional variations exist. For instance, the ROLI and the EPI are not clearly associated in the least-developed countries. Overall, results show that the rule of law plays an important role in enhancing environmental performance across developing and developed countries. Our study suggests considering the importance of community engagement and an effective, impartial, and independent justice system to improve environmental performance
Development of a deep-learning algorithm for age estimation on CT images of the vertebral column
No full textPurpose
The accurate age estimation of cadavers is essential for their identification. However, conventional methods fail to yield adequate age estimation especially in elderly cadavers. We developed a deep learning algorithm for age estimation on CT images of the vertebral column and checked its accuracy.
Method
For the development of our deep learning algorithm, we included 1,120 CT data of the vertebral column of 140 patients for each of 8 age decades. The deep learning model of regression analysis based on Visual Geometry Group-16 (VGG16) was improved in its estimation accuracy by bagging. To verify its accuracy, we applied our deep learning algorithm to estimate the age of 219 cadavers who had undergone postmortem CT (PMCT). The mean difference and the mean absolute error (MAE), the standard error of the estimate (SEE) between the known- and the estimated age, were calculated. Correlation analysis using the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) and Bland-Altman analysis were performed to assess differences between the known- and the estimated age.
Results
For the 219 cadavers, the mean difference between the known- and the estimated age was 0.30 years; it was 4.36 years for the MAE, and 5.48 years for the SEE. The ICC (2,1) was 0.96 (95 % confidence interval: 0.95–0.97, p < 0.001). Bland-Altman analysis showed that there were no proportional or fixed errors (p = 0.08 and 0.41).
Conclusions
Our deep learning algorithm for estimating the age of 219 cadavers on CT images of the vertebral column was more accurate than conventional methods and highly useful
Conveying “Fun” Through Communicative Moves of Facial Expressions: Investigating the Theory of Affective Pragmatics
No full textAccording to the theory of affective pragmatics, emotional expressions synchronously convey information of the following four types: expressing the expressor's emotions, committing the expressor to a future course of action, representing world circumstances, and directing other people's behavior. Nevertheless, few reports have described studies examining prioritization of the conveyed information. The present study was conducted to explore how information is conveyed by facial expressions of fun in the context of the presence or absence of another person. Results show that expression of the internal state (fun) is conveyed primarily in comparison to other information, but it is weaker in the state of being with a stranger than in the state of being alone or with a friend. Although directing other people's behavior is the least conveyed information in all conditions, the presence of another person amplified the intensity of directing other people's behavior. Overall, these findings provide new evidence supporting the theory related to emotional expressions
Porous pectin particle formation utilizing spray drying with a three-fluid nozzle
No full textThe development of advanced porous particles with a high surface area and interconnected porosity is pivotal in material science for various applications. Pectin, a biocompatible and biodegradable polysaccharide, has shown promise for the synthesis of porous particles, especially in the biomedical and food industries. The high viscosity of pectin and CaCO3 nanoparticle (NP) solutions has been a significant challenge for producing these particles. This study introduces a novel spray drying technique with a three-fluid nozzle, designed to handle high-viscosity solutions and to increase production rates by 30-fold over the conventional two-fluid nozzle. Using the proposed technique, notable improvements are achieved in particle surface areas and pore volumes by controlling the distribution of CaCO3 NPs within the pectin particles, especially at a CaCO3 NPs to pectin ratio of 15. This resulted in porous pectin particles with sizes of 3.4 to 6.2 μm, surface areas of up to 261 m2/g, and enhanced lysozyme adsorption capacities are obtained by varying types of precursor solutions. Thus, this approach facilitates the synthesis of multifunctional composites and porous particles.This work was supported by JST, the establishment of university fellowships toward the Creation of Science Technology Innovation, Grant Number JPMJFS2129 (T.T.N)
学会誌論文からみた多文化保育研究の動向
No full textRecent years have seen a significant rise in the number of children with foreign connections, making it crucial for childcare workers and researchers involved in childcare and education to adopt a multicultural childcare perspective. This is essential to ensure the inclusion of children from diverse cultural backgrounds. In this study, we collected multicultural childcare-related papers published in academic journals since 2000. Our aim was to clarify the issues and research trends in multicultural childcare. As multicultural childcare research becomes more diverse, it is essential to confirm what kind of research has been accumulated in the main academic societies for "childcare studies" and "early childhood education. "This will help clarify the research methods, findings, and issues of multicultural childcare. It will also help us to look ahead to the future development of multicultural childcare practice and research. The analysis revealed three key findings. Firstly, many studies focus on specific childcare practices, analyzing the current situation and practices of multicultural childcare through surveys of young children, childcare workers and parents. Secondly, there has been a notable surge in research exploring foreign childcare facilities. Thirdly, there has also been a significant increase in research examining the practice of multicultural childcare in childcare centers as a whole and its educational significance
内戦の中で日本語を学習することの意味 : シリア人日本語学習者のライフストーリーから
No full textThis article presents a narrative of the Japanese learning history of Assaf, a Syrian refugee who studied Japanese during the civil war. Assaf is a Syrian who was born in Lebanon and is currently enrolled in a graduate school in Tokyo through the Japanese government's JISR program. Due to the educational policies of his parents and the political instability of the situation, Assaf moved several times, changed schools, and gradually became more introverted. After entering university in Lebanon, he began to study Japanese on his own to find "something that was my own". Assaf describes his Japanese studies as a "hobby," but he continued to study for three hours a day, he was searching the Internet for a learning method that suited him. And he passed the N2 test while he was in Lebanon. Assaf's story of self-study illustrates the complex intersection of the different capitals and identities he possessed and provides valuable material for current studies in Japanese language education and second language acquisition about who, why, and how people learn languages