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Environmental Conservation Consciousness of the Black Forest in Germany: A Study on the Characteristics of Bioenergy Villages
No full textFreiburg, located in Baden–Württemberg, a southwestern state of Germany, has been regarded as an environmental capital,
is surrounded by forests, and its relationship with the Black Forest is essential. In the research so far, the relationship
between the Black Forest and the environmental consciousness among residents has not necessarily been specifically
examined. The purpose of this paper is to clarify what aspects of the Black Forest contribute to the promotion of
environmental consciousness among residents. It can be said that the unique natural landscape is an opportunity to produce
eco-business because of its strong effect in promoting environmental consciousness
Topics Found in Field Observation of Web-Building Spiders
No full text研究題材を豊富に提供してくれる造網性のクモを野外で観察したところ，クモの脱皮，網の形態，占座，および捕食に関して研究の題材になるかもしれない事例を見出した．図鑑や文献にはない生態を見出すことができた一方で，きちんとした研究へと深めていくには，さまざまな工夫が必要になるであろうとも感じられた
Optimization of pH Elution Conditions in Immune Complexome Analysis for Comprehensive Identification of Immune Complex Antigens
No full textThe identification of antigens incorporated into immune complexes (IC-antigens) is important for studying the pathophysiology of immunological diseases. Immune complexome analysis identifies IC-antigens by
analyzing ICs collected from biological fluids by IC-capturing beads. In this study, we optimized the method to improve its comprehensiveness while maintaining selectivity for IC-antigens by comparing
the number of identified peptides (model IC experiment) or proteins (human pooled serum) eluted from Protein G beads using different pH solutions (pH 2.0 - 11.0)
金電極上のナフィオン膜中におけるミクロ環境プローブとしてのビオロゲンの酸化還元反応に関する研究
No full text長崎大学学位論文 [学位記番号]博（工）甲第91号 [学位授与年月日]令和2年11月18
What does soil-transmitted helminth elimination look like? Results from a targeted molecular detection survey in Japan
No full textBackground: Japan is one of the few countries believed to have eliminated soil-transmitted helminths (STHs). In 1949, the national prevalence of Ascaris lumbricoides was 62.9%, which decreased to 0.6% in 1973 due to improvements in infrastructure, socioeconomic status, and the implementation of national STH control measures. The Parasitosis Prevention Law ended in 1994 and population-level screening ceased in Japan; therefore, current transmission status of STH in Japan is not well characterized. Sporadic cases of STH infections continue to be reported, raising the possibility of a larger-scale recrudescence of STH infections. Given that traditional microscopic detection methods are not sensitive to low-intensity STH infections, we conducted targeted prevalence surveys using sensitive PCR-based assays to evaluate the current STH-transmission status and to describe epidemiological characteristics of areas of Japan believed to have achieved historical elimination of STHs. Methods: Stool samples were collected from 682 preschool- and school-aged children from six localities of Japan with previously high prevalence of STH. Caregivers of participants completed a questionnaire to ascertain access to water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH), and potential exposures to environmental contamination. For fecal testing, multi-parallel real-time PCR assays were used to detect infections of Ascaris lumbricoides, Necator americanus, Ancylostoma duodenale and Trichuris trichiura. Results: Among the 682 children, no positive samples were identified, and participants reported high standards of WASH. Conclusions: To our knowledge, this is the first STH-surveillance study in Japan to use sensitive molecular techniques for STH detection. The results suggest that recrudescence of STH infections has not occurred, and that declines in prevalence have been sustained in the sampled areas. These findings suggest that reductions in prevalence below the elimination thresholds, suggestive of transmission interruption, are possible. Additionally, this study provides circumstantial evidence that multi-parallel real-time PCR methods are applicable for evaluating elimination status in areas where STH prevalence is extremely low.[Figure not available: see fulltext.
Vibration control experiment of mechanical structure subjected to forced displacement using Hula-Hoop and assist motor
Full text linkThe authors have been studying vibration control devices using Hula-Hoops. In this research, as a pre-stage of practical application of a vibration control device using a Hula-Hoop, vibration control of a larger main system than the conventional one is attempted by experiments and numerical calculations. A horizontal shaking table is used to excite the large main system, because the unbalance force is dangerous. In addition, we compare and examine the
vibration control effects when assisting the rotation of the Hula-Hoop using an auxiliary motor, and when using a displacement magnification mechanism that enlarges the displacement of the rotation center of the Hula-Hoop. Following was made clear: (1) The vibration of main system can be controlled by using the assist motor that assists
the rotation of the Hula-Hoop. (2) Synchronization of the assist motor and the external force is very important. (3) By
using the displacement magnification mechanism, vibration can be controlled without using the assist motor
Strain-dependent lethal effects on abalone and haemolytic activities of the dinoflagellate Karenia mikimotoi
No full textOne of the clonal strains of Karenia mikimotoi NGU04 isolated from Kyushu Island in Japan, showed the most potent fish-killing activity in preliminary experiments. To evaluate shellfish toxicity, two species of juvenile abalone were exposed to the NGU04, and the toxicities were compared with those of two other K. mikimotoi strains. Of the two abalone species tested, N. gigantea showed a higher sensitivity to NGU04 than the hybrid abalone (N. discus hannai male × N. gigantea female) did. In comparative studies using N. gigantea, the NGU04 exhibited stronger toxicity on abalone than other strains. The cell-free culture supernatant and the ruptured cell suspension of the NGU04 showed no significant lethal effects on N. gigantea. The NGU04 showed a stronger haemolytic activity on rabbit erythrocytes than did the other two strains. Furthermore, the haemolytic activities of the NGU04 strain towards erythrocytes of four fish species were also stronger than those of other strains
A novel Plasmodium yoelii pseudokinase, PypPK1, is involved in erythrocyte invasion and exflagellation center formation
Full text linkMalaria parasites proliferate by repeated invasion of and multiplication within erythrocytes in the vertebrate host. Sexually committed intraerythrocytic parasites undergo sexual stage differentiation to become gametocytes. After ingestion by the mosquito, male and female gametocytes egress from erythrocytes and fertilize within the mosquito midgut. A complex signaling pathway likely responds to environmental events to trigger gametogenesis and regulate fertilization; however, such knowledge remains limited for malaria parasites. Several pseudokinases are highly transcribed at the gametocyte stage and are possible multi-functional regulators controlling critical steps of the life cycle. Here we characterized one pseudokinase, termed PypPK1, in Plasmodium yoelii that is highly expressed in schizonts and male gametocytes. Immunofluorescence assays for parasites expressing Myc-tagged PypPK1 confirmed that PypPK1 protein is expressed in schizonts and sexual stage parasites. Transgenic ΔpPK1 parasites, in which the PypPK1 gene locus was deleted by the CRISPR/Cas9 method, showed significant growth defect and reduced virulence in mice. In the blood stage, ΔpPK1 parasites were able to egress from erythrocytes similar to wild type parasites; however, erythrocyte invasion efficacy was significantly reduced. During sexual stage development, no clear changes were seen in male and female gametocytemias as well as gametocyte egress from erythrocytes; but, the number of exflagellation centers and oocysts were significantly reduced in ΔpPK1 parasites. Taken together, PypPK1 has an important role for both erythrocyte invasion and exflagellation center formation
β-Eudesmol induces the expression of apoptosis pathway proteins in cholangiocarcinoma cell lines
No full textBackground: Cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) is a neglected disease prevalent in developing countries with high burden and mortality rate, and there is no effective treatment. We aimed to investigate β-eudesmol molecular target of action in human CCA cell lines using the selected key molecules of apoptotic pathways. Materials and Methods: Two CCA cell lines (HuH28 and HuCCT1) were assessed at different time points after β-eudesmol treatment for mRNA and protein expression profiles of caspase-3, -8, -9, p53, p21, Bcl-2, and Bax by real-time polymerase chain reaction and western blot, respectively. Results: β-eudesmol induced expressions of p21 and p53 in mRNA/protein level in HuH28 and HuCCT1 cells. These CCA cells also expressed caspase-3, -8, -9 and bax (mRNA and/or protein level) among others after β-eudesmol treatment indicating its role in both intrinsic and extrinsic caspase-dependent apoptotic pathways. Conclusion: The study demonstrated that β-eudesmol induced the expression of apoptosis pathway proteins, suggesting its potential role in promoting the caspase-dependent apoptotic pathway, and induction of the cell cycle arrest in CCA cell lines. β-eudesmol can be considered as a potential compound for further investigation as an anti-CCA agent
