The region select game, introduced by

Shimizu, Akio Kawauchi and Kengo Kishimoto, is a game that is played on knot diagrams whose crossings are endowed with two colors. The game is based on the region crossing change moves that induce an unknotting operation on knot diagrams. We generalize the region select game to be played on a knot diagram endowed with 𝑘-colors at its vertices for 2 ≤ 𝑘 ≤ ∞.

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In this study, we surveyed consumer evaluations of the taste and functionality of a product containing the tomato Shonan Pomoron–which is rich in lycopene–from the Kanagawa prefecture in Japan. This is an initiative to register foods with functional claims (kinou sei hyoji shokuhin). The purpose is to use the insights gained into consumer sensitivity and behavior to explore future possibilities for labeling and display of products with health benefits. The investigation indicates that the perceived effect of lycopene on cholesterol differs depending on gender and we propose changing the nutritional display depending on the target market. We hope examining the labeling method is an important means of improving the welfare of consumers.

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まず実際に蛇口から出る水道水の塩素濃度を国内外43ヶ所で調べた。約1/3が塩素濃度0ppm、約1/3が0.5ppm以上で最大で1.5ppm含まれていた。このことより塩素のみを除去する装置を考えた。まず、5種のフィルムのバッグを用いバッグ中の水道水の塩素の減少を調べたところ、ある種のゴムとシリコーンのバッグで短時間で塩素が外部に除去されることがわかった。そこで、10本のシリコーンチューブで簡単なモデルを作り、実際に通水することにより、塩素量が減少していることを確かめた。この結果に基づいて、1000本の0.1mm厚さのチューブからなる塩素除去装置を提案する。この装置は、塩素だけでなく、各種の有機物の除去にも有効であろう。

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Seven cases with intestinal perforation by ingested foreign bodies (IFBs) were surgically treated in our hospital between January 2000 and August 2009. We reviewed the preoperative mental conditions, awareness of ingestion, preoperative diagnosis, the type of foreign bodies, perforation site, treatment and morbidity for these patients. The ratio of males to females was 4 : 3, and patient age ranged from 27 years to 85 years. Three of 7 patients had an abnormal mental condition, including neurosis with medication in 1, severe mental retardation in 1 and dementia in 1. Six patients were not aware they had IFBs. Preoperative diagnoses were perforative peritonitis in 6 cases and ileus in 1 case. The ingested objects consisted of fish bones in 4 cases, toothpicks in 2 cases and a press-through package in 1 case. Computed tomography (CT) showed the ingested fish bones in all 4 cases, while plain abdominal radiography demonstrated fish bone in only one of these cases. Toothpicks and a press-through package were not detected on CT or by plain abdominal radiography. The perforation sites were the small intestine in 5 cases and the large intestine (transverse colon) in 2 cases. Treatments were intestinal resection with or without omentectomy in 5 cases, suture alone in 1 case and omentectomy alone in 1 case. Postoperative complications were seen in 2 patients, including hepatic failure and bleeding from gastroesophageal reflux disease in 1 case, and removal and reinsertion of a V-P shunt tube in 1 case. The mortality rate was 0%.

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Nowadays, fields that employ advanced techniques require a new type of education system that can reproduce a haptic sensation repeatedly. The environment-copying system has been developed for such an education system. The system is based on the bilateral control and can store and reproduce haptic data so that an operator can feel haptic sensation at any time and anywhere. Conventional environment-copying systems only treat the environment that has elastic characteristic. To solve this problem, two systems are proposed in this paper. One is the environment-identification system, wherein the saved force is divided into the force affected by the stiffness and the momentum of damper, using the Fourier transform to represent the environment with the identified mechanical impedance. The other is the state-to-state transition system, wherein the condition of the environment is considered from the view point of system connection. By using this system, dynamic environments such as these with nonlinear behavior can be expressed. The validity of the proposal is confirmed through experiments, and the experimental results show that the proposed system can satisfactorily store and reproduce the environment.

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Background: The incidence of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) with fatty liver disease has been increasing, and the sympathetic nervous system may be involved in hepatocarcinogenesis in such cases. Here we analyzed the impact of neuropeptide Y (Npy), which is released from sympathetic nerve endings, on hepatocarcinogenesis in different nutritional settings. Methods: Hepatocellular carcinoma was induced by an intraperitoneal injection of diethylnitrosamine (DEN) in male C57BL6/J mice null for Npy gene (Npy ^−/−) and their haplotype (Npy ^+/–) as a control (Ctrl). The mice were subjected to one of three dietary regimens: ad libitum feeding with a standard diet (AL) or a high-fat diet (HFD), or 30% dietary-restricted feeding (DR). Results: The occurrence and growth of HCC were accelerated in the Npy ^−/− mice, particularly in the AL and HFD conditions. Steatosis was promoted at 28 wks in the Npy ^−/− mice; steatohepatitis was not exacerbated in the Npy^−/− mice at 28 or 48 wks. The alterations in the TNFα- and IL-6-mRNA expression levels and phosphorylated NF-κB and ERK1/2 levels in the liver at 28 wks did not support the current paradigm of a steatohepatitis-HCC sequence. By contrast, the DR inhibited steatohepatitis and then hepatocarcinogenesis even in the Npy ^−/− mice, although the Npy ^−/−-DR mice displayed peculiar findings, i.e., the activation of TNFα-NF-κB signaling, a possible protective mechanism against the elevated cell proliferation and genotoxic stresses. Conclusions: Npy exerts an inhibitory effect on the occurrence and growth of HCC, particularly in overnutrition. Npy is also dispensable for the tumor-inhibiting effect of DR. The activation of Npy could be a promising target for the prevention of HCC.

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  We previously reported that adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH)-treated rats serve as a valuable animal model for tricyclic antidepressant-resistant depressive conditions. The present study was undertaken to investigate the changes in neurogenesis in the hippocampus of ACTH-treated rats. Chronic treatment of ACTH decreased the number of bromodeoxyuridine-labeled cells in the dentate gyrus, and the coadministration of imipramine and lithium, and electroconvulsive stimuli recovered these reductions. Furthermore, chronic ACTH treatment also decreased the expression of brain-derived neurotrophic factor, and the coadministration of imipramine and lithium, and electroconvulsive stimuli recovered these reductions. These results suggest that antidepressant-resistant depression is caused by the suppression of neurogenesis, and the coadministration of imipramine and lithium, and electroconvulsive stimuli exert an antidepressant-like effect by recovering proliferative signals and neurogenesis.

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免疫機構では、ヘルパーT細胞の1型(Th1)と2型(Th2)のバランスが重要である。本研究では、単球/マクロファージが分泌するTh-1-Th-2バランスに関与するサイトカイン量を測定することによって、野菜の免疫調節機能と調理操作が野菜の免疫調節機能に及ぼす影響について検討した。野菜にPBS(-)を加え、氷上砕断後、遠心分離して得た試料をTHP-1細胞に添加し、72時間後に回収した培地中のIL-10、IL-12量をELISA法にて測定した。ダイコン抽出液存在下では、IL-12の分泌量が著しく増加した。しかし、ダイコンを加熱することによって、IL-12分泌促進能は消失した。ダイコンおろしを調製し、添加する調味料の影響を検討したところ、しょうゆを添加した場合には、IL-12の分泌促進能が失活した。

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  P-glycoprotein (P-gp), one of the important drug-efflux pumps, is known to affect pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of P-gp substrate drugs. We have previously reported that intestinal P-gp expression levels are transiently decreased in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced type 1 diabetic mouse model. Herein, we examined the analgesic effects of orally administered morphine and its pharmacokinetic properties under diabetic conditions, specifically focusing on the involvement of intestinal P-gp in a type 1 diabetic mouse model. Type 1 diabetes was induced in male ddY mice by an i.p. injection of STZ (230 mg/kg). We assessed the oral morphine analgesia using the tail-flick test. Serum and brain morphine content were determined on a HPLC-ECD system. Intestinal P-gp expression levels were significantly decreased on day 9 after STZ administration. On the other hands, oral morphine analgesia, and serum and brain morphine content were significantly increased on day 9 after STZ administration. The decrease in the intestinal P-gp expression levels were suppressed by aminoguanidine, a specific iNOS inhibitor. Interestingly, the increase in the analgesic effect of morphine, as well as serum and brain morphine content, was suppressed by aminoguanidine. Conversely, there was no change in the analgesic effect obtained with subcutaneous morphine in STZ-treated mice. In conclusions, our findings suggest that the oral morphine analgesia is dependent on intestinal P-gp expression, and that may be one of the problems against obtaining stable pharmacological effects of morphine in diabetic patients.

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  P-glycoprotein (P-gp), one of the important drug-efflux pumps, is known to be affected by pathological conditions such as inflammation or infection. Recently, it is reported that high glucose or hyperglycemia can alter P-gp expression levels at the blood-brain barrier or in kidney, although the details are still unknown. Here, we analyzed the alteration of intestinal P-gp expression and function in the development of diabetes and elucidated the mechanisms. Type 1 diabetes was induced in male ddY mice by an i.p. injection of streptozotocin (STZ) (230 mg/kg). We analyzed ileal P-gp expression and drug efflux activity using western blot analysis and an in situ closed loop method, respectively. Additionally, we analyzed ileal nitric oxide synthase (NOS) activity using colorimetric method. A significant reduction of P-gp expression level in ileum was found on day 9 after STZ administration. In contrast, a remarkable decrease in drug efflux activity was observed on days 3 and 9. Interestingly, NOS activity in ilea was significantly increased on day 9. The decrease of P-gp expression levels observed on day 9 was completely suppressed by L-NG-nitroarginine methyl ester (L-NAME), a broad range NOS inhibitor, or aminoguanidine, a specific inducible NOS (iNOS) inhibitor. In addition, P-gp expression level in ileum was significantly decreased by administration of NOR5, a NO donor. These results indicate the possibility that NO, produced by iNOS in the ileum, is involved in the alteration of ileal P-gp expression and function under STZ-induced diabetic conditions.

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サイエンスマップとは，注目を浴びている研究領域が，互いにどのような位置関係にあるのか（近いのか遠いのか，周辺にどのような研究があるのか）を示した科学研究の地図である。サイエンスマップは共引用分析を用いて論文のグループを生成した後，その位置関係を2次元平面にマッピングすることで作成される。共引用分析の利点は，論文グループを生成する際に，キーワードを用いない点である。頻繁に共に引用される論文のペアを作っていくことで，互いに何かしらの関係性がある論文のグループを生成する。これにより，科学研究全体を俯瞰できるようなマップの作成，科学の動的な変化の観測が可能となる。本稿では，まずサイエンスマップの作成手法について説明した後，サイエンスマップ2004と2006の比較から見える科学研究の変化について示す。また，サイエンスマップの応用例についても紹介する。

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