Arakawa & Murakami (2006) reported that some people keep " charms" not because they have faith in them, but because the charms were gifts from people close to them. This indicates that charms are used as a communication tool, through gift-giving, rather than as goods. To examine why charms are given between parents and children, 89 pairs (students and their parents, the relatives who most commonly give charms) completed questionnaires. The results showed that parents gave children charms more often than vice versa. The charms were given by parents to their children as a token to ward off danger or for luck in an exam. The parents thereby sought to reduce their own anxiety, as well as that of the children, and to relay the message that they were supportive as the child grew up. In addition, the children sometimes looked at the charm and were reminded of their parents. It is clear from these results that, despite there being a difference of understanding in the purpose of the gift between the giver and the receiver, gift giving results in the mutual extraction of meaning from the act. The result is discussed in terms of "goods-mediated communication" through gift-giving, focusing on this ambiguity.

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We investigated why people own charms. One hundred ninety-eight students answered our questionnaire. The results showed that ownership of charms is not entirely related to the desire to connect to a transcendental power; people have charms because they have received them as gifts from family and friends; family and friends give charms when they cannot provide other forms of support directly; the gift of a charm is usually from an older person to a younger person; the relationship between the donor and the recipient affects the type of charm given. These results suggest that donors may give charms to allay their anxiety, and that charms act as a reminder of the donor's support of the recipient in times of trouble.

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Murakami (2009) demonstrated the tendency toward underestimating the possible success of uncertain events after "" events in terms of "Luck Resource Belief." However, this notion does not necessarily entail a consequent decision to avoid a high-risk option due to low expectations. A "relativity hypothesis of luck" has been proposed to explain this tendency from the perspective of the relative value of several relevant events. This hypothesis suggests that a result by itself does not carry a negative value. Indeed, when considerations include future outcomes, the value of the outcome shifts, which demonstrates relative cognitive change. To examine this change and the tendency to assign value to results, we distributed questionnaires (Study 1) and conducted an experiment involving predictions about the actual outcomes of World Cup soccer matches (Study 2). The results indicated that the occurrence of a event before subsequent important events was associated with avoidance of a high-risk option only for respondents with a "Luck Resource Belief," because this belief involves devaluing the outcome before subsequent important events. These results support the "relativity hypothesis of luck" and are discussed in terms of their implication for anticipated regret.

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A young woman with placement of a dual-chamber implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) and a history of prior cardiac arrest due to congenital long QT syndrome presented with defibrillation caused by a ventricular fibrillation arrest. Routine device interrogation revealed significant lead dysfunction. During device revision, breaches were detected in the insulation of both leads within the pre-pectoral pocket and an "arc mark" was observed on the ICD generator casing; these findings were consistent with a high-voltage discharge through a short circuit between the denuded right ventricular lead and the casing. In this case, system failure was unmasked only by interrogation after appropriate device activation, which highlights the importance of thorough evaluation after all ICD activations.

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After obtaining positive results from uncertain events, individuals tend to feel confident in their skills (Langer, 1975). However, according to popular usage like lay theory, the word "" carries relatively negative connotations for some people. This reflects the idea of "Luck Resource Belief," whereby luck supposedly decreases if it is consumed. In this study, we developed and administered a scale to survey this personal belief. We compared attitudes toward forthcoming uncertain events in the aftermath of a or unlucky lotto outcome from the perspective of the "Luck Resource Belief." Results showed that when individuals adhering to the Luck Resource Belief obtained "" lotto results, confidence and risky choices with regard to subsequent uncertain events were reduced. Such results have been discussed with regard to the Gambler's fallacy, anticipated regret, and mental simulation (Kahneman & Tversky, 1982).

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 The purpose of this study was to clarify the factors related to the deviation of the birth dates in Japan. The deviation of birth dates for several specific days was analyzed by some 580,000 patient's birthday data registered in the hospital information system. We analyzed the deviation of the birth dates on the following specific days: (1) New Year's day and the first day of a month; (2) and unlucky days based on the lunar calendar; and (3) weekends and holidays. In the past, the number of births on New Year's Day and the first day of a month were greater than the average day of the year. These deviations were disappeared at present. In recent years, there were few births on Saturdays and Sundays. The result of this study showed that the factitious reporting was caused to the deviation of the birth dates on the first half of the 20th century. Nowadays the obstetric interventions was affected the deviation of birth dates. It was concluded that the deviation of the number of births always reflected social factors.

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Segmenting 3D models into meaningful parts is a fundamental problem in computer graphics. In this paper, we present an algorithm which is guided by the mesh vertices for segmenting a mesh into meaningful sub-meshes. First, a candidate set of feature points is selected to highlight the most significant features of the model. After that, a diversity measure is calculated by using Hausdorff distance. The collection of seed points we defined is a subset of the candidate set. The collection of seed points consists of two parts, namely, the basic point and points. By maximizing the diversity measure between the seed set and candidate set, an appropriate seed point is selected. Based on the collection of seed points, the segmentation process can be guided by these seeds. Because humans generally perceive desirable segmentations at concave regions, and the geodesic distance and curvature are well-known noise sensitive. Considering the above factors, in order to partition the target into meaningful parts, we define a distance function between each pair of mesh vertices. This function is formed by arc length, angular distance and curvature-related correction term. We have tested the method developed in this paper with 3D meshes from the Princeton segmentation benchmark. Moreover, our segmentation method also has been compared with other methods. The experimental results have demonstrated the effectiveness of the proposed segmentation method.

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In Japan, the term "strength of luck" (as directly translated from Japanese) commonly refers to a fixed dispositional trait. In order to gain a more concrete understanding of the usage of the term "strength of luck," a questionnaire was designed and survey conducted of subjects to study the belief that some people have "strong luck" and others have "weak luck." The results showed that people who see themselves as having "strong luck" differ from those who see themselves as having "weak luck" in that : 1. They believe that they have many "" experiences and few "unlucky" experiences. 2. Most of these "" experiences occurred in "important situations." There was no difference between people who see themselves as having "strong luck" and those who see themselves as having "weak luck" when the occurrence probability of the event was considered low from the start. 3. They think that their "strength of luck" is correlated with their amount of effort. 4. It wasquite rare for them to make social comparisons. On the other hand, according to these results, people who see themselves as having "weak luck" don't necessarily feel they have few successful experiences in daily life, nor did they feel helpless. It was concluded that how one interprets one's own "strength of luck" is based on particular "" and/or "unlucky" experiences.

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Background:

Access to antiretroviral therapy (ART) has increased worldwide. The prevalence of HIV-infection especially in the youth has increased, so information regarding ART-adherence and strategies to address nonadherence are urgently needed in middle-and low-income countries. Factors associated with poor-adherence to ART were determined and an Information-Motivation-Behavioral Skills (IMB) model in ART adherence was applied among HIV-infected attending a public primary health Care Clinic, to achieve a better therapeutic outcome.

Methodology:

Data were collected from 86 HIV-infected during a descriptive cross-sectional study using a standardized-questionnaire and face-to-face-exit interviews. Pill-counts technique was performed and adherence-rate of ≥95% considered acceptable. Data were analyzed using SPSS 22.0. Univariate-factors associated with poor-adherence to HAART were assessed using ANOVA and p≤ 0.05 considered statistically significant.

Results:

Of 86 HIV-infected, 63(73.3%) were females and 23(26.7%) males and were enrolled on HAART for 35.5(±31.8) months ranging from 1-137 months with mean age (±SD) of 35.6(±9.6) years. Of these, 27(31.40%) and 25(29.07%) were on WHO stages 2 and 3 respectively. Adherence-rate computed from 32 patients revealed 23(71.9%) having poor adherence-rate.

Participants (85) that responded on the level of knowledge about HAART in terms of: names of tablets, correct dose, when to take their tablets and knowing their adverse effects had no influence on adherence. Of the 23 non-compliant, 10(40%) gave the reason of drugs non-availability, 7(30%) complained of adverse-effects, 5(20%) said drugs were too many and 1(10%) were too busy to take the tablets.

Discussion:

Applying the IMB model included Information on adherence to patients understanding of adherence requirements and the adverse-effects of ART. Patients needed Motivation through social influences on adherence from partners, family members and daily reminders. Behavioural Skills were applied through by advising the HIV-infected to think about their dosing schedule on a long-term basis developing a strategy based on their activities.

Conclusion:

Knowledge about the disease, its symptoms, treatment and adverse-effects of the medications are crucial information that has to be passed on to the patient.

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PLBのOT(外部組織体)外植体はホルモンフリーのMS培地, BAを単独に添加した培地ならびにBAとNAAを組み合わせた培地ですべて直接的にPLBを形成した.OT外植体からのPLB形成はホルモンフリーの培地に比べて, BAあるいはBAとNAAの組み合わせ処理区においてより早かった.Cym. Thanksgiving 'Nativity'では, PLB形成率はNAAとBAの組み合わせ処理区, 0.5, 5.0μMと2.5, 5.0μMで77.5%と有意に最も高く, Cym. Rainbow 'Lapine Dancer'ではBA 2.5μM単独処理区で73.7%と有意に最も高かった.一方, NAAを単独で添加した培地ではPLB形成が有意に抑制された.形成されたPLBの大きさと数の間には, 両ホルモン単独の濃度処理の場合, 'Nativity'でr=-0.893, 'Lapine Dancer'でr=-0.843と強い負の相関関係があった.全般的に, BAは小さなPLBを多数形成させるが, NAAはPLB形成そのものを抑制した.しかしNAAは形成されたPLBを大きくする傾向があった.NAAとBAの組み合わせ処理区では, 形成されたPLBの数と大きさでは概してNAAの作用性がBAよりも優位に働く傾向があった.今回の研究から, PLB形成において植物ホルモンのNAAとBAのそれぞれに固有な作用性が, PLBの形成率, 形成数と大きさの3つの観点から明らかに区別できた.

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A longitudinal study of chimpanzee infants at Tama Zoo in Japan revealed a relationship between the mother's rearing behavior and the exploratory behavior of the offspring. We observed 8 chimpanzees (born since 1999) for the first 36 months of their lives. We compared their motor development, tool use, and separation from their mothers. Nervous mothers tended to spend time away from the social group, isolating their infant at an early stage and making them more cautious about being away from their mother. Developmental diversities in social, physical and cognitive abilities were also observed. Some were early developers in general, while others were early in social and physical aspects but late in cognitive development, while some were slow in general. Further data is needed for a more detailed analysis. Life at the zoo is different from life in the wild, but observing young zoo animals allows us to gain developmental data that would be more difficult to obtain in the wild.

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In the history of the 1950s fallout controversy, associated with the first hydrogen bomb tests, scholars often focus on the plight of the Japanese crew of the Fukuryū Maru, or as it was called in English-language newspapers, the

Dragon. Doing so silences the Japanese who tried to show that fallout was not simply about one ship, one part of the ocean, or even one generation of humans. In this essay we show how Japanese perspectives influenced several American scientists to think differently about the implications of nuclear tests for humans and the natural environment. We propose three fundamental conceptual points about fallout that already were present in Japanese scientific discourse in the mid-1950s. One was spatial; one was temporal; one was legal. The Japanese ideas, from a range of scientists, informed the views of American scientists during the fallout controversy of the 1950s, not just providing data but shaping both scientific and political discourse in the West.

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PLB形成に関与する表皮系組織切片(OT)の細胞分裂は, OTの外側の細胞層(表皮側)から始まった.細胞分裂頻度は外側の細胞層(第1層から第3層)が盛んで, 分裂方向は外側の細胞層が主に垂層分裂, 内側の細胞層が垂層分裂と並層分裂を行っていた.また分裂細胞群の分裂頻度は中央部で活性化し, これらのことからOT外植体からの球状体のPLB形成の様相が推察された.OT外植体の分裂性細胞に対する植物ホルモンの影響は, NAAとBAとの間で大きく異なった.細胞分裂活性はBAを添加した処理区で培養期間を通して高くなったが, NAAを添加した処理区ではほとんどの培養体において分裂活性が確認できなかった.細胞の大きさは, BA区で最小化し, NAA区で最大化した.このことからNAAは細胞を成熟させ, BAは若い分裂細胞へと変化させるものと考えられた.また核DNA含量を調査した結果, BA区や対照区では培養期間を通して2c核と4c核とで安定していたが, NAA区では培養期間が進むにつれて核DNA量が8c核や16c核まで増加した.以上のことから植物ホルモンは細胞周期に大きく影響を及ぼしているものと考えられた.即ちNAAはDNA生成を抑制はしないものの有糸分裂を抑制していると考えられ, S期からM期かけて大きな影響を及ぼすと推察された.また細胞分裂活性と細胞の大きさの結果から植物ホルモンはG1期の長短にも影響を与えるようである.これらのことから, 植物ホルモンによって引き起こされる培養中の変異は, その原因の一つとして細胞周期の乱れから生じるように考察された.

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Dengue virus is the causative agent of fatal disease, which has no vaccine available. Breakage of transmission is still the core of prevention. The prospects of innovating new prevention techniques include genetically modified dengue-resistant transgenic mosquitoes. That innovation begins with a search of mosquito genes that are affected by dengue infection. Using RNA-seq technique by Illumina Genome Analyzer, we have previously analyzed and compared whole transcriptome of 14-day dengue-infected and non-infected Aedes aegypti. At present, we analyzed and compared 6- and 14-day dengue-infected Ae.aegypti. Approximately 70 millions and 60 millions short reads were obtained from 6- and 14-day dengue infected mosquitoes, respectively. They were mapped onto 14,653 and 14,275 genes. Among them, a total of 11 and 14 genes were up- and down-regulated more than 7.39 folds, respectively. We will report the genes that are found to be significantly affected by the interaction between Ae.aegypti and dengue virus.

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第63回日本衛生動物学会において，ウイルス感染蚊からウイルスゲノムをRT-LAMP法で検出する条件を実験室内および感染症流行地で検討した結果を報告した.今回は，RT-LAMP法の更なる簡便化を図るために，(1)蚊からRNAを精製することなく目的の増幅産物を得る方法，(2)UVライトによる目視検査での擬陽性の低減方法について検討した.その結果，(1)では，RT-LAMPの反応時間を所定の時間より短くすることにより，目視検査で陰性と陽性を区別することができた.また(2)では，長波長のUVライトを用いることにより，目視検査による陰性と陽性をより明確に区別できた.なお,反応時間が長くなると，陰性コントロールが擬陽性を示すことがあるので，試験サンプルの判定の際は，陽性・陰性コントロールとの発色比較が必要であることがわかった.今回の結果から，RNAの精製過程を省略しても目的の増幅産物が得られること，さらに携帯型の長波長UVライトを使用することによって，設備の整っていない流行地においても，より簡便な前処理で迅速なRT-LAMP法が実施可能と思われる.

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The acute toxicity of a recombinant human interferon αA (code name: LBD-007) was evaluated in both sexes of Sprague-Dawley rats, 5 weeks old, by the oral, subcutaneous and intravenous routes of administration. Based on the results, LBD-007was not considered to induce any toxicological effect on the rats in mortalities, clinical findings, body weights and gross findings. It is suggested that LD_&lt50&gt values in rats would be &gt48×10⁸ IU/kg in the study of oral administration and &gt24×10⁸ IU/kg in the study of subcutaneous or intravenous administration.

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Sodium- and potassium-acetates emit green light for a few seconds, after excited in vacuo with radiation of 254 mμ. Their spectra are composed of green band with a maximum at 530 mμ and blue one at 465 mμ. The phosphorescence is quenched by oxygen adsorbed in molecular state, and the initial intensity is inversely proportional to the pressure of oxygen, but water vapour and hydrogen do not affect at all. The intensity is also changed by the treatment of the crystal. The activation energy calculated from the temperature dependence of the lifetime is 0.034 eV. Their ultraviolet absorption spectra are also measured in aqueous or acetic acid solution to 220 mμ with a quartz spectrophotometer.
From these results, it may be considered that the phosphorescence is due to imperfections of crystal.

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