We screened the differentiation-inducing activities of 39 mushroom extracts from Akita prefecture, Japan, on the mouse osteoblastic cell line, MCT-1. Sixteen phosphate buffered saline (PBS), boiled PBS, 14 ethanol and 12 methanol extracts induced alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activities, an indicator of MCT-1 cell differentiation. The enzyme activities were markedly induced by extracts of Tricholoma auratum, and we isolated the active compound from methanol extracts of this mushroom. Physical data for the isolated active compound were identical to those for (,24R)-ergosta-,-diene-,,-triol (1). 1 induced ALP activities of MCT-1 cells and promoted cell proliferation. To investigate the relationships between the chemical structure and differentiation-inducing activity of the compound, ALP-inducing activities of MCT-1 cells by 1, ergosterol (2), ergocalciferol (), cholesta-,,-triol (4), -dehydrocholesterol () and cholecalciferol () were tested. The enzyme activities of MCT-1 cells were increased .0-fold by 10 μM 1 and 2.4-fold by 10 μM 4. However, 2, , and did not induce MCT-1 cell ALP activity at 0.1—10 μM. These results suggested that the OH groups at C- and/or C- of 1 and 4 played an important role in their differentiation-inducing activities on MCT-1 cells. Furthermore, 1 suppressed induction of MCT-1 cell apoptosis by serum starvation.

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The ability of Climacodon septentrionalis to immobilize and kill a mycophagous nematode (Aphelenchoides sp.) in vitro is described for the first time. Two isolates produced droplets (20–45 μm in diameter) that formed at the apices of tall, stalked, and branching secretory cells (700–1,500 μm tall). On 2% modified malt extract agar, nematodes became enveloped in the droplets, which restricted their ability to move and resulted in complete immobilization and death within several hours of contact. The rate of decomposition of the nematodes varied considerably, with most individuals persisting for weeks whereas others were degraded within several days and appeared to be colonized by dense hyphal growth. This study provides the first documentation of a non-agaricoid fungus producing secretory cells that are able to immobilize nematodes.

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An empirical equation in use for estimating the pseudo-elastic shear modulus, G_f, of subsoil, associated with shear strains less than 0.001% is proposed in this paper. In a series of in-situ seismic cone tests performed nationwide, the profiles of both G_f and the in-situ void ratio, , with depth were successfully characterised at five sites, each comprising a soft clay layer deposited in the Holocene era. The database which comprised the original data from the field and laboratory tests, coupled with similar information on well-documented Holocene clay deposits in Europe, was statistically analyzed in attempts to determine a generalised relationship with which G_f of soft clay may be reasonably estimated only from routinely available borehole data; that is and the current geostatic effective overburden pressure, σ'_v. An empirical relationship, G_f=, 000 -√(σ'_v) (kPa), was derived from the statistical analysis applied to data from seven different clays worldwide, for which extended over a range between 1 and , and the overconsolidation ratio ranged roughly between 1 and 2. The applicability of the proposed relationship was evaluated for two case records, each in which the clay exhibited unusual behavior; i.., the undrained shear strength remained more or less constant with depth due to the existence of artesian pressure at one site, and, at the other, G_f decreased, whereas increased, with depth. It was demonstrated that even in these clay deposits exhibiting exceptional profiles, the proposed relationship was capable of predicting G_f with a reasonable accuracy by determining the profiles of and σ'_v with depth. In addition, the prediction when compared to G_max from carefully performed laboratory cyclic tests, yielded a better estimate of G_f from the in-situ seismic survey. Despite the fact that the empirical relationship was initially designated to estimate G_f of soft clays, it may be equally applicable to sandy deposits. This was verified by comparing it to similar, and well-established, relationships developed for sands. A case record as such is also described for a loose sand deposit at Higashi-Ohgishima in Tokyo Bay which was placed in 1960's by land reclamation.

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The behavior of the soft clay grounds subjected to repeated loading is different from that subjected to sustained loading. The difference in settlement between these two loading patterns should be due to secondary compression over a long period of time. Consequently, soft clay grounds subjected to repeated loading tend to be more compressible than those subjected to sustained loading. Therefore, it is necessary for engineers to predict post-construction settlements under repeated loading. In this respect, the preloading is considered to be promising as a countermeasure to reduce the settlement of clay under repeated loading as well as under sustained loading. The effect of preloading on post-construction consolidation settlement of soft clay subjected to repeated loading after removal of a part of preload is investigated in the present paper. It has become clear that the settlement of a clay sample after preconsolidation is mainly affected by the amount of preload, the degree of consolidation due to the preload, the amount of permanent load and the amount of repeated load after removal of preload. The calculated settlement versus time relations using a method to estimate the amount of consolidation settlement of soft clay grounds subjected to repeated loading after removal of preloading were compared with the observed degree of consolidation as parameters of the intensities of preload and repeated load.

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In this paper, consideration is given as to how to characterize depth-variation for the small-strain shear modulus of natural clay sedimentation, in a state of normal consolidation. A case study was carried out for a relatively uniform clay layer deposited in the Holocene era. Initially, the effects of both strain and in-situ stress levels on secant shear modulus were carefully examined in cyclic torsion shear tests using undisturbed samples, which were recovered at different depths in a test borehole. The range of shear strain examined was between 0.001% and 1%. Similar examination was made for a silty clay using reconstituted samples that were isotropically consolidated at different stress levels. On the basis of the results of these laboratory tests, together with the shear modulus from an in-situ seismic survey, the small-strain shear modulus was formulated in terms of the stress and strain levels, and linked also to undrained shear strength. Interactions of the small strain stiffness between in-situ and laboratory are discussed in depth with an attention paid to the existing aging effect in the original subsurface condition.

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In view of the significant role of the water film effect in flow failure for a liquefied sandy deposit, the mechanism of water film generation is numerically studied based on a 1-dimensional model test. The process of water film growth and decay can be simulated to a certain extent by a simple consolidation analysis, which indicates that only a small difference in permeability in layered sand is enough for a water film to develop. A 1 G shaking table test for a two-dimensional slope model with an arc of silt within a saturated sand is then addressed to discuss the dilatancy effect exerted in sheared sand during flow failure. It is possible that, once the water film is formed, the transmission of shear stress through it is interrupted, leaving the sand below free from the dilatancy ; this eventually allows the water film to stay without being absorbed during flow failure. The result of another shaking table test for a trapezoidal slope with horizontal silt seams indicate that water films beneath the seams enable the soil mass above them to laterally flow along water films very gently inclined even after shaking. If a silt seam breaks due to excessive pressure in the water film, it triggers re-liquefaction in the upper sand and leads to further instability.

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背景と目的：ステロイド性骨粗鬆症は，積極的な治療介入が必要とされる．その第一選択薬はビスホスホネート製剤（以下ビス）であるが，近年，デノスマブ（以下デノス）も注目を浴びている．ステロイド性骨粗鬆症の骨密度に対する両者の効果を比較検討した．

方法：ステロイド性骨粗鬆症の管理と治療ガイドライン：2014年改訂版の薬物療法開始の基準を満たした患者を対象とした．無治療群（N群）と，治療介入群として当初よりビスで治療したBB群，ビス後デノスに変更したBD群，デノスで治療したDD群，デノス後ビスに変更したDB群を抽出し，ステロイド投与を開始した時，ステロイド性骨粗鬆症に対する治療を開始した時または薬剤変更から

カ月後の腰椎，大腿骨頚部と大転子部の骨密度を測定し，それらの変化を統計学的に比較検討した．

結果：149例が抽出され，その内訳は，N群48例，BB群24例，BD群

例，DD群21例，DB群34例であった．治療開始時または薬剤変更からカ月後にBD群を除くすべての治療介入群で腰椎の骨密度が上昇した．大腿骨の骨密度は，BD群において薬剤変更後に上昇に転じた．

考察：デノスにはビスと同様の骨密度上昇効果があると考えられた．

結論：デノスは，ステロイド性骨粗鬆症治療の第一選択薬となり得る．

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The Tsukuba Challenge is a competition, in which autonomous mobile robots run on a route set on a public road under a real environment. Their task includes not only simple running but also finding multiple specific persons at the same time. This study proposes a method that would realize person searching. While many person-searching algorithms use a laser sensor and a camera in combination, our method only uses an omnidirectional camera. The search target is detected using a convolutional neural network (CNN) that performs a classification of the search target. Training a CNN requires a great amount of data for which pseudo images created by composition are used. Our method is implemented in an autonomous mobile robot, and its performance has been verified in the Tsukuba Challenge 2017.

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The saponin fraction from the seeds of the tea plant [Camellia sinensis (L.) O. KUNTZE (Theaceae)] was found to exhibit potent protective effects on ethanol- and indomethacin-induced gastric mucosal lesions in rats. Five new triterpene saponins, theasaponins (1), (2), (), (4), and (), were isolated together with 11 known saponins from the saponin fraction. The chemical structures of 1— were elucidated on the basis of chemical and physicochemical evidence. Among the isolated saponins, theasaponins (), (), and () and assamsaponin C (10) showed an inhibitory effect on ethanol-induced gastric mucosal lesions at a dose of .0 mg/kg, p.o. and their activities were stronger than that of omeplazole. With regard to the structure–activity relationships of theasaponins, the following structural requirements for a protective effect on ethanol-induced gastric lesions were suggested; 1) the 21- and/or -acyl groups are essential for the activity, 2) acetylation of the 16-hydroxyl group reduce the activity.

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It has been shown after mathematical and mechanical investigation that Limit Equilibrium Method (LEM) can be considered as a method to obtain the necessary condition of Slip Line Method (SLM), and that the solution can be obtained under the condition that F_s=1 and ∂F_s/∂θ=O, where F_s is the safety factor and θ is the inclination of the plane on which the safety factor is defined. Next, the generalized LEM (GLEM) is proposed, dealing with the following points : (1) Triangular or quadrangular blocks can be treated; (2) Safety factors are defined also on interblock planes; and () All types of plastic problems, slope stability, bearing capacity, and earth pressure are identically formulated. Two situations regarding treatment of the moment equilibrium condition are discussed. GLEM is applied to well-known problems. The results agree well with those obtained by theoretical methods. GLEM can be used to obtain the distribution of earth pressure or bearing capacity. GLEM, Iike ordinary LEM, is very effective for the practical problems, but GLEM is more theoretical and it can result in more accurate solutions.

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Activity-directed isolation of the ethyl acetate, methylene chloride and n-hexane fractions of Gloiopeltis furcata resulted in the isolation of 18 compounds. Their structures were elucidated as 2-(-hydroxy--oxotetrahydrofuran--yl)acetic acid (1), glutaric acid (2), succinic acid (), nicotinic acid (4), ()-4-hydroxyhex-2-enoic acid (), cholesterol (), -hydroxycholesterol (), uridine (), glycerol (9), -(hydroxymethyl)-2-methoxybenzene-1,-diol (10), (,)-9-oxodeca-,-dienoic acid (11), (Z)--ethylidene-4-methylpyrrolidine-2,-dione (12), dehydrovomifoliol (13), loliolide (14), cholesteryl stearate (15), palmitic acid (16), cis-,,11,14,17-eicosapentaenoic acid (17) and α-linolenic acid (18) on the basis of spectroscopic and chemical evidences. Their anticholinesterase and antioxidant activities were evaluated via inhibitory activities on acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and butyrylcholinesterase (BChE) as well as scavenging activities on 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical and peroxynitrite (ONOO⁻). All isolated compounds (1—18) exhibited moderate AChE inhibitory activities with IC₅₀ values ranging from 1.14—12.50 μg/ml, whereas 1, , 9, 17, and 18 showed mild BChE inhibitory activities with IC₅₀ values ranging from .57—15.89 μg/ml. Although most of the compounds isolated were lacking the scavenging activity on DPPH radical and ONOO⁻, and 10 showed good DPPH radical scavenging activity, and , 10, and 16 showed potent ONOO⁻ scavenging activity.

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Among the rivers damaged by the earthquake, two most severely damaged along the Yodo-gawa River are described. In the left levee, the settlement exceeded 2 m for a length of 1.4 km, with a maximum settlement of m. Sand boils were observed extensively on the ground surface near the damaged dikes. Holocene sandy soil with an SPT N-value of 10 or less existed in the upper part of the subsoil profile. These facts indicate that liquefaction of the soil was the major cause of the embankment damage. The cyclic stress ratio required to cause liquefaction was 0.30 as determined from cyclic triaxial tests on undisturbed samples.

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In the 1993 Kushiro-oki Earthquake of Richter magnitude ., simultaneous recording of earthquake motions was successfully made at the ground surface and at a depth of 77 meters in a dense saturated sand deposit. The peak horizontal acceleration was 0.47 g on the ground surface and 0.21 g at a depth of 77 meters. The acceleration record at the ground surface showed a distinctive ground response, which consisted of a cyclic motion having a period of about 1. seconds overlain by a spike at each peak of the motion. In order to study the mechanism of this peculiar ground response, effective stress analysis was conducted on the dense saturated sand deposit. The model used for this study was a strain space multiple mechanism model, which takes into account the effect of principal stress axis rotation. The recorded earthquake motion at a depth of 77 meters was used as the input earthquake motion for the analysis. Sampling after in-situ freezing was done in order to evaluate the properties of the sand. The results of the analysis indicated that the observed ground response was due to the effect of dilatancy of sand, which plays a significant role in the response of the dense saturated sand deposits during strong earthquake motions.

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The flow deformation or strain softening in undrained shear of saturated sand is discussed in this paper. When evaluating the flow of field deposits, the prime issue to be addressed is whether the soil in its in-situ state has the potential to develop flow deformation or not. This paper presents a rational method which allows for such an assessment to be made and aims at quantifying the effects of grain-size distribution on the flow potential of sandy soils. On the basis of existing laboratory and field test results on sandy soils, a flow potential formulation was developed within the framework of the state concept. Here, the SPT blow count was used as a parameter for field characterization of sand deposits whereas the void ratio range (e_max-e_min) was employed as a measure indicative of the grading properties of sandy soils. It is shown that sands with a large value of void ratio range have a high flow potential, indicating that fines-containing sands are more susceptible to flow than clean sands. Results of this study also suggest that flow with zero residual strength is limited to field deposits with a very low SPT blow count, and that soils with a void ratio range of less than 0.35, such as coarse sands and gravels, are practically safe against flow with zero residual strength.

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Failure problems of saturated soils are classified in the present study into the following four types : Type I : The failure of loose and/or normally consolidated soils under fully drained loading conditions. Type II : The same soils but under perfectly undrained conditions. Type III : The failure of dense and/or overconsolidated soils under fully drained conditions. Type IV : The same soils but under perfectly undrained conditions. The soil-water coupling limiting equilibrium analysis on the basis of the critical state concept is shown possible to draw a distinction between type I, II and IV problems, and the limitations of the analysis procedure happen in solving the type problem in the above. This is demonstrated experimentally, in which seepage failure experiments in laboratory with the use of a saturated silty sand are employed to make distinctions clearly between the four types of failure problems. The definite distinctions both in failure load and failure mode appeared in the four types of experiments are summarized as follows : (1) the smallest failure load in loose sand in the undrained condition, (2) the largest failure load with the largest failure region in dense sand under undrained loading, () the observation of no global deformation before failure within the soil under the fully drained condition that suggests the development of very localized shear deformation in the sand. Three out of four experiments are described well by the limit analysis computation mentioned above as far as the failure load and the shape and the size of the failure region after boiling failure are concerned, and thus the type III problem is identified to be the problem that should be solved by any other means in near future.

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