“Plant Hunters” and Japan : Plants, Collection, and Exhibition

departmental bulletin pape

介護事業経営における人材確保の課題と展望

明治大学博士（情報コミュニケーション学）Article2020doctoral thesi

Asymmetric α-2-tosylethenylation of N,N-dialkyl-L-amino acid esters via the formation of non-racemic ammonium enolates

Asymmetric α-2-tosylethenylation of (S)-2-(pyrrolidin-1-yl)propanoic acid esters was shown to produce good yields with high enantioselectivities. The reaction proceeds via the formation of a non-racemic ammonium enolate without an external source of chirality.journal articl

日本の「資格」、ドイツの「資格」-討論編-

Articledepartmental bulletin pape

文科系学生における統計教育法の探索Ⅰ ―「統計学の授業」への心理的負担感因子の検討から―

原著論文Original Papersdepartmental bulletin pape

Nuclear family under the patriarchy - Focused on television drama "First love" -

text紀要論文 / Departmental Bulletin Paperdepartmental bulletin pape

Can menu labeling affect away-from-home-dietary choices?

This study aims to evaluate the impact of two menu-labeling formats on changes in dietary choices in an away-from-home meal, specifically in a university cafeteria. A field experiment at a university cafeteria in Italy was conducted providing two different types of nutritional labels. The experiment lasted four days, spread over two weeks during which a total of 930 observations were collected. During each day of the experiment, only in one food line (treated line) a label indicating the healthy options was displayed, while in the other line no label was presented (control line). The paper describes two indexes to measure how the selected food choices for each participant are in line with what suggested by the labels. We define five different classes of these indexes and we test our hypothesis using an ordered logit model. Results show the labels we provided had no significant impact on changing the tray composition, in accordance with other previous experiments suggesting that adding only nutritional information in a restaurant setting does not necessarily encourage healthier choices. The paper concludes highlighting the need of a multifaceted approach to design effective public policies enhancing healthier choices in a self-service restaurant. Specifically, the provision of nutritional information by itself can have zero or low impact unless it synergizes with others instruments such as nutritional education, social norm provision and nudges. In the conclusions, some suggestions on public policies addressing the promotion of healthy food habits are given

Tuning brain networks: The emerging role of transcranial direct current stimulation on structural plasticity

Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) is a non-invasive brain stimulation technique (NIBS) that has been proven to promote beneficial effects in a range of neurological and psychiatric disorders. Unfortunately, although has been widely investigated, the mechanism comprehension around tDCS effects presents still some gaps. Therefore, scientists are still trying to uncover the cellular and molecular mechanisms behind its positive effects to permit a more suitable application. Experimental models have provided converging evidence that tDCS elicits improvements in learning and memory by modulating both excitability and synaptic plasticity in neurons. Recently, among tDCS neurobiological effects, neural synchronization and dendritic structural changes have been reported in physiological and pathological conditions, suggesting possible effects at the neuronal circuit level. In this review, we bring in to focus the emerging effects of tDCS on the structural plasticity changes and neuronal rewiring, with the intent to match these two aspects with the underpinning molecular mechanisms identified so far, providing a new perspective to work on to unveil novel tDCS therapeutic use to treat brain dysfunctions

Vitamin B12 Deficiency and the Nervous System: Beyond Metabolic Decompensation—Comparing Biological Models and Gaining New Insights into Molecular and Cellular Mechanisms

Vitamin B12 (VitB12) is a micronutrient and acts as a cofactor for fundamental biochemical reactions: the synthesis of succinyl-CoA from methylmalonyl-CoA and biotin, and the synthesis of methionine from folic acid and homocysteine. VitB12 deficiency can determine a wide range of diseases, including nervous system impairments. Although clinical evidence shows a direct role of VitB12 in neuronal homeostasis, the molecular mechanisms are yet to be characterized in depth. Earlier investigations focused on exploring the biochemical shifts resulting from a deficiency in the function of VitB12 as a coenzyme, while more recent studies propose a broader mechanism, encompassing changes at the molecular/cellular levels. Here, we explore existing study models employed to investigate the role of VitB12 in the nervous system, including the challenges inherent in replicating deficiency/supplementation in experimental settings. Moreover, we discuss the potential biochemical alterations and ensuing mechanisms that might be modified at the molecular/cellular level (such as epigenetic modifications or changes in lysosomal activity). We also address the role of VitB12 deficiency in initiating processes that contribute to nervous system deterioration, including ROS accumulation, inflammation, and demyelination. Consequently, a complex biological landscape emerges, requiring further investigative efforts to grasp the intricacies involved and identify potential therapeutic targets

Brain complexity in stroke recovery after bihemispheric transcranial direct current stimulation in mice

Stroke is one of the leading causes of disability worldwide. There are many different rehabilitation approaches aimed at improving clinical outcomes for stroke survivors. One of the latest therapeutic techniques is the non-invasive brain stimulation. Among non-invasive brain stimulation, transcranial direct current stimulation has shown promising results in enhancing motor and cognitive recovery both in animal models of stroke and stroke survivors. In this framework, one of the most innovative methods is the bihemispheric transcranial direct current stimulation that simultaneously increases excitability in one hemisphere and decreases excitability in the contralateral one. As bihemispheric transcranial direct current stimulation can create a more balanced modulation of brain activity, this approach may be particularly useful in counteracting imbalanced brain activity, such as in stroke. Given these premises, the aim of the current study has been to explore the recovery after stroke in mice that underwent a bihemispheric transcranial direct current stimulation treatment, by recording their electric brain activity with local field potential and by measuring behavioural outcomes of Grip Strength test. An innovative parameter that explores the complexity of signals, namely the Entropy, recently adopted to describe brain activity in physiopathological states, was evaluated to analyse local field potential data. Results showed that stroke mice had higher values of Entropy compared to healthy mice, indicating an increase in brain complexity and signal disorder due to the stroke. Additionally, the bihemispheric transcranial direct current stimulation reduced Entropy in both healthy and stroke mice compared to sham stimulated mice, with a greater effect in stroke mice. Moreover, correlation analysis showed a negative correlation between Entropy and Grip Strength values, indicating that higher Entropy values resulted in lower Grip Strength engagement. Concluding, the current evidence suggests that the Entropy index of brain complexity characterizes stroke pathology and recovery. Together with this, bihemispheric transcranial direct current stimulation can modulate brain rhythms in animal models of stroke, providing potentially new avenues for rehabilitation in humans.Miraglia et al. demonstrated-in a stroke mouse model-that brain activity changes, measured by Entropy index, correlate with stroke. They also demonstrated that transcranial direct current stimulation ameliorates post-stroke deficits and Entropy correlates with functional recovery. The authors concluded that Entropy could characterize stroke pathology and predict stroke outcomes.Graphical Abstrac