Mineralogical Study of "Masa" with Special Reference to the Effect of Compaction

Weathered granitic rocks called "Masa" are commonly developed in the Chugoku district, southwest Japan, and for the construction of a dam, Masa has been used as the core materials of rock fill type dams. This paper deals with quantitative examination of the degree of weathering, compaction and pre-crushing effects and permeability of natural state of Masa at five locations in the district. Special attentions were paid on mineralogical studies to elucidate the effects of pre-crushing and pre-compaction as well as on the interrelations of soil constants. Among the engineering soil constants of Masa, natural moisture content and content percentage of fine grains less than 74 µm (P-74) have been confirmed as effective barometers for the degree of weathering, i.e., at each investigated area, the value of P-74 varies characteristicaly according to the weathering degree of Masa. The compaction properties of natural state of Masa depend also on weathering degree and are proved to have intimate relation with maximum dry density (ρdmax) and optimum moisture content (Wopt), i.e., the former becomes smaller and the latter greater as weathering proceed. On the other hand, fine grained Masa subjected pre-crushing have higher ρdmax and lower Wopt compared with those of natural state. This means that physical and/or mineralogical properties of soil grains of Masa have changed to those with resistant against high compaction energy. Existence of maximum value of dry density (ρdmax) was confirmed with increasing pre-crushing times. That is, the compaction density conversely lowers when the pre-crushing energy are excessive. This is probably caused by the fact that the specific surface of fractured quartz and K-feldspar increase due to crushing resulting relative decrease of matrix with which the interstices of soil grains are usually filled. Furthermore, arrangement of voids in the compacted Masa exhibits no particular orientations. This property surely increases the safety of dam concerming permeability, since the compacted Masa shows no weak direction. Finally, practical usefulness of Masa as core materials were discussed based on the results obtained

Factors associated with depressive symptoms in Japanese women with rheumatoid arthritis

Objectives: It has been suggested that patients with RA are more likely to suffer from depression. Therefore, this study identified the factors associated with depressive states in female RA patients to inform future patient care. Methods: A self-assessment questionnaire was administered to 150 female RA patients aged ≥20 years regarding their satisfaction with disease activity, pain (measured using a visual analogue scale), self-rated depression scale (SDS), stress content (illness, work, family, difficulty in daily life, appearance, treatment and other), confidence in stress management and satisfaction (treatment effect, health status and relationships with health-care professionals). The factors related to depression and the presence of depressive tendencies were investigated. Results: Data from 145 patients were analysed. Eighteen patients (12.4%) showed depressive tendencies according to their SDS scores. Among these patients, SDS scores were positively correlated with disease activity and with scores on the modified HAQ, visual analogue scale for pain, and stress content. The SDS score was also negatively correlated with patients’ confidence in stress management and health status satisfaction. Conclusion: Female RA patients had family problems and various stressors in their daily lives. Nurses need to conduct regular mental health assessments to monitor their self-management status and support them to improve their confidence and satisfaction in coping. To achieve this, it is important for health-care teams involving various health-care professionals to collaborate and cooperate.Rheumatology Advances in Practice, 6(1), art. no. rkac006; 2023journal articl

Low-intensity pulsed ultrasound phonophoresis with diclofenac alleviated inflammation and pain via downregulation of M1 macrophages in rats with carrageenan-induced knee joint arthritis

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the effects of low-intensity pulsed ultrasound (LIPUS) phonophoresis with diclofenac on inflammation and pain in the acute phase of carrageenan-induced arthritis in rats. Design: 60 male Wistar rats were randomly divided into the arthritis, diclofenac, LIPUS, phonophoresis, and sham-arthritis control groups. LIPUS and transdermal diclofenac gel were applied to the lateral side of the inflamed knee for 7 days, initiated postinjection day 1. In the phonophoresis group, diclofenac gel was rubbed onto the skin, followed by LIPUS application over the medication. Knee joint transverse diameters, pressure pain thresholds (PPTs), and paw withdrawal thresholds (PWT) were evaluated. The number of CD68-, CD11c-, and CD206-positive cells, and IL-1β and COX-2 mRNA expression were analyzed 8 days after injection. Results: In the phonophoresis group, the transverse diameter, PPT, PWT significantly recovered at the day 8 compared to those in the LIPUS and diclofenac groups. The number of CD68- and CD11c-positive cells in the phonophoresis group was significantly lower than that in the LIPUS and diclofenac groups, but no significant differences were observed among three groups in CD206-positive cells. IL-1β and COX-2 mRNA levels were lower in the phonophoresis group than in the arthritis group, although there were no differences among the LIPUS, diclofenac, and phonophoresis groups. Conclusion: LIPUS phonophoresis with diclofenac is more effective to ameliorate inflammation and pain compared to diclofenac or LIPUS alone, and the mechanism involves the decrease of M1 macrophages.Neurobiology of Pain, 15, art. no. 100148; 2023journal articl

The influence of aging on the effectiveness of heat stress in preventing disuse muscle atrophy

This study examined the aging effect on disuse muscle atrophy prevention using heat stress. Wistar rats aged 7 and 60 weeks were divided into three groups as follows: control, immobilized (Im), and immobilized and heat stressed (ImH). Heat stress was given by immersing the hindlimbs in hot water (42 °C) for 60 min, once in every 3 days and the gastrocnemius (GAS) and soleus (SOL) muscles were extracted after 14 days. Muscle-fiber types were classified using ATPase staining. Heat shock protein 70 (HSP70) was assessed through Western blotting. In GAS muscle of both groups and SOL muscle of 7-week-old rats, the fiber diameter of each muscle type in the ImH group significantly increased compared with that in the Im group. However, this could not be observed in the SOL muscle of the 60-week-old rats. The increased percentage of type-I fibers and variability of types I and II muscle-fiber diameter were evident in the SOL muscle of the 60-week rats. HSP70 was significantly elevated in the ImH group compared with in the Im group in both muscle types of both age groups. Thus, effectiveness of heat stress in the prevention of disuse muscle atrophy appears unsatisfactory in aging muscle fibers

詩の意匠と映し出された世界 : 〈モダニズム〉について考えるために

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Immobilization-induced hypersensitivity associated with spinal cord sensitization during cast immobilization and after cast removal in rats

This study examined mechanical and thermal hypersensitivity in the rat hind paw during cast immobilization of the hind limbs for 4 or 8 weeks and following cast removal. Blood flow, skin temperature, and volume of the rat hind paw were assessed in order to determine peripheral circulation of the hind limbs. Sensitization was analyzed by measuring the expression of the calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) in the spinal dorsal horn following cast immobilization. Two weeks post immobilization, mechanical and thermal sensitivities increased significantly in all rats; however, peripheral circulation was not affected by immobilization. Cast immobilization for 8 weeks induced more serious hypersensitivity compared to cast immobilization for 4 weeks. Moreover, CGRP expression in the deeper lamina layer of the spinal dorsal horn increased in the rats immobilized for 8 weeks but not in those immobilized for 4 weeks. These findings suggest that immobilization-induced hypersensitivity develops during the immobilization period without affecting peripheral circulation. Our results also highlight the possibility that prolonged immobilization induces central sensitization in the spinal cord.The final publication is available at link.springer.co

生活科授業における児童の「気付き」の見取りに関するナラティヴの再構成 -授業研究会における発言記録の共同的な「語り」の交錯の分析を通して-

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Effects of continuous passive motion on the expression of membrane type 1-matrix metalloproteinase in rat immobilized muscles

We examined the effects of continuous passive motion（ CPM） on membrane type 1-matrix metalloproteinase（ MT1-MMP） expression in rat immobilized muscles. Eight-week-old male Wister rats were used for each of two trials, one with 2 weeks, and another one with 4 weeks of immobilization with/without CPM. In each trial, rats were immobilized（ immobilization group）, and immobilized and simultaneously given CPM （CPM group）. The soleus muscle of each rat was evaluated by gelatin zymography, western blotting and reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction（ RT-PCR）. Gelatin zymography revealed a greater level of gelatinase activity in the extract of the muscles of the immobilization group than in those of the control and CPM group. The expressions of matrix metalloproteinase 2 （MMP-2） and MT1-MMP mRNA in the muscle extract of the immobilization group were also greater than those in the control and CPM group. Our results suggested that joint immobilization induces expression of MT1-MMP, a cleavage enzyme of MMP-2 in muscles, resulting in muscular degeneration, and that CPM can prevent these changes

Crossing the Border from Retro-modern to Real-modern

詩と社会とはどのように向かい合うべきか。書かれた作品によって現実に社会変革がなされ得るのか。昭和初期の「モダニズム」を基盤としてなされる現在の日本の詩の流れにおいて、本当に必要なのは、それぞれの書き手が自分自身の詩の原理を発見する形で書き始めること、書き続けることだろう。鮎川信夫における「Ｍ」の発見と継承とにその原型を辿り、詩の本来的な在り方を見直す目的で本稿は書かれた。How could poets influence society? Is it possible for poets to change our society through their writing? Contemporary Japanese poets still compose poetry based on the early Showa period’s methods of “modernism”. What do contemporary Japanese poets need to do to change our society? It is essential for each poet to find their own principles from their own poetry, and this is not about inheriting the techniques from the past. AYUKAWA Nobuo discovered the important “M”. What should we, contemporary poets, discover?departmental bulletin pape

A case of compressive optic neuropathy putatively caused by IgG4-related idiopathic orbital inflammation.

We report the case of a 58-year-old male presenting with an impairment of the left-sided visual acuity caused by compressiveoptic neuropathy, and marked bilateral proptosis. Blood test showed markedly elevated IgG4 (1830 mg/dl) and positiveTSH receptor-stimulating antibodies (200%), but the thyroid function test were normal. Orbital MRI revealed abnormal soft tissueproliferation around the optic nerve and fusiform enlargement of the extraocular muscles. Systemic CT analysis detectedmultiple lymph node swelling, pseudotumor in the lung, retroperitoneal fibrosis, and kidney lesions. We considered that the eyemanifestation was most likely caused by IgG4-related idiopathic orbital inflammation. Systemic administration of a moderatedose of prednisolone dramatically improved the compression of the optic nerve, as shown by the improvement of the visualacuity and the MRI findings. The clinical course made thyroid-associated ophthalmopathy unlikely. In conclusion, an overallconsideration of the clinical picture and extensive work-up of any possible differential diagnosis including measurement of theserum levels of IgG4 was highly useful in making the diagnosis of the patient