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Overwintering plants acquire substantial levels of freezing tolerance through cold acclimation or winter hardening. This process is essential for the plants survival to harsh winter conditions. In the areas where persistent snow cover lasts several months, plants are protected from freezing but are, however, exposed to other harsh conditions such as dark, cold, and high humidity. These conditions facilitate infection of psychrophilic pathogens, which are termed 'snow molds'. To fight against infection of snow molds, overwintering plants develop disease resistance via the process of cold acclimation. Compared with pathogen-induced disease resistance, the molecular mechanisms of cold-induced disease resistance have yet to be fully elucidated. In this review, we outline the recent progress in our understanding of disease resistance acquired through cold acclimation. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

知的障害児を対象としたかな文字の読み書き学習では、音節抽出課題の指導が重要である。本研究では、音節抽出課題に先だって「かな文字カードにより単語を呈示した後、隠す」という手続きを利用して音節抽出の支援課題を設定し、その支援効果に関して検討することを目的とした。対象は、知的障害児2名（知的障害特別支援学校小学部4年生、語彙年齢4歳および7歳）とした。指導前において両対象児は、かな文字読みについてほぼ達成を示したが、音節抽出課題未達成を示した。7月から11月にかけての音節抽出指導の結果、対象児Ａ、Ｂ共に支援がない条件で、2、3音節単語の音節抽出課題の正答率が増加し、課題達成を確認できた。また、2から4音節単語の音節抽出が達成された段階の後に、しりとり課題の流暢な遂行が可能になった。これより音節抽出の支援課題の有効性を指摘できる。

教員養成大学において、教員に求められる資質能力である実践的指導力や協働性の向上に向けて、PBLの取組が取り入れられつつある。特別支援学校教員養成においては、PBLの観点での授業の取組の有効性について、必ずしも十分に検討されていない。筆者らは、地域の知的障害特別支援学校と連携を図り、特別支援教育専門科目である「知的障害教育論Ⅱ」の科目において、PBLの枠組みを用いた実践を試みた。支援学校生徒と大学生の交流活動を学生らが計画した。履修者を対象とし、教員の資質能力に関する学びと課題について事後アンケートを実施した。その結果、交流活動に参加した学生と参加しなかった学生のいずれにおいても、実践的指導力および協働性に関して肯定的な結果が得られた。特別支援学校の教員を対象とした事後アンケートからは、参加生徒の学習意欲の向上や教員による生徒の実態把握の再確認の機会となるといった有効性が示された。

[Purpose] To investigate the effects of cognitive tasks on the non-minimum toe clearance gait cycles (nMTC) frequency during walking in healthy older and young adults. [Participants and Methods] This study included 20 healthy older and 20 young adults. The participants performed 3 min preferred-speed walking under a single-task and three dual-tasks (DTs) consisting of verbal, subtraction, and recall tasks. We determined the nMTC, which could not detect a trough in the toe trajectory during the swing phase. We evaluated the nMTC frequency (the cases of nMTC / total gait cycles) and compared them among the tasks and between groups. [Results] The results of the two-way analysis of variance revealed that there were no differences among the tasks, while the nMTC frequency in the older group was higher than that in the young group. The DT cost (DTc), which was used as an indicator of cognitive-motor interference (CMI), was higher in the subtraction and recall tasks in the older group than those in the young group. [Conclusion] This study showed that adding a cognitive task while walking increased in the nMTC frequency in older adults. These results suggest that the nMTC frequency under DT would reflect the increased CMI in healthy older adults.

To conduct empirical research on industry software development, it is necessary to obtain data of real software projects from industry. However, only few such industry data sets are publicly available; and unfortunately, most of them are very old. In addition, most of today's software companies cannot make their data open, because software development involves many stakeholders, and thus, its data confidentiality must be strongly preserved. To that end, this study proposes a method for artificially generating a “mimic” software project data set, whose characteristics (such as average, standard deviation and correlation coefficients) are very similar to a given confidential data set. Instead of using the original (confidential) data set, researchers are expected to use the mimic data set to produce similar results as the original data set. The proposed method uses the Box-Muller transform for generating normally distributed random numbers; and exponential transformation and number reordering for data mimicry. To evaluate the efficacy of the proposed method, effort estimation is considered as potential application domain for employing mimic data. Estimation models are built from 8 reference data sets and their concerning mimic data. Our experiments confirmed that models built from mimic data sets show similar effort estimation performance as the models built from original data sets, which indicate the capability of the proposed method in generating representative samples.

教員養成課程を有する大学においては、学校インターンシップ等の教員の資質能力向上に関する取組の拡充が進んでいる。これらの取組がアクティブ・ラーニングの観点でどのような有効性を持つものであるのか、必ずしも十分な検討がなされていない。筆者らは、教員志望の学生が主体となり、知的障害に関する理解啓発を目的としたアートイベントを企画・運営する機会を得た。参加学生を対象として、教員の資質能力に関する学びの内容について事後アンケートを実施した。その結果、子どもへの愛情に関して、他の項目より高く評価される傾向が見られた。自由記述においては、深い学びの軸となる｢考察する力」｢構想する力」｢説明する力」｢議論する力」という4つの視点に関連する回答が得られたことから、今回の取組は、アクティブ・ラーニングの視点からも有効性が示された。また、4つの視点を学生に伝えることで、知識と経験の連関が促されることが示唆された。

[Purpose] We investigated whether olfactory identification ability may be useful for early detection of cognitive decline. [Participants and Methods] The study included 55 community-dwelling older individuals without a history of mild cognitive impairment or dementia, who were capable of living independently. Cognitive function was evaluated using the Japanese versions of the Mini-Mental State Examination and the Montreal Cognitive Assessment tools. The olfactory identification ability was evaluated using the Odor Stick Identification Test for the Japanese. We also investigated the association between olfactory identification ability and cognitive function. [Results] Based on the Japanese version of the Mini-Mental State Examination, all participants were categorized into the noncognitive decline group, and based on the Japanese version of the Montreal Cognitive Assessment tool, 21 participants were categorized into the cognitive decline group. With regard to olfactory discrimination ability, we observed a significant difference between participants with and without cognitive decline based on the Japanese version of the Montreal Cognitive Assessment scores. Furthermore, we observed a significant positive correlation between the Japanese version of the the Montreal Cognitive Assessment scores and the Odor Stick Identification Test for the Japanese scores, although no significant correlation was observed between the Japanese version of the Mini-Mental State Examination and the Odor Stick Identification Test for the Japanese scores. [Conclusion] Olfactory identification ability may be useful to detect early-stage cognitive decline in community-dwelling older individuals.

[Purpose] To consider the effective rehabilitation approaches for locomotive syndrome (LS) and pre-frailty, we examined the characteristics of physical function and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in community-dwelling older adults. [Participants and Methods] Eighty-three individuals (age 71.8 ± 5.5 years, 29 males and 54 females) were divided into robust (R), LS, and locomotive syndrome with pre-frailty (LSP) groups. We compared the subscale and summary scores of the 36-Item Short-Form Health Survey (SF-36) as HRQoL indices. The grip strength, five-chair stand up test (SS-5), and normal walking speed were the physical function indices. [Results] The LS group had lower two-step scores and normal walking speed but there was no significant difference in the SF-36. The two-step score and 25-question geriatric locomotive function scale, SS-5, seven SF-36 subscales, and mental component summary (MCS) scores were lower in the LSP group. Compared to that of the LS group, the LSP group did not show significant difference in physical function but showed lower values in overall health, vitality, mental health, and MCS in the SF-36 subscales. [Conclusion] The subjective evaluation of one's health was lower than that of the deterioration of physical function as a characteristic of the LSP.

[Purpose] This study aimed to investigate the effect of cognitive tasks on the center-of-foot pressure (COP) displacements and brain activity during single leg stance (SLS) in older people. [Participants and Methods] This study included 25 healthy older (age, 68.8 ± 4.9 years) and 25 young (age, 21.0 ± 0.9 years) participants. Participants performed SLS for 35 s under a single-task (ST) and three dual-tasks (DTs), namely verbal, subtraction, and recall tasks. We measured the total length of COP (COP_

[Purpose] This study aimed to determine the effects of two load escalation methods, such as pedal weight increasing method and pedal speed raising method using a supine ergometer, on the cardiorespiratory system and lower limb muscle activity. [Participants and Methods] The study included 20 healthy adult males (age: 21 ± 1 years). Two different parameters were modulated during exercise intervention. Pedal load progression was applied in the load group (28.9 N, 72.3 N, 101.3 N), and pedal rate progression was applied in the speed group (60 rpm, 80 rpm, 100 rpm). Each group performed 5 minutes of exercise at their respective level of progression, for a total duration of 15 minutes. [Results] Oxygen consumption, carbon dioxide output, and minute ventilation were significantly increased as exercise intensity increased in both groups. Significant differences in muscle activity were found between the highest exercise intensities (101.3 N and 100 rpm). The activities of the biceps femoris and gastrocnemius were significantly higher with exercise at 100 rpm than at 101.3 N. [Conclusion] Increasing the number of revolutions per minute may significantly increase the activity of the lower limb muscles at comparable exercise intensities, despite the low work load.

Objective: We aimed to investigate the effective frequency of jack-knife stretching in preadolescent male football players. Methods: We enrolled 47 male preadolescent football players (average age: 12.4 ± 0.6 years old). All participants took surveys at baseline and after intervention for 6 months. The survey items were height, weight, body mass index, anteflexion in sitting, and quadriceps and hamstring tightness. The participants were divided into two groups according to the stretching exercise frequency, where group A performed stretching at least once every 3 days and group B performed stretching less than once every 3 days. After exclusion, 17 participants were enrolled in each group.Results: There was a significant increase in anteflexion in the sitting position in group A but not group B; moreover, straight leg raising was significantly larger in Group AConclusions: Performing jack-knife stretching at least once every 3 days’ intervals could improve hamstring flexibility in preadolescent male football players.Level of Evidence Level Ⅱ

The objective of this study was to investigate whether rotator cuff tear morphology could be visualized using radial MRI. We retrospectively investigated 52 shoulders that underwent preoperative MRI and arthroscopy for a complete rotator cuff tear. The tear length and width were measured using oblique coronal, axial, and radial MRI. Arthroscopic findings were compared with the tear morphology. Tear morphology was visualized using oblique coronal and axial MRI for 24 of the 52 shoulders (46%), and radial MRI for all 52 shoulders. Radial MRI data for 49 of 52 shoulders (94%) were concordant with the arthroscopic findings.

TAD1 (Triticum aestivum defensin 1) is a plant defensin specifically induced by low temperature in winter wheat. In this study, we demonstrated that TAD1 accumulated in the apoplast during cold acclimation and displayed antifungal activity against the pink snow mold fungi Microdochium nivale. When M. nivale was treated with TAD1, Congo red-stainable extracellular polysaccharides (EPS) were produced. The EPS were degradable by cellulase treatment, suggesting the involvement of β-1,4 glucans. Interestingly, when the fungus was treated with FITC-labeled TAD1, fluorescent signals were observed within the EPS layer. Taken together, these results support the hypothesis that the EPS plays a role as a physical barrier against antimicrobial proteins secreted by plants. We anticipate that the findings from our study will have broad impact and will increase our understanding of plant–snow mold interactions under snow.

[Purpose] To compare the appearance time of the ventilatory threshold point and the electromyographic threshold in the activity of the vastus lateralis, rectus femoris, biceps femoris long head and gastrocnemius lateral head muscles during ramp cycling exercise in elderly males. [Subjects and Methods] Eleven community dwelling elderly males participated in this study. Subjects performed exercise testing with an expiratory gas analyzer and surface electromyography to evaluate the tested muscle activities during ramp exercise. [Results] The electromyographic threshold for rectus femoris was not valid because the slope after electromyographic threshold was not significant as compared to that before electromyographic threshold. The slope of the regression line for vastus lateralis was significantly decreased after electromyographic threshold while biceps femoris and gastrocnemius were increased. The electromyographic threshold appearance times for vastus lateralis and gastrocnemius were significantly earlier than ventilatory threshold point. There were no difference in electromyographic threshold appearance times among three muscles. [Conclusion] These results suggest that the increase in the slope of the regression line after electromyographic threshold for vastus lateralis was decreased, possibly indicating to postpone muscular fatigue resulting from the activation of biceps femoris and gastrocnemius as biarticular antagonists. This recruitment pattern might be an elderly-specific strategy.

We demonstrate a current timer switch function in a GaAs-based nanowire electrostatically coupled with a polyoxometalate nanoparticle (POM NP) and a conductive atomic force microscopy (AFM) tip. The nanowire current associated with the charge state of the POM NP on the nanowire surface abruptly changed after several ten seconds from biasing the conductive tip. The current switch timing changed depending on the tip voltage. The timer switch function appeared when the tip approached the POM NP where the AFM phase image showed phase lag at high atmospheric humidity condition. We discuss the timer mechanism in terms of the configuration of the electromechanical potential of the cantilever and dynamic potential modulation by mobile ions and polarized molecules in the water-absorbed POM NP surface.

One of the key components in the single-molecule-based informatics is the interface between the single-molecule and the conventional electronics. This component reads out the very small charge state of the molecule in real time and also controls the charge state. A big challenge here is the precise operation under various fluctuations. In this chapter, we describe our recent results on detection of molecule charge state using a III-V compound semiconductor nanowire field-effect transistor (FET) having a metal gate electrode. It is found that the metal gate enhances the sensitivity to the molecule charge in an electrostatic manner. The dynamics of the molecule charge state is detected in terms of the drain current noise. Our unique technique is applied to single-molecule identification and detection of spatial distribution of charges in a molecular network. Representation of information by controlling the molecule charge state under thermal fluctuation through the nonlinearity under the detailed balance condition is also discussed.

A novel cold-inducible GSK3/shaggy-like kinase, TaSK5, was isolated from winter wheat using a macroarray-based differential screening approach. TaSK5 showed high similarity to Arabidopsis subgroup I GSK3/shaggy-like kinases ASK-alpha, AtSK-gamma and ASK-epsilon. RNA gel blot analyses revealed TaSK5 induction by cold and NaCl treatments and to a lesser extent by drought treatment. TaSK5 functionally complemented the cold- and salt-sensitive phenotypes of a yeast GSK3/shaggy-like kinase mutant, △mck1. Transgenic Arabidopsis plants overexpressing TaSK5 cDNA showed enhanced tolerance to salt and drought stresses. By contrast, the tolerance of the transgenic plants to freezing stress was not altered. Microarray analysis revealed that a number of abiotic stress-inducible genes were constitutively induced in the transgenic Arabidopsis plants, suggesting that TaSK5 may function in a novel signal transduction pathway that appears to be unrelated to DREB1/CBF regulon and may involve crosstalk between abiotic and hormonal signals.

[Purpose] The purpose of our study was to clarify temporal effects on restrictions to range of motion and the histopathological changes of joint components after joint immobilization in a rat knee-contracture model. [Subjects] Fifty-four male Wistar rats were randomly divided into two groups: a fixation group, and a control group. [Methods] In the fixation group, unilateral knee joints were immobilized at full flexion using a plaster cast for 4 weeks. At four weeks the animals were randomly divided into six subgroups, corresponding to the time of examination after cast removal: 0, 4, 8, 16, 24, and 32 weeks. For comparison, control group animals of corresponding age were also examined. [Results] Although movement restrictions of the knee joint had completely recovered 6 weeks after the cast removal, cartilage and synovial membrane structures did not completely recover. [Conclusion] These findings have not previously been reported, and as they form an addition to the fundamental scientific foundations of physical therapy, further research must examine these findings from a variety of perspectives.

Late embryogenesis abundant (LEA) proteins are a family of hyper-hydrophilic proteins that accumulate in response to cellular dehydration. Originally identified as plant proteins associated with seed desiccation tolerance, LEA proteins have been identified in a wide range of organisms such as invertebrates and microorganisms. LEA proteins are thought to protect proteins and biomembranes under water-deficit conditions. Here, we characterized WCI16, a wheat (Triticum aestivum) protein that belongs to a class of plant proteins of unknown function, and provide evidence that WCI16 shares common features with LEA proteins. WCI16 was induced during cold acclimation in winter wheat. Based on its amino acid sequence, WCI16 is highly hydrophilic, like LEA proteins, despite having no significant sequence similarity to any of the known classes of LEA proteins. Recombinant WCI16 protein was soluble after boiling, and (1)H-nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy revealed that the structure of WCI16 is random and has no hydrophobic regions. WCI16 exhibited in vitro cryoprotection of the freeze-labile enzyme l-lactate dehydrogenase as well as double-stranded DNA binding activity, suggesting that WCI16 may protect both proteins and DNA during environmental stresses. The biological relevance of these activities was supported by the subcellular localization of a green fluorescent protein (GFP)-fused WCI16 protein in the nucleus and cytoplasm. Heterologous expression of WCI16 in Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) plants conferred enhanced freezing tolerance. Taken together, our results indicate that WCI16 represents a novel class of LEA proteins and is involved in freezing tolerance.

[Purpose] This study investigated the effect of neurological symptoms and/or signs after the occurrence of neurogenic intermittent claudication (NC) on postural sway during quiet standing of patients with lumbar spinal canal stenosis (LSS). [Subjects and Methods] Thirty-two female patients with LSS at the L4/5 level were studied. We measured the path of center of foot pressure (COP) during quiet standing with eyes open for 30 s using a stabilometer before and after the occurrence of NC. [Results] The total path length of COP (LC) and area surrounded by the outline of the path of COP (AC) significantly increased after NC. Body mass index (BMI) correlated with both the NC rate (after NC/before NC) of LC and that of AC. The average lateral COP displacement from the center of the base of support (COPRL) before NC was located on the asymptomatic side from the center of the base of support in 29 of 32 patients. After NC, COPRL moved to the symptomatic side in 31 patients. [Conclusion] These results suggest that patients with LSS are at risk of falling after NC, especially those with high BMI.

Arabidopsis COLD SHOCK DOMAIN PROTEIN 3 (AtCSP3) shares an RNA chaperone function with E. coli cold shock proteins and regulates freezing tolerance during cold acclimation. Here, we screened for AtCSP3-interacting proteins using a yeast two-hybrid system and 38 candidate interactors were identified. Sixteen of these were further confirmed in planta interaction between AtCSP3 by a bi-molecular fluorescence complementation assay. We found that AtCSP3 interacts with CONSTANS-LIKE protein 15 and nuclear poly(A)-binding proteins in nuclear speckles. Three 60S ribosomal proteins (RPL26A, RPL40A/UBQ2, and RPL36aB) and the Gar1 RNA-binding protein interacted with AtCSP3 in the nucleolus and nucleoplasm, suggesting that AtCSP3 functions in ribosome biogenesis. Interactions with LOS2/enolase and glycine-rich RNA-binding protein 7 that are cold inducible, and an mRNA decapping protein 5 (DCP5) were observed in the cytoplasm. These data suggest that AtCSP3 participates in multiple complexes that reside in nuclear and cytoplasmic compartments and possibly regulates RNA processing and functioning.

We investigate a multiple-gate GaAs-based nanowire field-effect transistor (FET) for detecting spatially distributed molecular charges. Spatial resolution is implemented to the nanowire by arranging narrow metal gate array. In this device the molecule charge position and the metal gate position are correlated through capacitive coupling between the molecule and a metal gate. Then a molecule charge in the gate periphery with appropriate gate biasing selectively reflects in the nanowire current. To demonstrate our concept, we fabricate a GaAs-based nanowire FET having a 50-nm-length Schottky gate array with 50-nm interval and investigate to arrange the charged molecules at arbitrary position using Tetraphenylporphyrin (TPP).

〔目的〕車椅子のリクライニング角度が呼吸機能，および呼吸機能測定中の呼吸筋活動に及ぼす影響を検討することであった．〔対象〕健常男子大学生27名．〔方法〕車椅子のリクライニング条件として，最も快適と感じる角度（BASE），それより10°前傾（FORWARD），10°後傾（BACKWARD）の3条件を設定した．呼吸機能と呼吸筋の筋活動を測定し，条件間で比較した．〔結果〕呼吸機能は，ERVにおいてFORWARD条件が他2条件よりも有意に増大した．スパイロメトリー中の筋活動については，最大呼気相において外腹斜筋の筋活動はリクライニングの角度条件間に差が認められた．〔結語〕搭乗者が快適と感じるリクライニング角度よりもわずかに前傾することで，外腹斜筋の活動が増加し，ERVが増大する可能性が示唆された．

TAD1 (Triticum aestivum defensin 1) is induced during cold acclimation in winter wheat and encodes a plant defensin with antimicrobial activity. In this study, we demonstrated that recombinant TAD1 protein inhibits hyphal growth of the snow mold fungus, Typhula ishikariensis in vitro. Transgenic wheat plants overexpressing TAD1 were created and tested for resistance against T. ishikariensis. Leaf inoculation assays revealed that overexpression of TAD1 confers resistance against the snow mold. In addition, the TAD1-overexpressors showed resistance against Fusarium graminearum, which causes Fusarium head blight, a devastating disease in wheat and barley. These results indicate that TAD1 is a candidate gene to improve resistance against multiple fungal diseases in cereal crops.

In response to cold, Escherichia coli produces cold shock proteins (CSPs) that have essential roles in cold adaptation as RNA chaperones. Here, we demonstrate that Arabidopsis cold shock domain protein 3 (AtCSP3), which shares a cold shock domain with bacterial CSPs, is involved in the acquisition of freezing tolerance in plants. AtCSP3 complemented a cold-sensitive phenotype of the E. coli CSP quadruple mutant and displayed nucleic acid duplex melting activity, suggesting that AtCSP3 also functions as an RNA chaperone. Promoter-GUS transgenic plants revealed tissue-specific expression of AtCSP3 in shoot and root apical regions. When exposed to low temperature, GUS activity was extensively induced in a broader region of the roots. In transgenic plants expressing an AtCSP3-GFP fusion, GFP signals were detected in both the nucleus and cytoplasm. An AtCSP3 knock-out mutant (atcsp3-2) was sensitive to freezing compared with wild-type plants under non-acclimated and cold-acclimated conditions, whereas expression of C-repeat-binding factors and their downstream genes during cold acclimation was not altered in the atcsp3-2 mutant. Overexpression of AtCSP3 in transgenic plants conferred enhanced freezing tolerance over wild-type plants. Together, the data demonstrated an essential role of RNA chaperones for cold adaptation in higher plants.

CEBP, a nuclear-encoded chloroplast protein, has been previously cloned as a putative transcription factor involved in ethylene signaling in carnation development and senescence. In order to more clearly define CEBP role and function, we carried out experiments to define its pattern of mRNA abundance and possible subcellular localization. Changes in CEBP mRNA abundance showed a dramatic drop from anthesis to open flower stage of development immediately preceding the ethylene climacteric associated with flower senescence. A similar but less dramatic decrease in CEBP was observed upon ethylene exposure, again before endogenous climacteric ethylene was observed. The pattern of CEBP mRNA abundance suggests a response to or involvement in the initial steps of the petal senescence process. GFP co-localization showed that a GFP–CEBP construct was directed to the nucleus, whereas a CEBP–GFP construct localized to the chloroplast. Nuclear localization was expected as CEBP was cloned as an ethylene-responsive element-binding protein or transcription factor. The role and function of CEBP in the chloroplast, however, remains unclear. Future lines of inquiry based on our results are discussed.

〔目的〕先行研究において，急性期の筋炎患者の筋力評価として有用性を示した3項目総和筋力（sum）が，CK値が正常化した安定期においても有用であるかを検討するため，30週間以上にわたって筋力と病勢を反映するクレアチンキナーゼ（CK）の推移を，プレドニン（PSL）内服量とともに追跡し，それらの関連性を検討することを目的とした。〔対象〕女性5症例（36.2±12.7 歳）であった。〔方法〕筋力測定は徒手筋力計を用い，頸部屈曲筋力（HU），肩関節外転筋力，下肢伸展挙上筋力の3項目の筋力を測定した。同時にCK測定とPSL投与量を評価した。〔結果〕3項目の総和した筋力（sum）は，5例中4例においてCK値と負の相関関係を認めたが，その相関係数は低値であった。単一筋力ではHU筋力が最も多くの症例においてCKと相関を認めた。PSL内服量との関係においても，sumは5例中3例において負の相関を認めたのに対し，HUは4例において有意な負の相関が認められた。〔結語〕安定期においても，PM患者のsumはCKをある程度反映し得るが，急性期ほどの有用性は示されなかった。安定期PM患者を長期に追跡する場合，HU単一筋力の測定でも病勢や投薬の影響を把握し得る可能性が示唆された。

We previously reported that transferrin (Tf)-modified liposomes (Tf-L) additionally modified with a cholesterylated pH-sensitive fusogenic peptide (Chol-GALA) can release an encapsulated aqueous phase marker to cytosol via endosomal membrane fusion. However, further obstacles need to be overcome to bring the Tf-L to the level of a viral-like gene delivery system. In this study, we developed a novel packaging method to encapsulate condensed plasmid DNA into PEgylated Tf-L (Tf-PEG-L) to form a core-shell-type nanoparticle. The most difficult challenge was to provide a mechanism of escape for the condensed core from endosome to cytosol in the presence of polyethylene glycol (PEG). We hypothesized that a membrane-introduced Chol-GALA and a PEgylated GALA would interact synergistically to induce membrane fusion between liposome and endosome. By simultaneously incorporating Chol-GALA into the membrane of Tf-PEG-L and GALA at tips of PEG chains, a condensed core was released into cytosol, and transfection activity increased 100-fold. We concluded that topological control was responsible for the synergistic effect of GALA derivatives introduced on Tf-PEG-L.

［目的］本研究の目的は，変性による第4腰椎の椎体動揺性（前方並進）が間欠性跛行（NIC）に及ぼす影響について検討することであった。［対象］椎体動揺性（前方並進）を呈する変性腰椎すべり症（DLS）を罹患する女性患者28例（65.9±7.9歳）であった。［方法］NICは，神経症状によってそれ以上歩行が継続できない距離（WC）を測定し，それに反映させた。動揺率は矢状面上レントゲン写真を用い，中間位，体幹後屈位，前屈位の3肢位における第5腰椎に対する第4腰椎の前方並進動揺率を測定した。また，機能評価として，指床間距離（FFD），変法ファンクショナルリーチテスト（FR）を，さらにWC測定前に30秒間の静止立位を施行した後，自覚的疼痛強度（VAS）を追加して計測した。［結果］椎体動揺率はWCと有意な関連性を認めなかった。また，FFD，FR，およびVASについても動揺率と関係性はなかったが，FR（ r = .34, p

〔目的〕生体部分肺移植が施行された一症例に対し，術後約8ヶ月間の継続的理学療法を施行し，術後12ヶ月間までの身体機能の経時的変化を追跡し，理学療法の有用性を明らかにすることを目的とした。〔対象〕対象は原因不明の肺気腫を罹患した女性であった。〔方法〕測定項目は，下肢伸展挙上（SLR）筋力，6分間歩行距離（6MWD），呼吸機能であった。〔結果〕各筋力は術後6-7ヶ月で，6MWDは6ヶ月でピークを迎えた。SLR筋力，6MWD，呼吸機能，各々の推移は相関関係を認めた。また，理学療法が終了して約4ヵ月後の術後12ヶ月時点のSLR筋力と6MWDは術後4-5ヶ月時点の値まで低下していた。〔結語〕術後の集中的理学療法は身体機能の回復に影響を及ぼし，継続的理学療法は身体機能の維持のために有用である可能性が示唆された。

［目的］本研究の目的は，変性による第4腰椎の前方すべり程度と間欠性跛行（NIC）の関連性を明らかにすることであった。［対象］変性による第4腰椎単独の前方すべりを罹患する女性患者36例（66.9 ±7.7歳）であった。［方法］矢状面上レントゲン写真を用い，中間位，体幹後屈位，前屈位の3肢位における第4腰椎の第5腰椎に対する前方すべり率を測定した。NICは，神経症状によってそれ以上歩行が継続できない距離（WC）を測定し，それに反映させた。また，WC測定前に30秒間の静止立位を施行した後，自覚的疼痛強度（VAS）を測定した。［結果］重回帰分析の結果，WCと唯一，関連を認めたのはVAS（r2=0.268, p

〔目的〕原発性肺癌に対する肺葉切除術後の離床に影響を及ぼす因子の抽出を行うことを目的とした。〔対象〕術前，あるいは術後に理学療法が介入した60例（66.9±11.3歳，男性42例，女性18例）であった。〔方法〕離床を約50 mの連続歩行が可能になることとし，それまでに要した日数を記録した。それに影響候補因子として，術前呼吸機能，術前理学療法の有無，手術方法，手術部位，年齢，性別，術前BMIについて測定した。〔結果〕術後の連続歩行獲得までに要した日数に影響を及ぼす因子は認めなかった。しかし，離床までに術後1週間以上を要した患者6例の特徴は，80歳以上の高齢，高度の気流制限，術後の疼痛，BMI低値であった。〔結論〕術後合併症のリスクファクターを持つ患者に対しては，術後早期の離床と術前における耐運動能の増強を図ることが周術期理学療法の主要な役割として考えられた。

本研究は，独自に考案した徒手筋力計を用い，多発筋炎8例，皮膚筋炎1例（平均44.8歳，男性3例，女性6例）の頸屈曲，肩関節外転，および下肢伸展挙上筋力の3動作筋力を経時的に測定した。その結果，3動作の総和した筋力は，全例においてクレアチンキナーゼと相関関係を認めた。このことから，3動作の総和筋力は，個人の全身筋力として反映することができ，さらに継時的な測定結果は多発筋炎・皮膚筋炎の病勢を反映するため，急性期のリハビリテーションにおいてその評価と治療効果判定を行う上で有用であることが示唆された。

The cold-induced wheat WCSP1 protein belongs to the cold shock domain (CSD) protein family. In prokaryotes and eukaryotes, the CSD functions as a nucleic acid-binding domain. Here, we demonstrated that purified recombinant WCSP1 is boiling soluble and binds ss/dsDNA and mRNA. Furthermore, boiled-WCSP1 retained its characteristic nucleic acid-binding activity. A WCSP1 deletion mutant, containing only a CSD, lost ssDNA/RNA-binding activity; while a mutant containing the CSD and the first glycine-rich region (GR) displayed the activity. These data indicated that the first GR of WCSP1 is necessary for the binding activity but is not for the heat stability of the protein.

We proposed an optical head using two laser diodes, which can control each plane of polarization of the two beams from the laser diode individually. The optical head makes it possible to decrease crosstalk light markedly by spatially isolating two beams during playback. An optical disk apparatus employing the optical head was constructed and the two optical spots were aligned on an optical disk at an interval of approximately 10 µm. Writing and reading in parallel were performed using the two blue-violet beams. We obtained a crosstalk intensity of -48 dB against carrier intensity and demonstrated operation at a bit rate of 200 Mbps.