Archive of Journal
Volume 70, Issue 1, Jan. 2014

TEACHER IDENTITY-FORMING PROCESS IN JAPANESE PUBLIC NURSERY SCHOOL

Volume 70, Jan 2014

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Abstract: This research intends to find out the teacher identity-forming process in public nursery school by using TEM (Trajectory Equifinality Model) and examine the features of the formation process. As a result, it is shown that the forming process is divided into perceptive, formative and tentative stages, and that transfer to other nursery school becomes the catalyst for teachers to make the concept of ideal childcare to establish their individual identity as nursery teachers. Study on the features of the forming process indicates that: (1) identity-forming process is not only performed personally within the teacher but also largely affected by another person or the practice community consisting of nusery shool teachers; (2) distinctive practice provided by each nursery school serve as a base for teacher identity-forming process.

Author(s): Taku Kousokabe

Selenium Derivatives as Cancer Preventive Agents

Volume 70, Jan 2014

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Abstract: The role of selenium in the prevention of cancer has been recently established by laboratory experiments, clinical trials, and epidemiological data. Most of the effects are related to the function of selenium in antioxidant enzyme systems. Animal data, epidemiological data, and intervention trials have shown a clear role for selenium derivatives in both prevention of specific cancers and antitumorigenic effects in postinitiation phases of cancer. Methods: Selenazolidine prodrugs (SCA) of selenocysteine were synthesized by the reaction of selenocysteine with the appropriate carbonyl derivative. Male CF1 mice were treated daily for 7 days with equi-selenium (1.25 mg Se/kg) doses of each agent, by either the intraperitoneal (ip) or intragastric (ig). route and the effects compared with those of selenocystine. Hepatic parameters were determined 24 hours after the last dose.The efficacy of SCA in reducing NNK [4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone]-induced lung adenomas in female A/J mice, a model for tobacco-related lung tumorigenesis, has been investigated with selenazolidines in the diet for 1 month prior to carcinogen administration and during the subsequent 4 months of tumor development. Results: In general, few significant (p <0.05) changes were seen with ig as compared to ip administration. 2-butylSCA, 2-cyclohexylSCA, 2-phenylSCA and 2-oxoSCA were chemopreventive, significantly reducing mean lung tumor numbers from the 10.9 of unsupplemented controls to 4.7, 5.3, 2.8 and 4.7, respectively. When selenazolidine supplementation began three days after carcinogen administration (i.e., post-initiation), 2-butylSCA, 2-cyclohexylSCA, and 2-oxoSCA were chemopreventive. In both regimens, selenocystine was also chemopreventive. Both 2-butylSCA and 2-phenylSCA retained their chemopreventive activity (44% and 40% tumor number reduction, respectively), when the supplementation was shortened and restricted to a pre-initiation period (days ?9 to?2). Conclusions: Although this study has not identified the mechanism, it firmly establishes that 2-substituted selenazolidine- 4(R)-carboxylic acids possess chemopreventive activity against NNK-induced lung tumors in a murine model. Dependent on the nature of the 2-substituent, the chemopreventive activity can arise from changes elicited in the post-initiation period, similar to selenocystine, or in the pre-initiation period.

Author(s): ABOUL-FADL T

Identification of Human Remains Using mtDNA Sequence Analysis in Morocco

Volume 70, Jan 2014

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Abstract: Today, mtDNA typing is utilized primarily in cases in which the nuclear DNA is too degraded or cannot be recovered in sufficient quantities to be typed. Laboratory of Genetic of Royal Gendarmerie in Morocco is actively involved in using mtDNA for forensic identifications of human skeletal remains. The mitochondrial DNA analysis method was established in laboratory for identification of human skeletal remains by typing bone samples obtained from four forensic cases of unidentified skeletal remains. Mitochondrial DNA sequences of two hypervariable regions HVI and HVII in the control region were determined. Reproducible results were obtained for bones and teeth up to 52 years old. Bone and teeth samples were pulverized to fine powder, decalcified and DNA was extracted. A 341-bp fragment from HVI and a 267-bp fragment from HVII of the mtDNA control region were amplified. After sequencing of the PCR products, mitotypes were compared to the revised Cambridge Reference Sequence (rCRS) and a phylogenetic tree was built.

Author(s): El Amri H, El Ossmani H

Pharmacokinetics and Pharmacodynamics of Amphotericin B and its Lipid Formulations

Volume 70, Jan 2014

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Abstract: Because of its broad spectrum, the polyene amphotericin B (AMB) has still an important role in treatment of invasive fungal infections. It is eliminated unchanged via the bile and the urine. However, its use is limited by infusion related adverse events and by its nephro-toxicity. Three less toxic lipid formulations are available, displaying different composition of their lipid moieties and thus different particle size and shape. Liposomal AMB (LAMB) comprises small uni-laminar vesicles. Its volume of distributions is small, its half-life is short and high plasma concentrations are achieved. AMB lipid complex (ABLC) forms large ribbon-like structures resulting in a large volume of distribution a half-life of about 1 week whereas only low plasma level are reached. The 3rd lipid formulation, AMB colloidal dispersion (ABCD) displays intermediate plasma levels, half-life and volume of distribution. Methods: AMB pharmacokinetics was analyzed in 18 critically ill patients on treatment with lipid-formulated AMB (13 requiring hemofiltration). Lipid-associated and liberated AMB were separated by solid phase extraction and quantified by high performance liquid chromatography. AMB tissue distribution was assessed in autopsy sample obtained from 32 patients who had died during therapy with lipid formulated AMB. Results: In critically patients, mean peak plasma levels (Cmax) of liberated AMB amounted to 0.5 ?g/ml after infusion of LAMB or ABCD, whereas Cmax of total AMB was 3.4 ?g/ml and 0.8 ?g after ABCD. The clearance (CL) of liberated AMB was 0.2 l/kg/h (CL of LAMB [lipid-formulated] = 0.08 l/kg/h, CL of ABCD = 3.0 l/kg/h). AMB-pharmacokinetics on and off hemofiltration were similar. Tissue concentrations of 100 ?g/g were reached in the liver, 70?g/g in the spleen. Lung concentrations were significantly higher after ABCD than after LAMB treatment (33 vs.12 ?g/g). Levels in myocardium and brain were 3 ?g/g and 1 ?g/g, respectively. Conclusions: 1) The lipid-associated moieties of AMB lipid formulations display considerable differences in their pharmacokinetics whereas pharmacokinetics of the liberated AMB fraction is independent from the preparation administered. 2) No dose adjustment is required during hemofiltration. 3) AMB accumulates in liver and spleen, tissue concentrations in lung and kidneys are intermediate and low in myocardium and brain.

Author(s): BELLMANN R

The TTC-Atenea System: Researching Opportunities in the Field of Art-theoretical Terminology

Volume 70, Jan 2014

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Abstract: The purpose of this presentation is to demonstrate the research opportunities that the TTC-ATENEA system offers to specialists in Art Theory. Principally, we will focus on those functionalities that are able to assist specialists in the interpretation of the theoretical discourses, a complex task due to the ambiguity and inaccuracy that distinguish this type of artistic terminology.

Author(s): Nuria Rodriguez

Observed Dynamics of Surface pCO2 in Lake Superior

Volume 70, Jan 2014

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Abstract: Carbon fluxes from large water bodies may be important to understanding regional and continental carbon budgets. The Laurentian Great Lakes, with a surface area that comprises 3% of the continental United States may play an important role in the continental carbon budget, particularly in the upper Mid West, a region of focus by the North American Carbon Program (NACP). We examine mechanisms of carbon fluxes from Lake Superior at small and large spatial and temporal scales using available data. In the western arm, we consider the relationship between temperature, biological activity and pCO2 at daily to monthly time scales during the summer of 2001. We find that springtime pCO2 is determined predominantly by temperature, but after the Lake warms and stratifies, biological activity can draw down CO2 and rapidly decrease near-surface pCO2. The magnitude of the lake-wide flux is considered using a reanalysis of biannual lake-wide surveys from the USEPA and is coupled with an assessment of our current understanding of terrestrial carbon inputs. We link our analysis to a coupled physicalbiogeochemical model of the Lake to improve our understanding of the lake carbon budget, its spatial and temporal variability, and to quantitatively improve the carbon budget.

Author(s): ATILLA N., MCKINLEY G.A., BENNINGTON V., URBAN N.R., WU C.H., DESAI A.