Electrochemical Deposition of Fe/FeOOH Forest for Oxygen Evolution Catalysts

Asako Taniguchi,Takako Nakamura,Toyohiko J. Konno 한국표면공학회 2023 한국표면공학회 학술발표회 초록집 Vol.2023 No.11-1

Non-invasive imaging biomarkers for liver steatosis in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease: present and future

Asako Nogami,Masato Yoneda,Michihiro Iwaki,Takashi Kobayashi,Yasushi Honda,Yuji Ogawa,Kento Imajo,Satoru Saito,Atsushi Nakajima 대한간학회 2023 Clinical and Molecular Hepatology(대한간학회지) Vol.29 No.-

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease is currently the most common chronic liver disease, affecting up to 25% of the global population. Simple fatty liver, in which fat is deposited in the liver without fibrosis, has been regarded as a benign disease in the past, but it is now known to be prognostic. In the future, more emphasis should be placed on the quantification of liver fat. Traditionally, fatty liver has been assessed by histological evaluation, which requires an invasive examination; however, technological innovations have made it possible to evaluate fatty liver by non-invasive imaging methods, such as ultrasonography, computed tomography, and magnetic resonance imaging. In addition, quantitative as well as qualitative measurements for the detection of fatty liver have become available. In this review, we summarize the currently used qualitative evaluations of fatty liver and discuss quantitative evaluations that are expected to further develop in the future.

Biodegradable Nanogel-Integrated Hydrogels for Sustained Protein Delivery

Asako Shimoda,Kazunari Akiyoshi,Yuka Yamamoto,Shin-ichi Sawada 한국고분자학회 2012 Macromolecular Research Vol.20 No.3

Polysaccharide nanogel-crosslinked hydrogels for sustained protein delivery systems were prepared using acryloyl group-modified cholesterol-bearing pullulan (CHPOA) as a building block and multiarmed poly(ethylene glycol) (PEGSH) with thiol groups as a cross-linker. Immobilized nanogels were released by the cleavage of ester bonds between the nanogels and cross-linkers according to environmental factors such as pH and the presence of serum. Fluorescein-isothiocyanate-labeled insulin (FITC-Ins)-containing hydrogel was prepared by the cross-linking of FITC-Ins-complexed nanogel and PEGSH. The protein-complexed nanogels were gradually released from the hydrogel by hydrolysis, and then the proteins in the nanogel were released by exchange reactions in the presence of bovine serum albumin. The CHPOA-PEGSH hydrogel is useful as a sustained protein delivery system.

Sugar-Rich Food Intake Is Negatively Associated with Plasma Pentraxin 3 Levels

Asako Zempo-Miyaki,Hiroshi Kumagai,Koichiro Tanahashi,Hirofumi Zempo,Takeshi Otsuki,Seiji Maeda 대한비만학회 2023 Journal of obesity & metabolic syndrome Vol.32 No.4

Background: Levels of pentraxin 3 (PTX3), an anti-inflammatory cardioprotective protein, increase after weight loss in obese men and aerobic exercise in non-obese adults. However, the effect of nutritional characteristics on PTX3 levels remains unclear. This population-based, cross-sectional study investigated the association between circulating PTX3 levels and food intake in Japanese adults. Methods: We hypothesized that the consumption of high amounts of high-sugar foods would lead to low plasma PTX3 levels, resulting in obesity. This study included 327 participants categorized depending on the consumption of the recommended amount of confectionary and sugar-sweetened beverages (CSSB) into high and low groups. Results: PTX3 levels were significantly lower in the high CSSB group than in the low CSSB group. Biological sex was the strongest effector of PTX3 levels. Moreover, the intake of Tsukudani and CSSB, as well as some metabolic syndrome factors, also affect PTX3 levels. In the groups categorized by sex and age, the determinants of PTX3 levels differed. Body mass index, waist circumference (WC), and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) were significantly associated with PTX3 levels in women. Tsukudani, HDL-C, heart rate, saturated fatty acids, systolic blood pressure, and CSSB were associated with PTX3 levels in individuals aged >65 years. Conclusion: Our results show that circulating PTX3 levels are affected by sex, sugar-rich foods, and metabolic syndrome characteristics (WC, HDL-C).

Prolonged Blood Circulation of Small Interfering RNA by Bottlebrush-type Copolymers

Asako Yamayoshi,Arihiro Kano,Takeshi Yamano,Sung Won Choi,Motoki Takagi,Ayumi Sato,Miwa Hiral,Akira Shimamoto,Atsushi Maruyama 한국고분자학회 2006 한국고분자학회 학술대회 연구논문 초록집 Vol.2006 No.10

Nutritional condition in the dry period is related to the incidence of postpartum subclinical endometritis in dairy cattle

Taniguchi Asako,Nishikawa Tatsuya,Morita Yasuhiro 아세아·태평양축산학회 2021 Animal Bioscience Vol.34 No.4

Objective: Endometritis is a major disease, that causes infertility in cattle, and is usually categorized as clinical or subclinical endometritis (SCE). The nutritional condition during the dry period is important for recovery after the last stage of the lactation period, and for postpartum production and reproduction. This study aimed to clarify the relationship between nutritional and metabolic characteristics in the dry period, and the risk of postpartum SCE. Methods: Multiparous Holstein dairy cows (n = 25, raised in a tied stall) were used. Endometrial cytological analysis was performed around 30 days post-partum, with 5% to 14% polymorphonuclear (PMN) as a cut-off point to define SCE. Serum levels of glucose, non-esterified fatty acids, β-hydroxybutyric acid (BHBA), blood urea nitrogen, total cholesterol, aspartate aminotransferase, γ-glutamyl transpeptidase, calcium, phosphorus, and magnesium were measured in the cows at the dry period to evaluate energy status, protein metabolism, and mineral metabolism. Results: The incidence of SCE in the cows was 60.0% (n = 15/25) and the mean PMN% in postpartum cows diagnosed as SCE was 8.05%±2.6%. Overall, 17 and 8 samples were collected from the cows in the far-off and close-up periods, respectively. The serum concentration of BHBA in the far-off period and serum glucose concentration in the closeup period were correlated with postpartum PMN% (r = 0.62, p<0.01; r = –0.74, p<0.05, respectively). Serum levels of calcium and magnesium in the dry period were associated with the incidence of postpartum SCE (healthy vs SCE cows, p<0.05). Conclusion: Blood levels of glucose, BHBA, calcium, and magnesium in dry periods could be useful parameters for predicting the risk of postpartum SCE. The present study also suggests that management in the close-up period is essential for promoting recovery from calving fatigue. Objective: Endometritis is a major disease, that causes infertility in cattle, and is usually categorized as clinical or subclinical endometritis (SCE). The nutritional condition during the dry period is important for recovery after the last stage of the lactation period, and for postpartum production and reproduction. This study aimed to clarify the relationship between nutritional and metabolic characteristics in the dry period, and the risk of postpartum SCE.Methods: Multiparous Holstein dairy cows (n = 25, raised in a tied stall) were used. Endometrial cytological analysis was performed around 30 days post-partum, with 5% to 14% polymorphonuclear (PMN) as a cut-off point to define SCE. Serum levels of glucose, non-esterified fatty acids, β-hydroxybutyric acid (BHBA), blood urea nitrogen, total cholesterol, aspartate aminotransferase, γ-glutamyl transpeptidase, calcium, phosphorus, and magnesium were measured in the cows at the dry period to evaluate energy status, protein metabolism, and mineral metabolism.Results: The incidence of SCE in the cows was 60.0% (n = 15/25) and the mean PMN% in postpartum cows diagnosed as SCE was 8.05%±2.6%. Overall, 17 and 8 samples were collected from the cows in the far-off and close-up periods, respectively. The serum concentration of BHBA in the far-off period and serum glucose concentration in the closeup period were correlated with postpartum PMN% (r = 0.62, p<0.01; r = –0.74, p<0.05, respectively). Serum levels of calcium and magnesium in the dry period were associated with the incidence of postpartum SCE (healthy vs SCE cows, p<0.05).Conclusion: Blood levels of glucose, BHBA, calcium, and magnesium in dry periods could be useful parameters for predicting the risk of postpartum SCE. The present study also suggests that management in the close-up period is essential for promoting recovery from calving fatigue.

DEVELOPMENT OF FIRE RESISTANCE MATERIAL OF HIGH WATER CONTENT

Yutaka Asako 대한설비공학회 2003 대한설비공학회 강연회 및 기타간행물 Vol.- No.-

만엽에 나타난 「 아이 」 : 시(가(歌))의 장면과 이미지를 통하여 the Images of the Children and the Scenes they appeared in poems

Saito, Asako 한국일어일문학회 1999 日語日文學硏究 Vol.35 No.1

한 존재가 어떤 호칭으로 불려지는 것은 그것이 어떻게 인식되고 있는가를 반영하는 것으로, 호칭의 다양성 및 구별은 각각의 발생 이유와 사정을 가지고 있는 것이다. 본고는 万葉集에 나타난 「子(こ, 아이)」 라는 호칭에 주목하여, 그 이미지와 장면의 분석을 통해 이 말이 시(歌)의 세계에 도입 된 배경을 고찰하려는 것이다. 万葉集에는 연령과는 무관하게 부모의 대립개념 사용된 「子」 가 들어간 시가 7수, 영아라는 의미로 사용된 「みどりご」가 9수, 그리고 아직 성인이 아니라는 「わらは」가 7수 포함되어 있다. 「子」 는 行路및 견당사파견, 그리고 도시에서 읍으로의 이동이라는 이별의 장면에 많이 나타나며, 주로3.4기에 집중되어 있다. 「みどりご」도 제2기의 枾本人麻呂의 泣血哀慟歌에 처음 쓰여진 이래, 대부분 그 類歌라 할 수 있는 제3기 이후의 亡妻挽歌에 많다. 특히 「行路死人歌」에서는 어머니에의 귀속감과 친밀감과 더불어 「子」가 사용되고 있는데, 이 같은 아이와 어머니와의 인연의 깊이는 당시의 장·단기에 걸친 광범위한 「通い婚」의 관습에 의한 「母子+父」이라는 가족형태와도 깊이 관련되어 있다고 말할 수 있다. 그런가하면 권16의「竹取翁の歌」에 있어서는 유아에서 성인에 이르기까지의 남자아이의 성장이 그 머리형의 변화로서 묘사되어 있는데, 이것은 어른과 아이를 구별한다는 인식이 높았던 것을 의미하는 것이다. 亡妻挽歌에서의 「みどりご」의 이미지는 「みどり」가 초목의 새순을 가리키는 말로, 생명이 싹트기 시작한 어린잎과 새순을 하루가 다르게 커 가는 유아의 모습과 오버랩시키고 있다. 또한 제3기의 山上憶良와 제4기의 大伴坂上郞는 소중한 아이를 「백옥」에 비유하고 있다. 전자에서는 「みどりご」가 아내의 부수적 존재로 표현되고 있지만, 후자에 있어서는 아이의 존재 그 자체가 부모에 있어 하나의 가치라는 점이 강하게 인식되어지고 있다. 이처럼 일상생활에 있어 지나치게 강한 부수적 존재였던「子」를 万葉集3,4기에 있어 새삼스럽게 인식시키고, 시로 읊었던 것은 자신을 사회적인 어떤 위치에 놓고, 철저히 그 위치에서 노래하는 방식이 가능하게 되었기 때문이기도 하지만, 그 배경에는 율령제도의 정착과 관료의 제도화라고 하는 새로운 시대의 변화가 있었다고 여겨진다.

Macroeconomic Adjustment to the Lehman Shock in Japan

Kazumi Asako,Katsuaki Ochiai 대외경제정책연구원 2010 East Asian Economic Review Vol.14 No.1

In this paper we overview the macroeconomic adjustment to the Lehman shock in Japan. After retrospecting the Japanese economy since the Plaza Accord which led Japan to the bubble economy and the ‘lost decade’ we explain the business cycles in Japan and show related macroeconomic indicators since as early as the 1980s. Then we trace the macroeconomic responses of the Japanese economy to the Lehman shock by selectively looking at such aspects as the contribution of GDP growth by expenditure components, from peak to trough of the CI(composite index), production and inventory adjustment, and employment adjustment. We also supplement our analyses by observing additional factors including export, investment, consumption, exchange rate, and the stock market. The roles played by policy measures and expectations formation are also emphasized to explain why and how the Japanese economy did not develop as forecasted against the ‘once in a hundred years’ crisis.

고대가요에 있어서 「 산(山)」 이 내포한 모성적 측면에 대하여

Saito , Asako 한국일어일문학회 1996 日語日文學硏究 Vol.28 No.1

本橋는 궁중의식관련가요인 『日本書紀』77번 가요와 葬禮를 노래한『萬葉集』集13권의 3331번 가요의 분석을 통해, 山과 母性과의 깊은 상관성을 밝혀 내려는 데 그 목적이 있다. 우선, 고대인의 大地에 대한 母神신앙에 앞서, 수렵시대의 모선신앙이 山이었음을 고려할 때,『日本書紀』77번가요의「隱國」이라는 詩語는「母胎回歸」를, 『萬葉集』13권의 3331번 가요의「靑幡의 忍坂山」이라는 비유는 단순한 서경묘사가 아닌「母性」과 「再生」을 상징적으로 표현하고 있음을 고찰하였다. 한편, 신라의 산악신앙에 있어, 山과 山神의 이름과 시조탄생신화와의 관련분석을 통해, 신라인에게 있어서도 「山」과 「母性」과 깊은 관련이 있었음을 지적했다. 따라서, 『日本書紀』 允恭紀條의 신라인의「山찬양」도 이같은 관점에서 이해할 수 있으리라 생각된다. 이상, 古代人의「山」에 대한 사고에 있어서의「母胎回歸」측면에서의 관찰을 통해 한일고대가요에 있어 공통적인 시적표현의식으로서의 「山」이 갖는 母性的側面을 밝히고자 하였다.