Dach1 transcription factor regulates the expression of peripheral node addressin and lymphocyte trafficking in lymph nodes.

Lymphocytes regulate the immune response by circulating between the vascular and lymphatic systems. High endothelial venules, HEVs, special blood vessels expressing selective adhesion molecules, such as PNAd and MAdCAM-1, mediate naïve lymphocyte migration from the vasculature into the lymph nodes and Peyer's patches. We have identified that DACH1 is abundantly expressed in developing HEV-type endothelial cells. DACH1 showed a restricted expression pattern in lymph node blood vessels during the late fetal and early neonatal periods, corresponding to HEV development. The proportion of MAdCAM-1+ and CD34+ endothelial cells is reduced in the lymph nodes of neonatal conventional and vascular-specific Dach1-deficient mice. Dach1-deficient lymph nodes in adult mice demonstrated a lower proportion of PNAd+ cells and lower recruitment of intravenously administered lymphocytes from GFP transgenic mice. These findings suggest that DACH1 promotes the expression of HEV-selective adhesion molecules and mediates lymphocyte trafficking across HEVs into lymph nodes.

Formal and informal support and the performance of new start-ups: a quantile regression analysis.

Using survey data from the Japan Finance Corporation, we investigate whether formal or informal support contributes to the performance of new start-up enterprises. We apply ordinary least squares (OLS) and quantile regression to explain the achievement rate of monthly sales. The results of the OLS estimation suggest that formal support has negative effects on the achievement rate, whereas informal support has positive effects. From the results of the quantile regression analysis, the estimated coefficients by quantiles indicate that high-performing enterprises are not affected significantly by formal and informal supports in positive or negative directions, whereas low-performing enterprises are affected strongly in positive or negative directions. These results imply that encouraging the start-ups through formal/informal supports has negative/positive effects on achieving their expected performance. Although it is difficult to predict whether entrepreneurs will perform well before they start an enterprise, informal support has little effect on high-performing enterprises.

A Prototype Sensor System Using Fabricated Piezoelectric Braided Cord for Work-Environment Measurement during Work from Home.

We proposed a new prototype sensor system to understand the workload of employees during telework. The goal of sensing using such a system is to index the degree of stress experienced by employees during work and recognize how to improve their work environment. Currently, to realize this, image processing technology with a Web camera is generally used for vital sign sensing. However, it creates a sense of discomfort at work because of a strong sense of surveillance. To truly evaluate a working environment, it is necessary that an employee be unaware of the sensor system and for the system to be as unobtrusive as possible. To overcome these practical barriers, we have developed a new removable piezoelectric sensor incorporated in a piezoelectric poly-L-lactic acid (PLLA) braided cord. This cord is soft and flexible, and it does not cause any discomfort when attached to the cushion cover sheet. Thus, it was possible to measure the workload of an employee working from home without the employee being aware of the presence of a sensor. Additionally, we developed a system for storing data in a cloud system. We succeeded in acquiring continuous long-term data on the vital signs of employees during telework using this system. The analysis of the data revealed a strong correlation between behavior and stress.