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Purpose: The risk of metabolic syndrome (MetS) is assessed based on the presence of risk factors that include dyslipidemia, hyperglycemia, hypertension and obesity. In this study, we assessed the risk of MetS using principle component (PC) analysis of MetS diagnostic parameters and examined whether the resulting eigenvalues are associated with the circulating concentrations of inflammatory cytokines [interleukin (IL)-1β and IL-6] and a marker for insulin sensitivity (adiponectin) in middle-aged Japanese men without treatment for metabolic diseases. Materials: We conducted a cross-sectional study of 308 Japanese men without treatment for metabolic diseases aged 40-69 years who participated in health checkups in Japan. We calculated the PC1 score from the following MetS diagnostic parameters: body mass index (BMI), fasting blood glucose, diastolic blood pressure, triacylglycerol and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol. We compared the relationship between PC1 scores and other clinical parameters, including IL-1β, IL-6 and adiponectin, by Spearman's rank correlation coefficient analyses and Jonckheere-Terpstra test. Results: The associations for most clinical parameters were higher with the PC1 score than with other MetS diagnostic parameters. Homeostasis model assessment-insulin resistance, an index of insulin resistance, showed stronger associations with PC1 score than with MetS diagnostic parameters. Significant associations for IL-1β, IL-6 and adiponectin were observed with the PC1 score, BMI and triacylglycerol; these associations were higher with the PC1 score than with BMI and triacylglycerol. Conclusions: The present results show that the PC1 score is closely associated with parameters of MetS, inflammation and insulin resistance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights • Homologous model created from 3D CT enabled quantitative analysis of the coxal bone. • Sex of 94% of the samples was correctly assigned by measuring point-to-point distances. • Age-dependent principal components (PC) were detected with PC analysis of the models. • Age-dependent morphological changes of the coxal bone were visualized by shifting PCs. • Morphological disparity between right and left coxal bone was measured and visualized. Abstract Sexual dimorphisms and age-dependent morphological features of the human coxal bone were quantitatively analyzed using homologous models created from three-dimensional (3D) computed tomography images of the pelvis (male: 514 samples, female: 388 samples, age 16–100). Bilateral average coxal images of each sex and age decade were generated separately through principle component analyses (PCA). By measuring average point-to-point distances of 8472 corresponding points (average corresponding point differences [ACPDs]) between each homologous coxal image and the average images, the sex of more than 93% of the samples was correctly assigned. Some principal components (PCs) detected in PCA of the homologous models of the samples correlated fairly well with age and are affected by features of the curvature of the iliac crest, the arcuate line and the greater sciatic notch. Moreover, separate PCA using the average images of each age decade successfully detected the first PCs, which were strongly correlated with age. However, neither multiple regression analysis using PCs related to age nor comparison of ACPDs with the average images of each age decade could produce accurate results for age decade assignment of unknown (blind) samples. Therefore, more detailed analysis of age-dependent morphological features would be necessary for actual age estimation. In addition, some laterality or left and right shape difference of the coxal bone images was also elucidated, and was more significant in females. Analysis of 3D structures using homologous models and PCA appears to be a potential technique to detect subsistent morphological changes of bones. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Simulation-based education and peer-assisted learning (PAL) are both known as useful educational methods. Previous research has reported that combining these two methods are effective for training medical residents in short-term evaluation. This study was aimed to evaluate the middle- to long-term effects of simulation-based education combined with PAL on the performance of medical residents during emergency department duties. Methods: This study was designed as a case-control study and conducted over three years at Okayama University Hospital in Japan. Postgraduate-year-one medical residents were assigned to three groups: a simulation group that received simulation-based education, a lecture group that received traditional lecture-based education, and a control group that received no such prior trainings. Prior training in emergency department duties using PAL was performed as an educational intervention for the simulation and lecture groups during the clinical orientation period. The residents' medical knowledge was assessed by written examinations before and after the orientation. The performance of residents during their emergency department duties was assessed by self-evaluation questionnaires and objective-assessment checklists, following up with the residents for three months after the orientation period and collecting data on their 1st, 2nd, and 3rd emergency department duties. All the datasets collected were statistically analyzed and compared by their mean values among the three groups. Results: A total of 75 residents were included in the comparative study: 27 in the simulation group, 24 in the lecture group, and 24 in the control group. The simulation and lecture groups obtained significantly higher written examination scores than the control group. From the self-evaluation questionnaires, the simulation group reported significantly higher satisfaction in their prior training than the lecture group. No significant differences were found in the emergency department performance of the residents among the three groups. However, when evaluating the improvement rate of performance over time, all three groups showed improvement in the subjective evaluation, and only the simulation and lecture groups showed improvement in the objective evaluation. Conclusion: Simulation-based education combined with PAL is effective in improving the knowledge and satisfaction of medical residents, suggesting the possibility of improving work performance during their emergency department duties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many active volcanoes and various types of seismic activities exist in the southern part of the Northeast Japan subduction zone. One of the geologically most interesting features in this area is the sequential explosive eruptions of a group of volcanoes. The group consists of Mt. Azuma and Mt. Adatara on the volcanic front line, Mt. Bandai west of the volcanic front, and Mt. Numazawa on the back-arc side. A previous petrological study on the eruption products regarded Mt. Numazawa as an anomalous back-arc volcano because its lavas are similar to those of volcanoes on the volcanic front. The reason behind this unique connection was unclear, and hence, this study was intended to understand the deep fluids distribution beneath the area. For this purpose, a 3-D regional electrical resistivity structure was estimated from a series of wide-band magnetotelluric surveys, with 45 observation points deployed from the fore-arc to the back-arc sides. The most important feature of the resistivity structure is a large conductive zone in the central part of the area, spanning from the upper mantle to the lower crust. Interestingly, the lateral elongation of the conductor is oblique to the volcanic front line and consistent with the spatial distribution of the group of volcanoes and the low-frequency earthquake clusters around them. Therefore, the conductor most likely represents a large, elongated magmatic fluid reservoir beneath the volcanoes. Hydrous partial melting might be the cause of the enhanced conductivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polycarbamate is commonly used as an antifoulant coating on fishing nets in Japan. Although its toxicity to freshwater organisms has been reported, its toxicity to marine organisms is currently unknown. We conducted algal growth inhibition and crustacean immobilization tests to assess the effects of polycarbamate on marine organisms. We also evaluated the acute toxicity of the main components of polycarbamate, namely, dimethyldithiocarbamate and ethylenebisdithiocarbamate, to algae, which are the most sensitive tested organisms to polycarbamate. The toxicities of dimethyldithiocarbamate and ethylenebisdithiocarbamate partially explain that of polycarbamate. To assess the primary risk, we derived the predicted no-effect concentration (PNEC) for polycarbamate in a probabilistic manner using species sensitivity distributions. The 72 h no observed effect concentration (NOEC) of polycarbamate to the alga Skeletonema marinoi–dohrnii complex was 0.45 μg/L. The toxicity of dimethyldithiocarbamate may have contributed up to 72% of the toxicity observed for polycarbamate. The fifth percentile of hazardous concentration (HC5) derived from the acute toxicity values was 0.48 μg/L. Comparison of previously reported environmental polycarbamate concentrations in Hiroshima Bay, Japan, to the PNEC estimated using the minimum NOEC and HC5 suggest that polycarbamate currently poses a high ecological risk. Therefore, reducing the risk by restricting polycarbamate use is necessary. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Morphological characteristics related to sex-age class in introduced species during the early invasion stages, before further environmental adaptation, may indicate important information regarding their adaptability. For raccoons introduced to different regions in middle Japan, the results of multiple linear regression on body length showed that males were larger than females and body length increased with age class, while there was no difference between regions. The cranial size, which indicated different allometry in each sex, regressed positively according to increasing age class, body length, and body mass index in both sexes; however, it only differed between regions for females. Therefore, our results supported the hypothesis that older individuals with larger body sizes have an advantage in intrasexual selection and competition for food resources in raccoons. Considering the fact that multiple subspecies are sympatric in North America and the morphometrics of introduced raccoons in Japan were inconsistent with any of them, it is likely that hybridization occurred prior to introduction or naturalization. Further studies are necessary to demonstrate subspecific hybridization and its impact on morphological and ecological changes. Although the genetic distribution of introduced raccoons (Procyon lotor) in recent years is well known, few studies have examined their morphometrics, especially the relationships between sex and age in the introduced populations. The aim of this study was to describe the morphological characteristics of raccoons from parts of eastern and western Japan during their early invasion stages, focusing on the relationships between body length and the principal component of craniometrics, with region, sex, age class, body length, and body mass index using a regression model. The body length increased more in males than females and in the older age class, supporting the association with intrasexual selection and competition for food resources. Positive relationships for body length and body mass index were found in craniometric analyses, particularly regarding cranial size components, in addition to age class for both sexes, while cranial size also differed between regions for females. The relationship between body length and craniometrics was inconsistent with that of subspecies originating in North America. Given the sympatric distribution of haplotypes of multiple subspecies without reproductive-isolating barriers in North America and in several introduced areas, hybridization must have occurred prior to the introduction or naturalization of this species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hokkaido Native Horse (HKD) is a horse breed native to Hokkaido in Japan known for the traits such as coat color with no white spots and adaptability to the local cold climate. To examine whether those traits of HKD are conferred at the DNA level, we attempted to identify fixed DNA regions in HKD individuals, that is, the selection signatures of HKD. A comparison of genome‐wide single nucleotide polymorphism genotypes in 58 HKD individuals by principal component analysis, and cluster analysis between breeds, including HKD, and within the HKD individuals indicated the genetic independence of HKD as a breed. Tajima's D analysis and runs of homozygosity analysis identified 23 selection signatures unique to HKD (P < 0.05), and following database search found 20 traits that were associated with those selection signatures; among these traits, coat color traits, face and body markings, showed the highest important value (0.50 and 0.46). Enrichment analysis of genes in the selection signatures identified six gene ontology terms (P < 0.05), and a term related to innate immunity (regulation of defense response; GO:0031347) showed the highest positive fold enrichment value (7.13). These results provide the first scientific evidence of a genetic basis for the traits of HKD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Inherited genetic variation is associated with 6‐mercaptopurine (6‐MP) dose reduction and frequent toxicities induced by 6‐MP. However, the tolerable dose for 6‐MP is not fully predicted by the known variation in NUDT15 and TPMT among Asian children with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL). We performed a genome‐wide association study (GWAS) related to 6‐MP dose among Japanese children with ALL. This GWAS comprised 224 patients previously enrolled in Tokyo Children's Cancer Study Group clinical studies with replication attempted in 55 patients. Genome‐wide single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) genotypes were evaluated for association with average 6‐MP dose during the initial 168 days of maintenance therapy. Possible associations were observed across five gene‐coding regions, among which only variants at 13q14.2 were significant and replicated genome‐wide (rs116855232, NUDT15, β = −10.99, p = 3.7 × 10−13). Notable findings were observed for variants in AFF3 (rs75364948, p = 2.05 × 10−6) and CHST11 (rs1148407, p = 2.09 × 10−6), but were not replicated possibly due to small numbers. A previously reported candidate SNP in MTHFR was associated with higher average 6‐MP dose (rs1801133, p = 0.045), and FOLH1 (rs12574928) was associated in an evaluation of candidate regions (padjust = 0.013). This study provides strong evidence that rs116855232 in NUDT15 is the genetic factor predominantly associated with 6‐MP tolerable dose in children in Japan. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sub-annual-scale environmental and ecosystem changes since the mid-18th century were reconstructed in a semi-closed lagoon, Lake Hiruga, located along the Sea of Japan in central Japan. Lake Hiruga is one of the Mikata Five Lakes and is connected to Lake Suigetsu through an artificial tunnel, the Saga Tunnel. Analyses of siliceous phytoplankton (diatoms, silicoflagellates, and chrysophyte cysts) and elemental composition (carbon, nitrogen, sulfur) of laminated sediments were conducted to determine the impacts of irregular hazards and anthropogenic tunnel construction on the lagoon ecosystem. In this lagoon, sediment laminae were deposited after the first Saga Tunnel re-excavation in 1844–1848, and the dominant phytoplankton taxa have changed with each re-excavation. The behaviors of total nitrogen, total organic carbon, freshwater diatom taxa, and chrysophyte cysts in Lake Hiruga are strongly affected by tunnel excavation and water gate construction. In addition to anthropogenic effects, the deposits show extreme hazard impacts of the Lake Hiruga ecosystem. The peaks of marine diatom taxa, silicoflagellate abundance, and sulfur content of Lake Hiruga showed close relationships with the local earthquake event. A relatively high sea level in the coast of Sea of Japan by local subsidence induced active seawater exchange with Lake Hiruga around AD 1928–1930. Furthermore, the peaks of freshwater diatom taxa and chrysophyte cyst showed a freshening event of this lake caused by local extreme events, such as continuous flooding around AD 1900. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background/objectives: Low-carbohydrate diets (LCD) are useful for weight reduction, and 50-55% carbohydrate consumption is associated with minimal risk. Genetic differences were related to nutritional consumption, food preferences, and dietary patterns, but whether particular genetic differences in individuals influence LCD adherence is unknown.Subjects/methods: We conducted a GWAS on adherence to LCD utilizing 14,076 participants from the Japan Multi-Institutional Collaborative Cohort study. We used a previously validated semiquantitative food frequency questionnaire to estimate food consumption. Association of the imputed variants with the LCD score by Halton et al. we used linear regression analysis adjusting for sex, age, total dietary energy consumption, and components 1 to 10 by principal component analysis. We repeated the analysis with adjustment for alcohol consumption (g/day) in addition to the above-described variables.Results: Men and women combined analysis without adjustment for alcohol consumption; we found 395 variants on chromosome 12 associated with the LCD score having P values <5 × 10-8. A conditional analysis with the addition of the dosage data of rs671 on chromosome 12 as a covariate, P values for all 395 SNPs on chromosome 12 turned out to be insignificant. In the analysis with additional adjustment for alcohol consumption, we did not identify any SNPs associated with the LCD score.Conclusion: We found rs671 was inversely associated with adherence to LCD, but that was strongly confounded by alcohol consumption. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite rapid population aging and depopulation in Japan, groundwater nitrate contamination still poses serious environmental problems. One of the main factors contributing to elevated nitrate levels in Japanese groundwater sources is agricultural intensification, frequently because of increased fertilizer use. We investigated the impact of population aging and depopulation on groundwater nitrate contamination on a western Japanese island that has extensive citrus farming. In comparison to Ocho village, where the average age of farmers is 73 years, Kubi village's farmers are slightly older on average, at 76 years, and agricultural land has decreased by 46% over the past ten years, from 2005 to 2015. Ocho had 830 residents, which was twice as many as Kubi. In comparison to Ocho (4.8 mg/L), Kubi village had higher average NO3−−N concentrations (6.6 mg/L). NO3−−N contamination sources in Kubi and Ocho were determined using stable nitrogen isotopes and a Bayesian isotope mixing model. These source distributions were more strongly associated with social and land use factors. It was believed that the older farmers in Kubi employed a significant quantity of chemical fertilizers, which caused inefficient nitrogen uptake by plants, leading to increased leaching and more groundwater contamination than in Ocho. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The number of low birthweight (LBW) infants weighing below 2500 g has not decreased in Japan. This study aimed to develop an adult non-obese hyperglycemic mouse model born with LBW to study the pathogenesis. At 16.5 days of gestation, transient intrauterine ischemia (blocked blood flow in both uterine arteries for 15 min) was performed in a subgroup of pregnant mice (group I). Non-occluded dams were used as sham controls (group C). After birth, female pups in each group were weaned at 4 weeks of age and reared on the normal diet until 8 weeks of age (n = 7). Fasting blood glucose levels, serum immunoreactive insulin (IRI), and body composition were then measured. Metabolite analyses was performed on the liver tissues. Birthweight was significantly lower in group I compared with group C. Pups from group I remained underweight with low fat-free mass and showed hyperglycemia with high serum IRI and homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance levels, indicating insulin resistance. Metabolite analyses showed significantly reduced adenosine triphosphate and nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide production and increased lactic acid in group I. The pathogenesis of our non-obese hyperglycemic mouse model may be due to increased myogenic insulin resistance based on mitochondrial dysfunction and reduced lean body mass. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In areas of the Pacific Northwest (PNW), snow mold, a fungal disease with multiple causal agents, can have severe impacts on winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L. subsp. aestivum) yields. Growing tolerant varieties is the best option to manage the disease; however, genetic diversity for the trait is limited in local varieties. The winter wheat landrace PI 173438 has been used in Japan to improve snow mold tolerance but has not been used in PNW breeding programs. A doubled haploid population from a cross between PI 173438 and susceptible variety WA 8137 was used to identify novel quantitative trait loci (QTL) associated with snow mold tolerance that would be validated using marker‐assisted selection (MAS) in two separate populations. A linkage map was developed using genotypic data collected on the PI 173438/WA 8137 population, which was then used with phenotypic data in composite interval mapping for QTL analysis. Six QTL were found associated with snow mold tolerance traits, five of which originated from PI 173438. A QTL was found on chromosome 1D that has not been reported before. The remaining QTL occurred on chromosomes that were previously reported to have snow mold tolerant QTL, some of which may be identical. Several of these QTL and linked markers were suitable for testing via MAS on separate populations revealing no significant difference amongst the three or four QTL that could be tested. Such results continue to indicate the complexity of breeding for snow mold tolerance using molecular markers. Core Ideas: PI 173438 was found to possess novel QTL associated with snow mold tolerance.Complexity in snow mold tolerance contributed to challenges in validating the QTL.Marker‐assisted selection is still difficult to use in wheat on quantitative traits like snow mold tolerance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Kusatsu-Shirane volcano is one of the active volcanoes in Japan. Phreatic explosions occurred in Mt. Shirane in 1983 and most recently, in 2018, in Mt. Motoshirane. Information on the subsurface structure is crucial for understanding the activity of volcanoes with well-developed hydrothermal systems where phreatic eruptions occur. Here, we report aeromagnetic surveys conducted at low altitudes using an unmanned helicopter. The survey aimed to obtain magnetic data at a high spatial resolution to map the magnetic anomaly and infer the magnetization intensity distribution in the region immediately after the 2018 Mt. Motoshirane eruption. The helicopter used in the survey was YAMAHA FAZER R G2, an autonomously driven model which can fly along a precisely programmed course. The flight height above the ground and a measurement line spacing were set to ~ 150 m and ~ 100 m, respectively, and the total flight distance was 191 km. The measured geomagnetic total intensity was found to vary by ~ 1000 nT peak-to-peak. The estimated magnetization intensity derived from measured data showed a 100 m thick magnetized surface layer with normal polarity, composed of volcanic deposits of recent activities. Underneath, a reverse-polarity magnetization was found, probably corresponding to the Takai lava flow in the Early Quaternary period (~ 1 Ma) mapped in the region. Our results demonstrate the cost-effectiveness and accuracy of using drone magnetometers for mapping the rugged terrain of volcanoes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Background/objectives: Individual eating habits may be influenced by genetic factors, in addition to environmental factors. Previous studies suggested that adherence to Japanese food patterns was associated with a decreased risk of all-cause and cardiovascular disease mortality. We conducted a genome-wide association study (GWAS) in a Japanese population to find genetic variations that affect adherence to a Japanese food pattern.Subjects/methods: We analyzed GWAS data using 14,079 participants from the Japan Multi-Institutional Collaborative Cohort study. We made a Japanese food score based on six food groups. Association of the imputed variants with the Japanese food score was performed by linear regression analysis with adjustments for age, sex, total energy intake, alcohol intake (g/day), and principal components 1-10 omitting variants in the major histocompatibility region.Results: We found one SNP in the 14q11.2 locus that was significantly associated with the Japanese food score with P values <5 × 10-8. Functional annotation revealed that the expression levels of two genes (BCL2L2, SLC22A17) were significantly inversely associated with this SNP. These genes are known to be related to olfaction and obesity.Conclusion: We found a new SNP that was associated with the Japanese food score in a Japanese population. This SNP is inversely associated with genes link to olfaction and obesity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Food intake biomarkers can be critical tools that can be used to objectively assess dietary exposure for both epidemiological and clinical nutrition studies. While an accurate estimation of food intake is essential to unravel associations between the intake and specific health conditions, random and systematic errors affect self-reported assessments. This study aimed to clarify how habitual food intake influences the circulating plasma metabolome in a free-living Japanese regional population and to identify potential food intake biomarkers. To achieve this aim, we conducted a cross-sectional analysis as part of a large cohort study. From a baseline survey of the Tsuruoka Metabolome Cohort Study, 7,012 eligible male and female participants aged 40–69 years were chosen for this study. All data on patients' health status and dietary intake were assessed via a food frequency questionnaire, and plasma samples were obtained during an annual physical examination. Ninety-four charged plasma metabolites were measured using capillary electrophoresis mass spectrometry, by a non-targeted approach. Statistical analysis was performed using partial-least-square regression. A total of 21 plasma metabolites were likely to be associated with long-term food intake of nine food groups. In particular, the influential compounds in each food group were hydroxyproline for meat, trimethylamine-N-oxide for fish, choline for eggs, galactarate for dairy, cystine and betaine for soy products, threonate and galactarate for carotenoid-rich vegetables, proline betaine for fruits, quinate and trigonelline for coffee, and pipecolate for alcohol, and these were considered as prominent food intake markers in Japanese eating habits. A set of circulating plasma metabolites was identified as potential food intake biomarkers in the Japanese community-dwelling population. These results will open the way for the application of new reliable dietary assessment tools not by self-reported measurements but through objective quantification of biofluids [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: 'Living fossils' are testimonies of long‐term sustained ecological success, but how demographic history and natural selection contributed to their survival, resilience, and persistence in the face of Quaternary climate fluctuations remains unclear.To better understand the interplay between demographic history and selection in shaping genomic diversity and evolution of such organisms, we assembled the whole genome of Cercidiphyllum japonicum, a widespread East Asian Tertiary relict tree, and resequenced 99 individuals of C. japonicum and its sister species, Cercidiphyllum magnificum (Central Japan).We dated this speciation event to the mid‐Miocene, and the intraspecific lineage divergence of C. japonicum (China vs Japan) to the Early Pliocene. Throughout climatic upheavals of the late Tertiary/Quaternary, population bottlenecks greatly reduced the genetic diversity of C. japonicum. However, this polymorphism loss was likely counteracted by, first, long‐term balancing selection at multiple chromosomal and heterozygous gene regions, potentially reflecting overdominance, and, second, selective sweeps at stress response and growth‐related genes likely involved in local adaptation.Our findings contribute to a better understanding of how living fossils have survived climatic upheaval and maintained an extensive geographic range; that is, both types of selection could be major factors contributing to the species' survival, resilience, and persistence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding the impact of earthquakes on subaqueous environments is key for submarine paleoseismological investigations seeking to provide long‐term records of past earthquakes. For this purpose, event deposits (e.g., turbidites) are, among others, identified and stratigraphically correlated over broad areas to test for synchronous occurrence of gravity flows. Hence, detailed spatiotemporal petrographic and geochemical fingerprints of such deposits are required to advance the knowledge about sediment source and the underlying remobilization processes induced by past earthquakes. In this study, we develop for the first time in paleoseismology a multivariate statistical approach using X‐ray fluorescence core scanning, magnetic susceptibility, and wet bulk density data that allow to test, confirm, and enhance the previous visual and lithostratigraphic correlation across two isolated basins in the central Japan Trench. The statistical correlation is further confirmed by petrographic heavy grain analysis of the turbidites and additionally combined with our novel erosion model based on previously reported bulk organic carbon 14C dates. We find surficial sediment remobilization, a process whereby strong seismic shaking remobilizes the uppermost few centimeters of surficial slope sediment, to be a predominant remobilization process, which partly initiates deeper sediment remobilization downslope during strong earthquakes at the Japan Trench. These findings shed new light on source‐to‐sink transport processes in hadal trenches during earthquakes and help to assess the completeness of the turbidite paleoseismic record. Our results further suggest that shallow‐buried tephra on the slope might significantly influence sediment remobilization and the geochemical and petrographic fingerprints of the resulting event deposits. Plain Language Summary: Earthquakes can trigger widespread submarine sediment remobilization due to their strong ground shaking. The resulting deposits can be found over wide areas in subaqueous basin sequences, providing a clue to the recurrence pattern of major earthquakes. This is crucial information to assess seismic and tsunami hazards for civilization reliably. Our study uses, for the first time in submarine paleoseismology, a multivariate statistical approach based on geochemical and physical properties of sediments to improve event‐stratigraphic correlation in the central Japan Trench. We further confirm the statistical correlation by petrographic heavy grain analysis of sand bases within the event deposits. This data set is additionally combined with our novel erosion model based on age shifts between event deposits and background sediments of previously reported radiocarbon dates. Our results show that the major earthquakes mainly remobilize and move the upper few centimeters of surficial sediment from the slopes into the neighboring deeper basins. This finding holds the promise that sediment of the Japan Trench comprises a complete record of strong prehistoric earthquakes. We also find that tephra layers deposited on the slope before major earthquakes may significantly influence the sediment remobilization by earthquake shaking, as well as the resulting earthquake‐triggered deposits. Key Points: Multivariate statistics on XRF‐CS and MSCL data enhance the correlation of earthquake‐triggered event deposits in the Japan TrenchEach event deposit reveals a characteristic geochemical, physical, and petrographic fingerprintBulk organic carbon 14C and the characteristic fingerprints of event deposits suggest predominantly surficial slope sediment remobilization [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The signal crayfish, Pacifastacus leniusculus , is non-native to Japan, and its invasion may have contributed to the habitat loss of the endemic Japanese crayfish, Cambaroides japonicus. We assessed the distribution of the signal crayfish and the Japanese crayfish in small streams that flow into Lake Akan (Hokkaido, Japan), which the signal crayfish inhabits. We conducted this survey with 2 methods: analysis of environmental DNA (eDNA) and hand capture. Of the 17 streams we surveyed, we detected signal crayfish DNA in 16 streams and Japanese crayfish DNA in 9 streams. In contrast, with our hand-capture survey of the same 17 streams, we found signal crayfish in 9 streams and Japanese crayfish in 4 streams. These results suggest that the signal crayfish may have invaded almost all the small streams with culverts around Lake Akan. The presence of signal crayfish was also confirmed on the upstream side of a 69-cm-high road-crossing culvert. There were only 2 culverts above which the absence of signal crayfish was supported by eDNA analysis, suggesting that culverts have limited effectiveness against signal crayfish invasion in our study site. Active species-specific removal projects may be an effective management option to minimize the negative impacts of signal crayfish where they are already present. eDNA has great potential as a cost-effective tool to monitor crayfish range expansion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: Rifaximin (RFX), a non‐systemic antibiotic, improves liver/neuropsychological functions in patients with hepatic encephalopathy (HE). We aimed to investigate the clinical profiles associated with gut bacterial loads using exploratory data analysis and the effects of RFX on the gut microbiota of patients with HE. Methods: We analyzed the data from 17 patients with HE who underwent fecal microbiota examination in phase II/III trials in Japan. Profiles associated with genera Streptococcus, Veillonella, and Lactobacillus loads were analyzed using classification and regression trees (CART). Changes in gut microbial consortia of seven patients with HE were then assessed 2 weeks after RFX treatment by principal component analysis. Results: In the CART, the first and second divergence variables for each higher bacterial load were as follows: (i) in Streptococcus, the number connection test‐A ≥39.55 s and presence of portal‐systemic shunt; (ii) in Veillonella, serum potassium levels <4.75 mEq/L and total cholesterol level <129.5 mg/dL; and (iii) in Lactobacillus, white blood cell counts ≥3.4 × 103/μL and aspartate aminotransferase level ≥44.5 U/L. There was no significant change in total bacterial load before and after RFX treatment; however, there was a decrease in Streptococcus, Veillonella, and Lactobacillus counts after RFX treatment. Conclusion: We report clinical profiles associated with gut bacterial loads in patients with HE, and showed that RFX altered gut microbiota components associated with liver/neuropsychological functions. Thus, RFX could improve liver/neuropsychological functions through the regulation of the gut microbial consortia in patients with HE. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tree species of three growth forms (evergreen conifers, deciduous hardwoods, and evergreen hardwoods) codominate at the northern distribution limit of evergreen hardwoods in central Japan. This study examined the stand dynamics and competition during 13 years at a single plot to reveal how three growth forms codominate at the ecotone. Species were characterized as large DBH and low tree density for evergreen conifers, and conversely for evergreen hardwoods. Total basal area increased during the examined period, accompanied with the reduction in tree density (i.e., mortality exceeded the recruitment rate). Mortality increased with time especially for small trees of deciduous hardwoods. The effect of competition among the three growth forms on tree growth was not detected. Species were classified into two axes. Ingrowth and recruitment rates of large evergreen conifers were lower than those of small evergreen hardwoods. The population growth rate was lower in species with greater mortality within each growth form. Deciduous hardwoods showed the highest mortality and lowest population growth rates among the three growth forms. Although the tree‐ring analysis revealed that disturbances occurred to some extent, the current disturbance regime would not trigger the regeneration of deciduous hardwoods. This study suggests that negative relations of maximum DBH with ingrowth and recruitment rates contribute to codominance of evergreen conifers and evergreen hardwoods, and more frequent or larger disturbances than at present are necessary for regeneration of deciduous hardwoods. This study was conducted based on the long‐term 13‐year field observation at the northern distribution limits of evergreen hardwood species. We analyzed stand structure, stand dynamics, tree competition during 13 years, and population growth rates by matrix model. Therefore, this study analyzed thoroughly how dominant tree species of three growth forms (evergreen conifers, deciduous hardwoods, and evergreen hardwoods) maintain their population at a latitudinal ecotone from various analyses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This investigation was undertaken to monitor particulate polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) concentrations in order to determine their emission sources and potential human health risks in remote and rural areas of Japan. Seventeen PAHs in aerosol samples collected in remote (Kamihaya), coastal (Hiki) and inland (Higashi-Hiroshima) areas of Japan during 2013–2014 were analyzed using gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. Total PAH (Σ17PAH) concentrations in aerosol samples were in the range of 0.08–6.51 ng m−3, 0.09–4.74 ng m−3, and 0.21–6.53 ng m−3at Kamihaya, Hiki, and Higashi-Hiroshima sites, with mean concentrations of 1.63, 1.18, and 2.43 ng m−3, respectively. Significant seasonal variation in concentrations occurred at Hiki and Higashi-Hiroshima, while no significant variation occurred at Kamihaya. Ambient air temperature greatly affected PAH concentrations in Higashi-Hiroshima, but had only moderate effects in Kamihaya and Hiki. Wind direction also influenced the concentrations of PAHs. Vehicle exhaust, industrial emissions, biomass combustion, and domestic heating and cooking were identified as the main PAH emission sources using principal component analysis. Backward trajectory calculations showed that domestically generated PAHs were significant in Kamihaya and Hiki, while in Higashi-Hiroshima concentrations were mainly influenced by long-range transport. The incremental lifetime lung cancer risk had values of 3.38 × 10−5and 1.84 × 10−5at Higashi-Hiroshima and Hiki, which are greater than the US EPA acceptable level (10−6). Typically, 5–6-ring PAHs contributed 95% to this overall health risk, of which benzo(a)pyrene was the largest contributor, followed by dibenz(a,h)anthracene at both residential sites. Clearly, stricter guidelines for PAHs need to be implemented at these sites to protect the population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Goniopora stokesi is an uncommon species mainly found in tropical and subtropical regions but was also reported in temperate regions of Japan. This species has two unique characteristics. First, it does not typically attach to hard substrates, i.e., it is free-living. Although non-free-living colonies were reported, it is unclear whether their morphologies exhibit intraspecific or interspecific differences. Second, they can asexually form daughter colonies, which are secondary colonies that grow on the surface (coenosac) of a parent colony and subsequently detach. To date, this specific characteristic has not been reported in Japan, and it is not clear whether this species occurs in Japan. Results: To clarify the taxonomic status of this species, we investigated its reproductive mechanism in Japan and morphologically and genetically analyzed specimens collected from both subtropical and temperate regions. We found that this species forms daughter colonies in Okinawa, Japan and that free-living colonies in the temperate region, which were formerly recognized as G. stokesi, likely constitute a morphological variation of a separate species. In addition, all non-free-living colonies with G. stokesi-like morphologies were also morphological variations of other species. Conclusions: Overall, free-living colonies with large, deep calices, thin walls, and well-developed epitheca on the underside were G. stokesi, whereas other free-living and all non-free-living G. stokesi-like colonies belonged to other species, such as Goniopora djiboutiensis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The East Asian giant water bug species Appasus japonicus Vuillefroy and Appasus major Esaki are aquatic hemipteran insects whose ranges overlap, particularly in the Japanese Archipelago and on the Korean Peninsula. In rare cases, the two species co-occur. Furthermore, they are very similar ecologically and also morphologically, making their identification extremely difficult, and the possibility of hybridization has also been suggested. In the present study, we re-examined their taxonomic validity, and the characteristics useful for identifying them. To re-examine the morphological traits useful for distinguishing these two species, 222 specimens of A. japonicus collected from Japan, Korea, and China, and 132 specimens of A. major from Japan and Korea, were examined. We also performed molecular phylogenetic analyses based on the mitochondrial DNA 16 S rRNA and cytochrome oxidase subunit I ( COI) regions and the nuclear DNA Histone 3 region. Although the two species are very similar ecologically and also morphologically, they showed significant genetic differentiation. Thus, there is likely some form of reproductive isolation acting between them. Major morphological characteristics overlap extensively between A. japonicus and A. major, and no particular trait was identified as being effective for differentiating these species. All the morphological characteristics examined overlapped between A. japonicus and A. major. However, a principal component analysis based on all of the morphological characteristics revealed that, despite the overlap between these species, it was possible to morphologically distinguish them. Therefore, a more accurate identification becomes possible using multiple characteristics rather than a single characteristic. The male genital paralobes, evaluated as the most useful morphological characteristic, was effective with 100% probability for the Japanese Appasus species. However, for the Asian (i.e. Korean) specimens, this characteristic was not useful. On the other hand, the results of molecular phylogenetic analyses based on the mitochondrial DNA 16S rRNA and COI regions and the nuclear DNA Histone 3 region clearly showed significant genetic differentiation between the two species. Notably, the results for the mitochondrial COI region strongly supported the independence of each monophyletic group (i.e. validity of each species). Therefore, DNA barcoding based on the mitochondrial DNA COI region is also considered useful for the identification of A. japonicus and A. major. © 2013 The Linnean Society of London, Biological Journal of the Linnean Society, 2013, 110, 615-643. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The presence of piscivorous fish has a significant effect on the structure of fish assemblages. Exotic, piscivorous largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides) have been introduced to a number of Japanese farm ponds that were originally characterized by a high level of biodiversity. We evaluated the effects of exotic bass on the structure of the fish assemblage following their introduction into the farm ponds. We collected fish and measured environmental conditions in 14 ponds of northeastern Japan. The species richness of pond-dwelling fish assemblages was negatively correlated with the relative abundance of exotic bass. In addition, the relative abundance of lentic cyprinid species (e.g., Rhodeus ocellatus ocellatus, Pseudorasbora parva and Carassius sp.) was negatively correlated with the relative abundance of exotic bass. The abundance of these species was also influenced by environmental factors, including transparency and/or coverage of aquatic vegetation, likely related to their influence on the predatory efficiency of exotic bass. Our results suggest that the structure of fish assemblages in farm ponds with exotic piscivorous fish was influenced by both biotic (i.e., predation) and abiotic factors and that some environmental factors mediate the effects of exotic bass on fish species richness and composition. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

We conducted field surveys at 25 sites in three Japanese catchments to provide conservative estimates of the safe concentration of zinc (Zn) for the protection of riverine macroinvertebrate diversity. The relationships between the Zn concentration and six macroinvertebrate metrics for taxon richness were determined by using regression analysis; this included a piecewise regression model, where two lines are joined at an unknown point. For each metric the piecewise regression model with a zero slope below a threshold concentration was selected as the best model to explain the influence of Zn. Under the assumption that macroinvertebrate diversity reductions of <10% are acceptable, the safe concentrations of Zn were estimated to be 84, 115, 84, 80, 85, and 70 µg/L for total taxon richness, Ephemeroptera, Plecoptera, and Trichoptera (EPT) richness, mayfly richness, caddisfly richness, chironomid richness, and estimated total taxon richness at the riffle scale, respectively. These concentrations are more than twice the water quality standard for Zn in Japan (30 µg/L), suggesting that the standard is likely overprotective for macroinvertebrate diversity. Field studies are useful for evaluating the level of protectiveness of safe concentrations (water quality standards) based on individual-level effects from laboratory toxicity tests, and this evaluation process will have a crucial role in implementing more purpose-driven ecological risk managements that aim to protect natural populations and communities. Environ. Toxicol. Chem. 2011;30:2237-2243. © 2011 SETAC [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To investigate the genetic characteristics of the ancient populations of Hokkaido, northern Japan, polymorphisms of the ABO blood group gene were analyzed for 17 Jomon/Epi-Jomon specimens and 15 Okhotsk specimens using amplified product-length polymorphism and restriction fragment length polymorphism analyses. Five ABO alleles were identified from the Jomon/ Epi-Jomon and Okhotsk people. Allele frequencies of the Jomon/Epi-Jomon and Okhotsk people were compared with those of the modern Asian, European and Oceanic populations. The genetic relationships inferred from principal component analyses indicated that both Jomon/Epi-Jomon and Okhotsk people are included in the same group as modern Asian populations. However, the genetic characteristics of these ancient populations in Hokkaido were significantly different from each other, which is in agreement with the conclusions from mitochondrial DNA and ABCC11 gene analyses that were previously reported. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To test the hypothesis that the structure of fitness in patients with hemiparetic stroke can be categorized into impairment/disability, cardiopulmonary, muscular and metabolic domains, and to study longitudinal changes in their fitness during an inpatient rehabilitation programme. Design: Structure analysis of multiple fitness parameters with principlal component analysis (PCA), and a before and after trial. Setting: Tertiary rehabilitation centre in Japan. Patients: One hundred and seven consecutive inpatients with hemiparetic stroke. Intervention: A conventional stroke rehabilitation programme consisting of 80 minutes of physical therapy and occupational therapy sessions five days a week, and daily rehabilitation nursing for a median duration of 105.5 days. Main outcome measures: Principal component scores extracted from measurement of paresis/daily living (the Stroke Impairment Assessment Set (SIAS) and the Functional Independence Measure (FIM)); muscular (grip strength (GS), knee extensor torque, and cross-sectional areas of thigh muscles); metabolic (body mass index (BMI) and fat accumulation on CT); cardiopulmonary (heart rate oxygen coefficient (HR-O2-Coeff) obtained with a graded bridging activity and a 12-minute propulsion distance). Results: PCA categorized the original 15 variables into four factors corresponding to paresis/activities of daily living, muscular, metabolic and cardiopulmonary domains, and explained 78.1% of the total variance at admission and 69.6% at discharge. Except the metabolic domain, PCA scores for the other three domains improved significantly at discharge (paired t-test, p < 0.05). Conclusion: The hypothetical structure of fitness was confirmed, and the PCA scores were useful in following longitudinal changes of fitness during inpatient rehabilitation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study examined national attitudes among Japanese citizens. A National Identity Scale was developed and administered to a non-student sample (n = 385) and an undergraduate sample (n = 586) in a metropolitan area of Japan. The results revealed aspects that are common (i.e., eric) to different nationalities and those that are indigenous (i.e., emic) to Japanese people. Factor analyses identified etic factors of patriotisin (i.e., love of the homeland), nationalism (belief in superiority over other nations), and internationalism (preference for international cooperation and unity). Attachment to the ingroup and ethnocentrism were thus shown to be separate dimensions. Distinct from these factors, commitmnent to national heritage emerged as an emic component of Japanese national identity. The discriminant validity of these factors was demonstrated in differential relationships with other variables, such as ideological beliefs and amount of knowledge. Commitment to national heritage was associated with conservatism, whereas internationalism was related to liberal ideology, a high level of media exposure, and knowledge of international affairs. Implications for the study of intergroup and international relations are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Examines the factor structure and internal consistency of the Japanese adaptation of the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory Form Y (STAI-JY). Components and the two-factor structure of the STAI-JY among the Japanese clinical outpatients; Comparison between the factor structure of the STAI-JY of Japan's general population and of individuals in Western countries.

Although doctoral mentors recognize the benefits of providing quality advisement and close guidance, those of sharing project management responsibilities with mentees are still not well recognized. We observed that mentees, who have the opportunity to co-manage projects, generate more written output. Here we examine the link between research productivity, doctoral mentoring practices (DMP), and doctoral research experiences (DRE) of mentees in programs in the non-West. Inspired by previous findings that early career productivity is a strong predictor of later productivity, we examine the research productivity of 210 molecular biology doctoral students in selected programs in Japan, Singapore, and Taiwan. Using principal component (PC) analysis, we derive two sets of PCs: one set from 15 DMP and another set from 16 DRE items. We model research productivity using Poisson and negative-binomial regression models with these sets as predictors. Our findings suggest a need to re-think extant practices and to allocate resources toward professional career development in training future scientists. We contend that doctoral science training must not only be an occasion for future scientists to learn scientific and technical skills, but it must also be the opportunity to experience, to acquire, and to hone research management skills.

Investigates the polymorphisms of the human leukocyte antigens (HLA) class II genes and haplotypes in the Ainu of Hokkaido, Northern Japan, by means of DNA-based high resolution typing. Ainu as descendants of preagricultural indigenous populations of Japan; Allele frequency of the Ainu between Native American and east Asian populations.

Magnetic inversion is one of the popular methods to obtain information about the subsurface structure. However, many of the conventional methods have a serious problem, that is, the linear equations to be solved become ill-posed, under-determined, and thus, the uniqueness of the solution is not guaranteed. As a result, several different models fit the observed magnetic data with the same accuracy. To reduce the non-uniqueness of the model, conventional studies introduced regularization method based on the quadratic solution norm. However, these regularization methods impose a certain level of smoothness, and as the result, the resultant model is likely to be blurred. To obtain a focused magnetic model, I introduce L1 norm regularization. As is widely known, L1 norm regularization promotes sparseness of the model. So, it is expected that, the resulting model is constructed only with the features truly required to reconstruct data and, as a result, a simple and focused model is obtained. However, by using L1 norm regularization solely, an excessively concentrated model is obtained due to the nature of the L1 norm regularization and a lack of linear independence of the magnetic equations. To overcome this problem, I use a combination of L1 and L2 norm regularization. To choose a feasible regularization parameter, I introduce a regularization parameter selection method based on the L-curve criterion with fixing the mixing ratio of L1 and L2 norm regularization. This inversion method is applied to a real magnetic anomaly data observed on Hokkaido Island, northern Japan and reveals the subsurface magnetic structure on this area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: The current study used a three-dimensional (3D) surface homologous modeling to analyze the structure of maxillary first premolar (P 1 ) and second premolar (P 2 ) crowns, to identify any morphological differences between them, particularly in their cuspal structures., Methods: The study sample comprised 27 male elementary and junior high school students from Chiba Prefecture, Japan. Plaster casts were collected and the 3D coordinates were used to measure the crown structures. Thereafter, principal component (PC) analysis was carried out using the 3D coordinates of the homologous models, containing 4498 anatomical data points, including 9 landmarks., Results: The findings indicated that P 1 was significantly larger than P 2 , despite both teeth exhibiting similar intercuspal distances. The homologous model analysis revealed that 61.5 % of the total variance could be explained up to the fourth PC. Overall size and shape in the mesiodistal and buccolingual directions were estimated using PC1 and PC2, respectively. Both components highlighted a shape factor, indicating that the buccal cusp was more well-developed than the lingual cusp in P 1 compared to P 2 ., Conclusions: The variations in the size of the mesial and distal premolar teeth and the relationships between the cusps in the completed tooth crowns can be explained using molecular biology developmental models., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024. Published by Elsevier B.V.)

Objective: In the field of forensic science, sex discrimination of skeletons is an important identification item for personal identification. The individual sex discrimination method using skeletons includes a determination method using measurement values and a macroscopic form observation method. Both methods have advantage and disadvantage. In this study, we used the homologous model technique and principal component (PC) analysis to determine gender difference from morphology of the mandible., Methods and Materials: 45 patients (23 males and 22 females) of CT imaging for tooth extraction from January 2018 to March 2019 at department of oral surgery, Osaka Medical College. The mean age was 43.1 ± 14.6. Patients with less than 14 remaining teeth were excluded because the number of remaining teeth may affect the shape of the mandible. 3D images were constructed, and 20 landmarks plotting on the 3D model surfaces. We generated template models of the mandible consisting of approximately 8434 polygons. The template model automatically fitted into the individually scanned point cloud of the mandible by minimising external and internal energy functions. As described above, the mandibles were constructed for each sample by using the Homologous Body Modeling software (HBM, Digital Human Technology, Inc.) and the mHBM-Rugle (Medic Engineering Corporation). The mandibles were analysed using the PCA., Results: The contribution of the most important PC was found to be 27.2%. 12 PCs explained over 75% of the total variance. That is, it was able to express 75% or more of the mandible expression with 12 PCs. A significant difference between male and female was observed in the first PCs (Wilcoxon test, p < 0.05). Visualising the result of the first PC showed that the mandibular branch of male was larger than that of female, and the mandible angle was overhanging outside., Conclusion: This method is a combination of the determination method using the previous measurement values and the determination using macroscopic observation, and is considered to be innovative method.

Objectives　As an indicator of subjective wellbeing, feelings of happiness assessed based on simple items have not been fully elucidated in terms of its relation to survival during old age. The purpose of this study was to examine whether the predictive validity of feelings of happiness assessed using a 4-item measure is high as an indicator of assessing survival three years later, using a variety of factors as adjustment variables among independent, elderly individuals living in a farm village in Okinawa, wherein a spirit of mutual help is prevalent among the residents.Methods　From a longitudinal study conducted in 2012, a total of 1,471 respondents (638 men, 833 women), excluding participants who needed long-term care and non-respondents of their feelings of happiness, completed a detailed questionnaire. A 4-item measure of feelings of happiness and other indicators of subjective wellbeing, including a 5-item measure of cooked food consumption, were considered as ordinal scales. From the results of the principal component (PC) analysis, we named the first PC "diet variety," of which cooked food was less consumed. The Cox proportional hazard model was used for 734 subjects' data, excluding missing values, to examine comprehensive associations among feelings of happiness, survival times, and health indicators in a multivariate model that adjusted for age, sex, and body mass index, among others. A correlation analysis between survival after three years was performed to select indicators used simultaneously in the analysis. Kaplan-Meier analysis was also conducted to examine the cumulative survival rate over three years.Results　A total of 1,387 participants (94.3%) survived during the three-year follow-up. The survival rate was significantly higher in those who indicated "very happy" items (95.9%) than in those who indicated "unhappy" items (86.4%). Meanwhile, the mortality rate was significantly higher in those who indicated "unhappy" items (13.6%) than in those who indicated "very happy" items (4.1%). Within the multivariate model, the hazard ratio (HR) for mortality three years later was significantly reduced in those with feelings of happiness (HR=0.56, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.32-0.99), in those who did not experiences falls and fractures (HR=0.26, 95% CI:0.11-0.62), and in those who were non-smokers (HR=0.44, 95% CI:0.25-0.77). The cumulative survival rate in those who experienced good feelings of happiness was significantly higher than in the others.Conclusion　The predictive validity of feelings of happiness assessed by a 4-item measure might be high as an indicator to assess survival three years later among independent, elderly individuals living in a farm village in Okinawa.

The Japanese version of the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D) was subjected to principal component (PC) analysis with oblique rotation, as well as an examination of internal consistency, using data obtained from 2,016 adult employees aged 19-63 years. Analyses focused on age differences in these psychometric properties of the CES-D. Coefficient-alpha was sufficiently high for all age groups but was lower than reported in U.S. studies. Positive affect items lowered internal consistency. The PC analyses extracted four factors for each age group. Depressive affect items did not group into one factor; some were combined with somatic or interpersonal items, and the remainder constituted the smallest factor. These three main factors, 'somatic+depressed', interpersonal + negative' and 'positive affect' were comparable across age groups except for those aged 50-63 years. For those aged 50-63 years, the first two factors were combined into a large 'general dysphoria' factor, suggesting a more unified conceptualization of depressive mood. Although 'positive affect' was stable cross-culturally, it was not related to depressive symptomatology as measured by the other items, for Japanese. The 'interpersonal + negative' appears unique for Japanese, indicating the association of interpersonal relations with depressive mood in Japanese. The effects of age-specific ethnocultural factors in Japan on depressive symptomatology are discussed.