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著者人数: 16名, 資料番号: SA1004300000

Since the 1960s, Japan has become highly dependent on foreign countries for natural resources, and the amount of managed lands (e.g. coppice, grassland, and agricultural field) has declined. Due to infrequent natural and human disturbance, early-successional species are now declining in Japan. Here we surveyed bees, birds, and plants in four human-disturbed open habitats (pasture, meadow, young planted forest, and abandoned clear-cut) and two forest habitats (mature planted forest and natural old-growth). We extended a recently developed multispecies abundance model to accommodate count data, and used the resulting models to estimate species-, functional group-, and community-level state variables (abundance and species richness) at each site, and compared them among the six habitats. Estimated individual-level detection probability was quite low for bee species (mean across species = 0.003; 0.16 for birds). Thirty-two (95% credible interval: 13–64) and one (0–4) bee and bird species, respectively, were suggested to be undetected by the field survey. Although habitats in which community-level abundance and species richness was highest differed among taxa, species richness and abundance of early-successional species were similar in the four disturbed open habitats across taxa except for plants in the pasture habitat which was a good habitat only for several exotic species. Our results suggest that human disturbance, especially the revival of plantation forestry, may contribute to the restoration of early-successional species in Japan.

Influence of adjunct cultures on the chemical and sensory characteristics, and proteolysis of Prato cheese was investigated. Cheeses were manufactured using a commercial starter culture and Lactobacillus strains (Lactobacillus plantarum or Lactobacillus helveticus) as adjunct cultures. Control cheeses lacked the adjunct culture. The chemical composition was analyzed at day 5 after manufacture and the proteolysis at days 5, 25, 45 and 65 of ripening. The sensory acceptance was assessed at 60 days. A split-plot design was used and the complete experiment was carried out in triplicate. The results were evaluated by ANOVA and Tukey’s test test at 5% significance level. There were no significant differences in chemical composition among the cheeses. A significant increase in proteolysis occurred during ripening period for the cheeses with adjunct culture when compared to cheeses without adjunct culture. Cheese with Lactobacillus helveticus showed higher scores for flavor, texture and purchase intent compared with the others treatments. Use of adjunct Lactobacillus suggests that the proteolysis of Prato cheese should be accelerated in order to reduce ripening period. A influência de culturas adjuntas sobre as características químicas e sensoriais, e sobre a proteólise do queijo Prato foi avaliada. Os queijos foram fabricados com cultura starter comercial e cepas de Lactobacillus (Lactobacillus plantarum ou Lactobacillus helveticus) como culturas adjuntas. Os queijos controle não foram adicionados de cultura adjunta. A composição química foi analisada no dia 5 após a fabricação e a proteólise nos dias 5, 25, 45 e 65 de maturação. A aceitação sensorial foi avaliada em 60 dias. Um delineamento de parcelas subdivididas foi utilizado e o experimento completo foi realizado em triplicata. Os resultados foram avaliados pela análise de variância e teste de Tukey no nível de 5% de probabilidade. Os queijos não apresentaram diferenças significativas em relação à composição química. Um aumento significativo na proteólise ocorreu durante o período de maturação para os queijos com cultura adjunta, quando comparado aos queijos sem adição desse tipo de cultura. Os queijos com Lactobacillus helveticus apresentaram médias das notas mais altas para os atributos sabor, textura e intenção de compra em comparação aos demais tratamentos. A utilização de Lactobacillus como cultura adjunta indica que a proteólise do queijo prato pode ser acelerada a fim de reduzir o seu tempo de maturação.

Background: The ability to climb stairs (ascending and descending stair without using a handrail) and rise from a chair (rising from chairs without using an elbow rest) are among the most important measures of physical function for ADL evaluation for the independent living, and assessed by the questioners on many epidemiological studies in elderly. But little is known about the relationship between the self-reported performance level of the tasks and lower leg strength and power in very elderly people. The purpose of this study was to ascertain the relationship between the self-reported performance level of two tasks and the lower leg function in community-dwelling 80-year-old population. Methods: Out of 994 persons who were 80 years old living in Morioka City, Iwate Prefecture, Japan, 607 individuals (236 men and 371 women) underwent a physical fitness test that included measurements of leg extensor power and knee extensor strength. The ability to climb up stair and to rise from a chair was assessed by self- reported questionnaire which was ranked in three levels. The area under the receiver-operating characteristic (ROC) curve (AUC) was used to evaluate the measurements. Results: The cut-off points for the leg extensor power of subjects who could completely perform the stair-climbing and chair-rising functions were determined to be approximately 8.6 watt/kg body mass for men and 5.6 watt/kg body mass for women. In addition, the cut-off points for the knee extensor strength of subjects who could completely perform the stair-climbing and chair-rising functions were determined to be approximately 0.97 kg/kg body mass for men and 0.84 kg/kg body mass for women. Conclusions: From a practical viewpoint, the present study suggested that the cut-off points of leg extensor power and knee extensor strength can be used as targets in simple self-reported questionnaires to help in screening for mobility in 80-year-old population

By using a new Compton camera consisting of a silicon double-sided strip detector (Si-DSD) and a CdTe doublesided strip detector (CdTe-DSD), originally developed for the ASTRO-H satellite mission, an experiment involving imaging radioisotopes was conducted to study their feasibility for hotspot monitoring. In addition to the hotspot imaging already provided by commercial imaging systems, identification of various radioisotopes is possible thanks to the good energy resolution obtained by the semiconductor detectors. Three radioisotopes of 133 Ba (356 keV), 22 Na (511 keV) and 137 Cs (662 keV) were individually imaged by applying event selection in the energy window and the gamma-ray images were correctly overlapped by an optical picture. Detection efficiency of 1.68 ×10 −4 (effective area: 1.7×10 −3 cm 2 ) and angular resolution of 3.8 degrees were obtained by stacking five detector modules for a 662 keV gamma ray. The higher detection efficiency required in specific use can be achieved by stacking more detector modules.

There is an increasing need to restore natural hardwood forests in landscapes dominated by monocultural conifer plantations. A convenient restoration approach is to exploit natural regeneration processes. Natural regeneration, however, is affected by diverse interacting factors, for which better understanding is required, in order to optimize restoration programs. To identify optimal management practices for improving natural regeneration of hardwood trees in coniferous plantations, we examined the effects of multiple factors on the abundance of seedlings, small saplings and large saplings (height

We examined non-destructive methodologies for practicalities in monitoring anthropogenic greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from tropical dry-land forest under the influence of various forms of human intervention. Spaceborne SAR withstood comparison with Landsat ETM+ in land cover classification of degraded tropical forest. For measurement of carbon stock and GHG flux per unit land area, the gain-loss method requires both growth rate and removal rate of forest carbon stock. However, the latter has rarely been obtained in tropical forest. For the stock-difference method, permanent sampling plot data can be used to estimate mean carbon stock per unit land area of each forest type. For cyclic land use that includes a clear-cutting stage such as slash-and-burn agriculture, chronosequential changes in carbon stock can be predicted by determining the time and spatial-distribution of cleared land. Changes in forest biomass by logging, storm-damage, etc., may be identified by monitoring the presence and diameter of the crowns of overstory trees. We developed five equations containing the parameter for crown diameter for estimating tree biomass. Overstory height can be a parameter for estimating ecosystem carbon stock of various plant communities, and forest height can be measured by airborne and spaceborne sensors, etc. Generic equations containing the parameter for overstory height are available for estimating community biomass of tropical and subtropical forests. PALSAR has an advantage over other remote systems by enabling frequent sensing and semi-direct biomass estimation using backscattering coefficients. However, no reasonable remote sensing methods exist for monitoring the amount of carbon loss by forest conversion and logging in forests with high biomass. To compensate for the faults of the present PALSAR methodologies and to enable practical and frequent monitoring of all types of forests by humans, it is vital to devise a new methodology to detect changes in high-biomass forests.

This study quantified the mass and inputs of coarse woody debris (CWD) in two old-growth lucidophyllous forests in southwestern Japan: in a steep slope area at Aya and in a flattish bottomland at Okuchi. CWD mass averaged 36.85 Mg ha−1 with eightfold variations at Aya, and 20.77 Mg ha−1 with more than 40-fold variations at Okuchi. CWD inputs estimated from long-term data on tree mortality averaged 36.76 Mg ha−1 over 16 years at Aya and 44.11 Mg ha−1 over 11 years at Okuchi. In both plots, fallen logs were the major form of CWD mass: 74.4% at Aya and 60.2% at Okuchi. About 19% of CWD was snapped and 7% was uprooted at Aya, and about 34% was snapped and 5.4% was uprooted at Okuchi. The CWD mass differed markedly with topographic conditions in both plots, increasing from valleys up to ridges at Aya and from forest down to a stream at Okuchi. Canopy gaps enhanced CWD mass and inputs in both plots: CWD input under gaps was two to three times that beneath closed canopy. These results imply that typhoons would increase CWD mass and inputs on upper slopes on account of the high aboveground biomass stocks and existence of large-diameter trees.

The Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation in Developing Countries (REDD) initiative requires accurate estimates of carbon stock changes in forested areas. However, estimating carbon emissions from stumps of various heights left by illegal loggers is difficult. To remedy this problem, we examined two methods of estimating diameter at breast height (DBH) from a reference diameter observation measured at any stump height. The one-reference diameter (OD) observation model estimates DBH from a single diameter observation using empirical coefficients derived mainly from emergent dipterocarp trees. The two-reference diameter (TD) observation model estimates DBH from two diameter observations and assumes a logarithmic relationship between diameter and height. Prediction data to establish the models were collected in Cambodian lowland evergreen forests that are undergoing intensive illegal logging of emergent dipterocarp trees for timber. The OD model performed better than the TD model in predicting DBH and is extremely practical, as it requires only a single diameter observation. Validation data previously collected in the Southeast Asian tropical forests established the general validity of the OD model. This study may improve the reliability of the REDD scheme by providing a reliable method to assess carbon emissions from Southeast Asian tropical forests.

人工林の「広葉樹林化」を検討するため, 日本語で1978∼2006年に発行された広葉樹関連文献を, 林業・林産関係国内文献データベース (FOLIS) で検索した。研究上の必要性を評価し, S, A, B, Cのランク付けを行った。また県別の文献数の違いやキーワードの時代変遷を国内の施業の歴史とあわせて検討した。検索は「広葉樹」と, 「間伐」, 「除伐」, 「人工林」などを組み合わせ, 総書誌数185誌, 総文献数648件を抽出した。S評価の文献は14件, A評価の文献は59件だった。文献は岐阜県 (16件), 宮崎県 (15件) で多かった。文献内容は時代により変遷し, 「広葉樹施業」や「天然林施業」といったキーワードが減少する一方で, 「多様性」をキーワードに含む論文が増加してきている。「不成績造林」や「間伐」をキーワードとする論文は, いくつかのピークを示しながら, 1980年代から連続的に発表されてきた。「広葉樹林化」は新しい概念であり, これまでの研究を十分に参考にしながら慎重に取り組む必要がある。

We examined fine litterfall fluctuations on a seasonal and annual scale for 14 years (1992–2005) in a 1.2-ha plot in an old-growth lucidophyllous (evergreen broad-leaved) forest within the Aya Research Site, southwestern Japan. The average total litterfall input was 6.32 Mg ha–1, of which leaf litter accounted for 60% of the total. Two high-impact typhoons struck the study area in 1993 (T9313) and 2004 (T0416) during the observation period; however, the subsequent pattern of litterfall after disturbance was different between the two typhoons. T9313 disturbance caused a reduction of biomass (ca. 10% of basal area (BA)) and a sharp decrease in litterfall input following a massive input in 1993. On the other hand, T0416 caused a minor decline in litterfall input, accompanied by a relatively small reduction of BA (5.2% of the 2001 BA). In spite of large fluctuations, litterfall input increased year by year after the T9313 disturbance. In 2000, 7 years after T9313, leaf input showed no significant differences and recorded more than 90% of pre-T9313 levels. Re-leafing from typhoon survivors may play an important role in the recovery of litterfall input in this forest. This study demonstrated how one high-impact typhoon can alter the temporal fluctuations in fine litterfall in lucidophyllous forest ecosystems.

Este estudo teve como objetivo comparar a composição centesimal, o pH, a acidez titulável e a capacidade de coagulação dos leites produzidos por vacas holandesas e girolandas. O leite de 15 animais de cada raça foi coletado na fase de 2 a 3 meses após o início da lactação. O leite de animais girolandos apresentou teores de lipídeos e de sólidos totais superiores aos dos animais holandeses (p

Um iogurte de boa qualidade deve apresentar firmeza adequada e pouca ou nenhuma sinérese. Dentre os fatores conhecidos para melhorar a consistência do iogurte, destaca-se o tratamento térmico do leite. A Metodologia de Superfície de Resposta (MSR) permite que se faça a otimização de produtos ou processos através da modelagem das variáveis de interesse. O objetivo desse trabalho foi empregar a MSR para verificar o efeito do tratamento térmico na capacidade de retenção de água no iogurte firme. Onze combinações de tempo (12,95; 15; 20; 25 e 27,05 min) e temperatura (82,1; 83; 85; 87 e 87,82 °C) de tratamento térmico inicial do leite para a fabricação dos iogurtes foram testadas. Os iogurtes tiveram a capacidade de retenção de água mensurada em triplicata. Os tratamentos térmicos 85 °C por 20 min e 87 °C por 25 min foram os que apresentaram maiores valores para a capacidade de retenção de água, o que se relaciona com uma menor sinérese e, possivelmente, melhores características na consistência do produto.

Ardisia crenata (Myrsinaceae), an evergreen shrub with attractive red fruits introduced from Japan to the USA for ornamental purpose, invades the understory of mesic hardwood forests, forming dense patches (up to 300 stems per m2), and competitively displaces native understory plants by creating dense local shade. Comparison of the wild genotype that grows in mature evergreen broadleaf forests in central Kyushu, Japan, with the ecotype invading north central Florida revealed how selection for desirable cultivars might have inadvertently selected for traits that enhance the invasive potential of the species. In Japanese wild populations in deeply shaded evergreen forests, natural selection apparently maintained efficient architecture with a low degree of self-shading and large seed mass to enhance seedling shade tolerance. Cultivar selection for showy appearance can explain the greater fecundity but smaller seed size observed in the Florida populations compared to the Japanese population. Artificial selection for densely foliated appearance can also explain the greater degree of self-shading and less-efficient light use in the Florida genotype compared to the Japanese wild type grown under a common environment. Furthermore, the Florida ecotype allocated more biomass to root carbohydrate storage. These trait modifications resulted in slower growth rates, but greater competitive ability to cast shade upon neighbors and higher resprouting potential in the Florida populations. How traits are modified through the processes of artificial selection and cultivation must be taken into consideration in the evolutionary ecology of many other invasive plants introduced as ornamental plants.

九州の針葉樹人工林 (n=59), 皆伐地 (n=41) を対象に, 定着した樹木の本数を調査し, 定着本数密度の簡易な予測モデルを提示した。人工林, 皆伐地の全種の定着密度は, 対照として調査した広葉樹天然林と比べ低かった。とくにブナ科高木種などの林冠優占種の定着は困難であることがわかった。数量化I類による定着密度予測モデルの決定係数は, 人工林, 皆伐地とも, 全種の場合に比べ, 明るいところを成育適地とする陽性高木種に区分した方が高かった。定着密度に大きく影響した要因は, 人工林では傾斜角, 皆伐地では標高と, 両者で異なる点もみられたが, 成立後の年数 (林齢, 皆伐後経過年数) が最も大きい点は共通していた。本研究では, 光環境に対する樹種特性を反映させた種群でまとめることにより, 標高や林齢など地理情報や森林簿から容易に得られる情報から定着密度を比較的高い精度で予測することができた。

International audience; Litterfall was measured for eight years (1991-1998) in a Castanopsis cuspidata coppice forest in southwestern Japan. An extraordinarily strong typhoon (T9119) hit a study site in September 1991 and caused defoliation. The mean annual total litterfall was 6.0 t*ha-1 but annual variations (maximum-minimum ratio: 3.9) were very large throughout the observation period. The high ratio of annual fluctuation can probably be explained by a combination of coppice stand structure and presence of typhoon disturbance. The leaf litterfall formed the bulk of total litterfall and showed bimodal peak; leaf abscission in spring (April-May) and facultative peak in late summer (July-September). Small wood (less than 2 cm in diameter) input were associated with typhoon disturbances and showed no clear seasonality. Over the 7 years period following T9119, annual leaf input had recovered to 94% of pre-disturbance values. The recovery of leaf litterfall would be achieved with re-leafing of typhoon survivors.; La dynamique de la chute de litière après une perturbation tourbillonnaire dans un taillis de Castanopsis cuspidata dans le sud-ouest du Japon. La chute de litière a été mesurée pendant huit années (1991-1998) dans une forêt de taillis de Castanopsis cuspidata dans le sud-ouest du Japon. Un typhon d'une force extraordinaire (T9119) s'est abattu sur notre site d'étude en septembre 1991 et a provoqué une défoliation. La chute de litière totale moyenne annuelle était de 6,0 t*ha-1, cependant l'oscillation annuelle a grandement varié pendant toute la durée de l'observation. Le ratio élevé entre la chute de litière maximale et minimale (3,9) peut probablement s'expliquer par une combinaison de la structure du peuplement des taillis et de la perturbation tourbillonnaire. La chute des feuilles composait la majeure partie de la chute de litière totale et indiquait une variation saisonnière bi-modale, avec une chute de feuilles au printemps (avril-mai) et un maximum facultatif en fin d'été (juillet-septembre). La production de petit bois (branches de moins de 2 cm de diamètre) était associée aux perturbations tourbillonnaires et n'indiquait aucun caractère saisonnier évident. Sur la période de sept ans qui a suivi le T9119, la production annuelle du feuillage est revenue à 94 % de la valeur d'avant la perturbation. Le recouvrement des chutes de feuilles s'est effectué à partir des brins qui avaient résisté au typhon.

To understand the patterns of fruit-bird interactions and to identify species with significant roles that are irreplaceable in these interactions (key species), we classified plant types according to traits relating to frugivory by birds, and analyzed the relationships between plant types and frugivorous birds in a primary lucidophyllous forest in Japan. At the 4-ha study site, 111 plant species were bird-dispersed and 15 common bird species were frugivorous. The growth form of plant species was divided into overstory, understory, and liana. The phenological pattern of fruiting was divided into “summer”, “fall”, and “persistent” from the temporal pattern of the seed rain. Fruits were classified in terms of size, as small, a size widely eaten by birds, and large, a size that is difficult for small birds to eat. Seventeen types of plant were identified in the study site, which were classified according to growth form, phenological pattern, and fruit size. Of these fruits, 14 species were considered to be major species, that is species that are both abundant and important for certain birds, and a further 20 species were identified as complementary species, that is species that compensate for a low diversity or for a temporal lack of the major species. Of the birds, eight species were considered major dispersal agents. The patterns of relationship between fruits and birds overlapped in various ways. No strong relationship in which species of fruits and birds are dependent almost entirely on each other were found. An important species set composed of three key species (Eurya japonica, Cleyera japonica, and Cornus controversa) and a group of summer fruits provided continuous and familiar food for many bird species. The patterns of relationship suggest that conservation of the overall composition of fruit types improves the stability of food resources for birds and facilitates dispersal success for the plants themselves.

Recent X-ray study of middle-aged supernova remnants (SNRs) reveals strong radiative recombination continua (RRCs) associated with overionized plasmas, of which the origin still remains uncertain. We report our discovery of an RRC in the middle-aged SNR 3C 391. If the X-ray spectrum is fitted with a two-temperature plasma model in collisional ionization equilibrium (CIE), residuals of Si XIV Ly alpha line at 2.006 keV, S XVI Ly alpha line at 2.623 keV and the edge of RRC of Si XIII at 2.666 keV are found. The X-ray spectrum is better described by a composite model consisting of a CIE plasma and a recombining plasma (RP). The abundance pattern suggests that the RP is associated to the ejecta from a core-collapse supernova with a progenitor star of 15 solar mass. There is no significant difference of the recombining plasma parameters between the southeast region and the northwest region surrounded by dense molecular clouds. We also find a hint of Fe I K alpha line at 6.4 keV (~2.4 sigma detection) from the southeast region of the SNR., Comment: 15 pages, 8 figures, accepted for publication in PASJ

Telomerase activity (TA) and apoptosis were analysed in placenta with and without intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR). Thirty-one specimens were taken from chorionic villi in the first trimester (Group A), 32 placenta specimens were obtained from cases without IUGR in second and third trimester (Group B) and 12 specimens of placenta tissue were obtained from cases of asymmetric IUGR between 26 and 39 weeks of gestation (Group C). TA was analysed by the Telomeric Repeat Amplification Protocol (TRAP) and in situ TRAP assay. Apoptotic changes were assessed by immunohistochemical staining using Bcl-2 monoclonal antibody and by terminal transferase-mediated in situ end-labelling (TUNEL). TA was detected in 29 of the 31 (93.5 per cent) chorionic villi (Group A) and in 20 of the 32 (62.5 per cent) placenta without IUGR (Group B), whereas weak TA was observed in the placenta of all 12 asymmetric IUGR cases (Group C). Significantly higher Bcl-2 immunoreactivity was observed in trophoblastic cells of Group A (85.9+/-4.2 per cent) and Group B (72.8+/-7.2 per cent) than Group C (54.84+/-4.83 per cent), while TUNEL positive cells were identified at a significantly higher frequency in the trophoblastic cells of Group C (9.7+/-7.4 per cent) than Group A (1.1+/-1.9 per cent) or Group B (2.9+/-3.7 per cent).

The water absorption quantity of the aquatic plant (Zizania latifolia) was experimentally evaluated. The weekly water absorption quantity per unit wet weight of aquatic plant was the largest in from July to August. The changes of the water absorption quantity for a long time and for a short time were affected by the temperature and the duration of sunshine, respectively. The growth rate of aquatic plant per unit water absorption weight was about 20 g (wet weight) /kg (water absorption weight) .

Telomerase activity (TA) was analysed in human chorionic villi and placenta in normal and abnormal pregnancy using the telomeric repeat amplification protocol (TRAP) and in situ TRAP assay. Twenty chorionic villi specimens and 25 placenta specimens from normal pregnancies were examined as well as placenta specimens from 10 cases of intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR; nine asymmetric and one symmetric). TA was detected in 18 of the 20 (90 per cent) chorionic villi specimens and in 18 of the 25 (72 per cent) placenta specimens from normal pregnancy. However, no or only weak TA was exhibited in the placenta specimens of the nine asymmetric IUGR cases. In situ TRAP assay detected TA in trophoblastic cells from normal pregnancy, but not in trophoblastic cells from cases of asymmetric IUGR.

We investigated how the locations of conspecific fruiting trees, other fruiting species, and canopy gaps affected spatial patterns of bird-dispersed seed rain for a common ornithochorous tree: Daphniphyllum macropodum.In a mature evergreen broad-leaved forest in southwestern Japan, seed rain was monitored with seed traps in a 1.2 ha plot on a site with a generally closed canopy. Many of the bird-dispersed seeds of D. macropodumwere concentrated near the conspecific fruiting trees, while other seeds were scatter-dispersed. The spatial distribution of scatter-dispersed seeds was independent of the distance from conspecific fruiting trees. The scatter-dispersed seed rain of D. macropodumwas biased by abundant and widely distributed fruiting trees of Cleyerajaponica.Other rare fruiting species and canopy gaps had no clear effect on the seed rain of D. macropodum.Results show that the spatial pattern of bird-dispersed seed rain in this forest is affected by the location of fruiting trees of the same a...

We present the results of the search for a correlation between giant radio pulses (GRPs) at 1.4 GHz and hard X-rays at 15-75 keV from the Crab pulsar. We made simultaneous ground and satellite observations of the Crab pulsar over 12 hours in three occasions in April 2010, March and September 2011, and got a sample of 1.3*10^4 main-pulse phase GRPs. From these samples we have found statistically marginal enhancement (21.5%, 2.70 sigma) of hard X-ray flux within +/- 1.5 degree phase angle of the synchronous peak of main-pulse phase GRPs. This enhancement, if confirmed, implicates that GRPs may accompany plasma density increases in the pulsar magnetosphere., 4 pages, 1 figure, 2 tables, submitted to the proceedings of APPC12 - the 12th Asia Pacific Physics Conference

Our previous study demonstrated that the serum IL-6 correlated inversely with serum T3 and the T3/T4 ratio in children with acute respiratory infection during the acute phase of illness. To investigate whether serum IL-6 inversely correlates with serum thyroid hormone during not only the active stage of the disease but also in the follow-up period in nonthyroidal illness, we measured serum levels of IL-6, T3 and T4 in 31 children from the acute to the convalescent phase. They were divided into 3 groups; 7 patients with Kawasaki disease, 16 patients with infectious disease and 8 patients with non-inflammatory disease. In the follow-up of patients with Kawasaki disease, a marked inverse relationship was observed between serum IL-6 and T3 (r = -0.844, P < 0.001) or the T3/T4 ratio (r = -0.863, P < 0.001). Serum T4 showed a weak but significant negative correlation with serum IL-6 (r = -0.474, P = 0.035) only in this situation. There was also a significant negative correlation between serum IL-6 and T3 (r = -0.582, P < 0.001) or the T3/T4 ratio (r = -0.660, P < 0.001) during the follow-up of children with infectious disease. In the follow-up study of patients with non-inflammatory disease, however, no significant relationships were observed between serum thyroid hormones and IL-6. IL-6 may be one important factor involved in the decrease in the serum T3 level and the T3/T4 ratio in patients with nonthyroidal illness particularly characterized by strong inflammation and activation of the immune system as observed in Kawasaki and infectious disease.

The supply of injectable drugs for individual patients using the prescription order entry system was started from Apr. of 1995 at Kanazawa University Hospital. The injectable drugs for individual patient are set up by pharmacists into each compartment of the kart (Ordering Kart: Sakase Corporation), and then are carried by nursing assistants to the respective clinical areas.The characteristics of this supply method are [1] it is set up by 4 pharmacists on a daily schedule (8: 30 am-3: 30 pm), [2] injectable drugs for emergency are louded in a special compartment of the carrying kart, and [3] are set up for prescription entry by the physicians within 24 hours. As a result, it is thus possible to check the prescription (dosage, route, incompatibility and stability), to reduce the stock of injectable drugs in the ward while, in addition, manpower for both the nursing and medical office personnel can be reduced.

Using a functioning rat thyroid cell line (FRTL-5), we studied the effects of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), interleukin-1 beta (IL-1 beta), and interleukin-6 (IL-6) on thyroidal type I iodothyronine 5'-deiodination (I-5'-deiodination) and on the expression of I-5'-deiodinase (I-5'-D) mRNA. After 24 h incubation in medium containing 0.5 microM rT3 with a tracer amount of [125I]rT3, radioactivity of released 125I- was counted. Deiodination in live FRTL-5 cells was enhanced about three times from the basal level by the addition of TSH and was inhibited markedly by propylthiouracil and dose dependently by T4. These results suggest the suitability of this model for investigating I-5'-deiodination in live thyroid tissue. Basal and TSH-induced I-5'-deiodination were significantly inhibited by 100 ng/liter of IL-1 beta and IL-6, and the inhibitory effect of TNF-alpha was seen over 1 microgram/liter. I-5'-deiodination was restored by removal of the cytokines. TSH-induced cAMP production and (Bu)2cAMP-induced I-5'-deiodination were also inhibited by the cytokines. Catalase, dexamethasone, and indomethacin did not abolish the inhibitory effects of the cytokines. Reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) revealed a marked suppression of I-5'-D mRNA expression by IL-1 beta and IL-6. We conclude that these cytokines inhibit the thyroidal type I I-5'-deiodination in the order of potency IL-1 betaIL-6TNF-alpha, probably by decreasing the I-5'-D mRNA level.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

This paper reports results of a Suzaku observation of the supernova remnant (SNR) Kes 79 (G33.6+0.1). The X-ray spectrum is best fitted by a two-temperature model: a non-equilibrium ionization (NEI) plasma and a collisional ionization equilibrium (CIE) plasma. The NEI plasma is spatially confined within the inner radio shell with kT~0.8 keV, while the CIE plasma is found in more spatially extended regions associated with the outer radio shell with kT~0.2 keV and solar abundance. Therefore, the NEI plasma is attributable to the SN ejecta and the CIE plasma is forward shocked interstellar medium. In the NEI plasma, we discovered K-shell line of Al, Ar and Ca for the first time. The abundance pattern and estimated mass of the ejecta are consistent with the core-collapse supernova explosion of a ~30-40 solar mass progenitor star. An Fe line with center energy of ~6.4 keV is also found in the southeast (SE) portion of the SNR, a close peripheral region around dense molecular clouds. One possibility is that the line is associated with the ejecta. However, the centroid energy of ~6.4 keV and the spatial distribution of enhancement near the SE peripheral do not favor this scenario. Since the ~6.4 keV emitting region coincides to the molecular clouds, we propose another possibility that the Fe line is due to K-shell ionization of neutral Fe by the interaction of locally accelerated protons (LECRp) with the surrounding molecular cloud. Both these possibilities, heated ejecta or LECRp origin, are discussed based on the observational facts., 20 pages, 15 figures, accepted for publication in PASJ

We are developing an integrated simulation framework based on Geant4 to estimate in-orbit performance of instruments onboard ASTRO-H, the international X-ray observatory to be launched in 2014. One of the most important purposes of our simulation is to estimate radiation background of the Hard X-ray Imager (HXI) and the Soft Gamma-ray Detector (SGD), both of which are composed of CdTe and silicon. We developed a new code based on Geant4 to handle the generation and the decay of radioactive nuclei and to estimate the activation of CdTe detector. In addition, to verify simulation results, we performed beam irradiation experiments at NIRS IDMAC using 150 MeV protons, which is typical energy of protons reaching to the CdTe detectors placed in the shielding materials, and measured the activation background spectra for several months. Our simulation results show good agreements with the experimental data.

We are developing an ASTRO-H data analysis framework with the Geant4-based Monte Carlo simulation core, and numerical models of the on-orbit environmental radiation and full-satellite mass structure. The framework uses not only Geant4 but also a traditional X-ray mirror ray-tracing simulator, and a file format compatible with the SimX simulator for input and output of celestial body information. The data exchange between the framework and the external software is based on FITS files, which makes it easy to record and trace the internal steps of the whole simulation framework.

Humans should receive the fruits of biodiversity through ecosystem services. Forest ecosystems have various types of service based on the diversity of organisms and its large biomass. For example, tropical rainforests have supplied huge amounts of timber to developed countries, and nontimber products have played a critical role in restricted areas of life for local populations. These services differ in spatiotemporal scales and socioeconomic values. Some are local or regional, and others are international. There are several areas of confusion and many discussions about the definitions of ecosystem processes, functions, and services (Wallace 2007). However, it is true that ecosystem services of a forest depend on the structure and dynamics of forest itself.

We studied the initial regenerative processes ofDistylium racemosum andPersea thunbergii, major canopy species, in an old-growth evergreen broad-leaved forest, Kagoshima, southwestern Japan. Although the two species coexisted, the patterns of seed production, seedling emergence, and sapling survival were different between them. During the observation (1989–1991),P. thunbergii produced large numbers of seeds in alternate years, whileD. racemosum had no mast year. The density of established seedlings was high and increased with mass seed production forP. thunbergii, but was fairly low forD. racemosum. The mortality of seedlings and saplings ofP. thunbergii was higher than that ofD. racemosum. In a closed stand, the sapling bank was maintained by dense seedling supply forP. thunbergii, and by extremely low mortality of individuals germinated before the beginning of observation forD. racemosum. Since saplings ofD. racemosum showed continuous height growth beneath the closed canopy, the possibility of recruitment into the upper layer seems to be high. The strategy ofP. thunbergii might be to wait for suitable conditions favoring sapling growth on various site by means of frequent and large seed productivity and wide dispersal of seeds. Thus both species might be able to coexist through environmental heterogeneity.

The dynamics and regeneration probabilities ofQuercus acuta, Q. gilva, Q. salicina, andQ. sessilifolia were studied in a 0.48 ha plot in an old-growth evergreen broad-leaved forest, Kagoshima prefecture, southwestern Japan. The canopy was well closed and had only one small gap. Seventeen tree species occurred in the canopy. The fourQuercus species ranked second to fifth in basal area. Excluding the trees originated from sprouts,Q. acuta and Q. gilva lacked trees at the subcanopy layer, andQ. salicina andQ. sessilifolia had some trees at the same layer. For eachQuercus species, the amount of fallen acorns fluctuated from year to year. The number of current year seedlings was positively correlated with the number of fallen acorns in the previous year. A disproportion between the spatial distribution of fallen acorns and that of established seedlings has been shown. The establishment of seedlings was frequently observed where no acorns had fallen in the previous year. Saplings of four species survived for several years and formed sapling banks under the closed canopy. During the three years of the study, the mortality ofQ. salicina andQ. sessilifolia saplings was lower than that ofQ. acuta andQ. gilva. However, the differences in the average annual height growth of saplings between four species were not significant, and the most of them did not grow much. These results suggest that the saplings of the fourQuercus, especiallyQ. gilva andQ. acuta, have no chance to recruit to the canopy or subcanopy layer within a closed stand, and that some changes in the environment caused by gap formation are required for their recruitment.

The prevalence of the syndrome of ACTH-ADH discharge in Japan was studied by means of a questionnaire to all members of the Japanese Society for Pediatric Endocrinology. Ninety-one patients were reported by 107 members, and clinical details of 46 cases were obtained. The age of the patients was widely distributed, from one to 15 yrs (median, eight yrs), while the age of onset was usually between zero and four yrs, indicating a long duration of the symptoms. Eight patients had various congenital diseases. As for the three cardinal symptoms of vomiting, hypertension and psychotic depression, five cases (10.8%) did not have hypertension. Association of autonomic symptoms was common (85%). Laboratory data showed a consistent rise in ACTH and ADH at the initial phase of the attack, whereas hyponatremia did not occur in 30% of patients. Elevation of plasma norepinephrine and a concomitant decrease of dopamine were also constantly found. Eleven (26.8%) of 41 cases had an abnormal EEG, showing high voltage slow bursts. A wide variety of drugs was used for treatment, but the most effective were anticonvulsants, especially phenytoin, while antagonists of catecholamine were only transiently effective. These data indicate that (1) the syndrome of ACTH-ADH discharge is a fairly common disorder in Japan, (2) it is a quite different syndrome from cyclic vomiting in childhood, (3) the symptoms last for a long time, in some cases beyond adolescence, and (4) the most effective drugs are anticonvulsants. It is suggested that this syndrome may be due to periodic epileptic discharge in the hypothalamus involving paraventricular CRH- and ADH- neurons and the emetic center in the medulla.

https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85024290405&doi=10.1297%2fcpe.2.Supple2_79&partnerID=40&md5=12626aca76eb2a4e78f5240390705369, Insulin-like growth factor-II (IGF-II) and its specific receptor are present in the central nervous system (CNS) of experimental animal models, where this peptide has unique roles in neuronal growth and differentiation. IGF-II in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), as well as in plasma, is bound to specific binding protein (IGFBP). In this study we examined CSF IGF-II levels and IGFBP patterns in children with various physiological and pathological states. IGF-II, dissociated from IGFBP by acid gel chromatography, was measured by RIA, and IGFBP analyzed by western-ligand blotting. CSF IGF- II levels were 16.7±4.9 ng/ml in control subjects and there were no age-related variations. In some cases with CNS tumor, hydrocephalus and inflammatory conditions, their CSF IGF-II levels were increased. CSF IGFBP mainly consisted of 34kd, 31kd and 24kd protein. In contrast to serum IGFBP, CSF IGFBP patterns were almost unaffected by age, and were increased in some CNS inflammatoryconditions. Although the specific role of IGF-II in the human CNS remains to be defined, our results suggest that the regulatory mechanisms for the IGF-II /IGFBP system are present in the human CNS as well as in animal models.

Six hundred one patients with histologically proven "chronic thyroiditis" were assessed for the correlation of thyroid function to histologic findings. The histology of chronic thyroiditis was classified into four groups (oxyphilic, mixed, focal, and hyperplastic), and the thyroid function of patients was divided into hyperthyroid, euthyroid, latent hypothyroid, and overt hypothyroid, based on the laboratory data of serum triiodothyronine (T3), thyroxine (T4), and thyrotropin (TSH) levels, as well as thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) tests. In the oxyphilic group (137 cases), 116 (85%) of the patients were classified as hypothyroid: 52 (38%) as latent hypothyroid and 64 (47%) as overt hypothyroid. In the mixed group (161 cases), the thyroid function of the patients varied. Thirty-seven (23%) of the patients were classified as hyperthyroid, 61 (39%) as euthyroid, 54 (33%) as latent hypothyroid, and nine (5%) as overt hypothyroid. In this group thyroid function was intimately related to the ratio of replacement by hyperplastic-changed follicles and oxyphilic-changed follicles. In the focal group (149 cases), 123 (83%) of the patients were classified as euthyroid, while 22 (14%) were classified as latent hypothyroid. The frequency of latent hypothyroid patients increased in parallel with the severity of cell infiltration. In the hyperplastic group (154 cases), 130 (85%) of the patients were classified as hyperthyroid. In this series 19 patients under 10 years of age were included, and no difference in the distribution of histologic varieties was observed between juvenile and adult patients. Thyroid needle biopsy is a useful and safe tool, not only for the histologic diagnosis of chronic thyroiditis, but also for the evaluation of thyroid function and the identification of causes for hyperthyroidism or hypothyroidism.

To clarify whether serum free fatty acid (FFA) is an inhibitor of extrathyroidal conversion (IEC) of thyroxine (T4) to thyronine (T3), we measured the concentration of FFA, IEC activity and thyroid hormones in normal subjects, acute ketotic children and children with low T3 syndrome due to nonthyroidal illness (NTI). Iodothyronine (I) 5'-deiodinase activity was assayed with reverse triiodothyronine (rT3) as substrate and liberated 125I-was measured. The IEC was determined by the inhibition of I 5'-deiodination by ether extract of sera or standard oleate solution. IEC values were represented as mM oleate. The serum concentration of FFA was 0.470 +/- 0.117 (SD) mM in 11 normal subjects, and it was significantly higher (1.242 +/- 0.248 mM; P0.01) in 10 acute ketotic children and in 7 samples from 6 NTI children (0.904 +/- 0.530 mM; P0.05). In contrast, there was no difference in IEC among three groups (normal subject, 0.451 +/- 0.069 mM; acute ketosis, 0.437 +/- 0.040 mM; NTI, 0.465 +/- 0.224 mM). No correlations were found between IEC activity and the serum FFA concentration or thyroid hormones in 28 samples from three groups. The sequential changes in serum thyroid hormones, FFA and IEC in 3 of 6 NTI children revealed no consistent relationship. Furthermore, one NTI child had significantly high IEC (1.000 mM) but its serum FFA (1.182 mM) was below the mean value for the acute ketotic group. These results indicate that 1) many NTI patients may bear no relation to IEC and 2) IEC may not be caused by serum FFA only but includes several factors.

Background There have been no studies in which fasting serum ionic fluoride (SIF) concentrations in a general population were investigated despite the fact that SIF has various activities in humans. Methods A total of 332 healthy subjects (167 men and 165 women aged 40 to 69 years) were selected from residents of 2 towns in Iwate Prefecture, Japan using sex-specific and age-specific stratified random sampling methods. Overnight fasting blood samples were collected from all subjects. Serum levels of creatinine, bone alkaline phosphatase and urinary deoxypyridinoline levels were determined in one laboratory. SIF concentrations were measured using highly sensitive methods. Estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) was calculated using serum creatinine level, age and sex. Results Mean SIF concentrations were 0.495 μmol/l in men and 0.457 μmol/l in women. SIF concentrations were independently related to eGFR in both sexes and to menopause status in women. SIF concentrations in women were significantly higher in the post-menopausal group than in the pre-menopausal group. Conclusion SIF concentrations in middle-aged healthy subjects were increased with an age-related degeneration in renal function. SIF concentrations in post-menopausal women arise from the increased fluoride release from bone after menopause. Age is not related to SIF concentrations.

The effects of fetal androgen excess or deficiency on postnatal behavior were examined in 7 males and 14 females with congenital adrenal hyperplasia or hypoplasia aged 3 to 21 years. The subjects were divided into 3 groups: those with androgen excess (A+) comprised a group of 13 patients with classical 21-hydroxylase deficiency and one with 11-beta-hydroxylase deficiency; a normal or reduced androgen (a+) group was represented by one patient with late-onset 21-hydroxylase deficiency and one with congenital adrenal hypoplasia; and a group with absent androgen (A-) consisted of 5 patients with a cholesterol side-chain cleaving-enzyme deficiency. Behavior was evaluated as male (M) or female (F) according to the pattern of play, classification of which was based on data of prevalent play in 1,275 preschool and 400 school boys and girls. Play prevalent in both sexes was classified as neutral (N). The mothers of the patients were requested to check the preferred play during childhood from a randomized play list. The androgen excess group showed M or bisexual (M/F) type, whereas all of the androgen deficient group revealed F type irrespective of gender. In preschool children, coincidence of M or F play type with genetic sex, social sex and androgen exposure was 38%, 53% and 90%, respectively, indicating androgen-dependency of playing patterns. This persisted into school age, although the coincidence rate was slightly changed by environmental effects. These results suggest that fetal androgen plays a role in the sexual differentiation of the central nervous system.

To evaluate the effect of human growth hormone (hGH) on the growth of children with achondroplasia, three patients with achondroplasia and one patient with hypochondroplasia were treated with 0.5 IU/kg/W of pituitary-extracted hGH for 6-12 months. Mean height velocity was significantly increased from 4.0 +/- 0.4 to 7.5 +/- 0.7 cm/year (P less than 0.05) by hGH. The tibial index, defined as the length/width ratio of left tibia, did not change during the treatment, indicating that hGH promotes growth without exaggeration of tubular bone deformity. Case 2, who had atlantoaxial dislocation, developed sleep apnea and neurological deficits during the second hGH treatment, but these were cured by operation. Thus, hGH therapy is effective in promoting growth in patients with achondroplasia, but the complication of atlantoaxial dislocation should be explored and corrected before the treatment.

The vertical foliage distribution of Castanopsis cuspidata (Thunb.) Schottky was examined in trees of various sizes to clarify its variation in relation to tree size and the light environment in a stand. As indices of these parameters, we analyzed crown social position (CSP: percent of stand height) and specific leaf area (SLA). The vertical foliage distribution of trees was expressed by a Weibull function. The variation in the vertical foliage distribution of C. cuspidata could be categorized into three types using crown social position and light environment. In the first type, leaves were concentrated to the top 20% of the tree; such trees are canopy trees that can receive full sunlight. The second type had a large relative crown depth and an asymmetric distribution with the maximum foliage located near the top of the tree; such trees are suppressed trees whose crowns do not receive sufficient light. The third type had a large relative crown depth and a symmetric distribution; such trees occur in high light environments, although their crowns are in the understory layer. The differences in the vertical foliage distribution are related to the strategies used to capture light. Multiple regression analysis showed that CSP and SLA at the top layer of the tree explained successive changes in the vertical foliage distribution. These results will contribute to scaling-up the vertical foliage distribution to the community level in pure stands of C. cuspidata using an individual-based model.

We observed the sequential changes in serum thyroid hormones and thyroid-stimulating hormone receptor antibodies in an infant born at 30 weeks of gestation to a mother with florid Graves disease. Transient central hypothyroidism caused by pituitary suppression was observed after the resolution of peripheral thyrotoxicosis induced by thyroid-stimulating antibody. Central hypothyroidism became overt when the suppression of the pituitary gland after fetal thyrotoxicosis was combined with weak activity of thyroid-stimulating antibody after birth.

This data paper reports litter fall data collected in a network of 21 forest sites in Japan. This is the largest litter fall data set freely available in Japan to date. The network is a part of the Monitoring Sites 1000 Project launched by the Ministry of the Environment, Japan. It covers subarctic to subtropical climate zones and the four major forest types in Japan. Twenty-three permanent plots in which usually 25 litter traps were installed were established in old-growth or secondary natural forests. Litter falls were collected monthly from 2004, and sorted into leaves, branches, reproductive structures and miscellaneous. The data provide seasonal patterns and inter-annual dynamics of litter falls, and their geographical patterns, and offer good opportunities for meta-analyses and comparative studies among forests.

Objective: To analyze telomerase and proliferative activity in placenta from women with and without fetal growth restriction (FGR). Methods: Telomerase activity was analyzed in 30 first-trimester chorionic villi specimens (group A) and in 28 second- and third-trimester placenta specimens (group B) from women without FGR. Telomerase activity also was analyzed in 11 placenta specimens from women with asymmetric FGR (group C). The proliferative activity of these 69 specimens was assessed by immunohistochemical staining, using the MIB-1 monoclonal antibody. Results: Telomerase activity was detected in 28 (93.3%) of 30 chorionic villi specimens and in 18 (64.3%) of 28 placenta specimens without FGR. In contrast, no telomerase activity was exhibited in the placenta specimens from any of the 11 women with asymmetric FGR by telomeric repeat amplification protocol assay. Telomerase activity also was detected by in situ telomeric repeat amplification protocol assay in trophoblastic cells from women without FGR but not in trophoblastic cells from women with asymmetric FGR. Thus, telomerase activity was detected significantly more often in groups A and B than in group C (P < .01). The rate of proliferative activity, evident as positive MIB-1 staining in trophoblastic cells, in groups A and B (28.1 ± 1.7% and 7.0 ± 2.9%, respectively) was significantly higher than that in group C (1.9 ± 0.6%; P < .01). Conclusion: Telomerase and proliferative activity were minimal in placenta from women with asymmetrical FGR, suggesting placental senescence with asymmetrical FGR.