Development of a Field Guide for Identification of Plant Species by using of the "Google My Map"

In the present study, a field guide for identification of plant species was developed. It was built by the “My Maps” of the function in the “Google Map”. This online “Map” showed the habitat point, the plant name and photos of each species. Students were able to use it by the smart phones and the tablet devices as well as PC machines. They were able to confirm their position by GPS in their mobile devices, and also find plants to observe. Moreover, they were easily able to identify the species name by this "Map". A questionnaire survey was conducted for the purpose of improvement of the “Map” to students. As the result, it was suggested that this "Map" enhanced students' interest in outdoor observation, and was effective when students actually go out to the field and observe the plants. On the other hand, it turned out that this "Map" was not easy to use for the beginners of the mobile equipment. It is necessary to improve usability.本研究の一部は，科学研究費基盤研究（B）（一般）（17H01980），および科学研究費基盤研究（C）（一般）（26350235），ならびに科学研究費基盤研究（C）（一般）（16K00966）の助成を受けて行った

Abnormal Cystatin C Levels in Two Patients with Bardet-Biedl Syndrome

Bardet-Biedl syndrome (BBS) is an autosomal recessive disorder characterized by central obesity, mental impairment, rod-cone dystrophy, polydactyly, hypogonadism in males, and renal abnormalities. The causative genes have been identified as BBS1-14. In the Western countries, the prevalence of this disease ranges from 1/13,500 to 1/160,000, while only a few Japanese patients have been reported in the English-language literature. The incidence of renal dysfunction or anomalies in previous reports varies considerably ranging from ∼20% to universal occurrence. We here report that two Japanese patients who had BBS with normal BUN and creatinine levels had elevated levels of cystatin C, a sensitive marker of glomerular filtration rate. A urine albumin level increased only in the elder patient. Thus, cystatin C may be useful for detecting renal abnormalities in patients with an apparent normal renal function. Because this disease is diagnosed by accumulation of symptoms, such a sensitive marker might help early diagnosis of BBS

Genotype–phenotype correlation for extracolonic aggressive phenotypes in patients with familial adenomatous polyposis

Familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP) patients develop various life-threatening extracolonic comorbidities that appear individually or within a family. This diversity can be explained by the localization of the adenomatous polyposis coli (APC) variant, but few reports provide definitive findings about genotype–phenotype correlations. Therefore, we investigated FAP patients and the association between the severe phenotypes and APC variants. Of 247 FAP patients, 126 patients from 85 families identified to have APC germline variant sites were extracted. These sites were divided into six groups (Regions A to F), and the frequency of severe comorbidities was compared among the patient phenotypes. Of the 126 patients, the proportions of patients with desmoid tumor stage ≥III, number of FGPs ≥1000, multiple gastric neoplasms, gastric neoplasm with high-grade dysplasia, and Spigelman stage ≥III were 3%, 16%, 21%, 12%, and 41%, respectively, while the corresponding rates were 30%, 50%, 70%, 50%, and 80% in patients with Region E (codons 1398–1580) variants. These latter rates were significantly higher than those for patients with variants in other regions. Moreover, the proportion of patients with all three indicators (desmoid tumor stage ≥III, number of FGPs ≥1000, and Spigelman stage ≥III) was 20% for those with variants in Region E and 0% for those with variants in other regions. Variants in Region E indicate aggressive phenotypes, and more intensive management is required

Development of observation system for tsunami and crustal deformation

The 2011 off the Pacific coast of Tohoku earthquake (M9) occurred at 11 March in last year and huge tsunami brought severe damage around the Tohoku area. The huge earthquake brought large crustal movement. The movements were 24m on the forearc and 50m near the trench (Sato et al., 2011; Fujiwara et al., 2012). The observation, however, was measured after the occurrence and not in real-time. Therefore, we are developing new real-time observation system for tsunami and crustal movement developed by Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology (JAMSTEC) and Tohoku University. Our system is composed of seafloor stations and a buoy on sea surface, and these data are sent via satellites in real-time. We selected the m-TRITON buoy developed by JAMSTEC as the platform on sea surface. Because our target is the future Tonankai and Nankai earthquake, the buoy has to adapt slack mooring to stand strong sea current like the Kuroshio with speed of over 5 knots around Japan. We will attach recording systems for tsunami and geodetic movement and the transfer system to send data to satellites in real-time on the buoy. The power supply for them is covered with lithium batteries and the solar power generation. The seafloor station is composed of an equipment to transfer pressure data for tsunami detection and some transponders to detect geodetic movement. Tsunami data recorded by the seafloor pressure sensor is sent acoustically with interval of 15 minutes normally, but the interval changes to 15 seconds in tsunami occurrence. The geodetic movement data is collected with interval of one week. As positioning to monitor geodetic movement with high accuracy less than 10 cm, we adapt the Precise Point Positioning (PPP) technical scheme developed by Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency and have a plan to construct total system to four years.Abstract AOGS/AGU (WPGM) Joint Assembly at Singapore, 13-17 August, 201