Multiproxy geochemical analysis of a Panthalassic margin record of the early Toarcian oceanic anoxic event (Toyora area, Japan)

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DECIGO and DECIGO pathfinder

A space gravitational-wave antenna, DECIGO (DECI-hertz interferometer Gravitational wave Observatory), will provide fruitful insights into the universe, particularly on the formation mechanism of supermassive black holes, dark energy and the inflation of the universe. In the current pre-conceptual design, DECIGO will be comprising four interferometer units; each interferometer unit will be formed by three drag-free spacecraft with 1000 km separation. Since DECIGO will be an extremely challenging mission with high-precision formation flight with long baseline, it is important to increase the technical feasibility before its planned launch in 2027. Thus, we are planning to launch two milestone missions. DECIGO pathfinder (DPF) is the first milestone mission, and key components for DPF are being tested on ground and in orbit. In this paper, we review the conceptual design and current status of DECIGO and DPF

Composite Phymatoderma from Neogene deep-marine deposits in Japan: Implications for Phanerozoic benthic interactions between burrows and the trace-makers of Chondrites and Phycosiphon

Among composite trace fossils, one of the most common structures throughout the Phanerozoic are structures (e.g., dwelling trace, feeding trace) reworked by Chondrites and/or Phycosiphon. However, differences in the nature of the reworking behaviors of these two ichnogenera remain unknown. Thus, in this study, composite Phymatoderma specimens from the Neogene deep-marine Shiramazu Formation in Japan, particularly those reworked by Chondrites and Phycosiphon, were analyzed to reveal the specific conditions that might control the activities of these trace-makers. Phymatoderma reworked by Phycosiphon is significantly larger than non-reworked Phymatoderma, whereas Phymatoderma reworked by Chondrites shows no significant difference in burrow diameter compared with non-reworked Phymatoderma. The recognized size selectivity (i.e., preference for larger burrows) by the Phycosiphon trace-maker can be explained by considering the different feeding strategies of these two ichnogenera; namely deposit-feeding Phycosiphon-makers, which must have processed a significant mass of sediment to obtain sufficient organic matter, whereas chemosymbiotic Chondrites-producers did not require a lot of sediment to obtain nutrients. In order to test these interpretations, a dataset of Phanerozoic trace fossils reworked by Chondrites/Phycosiphon were compiled. Consequently, the Phycosiphon-producers’ preference toward relatively larger burrows was recognized, quantitatively supporting the results of this study. The compilation also indicates that the burrow size might have become one of the important limiting factors for the Phycosiphon-producers that tried to rework the sediments within previous subsurface burrows, at least for 80 million years

麻酔下ネコの下唇と口蓋における反射性副交感神経作動性血管拡張に対する視床下部前部阻害(Anterior hypothalamic inhibition of reflex parasympathetic vasodilatation in the lower lip and palate of anaesthetized cats)

麻酔下迷走・交感神経切除ネコにおいて、舌神経(LN)の中央切断部の電気刺激による下唇と口蓋の副交感神経介在性反射性血管拡張に対する視床下部の修飾作用について報告した。視床下部前部を電気刺激すると、LN刺激による唇血流増加が減弱した。その最も大きな阻害効果は視床下部前部の脳質周囲から誘発されていた。GABAA受容体特異的アンタゴニストのピクロトキシンを前投与すると、視床下部前部刺激の阻害効果が減弱したことから、視床下部の阻害効果はGABA様効果によって発現することが示唆された。興奮性アミノ酸のL-ホモシステイン酸を視床下部前部に微量注入すると、LN刺激による唇血流増加が有意に阻害されたことから、視床下部前部の細胞体が阻害作用に応答していることが示唆された。これはネコの口・顔面の非迷走神経性副交感神経反射に対する視床下部前部による修飾に関する初めての報告である。麻酔下迷走・交感神経切除ネコにおいて、舌神経(LN)の中央切断部の電気刺激による下唇と口蓋の副交感神経介在性反射性血管拡張に対する視床下部の修飾作用について報告した。視床下部前部を電気刺激すると、LN刺激による唇血流増加が減弱した。その最も大きな阻害効果は視床下部前部の脳質周囲から誘発されていた。GABAA受容体特異的アンタゴニストのピクロトキシンを前投与すると、視床下部前部刺激の阻害効果が減弱したことから、視床下部の阻害効果はGABA様効果によって発現することが示唆された。興奮性アミノ酸のL-ホモシステイン酸を視床下部前部に微量注入すると、LN刺激による唇血流増加が有意に阻害されたことから、視床下部前部の細胞体が阻害作用に応答していることが示唆された。これはネコの口・顔面の非迷走神経性副交感神経反射に対する視床下部前部による修飾に関する初めての報告である

Current Clinical Trials in Pemphigus and Pemphigoid

Autoimmune bullous dermatoses (AIBDs) are a group of rare chronic inflammatory skin diseases, which clinically manifest as blisters and erosions of the skin and/or mucosa. Immunologically, AIBDs are characterized and caused by autoantibodies targeting adhesion molecules in the skin and mucosa. According to the histological location of the blistering, AIBDs are classified into the following two main subtypes: pemphigus (intraepidermal blistering) and pemphigoid (subepidermal blistering). Most AIBDs were potentially life-threatening diseases before the advent of immunosuppressive drugs, especially systemic steroid therapies, which suppress pathogenic immunological activity. Although there have been recent advancements in the understanding of the pathogenesis of AIBDs, glucocorticosteroids and/or adjuvant immunosuppressive drugs are still needed to control disease activity. However, the long-term use of systemic immunosuppression is associated with major adverse events, including death. Based on the growing understanding of AIBD pathogenesis, novel treatment targets have emerged, some of which are currently being evaluated in clinical trials. Within this article, we review the current clinical trials involving pemphigus and pemphigoid and discuss the rationale that lead to these trials. Overall, we aim to foster insights into translational research in AIBDs to improve patient care

Cross-Correlated Force Measurement for Thermal Noise Reduction in Torsion Pendulum

The torsion pendulum is a prevailing instrument for measuring small forces acting on a solid body or those between solid bodies. While it offers powerful advantages, the measurement precision suffers from thermal noises of the suspending wires giving rise to stochastic torque noises. This letter proposes a new scheme to reduce the effect of such noise by employing a double torsion pendulum and cross-correlation technique based on the theoretical analysis that the thermal torque noise appears at each end of the suspending wire differentially. Cross-correlating two synthesized data streams which are composed of the rotation angles of two torsion stages, it yields the power spectral density estimate of external forces acting on the lower stage with the reduced effect from the thermal torque noises. As an example use case, we discuss the application to the study on the coupling strength of ultra light dark matter to standard model particles. Our evaluation indicates that the upper limit may be improved by an order of magnitude than the previous experiments at 2 mHz, which corresponds to about $8\times10^{-18}$ eV.Comment: 6 pages, 3 figure

Sedimentary evidence for enhanced hydrological cycling in response to rapid carbon release during the early Toarcian oceanic anoxic event

Part of this work was financially supported by JSPS KAKENHI 12J08818 and 15J08821 to KI. DBK acknowledges recipe of NERC Fellowship NE/I02089X/1 and grants from the Sasakawa Foundation of Great Britain, grant number 4883, and Daiwa Anglo-Japanese Foundation, grant number 10960/12369. This study contributes to IGCP 655. We thank M. Ikeda, T. Ohta, K. Suzuki, N. Nishida and K. Kawano for assistance in the field and/or helpful discussion. Fieldwork was carried out with full permission and support from its landowners. S. Nicoara and S. Kurokawa are thanked for analytical assistance. The comments of the Editor (D. Vance) and three reviewers (G. Suan, S. Bodin, and an anonymous reviewer) greatly improved the manuscript.Peer reviewedPostprin

Oceanic redox conditions through the late Pliensbachian to early Toarcian on the northwestern Panthalassa margin : Insights from pyrite and geochemical data

Part of this work was financially supported by JSPS grants 15J08821 to KI. DBK acknowledges receipt of NERC Fellowship NE/I02089X/1, and grants from the Great Britain Sasakawa Foundation: grant number 4883 and Daiwa Anglo-Japanese Foundation: grant number 10960/12369. This study contributes to IGCP 655. We thank M. Ikeda, T. Ohta, K. Suzuki, S. Itamiya, and K. Kawano for assistance in the field and/or helpful discussion. Fieldwork was carried out with full permission and support from its landowners. Technical staff at Geo-Science Laboratory (Chikyu Kagaku Kenkyusho) are thanked for performance of TOC and carbon-isotope analysis.Peer reviewedPostprin