Refined large N duality for torus knots

We formulate large N duality of U(N) refined Chern-Simons theory with a torus knot/link in S^3. By studying refined BPS states in M-theory, we provide the explicit form of low-energy effective actions of Type IIA string theory with D4-branes on the Ω-background. This form enables us to relate refined Chern-Simons invariants of a torus knot/link in S^3 to refined BPS invariants in the resolved conifold. Assuming that the extra U(1) global symmetry acts on BPS states trivially, the duality predicts graded dimensions of cohomology groups of moduli spaces of M2-M5 bound states associated to a torus knot/link in the resolved conifold

Mercury Emission from Prescribed Open Grassland Burning in the Aso Region, Japan

In every Spring, prescribed grassland burning, so-called Noyaki in Japanese, has been conducted for over a 1000 years by local residents in the Aso region, Japan, for the purpose of grassland conservation because Noyaki prevents invasion of woody plants in the grassland and helps the growth of grasses, which were an important resource of primary industry for roofing materials of houses and livestock feed. Meanwhile, biomass burning is known to be one of the most significant sources of airborne substances including mercury. Taking advantage of the characteristics and resources of the place we live in, we here describe our on-going study for the emission of gaseous mercury from the traditional Noyaki in the Aso region and other grasslands of western Japan. During Noyaki, we sampled and measured gaseous mercury from the Noyaki plumes to better understand mercury emissions and cycles in the local environment. Results showed, on average, 3.8 times higher atmospheric mercury concentrations, demonstrating the emission of gaseous mercury from the Noyaki. The possible origins, novel information the results inferred, and future research direction are discussed in this chapter

Distribution of Japanese Eel Anguilla japonica Revealed by Environmental DNA

絶滅危惧種ニホンウナギの分布域を環境DNA解析で推定. 京都大学プレスリリース. 2021-03-03.The abundance of Japanese eel Anguilla japonica has rapidly decreased in recent decades. Following a re-evaluation of the possibility of extinction, the Japanese Ministry of the Environment and the International Union for Conservation of Nature listed the Japanese eel as an endangered species in 2013 and 2014, respectively. However, their abundance and precise distribution have never been clarified owing to their nocturnality and difficulty in their capture. In this study, the distribution of Japanese eels was investigated by monitoring for environmental DNA (eDNA), a non-invasive and efficient detection method. A total of 365 water samples were collected from 265 rivers located throughout Japan. High concentrations of eDNA of Japanese eels were detected in rivers on the Pacific side, but were low in the Sea of Japan side. In particular, very little eDNA amplification was confirmed from Hokkaido and the north of the Sea of Japan. The eDNA distribution in Japanese rivers coincides with the transport of the larvae in the ocean, as estimated by numerical simulations. Generalized linear mixed models were developed to explain the distribution of eDNA concentrations. The total nitrogen concentration emerged as an important factor in the best model. These results indicate that the distribution of Japanese eel is mostly determined by the maritime larval transport, and their survival and growth depend on the abundance of food in the river. The findings of the present study are useful for the management of populations and in the conservation of Japanese eels

Efficacy of Prednisolone in Generated Myotubes Derived From Fibroblasts of Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy Patients

Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is a recessive X-linked form of muscular dystrophy characterized by progressive muscle degeneration. This disease is caused by the mutation or deletion of the dystrophin gene. Currently, there are no effective treatments and glucocorticoid administration is a standard care for DMD. However, the mechanism underlying prednisolone effects, which leads to increased walking, as well as decreased muscle wastage, is poorly understood. Our purpose in this study is to investigate the mechanisms of the efficacy of prednisolone for this disease. We converted fibroblasts of normal human cell line and a DMD patient sample to myotubes by MyoD transduction using a retroviral vector. In myotubes from the MyoD-transduced fibroblasts of the DMD patient, the myotube area was decreased and its apoptosis was increased. Furthermore, we confirmed that prednisolone could rescue these pathologies. Prednisolone increased the expression of not utrophin but laminin by down-regulation of MMP-2 mRNA. These results suggest that the up-regulation of laminin may be one of the mechanisms of the efficacy of prednisolone for DMD

Distribution characteristics and its controlling facters of isoprene dissolved in surface seawater in the Southern Ocean

第2回極域科学シンポジウム/第34回気水圏シンポジウム 11月17日（木） 統計数理研究所 セミナー室

タイモウ カラ チュウシュツ シタ DNA ヲ モチイタ オオアシトガリネズミ Sorex unguiculatus ノ セイ ハンベツ

オオアシトガリネズミは外見による性判別が難しい上に,保定による外部生殖器の観察が野生由来の飼育個体に多大なストレスを与える可能性もある。そこで本研究では,同種の体毛を材料としたPCRによる性判別法について検討した。毛による性判別に先立ち,解剖して生殖腺で性別を確認した個体から肝臓を採取し,肝臓由来のゲノムDNAで性判別を行った。雄特異的プライマーはヨーロッパトガリネズミで雄特異的産物の検出が報告されているDBY8,雌雄共通プライマーはスンクス(ジャコウネズミ)におけるAqp3の相補的DNA配列からデザインしたAQP3を用いた。その結果,DBY8では雄,AQP3では雌雄の両者において明瞭な1本バンドのPCR産物が検出され,それらによる性判別の結果は,解剖で確認した性別と一致した。次いで体毛に由来するゲノムDNAで性判別を行ったところ,解剖で確認した性別と完全に一致した。以上より,生体から反復して簡便に採取できる体毛を材料として,PCRによるオオアシトガリネズミの性判別法を確立した。Sexing of the long-clawed shrew based on its external features is relatively difficult. And physical restraint to observe their external genitalia often causes extreme levels of stress, because the wild shrews are unaccustomed to handling. In this study, we employed polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis of genomic DNA (gDNA) from the hair of the shrews as an alternative method for sexing. In the preliminary experiment, the sexes of the shrews were confirmed by observing their gonads after dissection, prior to PCR analysis using gDNA extracted from the livers. DBY8, a male-specific primer set for the European shrew, was utilized as the male-specific primer set. AQP3, designed from the complementary DNA sequence of Aqp3 from musk shrew, was utilized as the gender-neutral primer set. A single, clear PCR product was detected in the gDNA from males by using DBY8 and from both sexes by using AQP3 after electrophoresis. The results of sexing by PCR analysis of the hair gDNA were completely consistent with the sexing as confirmed by observing the dissected gonads. In conclusion, we developed a reliable method of sexing by using PCR analysis of gDNA extracted from the hair of the long-clawed shrew, which is a specimen that can be collected non-invasively and repeatedly