Recovery of an endangered butterfly species, Shijimiaeoides divinus, population at Azumino in Nagano Prefecture, Japan

The large shijimi blue, Shijimiaeoides divinus, is a grassland lycaenid butterfly classified as an endangered species by the Ministry of Environment. In this study, I report on the life history of S. divinus barine and provide new data on the recovery of the natural population in Azumino. This butterfly is single-breeded with the adults usually appearing from late May to early June in Nagano Prefecture. Only three populations of S. divinus barine are maintained in Nagano Prefecture by several volunteer groups. In Azumino, efforts to introduce individuals at pupal stage in a butterfly sanctuary failed because of appearance of the egg parasite Trichogramma chilonis, which is an important mortality factor of the egg stage of S. divinus barine. On March 29, 2009, we experimentally tested the effect of bush burning on eggs parasitoids. Bush burning proved to have a negative effect on T. chilonis. Subsequently, bush burning was performed in a wide area during 2011 as a conservation measure. As a result, natural population of S. divinus barine recovered at the sanctuary area in Azumino after 15 years of absence.Article信州大学農学部紀要 50（1-2）: 31-36(2014)departmental bulletin pape

Analysis of the Geographical Distribution of an Endangered Butterfly, the Large Shijimi Blue, Shijimiaeoides divines, Using Insect Database

Geographical distribution of an endangered butterfly species, Shijimiaeoides divinus was analyzed three insect databases, ‘Database on Collection Records of Shijimiaeoides divinus’ , ‘Database on Literature List of Shijimiaeoides divinus’ and ‘Database on Collection Records of Insect at Nagano Prefecture’. There are five subspecies of this butterfly, S. divinus barine and S. divinus asonis in Japan, and S. divinus divinus, S. divinus asahii and S. divinus shinichiroi in foreign country. Recent records in 21st century are only at three points in foreign countries. Analyzing the database, subspecies S. divinus barine in Nagano Prefecture disappeared rapidly after 1980. Only two populations remained. Natural population of S. divinus barine is on the verge of extinction in Japan.Article信州大学農学部紀要. 46(1-2): 99-103 (2010)departmental bulletin pape

Increase in the number of Endangered Butterfly species in Japan from 1991 to 2012

We surveyed the changes in the numbers of endangered species of Japanese butterflies from 1991 to 2012 on the basis of the Red Data Book and the Red List published by the Ministry of Environment. Total 47 butterflies were red listed in 1991, increasing to 91 species (including subspecies) in 2012. The rate of critically endangered (CR) and endangered (EN) species was the highest for butterflies (from two species in 1991 to 30 in 2012) in other category species. Thirty-seven species of the Lycaeidae family are currently included in the Red List (40.7%). Thirty species (42.3%) of the 71 butterfly species (not including sub-species) in the Japanese Red List are found in Korea. From all the Red List butterflies, 50.5% are grassland species.Article信州大学農学部紀要 50（1-2）: 23-29(2014)departmental bulletin pape

Teaching Engineering English in the Chinese Context

The study describes a content-based course designed for engineering students in a non-English speaking country, shares the experience in developing the course, presents the challenges encountered when teaching the course, and provides solutions to some challenges

Effects of temperature on the development and survival of an endangered butterfly, Lycaeides argyrognomon (Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae) with estimation of optimal and threshold temperatures using linear and nonlinear models

The effects of temperature on the development and survival of Lycaeides argyrognomon were examined in the laboratory. The eggs, larvae and pupae were reared at temperatures of 15, 17.5, 20, 25, 30 and 33 degrees C under a long-day photoperiod of 16-h light and 8-h darkness. The survival rates of the firstthird instars ranged from 40.0 to 82.4%. The mortalities of the fourth instar were lower than those of the firstthird instars. The development time of the overall immature stage decreased from 78.33 days at 15 degrees C to 21.07 days at 30 degrees C, and then increased to 24.33 days at 33 degrees C. The common linear model and the IkemotoTakai model were used to estimate the thermal constant (K) and the developmental zero (T0). The values of T0 and K for the overall immature stages were 10.50 degrees C and 418.83 degree-days, and 9.71 degrees C and 451.68 degree-days by the common model and the IkemotoTakai model, respectively. The upper temperature thresholds (Tmax) and the optimal temperatures (Topt) of the egg, the firstthird instars and the overall immature stages were estimated by the three nonlinear models. The ranges of Topt estimated were from 30.33 degrees C to 32.46 degrees C in the overall immature stages and the estimates of Tmax of the overall immature stages by the Briere-1 and the Briere-2 models were 37.18 degrees C and 33.00 degrees C, respectively. The method to predict the developmental period of L. argyrognomon using the nonlinear models was discussed based on the data of the average temperature per hour.ArticleENTOMOLOGICAL SCIENCE. 15(2):162-170 (2012)journal articl

The Predictive Role of Grapho-Morphological Knowledge in Reading Comprehension for Beginning-Level L2 Chinese Learners

Reading comprehension entails a set of distinct, yet interdependent cognitive, linguistic, and nonlinguistic processes. Previous second language (L2) Chinese studies have identified significant and positive impacts of grapho-morphological knowledge at the character and subcharacter (radical) levels on passage reading comprehension; however, little is known regarding how early L2 grapho-morphological knowledge at the character and radical levels jointly predict later L2 reading comprehension. This study aimed to fill this gap. One hundred and five beginning-level L2 Chinese collegiate learners were recruited, and completed two character-related and two radical-related tasks in Week 8, as well as one reading comprehension tasks in Week 18. The main findings, based on correlational and path analyses, suggested that L2 Chinese learners’ early character-level and radical-level grapho-morphological knowledge significantly predicted later reading comprehension, yet the interrelations among grapho-morphological knowledge at the character and radical levels were complex. Path analyses identified direct and indirect paths from early character-level grapho-morphological knowledge to later reading comprehension, as well as indirect paths from early radical-level grapho-morphological knowledge to later reading comprehension. Methodological and pedagogical implications for L2 Chinese reading research and practices are discussed

Vitamin K2 Has No Preventive Effect on Recurrence of Hepatocellular Carcinoma after Effective Treatment

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) has a poor prognosis because of its high recurrence rate. Recently, vitamin K2 has been reported to inhibit the growth of HCC cell lines. To clarify the preventive effect of vitamin K2 on HCC recurrence, we studied 72 HCC patients who had been treated with surgical resection, local ablation or transarterial embolization: their etiologies were hepatitis B virus (n = 21), hepatitis C virus (n = 47), both B and C viruses (n = 2) and non-B or non-C virus (n = 2). We divided them into 2 groups: in one group, patients were treated with 45-mg/day vitamin K2 [K2-treated group (n = 23)], and in another, patients were not given vitamin K2 or a placebo [non-treated control group (n = 49)]. The obtained results between the 2 groups were compared. HCC recurred in 12 (52.2%) of the 23 K2-treated patients, and 22 (44.9%) of the 49 control patients. The differences in cumulative recurrence-free rate and cumulative survival rate between both groups were not significant (P = 0.92 and P = 0.08, respectively). As observed, chemopreventive effects of vitamin K2 at a clinically relevant dose on HCC recurrence were ineffective after effective treatment for HCC. Different regimens such as higher doses of vitamin K2 or combination therapy with other drugs may be worth testing to further explore the preventive effect on HCC recurrence

Renal shear wave velocity by acoustic radiation force impulse did not reflect advanced renal impairment

[Aim] Acoustic radiation force impulse is a noninvasive method for evaluating tissue elasticity on ultrasound. Renal shear wave velocity measured by this technique has not been fully investigated in patients with renal disease. The aim of the present study was to compare renal shear wave velocity in end‐stage renal disease patients and that in patients without chronic kidney disease and to investigate influencing factors. [Methods] Renal shear wave velocities were measured in 59 healthy young subjects (control group), 31 subjects without chronic kidney disease (non‐CKD group), and 39 end‐stage renal disease patients (ESRD group). Each measurement was performed 10 times at both kidneys, and the mean value of eight of 10 measurements, excluding the maximum and minimum values, was compared. [Results] Renal shear wave velocity could be measured in all subjects. Renal shear wave velocity in the control group was higher than in the non‐CKD group and in the ESRD group, and no difference was found between the non‐CKD group and the ESRD group. Age and depth were negatively correlated to the renal shear wave velocity. In multiple regression analysis, age and depth were independent factors for renal shear wave velocity, while renal impairment was not. There was no difference between the non‐CKD group and the ESRD group, even when ages were matched and depth was adjusted. [Conclusion] Renal shear wave velocity was not associated with advanced renal impairment. However, it reflected alteration of renal aging, and this technique may be useful to detect renal impairment in the earlier stages