Benthonic Smaller Foraminifera from the Oil Fields of Northern Japan

Surface and subsurface geology undertaken parallel with micropaleontological studies of the Foraminifera has resulted in the discrimination of foraminiferal zonules. These zonules extend over wide areas and show remarkable uniformity in their specific compositions and stratigraphic levels within the respective geological columns of the different areas distributed from Akita Prefecture in the north, to Niigata Prefecture in the south via Yamagata Prefecture. Zoning by Foraminifera during Tsugawa to Nishiyama time in the Niigata oil-fields and from Nishikurosawa to Tentokuji time in the Akita and Yamagata oil-fields was rendered possible by the guide species. Among the deposits younger than the Tentokuji-Nishiyama time, zoning was based upon differences in the fauna and changes in their assemblages and frequency. Faunal changes in both time and space have proved to be suitable for analyses of the conditions under which the Foraminifera once lived. The Foraminifera are good indicators of change in environmental conditions and for sectioning of the different stratigraphic units along the coast of the Japan Sea. The Foraminifera studied in this article amounts to 114 genera and 360 species, among which one genus and 35 species or subspecies are described as new to science. Details are given as to their precise levels in the Neogene Tertiary formations dealt with in this work. Indications are given as to rock facies of the formations, place of depository of the specimens and localities of their occurrences

Lower tropospheric vertical distribution of aerosol particles over Syowa Station, Antarctica from spring to summer 2004

Vertical distributions of atmospheric aerosol particles were measured nine times up to 5200 m a.s.l. using an aircraft over Syowa Station, East Antarctica during September-December 2004. Measurements were made for number concentrations of condensation nuclei (CN, Dp>10 nm), number-size distribution larger than 0.3 μm diameter, air temperature, humidity, and GPS position. During spring, the vertical profile of CN concentration showed large variability (100-1000 cm^(-3)), but it was mostly constant in summer. Vertical profiles of number-size distribution larger than 0.3 μm showed a systematic shift at altitudes greater than 4000 m. Both concentrations of aerosol number for Dp>0.3 μm and integrated volume between 0.3 and 1.0 μm showed constantly lower values at altitudes greater than 4000 m. These data suggest that the shift of aerosol parameters results from depletion of coarse particles such as sea salts. Maximum concentrations of the volume and CN were obtained respectively from the profiles on 7 October and 29 November 2004. These events are interpreted as sources and transport processes based on synoptic meteorological data, an ocean color index produced by SeaWiFS, and backward air trajectory analysis

The Developmental Changes in Cube Copying Abilities of Japanese Children with Typical Development

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to analyze the developmental changes in Necker cube copying and isometric perspective cube copying abilities of Japanese children of typical development.Methods and Results: [Study-1] A total of 40 individuals aged 5-18 years participated in Study-1. The Necker cube copying task was administered, and scores were assigned based on the method developed by Yorimitsu et al. (2013). The results showed that the scores increased significantly for children in the 8-9 years age group (p < 0.01).[Study-2] A total of 32 individuals aged 6-10 years participated in Study-2. The isometric perspective cube copying task was administered, and scores were assigned based on the method developed by Otomo (2009). The results showed that the scores increased significantly for children in the 7-8 years age group (p < 0.05).Conclusions: Japanese children of typical development were able to perform the Necker cube copying task from approximately nine years of age. The same participants were able to perform the isometric perspective cube copying task from approximately eight years of age

Galactic distributions of carbon- and oxygen-rich AGB stars revealed by the AKARI mid-infrared all-sky survey

Context: The environmental conditions for asympotic giant branch (AGB) stars to reach the carbon-rich (C-rich) phase are important to understand the evolutionary process of AGB stars. The difference between the spatial distributions of C-rich and oxygen-rich (O-rich) AGB stars is essential for the study of the Galactic structure and the chemical evolution of the interstellar medium (ISM). Aims: We quantitatively investigate the spatial distributions of C-rich and O-rich AGB stars in our Galaxy. We discuss the difference between them and its origin. Methods: We classify a large number of AGB stars newly detected by the AKARI id-infrared all-sky survey. In the color-color diagrams, we define their occupation zones based on the locations of known objects. We then obtain the spatial distributions of C-rich and O-rich AGB stars, assuming that they have the same luminosity for a given mass-loss rate. Results: We find that O-rich AGB stars are concentrated toward the Galactic center and that the density decreases with Galactocentric distance, whereas C-rich AGB stars show a relatively uniform distribution within about 8kpc of Sun. Conclusion: Our result confirms the trends reported in previous studies and extends them to a Galactic scale. We discuss the relations between our result, the Galactic metallicity gradient, and the chemical evolution of the ISM in our Galaxy.Comment: 13 pages, 24 figures, Accepted for A&

A Case of Severe Hemorrhagic Cystitis Caused by Melphalan with Successful Bladder Preservation by Ligation of Bilateral Internal Iliac Arteries

Hemorrhagic cystitis is a disorder which causes bleeding from diffusely inflammatory bladder mucosa. Here we present a case of severe hemorrhagic cystitis caused by melphalan. A 70-year-old man with multiple myeloma was presented with suddenly commenced massive gross hematuria. During an attempt of transurethral coagulation of bladder mucosa, bladder perforation into peritoneal cavity was suspected, then open laparotomy was indicated. We isolated bilateral internal iliac arteries and ligated them in order to control continued bleeding. After that, bladder bleeding was suddenly diminished. Ligation of internal iliac arteries may be a choice in controlling massive bleeding from bladder with severe hemorrhagic cystitis when laparotomy was inevitable

MALIGNANT ONCOCYTOMA OF THE PARANASAL SINUS

A case of malignant oncocytoma developing in the paranasal sinus of a 37-year-old Japanese man with a habit of heavy smoking is described. The primary tumor was found in the right maxillary sinus with local invasion to the nose and right ethmoidal sinus ; it was composed of nests of large oncocytic cells, with finely granular and eosinophilic cytoplasm, nuclear pleomorphism and prominent nucleoli, surrounded by proliferation of spindle-shaped cells in some areas. Electron microscopically, the cytoplasm of oncocytic tumor cells was characterized by abundant mitochondria, and immunohistochemical investigation revealed positive binding for antibodies to S-100 protein and α₁-antitrypsin, but a negative reaction for both cytokeratin and vimentin. At autopsy, metastatic nodules of tumor in the lungs, liver and pancreas independently exhibited both oncocytic cell- and sarcomatous cell compartments. This phenomenon is rare, and to the authors' knowledge, this would be histologically an ususual report of malignant oncocytoma with sarcomatous metastatic nodules arising from the paranasal sinus to be described in the literature

Oseltamivir Prescription and Regulatory Actions Vis-à-Vis Abnormal Behavior Risk in Japan: Drug Utilization Study Using a Nationwide Pharmacy Database

BACKGROUND: In March 2007, a regulatory advisory was issued in Japan to restrict oseltamivir use in children aged 10-19 years because of safety concerns over abnormal behavior. The effectiveness and validity of regulatory risk minimization actions remain to be reviewed, despite their significant public health implications. To assess the impact of the regulatory actions on prescribing practices and safety reporting. METHODOLOY/PRINICPAL FINDINGS: In this retrospective review of a nationwide pharmacy database, we analyzed 100,344 dispensation records for oseltamivir and zanamivir for the period from November 2006 to March 2009. The time trend in dispensations for these antiviral agents was presented before and after the regulatory actions, contrasted with intensity of media coverage and the numbers of spontaneous adverse reaction reports with regard to antivirals. The 2007 regulatory actions, together with its intense media coverage, reduced oseltamivir dispensation in targeted patients in fiscal year 2008 to 20.4% of that in fiscal year 2006, although influenza activities were comparable between these fiscal years. In contrast, zanamivir dispensation increased approximately nine-fold across all age groups. The number of abnormal behavior reports associated with oseltamivir in children aged 10-19 years decreased from fiscal year 2006 to 2008 (24 to 9 cases); this decline was offset by the increased number of reports of abnormal behavior in children under age 10 (12 to 28 cases). The number of reports associated with zanamivir increased in proportion to increased dispensation of this drug (11 to 114 cases). CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: The 2007 actions effectively reduced oseltamivir prescriptions and the number of reports of abnormal behavior in the targeted group. The observed increase in abnormal behavior reports in oseltamivir patients under age 10 and in zanamivir patients suggests that these patient groups may also be at risk, calling into question the validity of the current discrimination by age and agent (Abstract translation is available in Japanese: Appendix S1)