Identification of a single base insertion in the COL4A5 gene in Alport syndrome

Identification of a single base insertion in the COL4A5 gene in Alport syndrome. We identified a novel mutation in the COL4A5 gene of a Japanese patient with Alport syndrome. A combination of in vitro amplification of the exons with single strand conformation polymorphisms (SSCP) analysis suggested the presence of a mutation in exon 48. Sequencing of the amplified DNA revealed a single base (T) insertion which was between nucleotides T 4750 and G 4751 within the methionine 1516. This mutation caused a shift in the reading frame of nine amino acids and introduced a premature termination signal that would be expected to lack about two-thirds of the noncollagenous (NCI) domain. This mutation may interfere with type IV collagen assembly leading to increased permeability and play a causative role in the glomerular basement membrane abnormality of this patient with typical Alport syndrome. Gene tracking by restriction enzyme NlaIII digestion revealed that the patient's mother is heterozygous whereas the patient's brother and one sister are normal, albeit they have hematuria and proteinuria. Without gene analysis, they would have been misdiagnosed. We propose that the diagnosis of Alport syndrome should be made on the basis of both clinical phenotypes and molecular defects

AKARI Far-Infrared Source Counts in the Lockman Hole

We report initial results of far-infrared observations of the Lockman hole with Far-Infrared Surveyor (FIS) onboard the AKARI infrared satellite. On the basis of slow scan observations of a 0.6 deg x 1.2 deg contiguous area, we obtained source number counts at 65, 90 and 140 um down to 77, 26 and 194 mJy (3 sigma), respectively. The counts at 65 and 140 um show good agreement with the Spitzer results. However, our 90 um counts are clearly lower than the predicted counts by recent evolutionary models that fit the Spitzer counts in all the MIPS bands. Our 90 um counts above 26 mJy account for about 7% of the cosmic background. These results provide strong constraints on the evolutionary scenario and suggest that the current models may require modifications.Comment: 25 pages, 8 figures, Publications of the Astronomical Society of Japan, in pres

Far infrared luminosity function of local galaxies in the AKARI Deep Field South

We present the first far-infrared luminosity function in the AKARI Deep Field South, a premier deep field of the AKARI Space Telescope, using spectroscopic redshifts obtained with AAOmega. To date, we have found spectroscopic redshifts for 389 galaxies in this field and have measured the local (z<0.25) 90 μm luminosity function using about one-third of these redshifts. The results are in reasonable agreement with recent theoretical predictions

Galaxy Colours in the AKARI Deep SEP Survey

We investigate the segregation of the extragalactic population via colour criteria to produce an efficient and inexpensive methodology to select specific source populations as a function of far-infrared flux. Combining galaxy evolution scenarios and a detailed spectral library of galaxies, we produce simulated catalogues incorporating segregation of the extragalactic population into component types (Normal, star-forming, AGN) via color cuts. As a practical application we apply our criteria to the deepest survey to be undertaken in the far-infrared with the AKARI (formerly ASTRO-F) satellite. Using the far-infrared wavebands of the Far-Infrared Surveyor (FIS, one of the focal-plane instruments on AKARI) we successfully segregate the normal, starburst and ULIRG populations. We also show that with additional MIR imaging from AKARI's Infrared Camera (IRC), significant contamination and/or degeneracy can be further decreased and show a particular example of the separation of cool normal galaxies and cold ULIRG sources. We conclude that our criteria provide an efficient means of selecting source populations (including rare luminous objects) and produce colour-segregated source counts without the requirement of time intensive ground-based follow up to differentiate between the general galaxy population.Comment: Accepted for publication in Advances in Space Research. COSPAR, Beijing, 2006, E1.6 Advances in FIR and Submillimeter Astrophysics. (13 pages, 2 colour figures

A deep ATCA 20cm radio survey of the AKARI Deep Field South near the South Ecliptic Pole

The results of a deep 20 cm radio survey at 20 cm are reported of the AKARI Deep Field South (ADF-S) near the South Ecliptic Pole (SEP), using the Australia Telescope Compact Array telescope, ATCA. The survey has 1 sigma detection limits ranging from 18.7--50 microJy per beam over an area of ~1.1 sq degrees, and ~2.5 sq degrees to lower sensitivity. The observations, data reduction and source count analysis are presented, along with a description of the overall scientific objectives, and a catalogue containing 530 radio sources detected with a resolution of 6.2" x 4.9". The derived differential source counts show a pronounced excess of sources fainter than ~1 mJy, consistent with an emerging population of star forming galaxies. Cross-correlating the radio with AKARI sources and archival data we find 95 cross matches, with most galaxies having optical R-magnitudes in the range 18-24 mag, and 52 components lying within 1" of a radio position in at least one further catalogue (either IR or optical). We have reported redshifts for a sub-sample of our catalogue finding that they vary between galaxies in the local universe to those having redshifts of up to 0.825. Associating the radio sources with the Spitzer catalogue at 24 microns, we find 173 matches within one Spitzer pixel, of which a small sample of the identifications are clearly radio loud compared to the bulk of the galaxies. The radio luminosity plot and a colour-colour analysis suggest that the majority of the radio sources are in fact luminous star forming galaxies, rather than radio-loud AGN. There are additionally five cross matches between ASTE or BLAST submillimetre galaxies and radio sources from this survey, two of which are also detected at 90 microns, and 41 cross-matches with submillimetre sources detected in the Herschel HerMES survey Public Data release.Comment: MNRAS accepted and in press 9 July 2012: 28 pages, 15 Figures, 17 Table

The Far-Infrared Surveyor (FIS) for AKARI

The Far-Infrared Surveyor (FIS) is one of two focal plane instruments on the AKARI satellite. FIS has four photometric bands at 65, 90, 140, and 160 um, and uses two kinds of array detectors. The FIS arrays and optics are designed to sweep the sky with high spatial resolution and redundancy. The actual scan width is more than eight arcmin, and the pixel pitch is matches the diffraction limit of the telescope. Derived point spread functions (PSFs) from observations of asteroids are similar to the optical model. Significant excesses, however, are clearly seen around tails of the PSFs, whose contributions are about 30% of the total power. All FIS functions are operating well in orbit, and its performance meets the laboratory characterizations, except for the two longer wavelength bands, which are not performing as well as characterized. Furthermore, the FIS has a spectroscopic capability using a Fourier transform spectrometer (FTS). Because the FTS takes advantage of the optics and detectors of the photometer, it can simultaneously make a spectral map. This paper summarizes the in-flight technical and operational performance of the FIS.Comment: 23 pages, 10 figures, and 2 tables. Accepted for publication in the AKARI special issue of the Publications of the Astronomical Society of Japa

Torus Constraints in ANEPD-CXO245: A Compton-thick AGN with Double-peaked Narrow Lines

We report on the torus constraints of the Compton-thick active galactic nucleus (AGN) with double-peaked optical narrow-line region emission lines, ANEPD-CXO245, at z = 0.449 in the AKARI NEP Deep Field. The unique infrared data on this field, including those from the nine-band photometry over 2–24 μm with the AKARI Infrared Camera, and the X-ray spectrum from Chandra allow us to constrain torus parameters such as the torus optical depth, X-ray absorbing column, torus angular width (σ), and viewing angle (i). We analyze the X-ray spectrum as well as the UV–optical–infrared spectral energy distribution (UOI-SED) with clumpy torus models in X-ray (XCLUMPY) and infrared (CLUMPY), respectively. From our current data, the constraints on σ–i from both X-rays and UOI show that the line of sight crosses the torus as expected for a type 2 AGN. We obtain a small X-ray scattering fraction (NH from the X-ray spectrum, we find that the gas-to-dust ratio is <4 times larger than the Galactic value

The Role of Science Education in the Construction of a Knowledge-Based Society

知識基盤社会における理科の役割は，科学的に探究する活動を通して得られた結果（情報）を活用し，それらの情報から導き出した自らの考えを表現する能力を高めることである。これまでに明らかになったことは，授業者が実験結果に対して関連付けることができる事項を明確にし，分析・解釈する視点を与えることが重要であるということである。今年度は，小学校，中学校，高等学校の理科で，パフォーマンス課題を取り入れた探究活動を行い，多くの授業者が共有できる方向性を考えた。実践の結果，以下のことが明らかになった。１）小集団での話し合いの質を高めるためには，話し合いの目的と方法を明示することが重要であること。２）そのために授業者の関わり方を引き続き検討する必要があること。３）パフォーマンス課題の設計には授業者がよりメタ認知を働かせることが必要であること。今後は，このような実践経験を広く共有すべきであると考えている。Science education should help students to utilize results and information through activities, to investigate scientifically, and to develop their abilities to express ideas they have derived from those results. We have learned that it is important for instructors to clarify which results from experiments relate to each other and to give students some clear perspectives for analyzing and interpreting them. This academic year, we investigated performance tasks at elementary, junior high, and senior high school levels. Through our research we have learned that to improve the quality of discussion in small groups, it is important to make the purpose and method clear. We also showed that instructors should monitor how they engage with students in the course of discussion and that they need to function meta-cognitive abilities more to design performance tasks