Colour vision of the foraging swallowtail butterfly Papilio xuthus

This paper demonstrates that foraging summer-form females of the Japanese yellow swallowtail butterfly Papilio xuthus have colour vision. The butterflies were trained to feed on sucrose solution placed on a disk of a particular colour in a cage set in the laboratory. After a few such training runs, a butterfly was presented with the training colour randomly positioned within an array of disks of other colours, but with no sucrose solution. The results indicate that the butterflies learn rapidly to select the training colour reliably among different colours. The training colour was also correctly selected when it was covered with neutral density filters to reduce its brightness, or even when the colour was presented together with disks of a variety of shades of grey. These results demonstrate convincingly, for the first time, that a butterfly has true colour vision

センシ リュウキュウ ノ ナリワイ ト コウエキ : アマミ オキナワ ノ ハックツ チョウサ カラ

本研究は、日本国内で唯一独立国家を維持した歴史をもつ琉球国(1429年成立)がどのように形成されたのかを、考古学的に追究するものである。具体的には、琉球国の成立に不可欠な条件である交易と農耕が、新石器時代においてどのように発生し、進展したかを検証しようとするものである

Relationship between the Number of Deaths Due to Renal Failure and Air Temperature Parameters in Hokkaido and Okinawa Prefectures, Japan

Background: The aim of the present study was to investigate the relationship between the number of deaths due to renal failure and air temperature parameters in Hokkaido (the northernmost region) and Okinawa (the southernmost region) prefectures, Japan. Methods: Monthly data on the number of deaths due to renal failure between January 2008 and December 2016 and annual population data were collected from the Hokkaido and Okinawa official prefecture websites. Air temperature parameters were obtained from the Japan Meteorological Agency. The relationship between the number of deaths due to renal failure and air temperature parameters was evaluated by an ecological study. Results: The number of deaths due to renal failure (per 100,000 people/month) in Hokkaido and Okinawa were 2.28 ± 0.30 and 1.17 ± 0.31. In Hokkaido, the number of deaths due to renal failure negatively correlated with air temperature parameters in both sexes. The number of deaths due to renal failure was significantly higher in January than from June to September in all subjects. However, in Okinawa, no significant difference was observed among months. Conclusions: The present results suggest that the relationship between the number of deaths due to renal failure and air temperature parameters differs between Hokkaido and Okinawa

Identification of growth insensitive to ABA3 (gia3), a Recessive Mutation Affecting ABA Signaling for the Control of Early Post-Germination Growth in Arabidopsis thaliana

The stress phytohormone ABA inhibits the developmental transition taking the mature embryo in the dry seed towards a young seedling. ABA also induces the accumulation of the basic leucine zipper (bZIP) transcription factor ABA-insensitive 5 (ABI5) which, apart from blocking endosperm rupture, also protects the embryo by stimulating the expression of late embryogenesis abundant (LEA) genes that conferred osmotolerance during seed maturation. It is unknown whether ABA recruits additional embryonic pathways to control early seedling growth and fitness. Here we identify gia3 (growth insensitive to ABA3), a recessive locus in Arabidopsis mediating cotyledon cellular maturation and ABA-dependent repression of cotyledon expansion and greening. Microarray studies showed that expression of the essential mid-embryogenesis gene Maternal Embryo Effect 26 (MEE26) is induced by ABA during early seedling growth in wild-type (WT) or abi5 plants but not in gia3 mutants. However, we also show that the GIA3 locus controls ABA-dependent gene expression responses that partially overlap with those controlled by ABI5. Thus, the gia3 locus identifies an additional arm of ABA signaling, distinct from that controlled by ABI5, which recruits MEE26 expression and maintains cotyledon embryonic identity. Fine mapping localized the gia3 locus within a 1 Mb interval of chromosome 3, containing a large DNA insertion of a duplicated region of chromosome 2. It remains unknown at present whether gia3 phenotypes are the result of single or multiple genetic alteration

[Article] The Takahashi Shell Mound in Kagoshima Pref. : A Relay Point in Neolithic Shell Trade Based on the Analysis of Strombus Shell Waste Fragments Excavated from the Site

本論は，弥生時代に沖縄諸島と北部九州を結んで継続した大型巻貝の交易（貝交易）の中継地として知られる高橋貝塚を対象に，遺跡に残された交易品（貝殻）の分析を通してその実態を具体的に描こうとするものである。 論の前半では，貝塚の5文化層の出土土器と，上下4層で実施した貝殻等の炭素14年代測定結果によって時間的な枠組みを確定し，これに基づき，出土したゴホウラ類（ゴホウラ・アツソデガイ）を分析して当地で行われた作業内容を復元し，時間的変化を述べた。後半ではこれを同時期の沖縄諸島にのこる貝殻集積の出土遺物と対応させて，貝殻産地と中継地・消費地の関係を検討し，高橋貝塚を貝交易上に位置づけた。論の要点は以下の通りである。 ・高橋貝塚は弥生前期中葉に始まり，同中期前葉まで継続した集落遺跡であり，琉球列島産の大型巻貝を用いた腕輪の各製作段階を示す貝殻187点が残されている。これらの9割以上はゴホウラ類である。 ・高橋貝塚人は当初から，沖縄貝塚人が作ったゴホウラの背面貝輪用粗加工品をもとに西北九州人のために背面貝輪を作り，さらにゴホウラ原貝から北部九州人のために腹面貝輪粗加工品を作り，これらを北の消費地に輸出していた。 ・高橋貝塚人は途中から背面貝輪製品とともに粗加工品も合わせて作るようになった。 ・腹面貝輪の製作では，ある段階で沖縄から粗加工品用の貝輪素材が届くようになり粗加工品生産の効率が上がるが，間もなく腹面貝輪粗加工品の生産拠点が高橋貝塚から沖縄に移り，高橋貝塚での腹面貝輪粗加工品の生産量は激減する。 ・腹面貝輪粗加工品が中継地を介さずに消費地に届くようになると貝交易における高橋貝塚の存在価値は低下し，遺跡は衰退する。 ・貝交易の中継地としての高橋貝塚の最大の特徴は，沖縄から届いた貝殻や貝輪素材を，製品化し，あるいは製品に一歩近づける加工を行って消費地に届けるという，貝交易初期の経済的役割を果たした点である。The Takahashi shell mound is located in southern Kyūshū. It was a relay point for shell trade between the Okinawa Islands and northern Kyūshū during the Yayoi period. This paper attempts to describe the actual situation of the relay through the analysis of the traded shells left in the site as outlined below. - The Takahashi shell mound is a settlement site that started in the middle of the early Yayoi period and continued to the latter part of the same period. The cultural layers from layer I to layer V are deposited almost horizontally, and 187 shell fragments in total have been excavated. They reveal all stages in the production process for bracelets from large conches from the Ryūkyū Islands. More than 90% of these are Strombus. - The people living at Takahashi shell mound made two types of shell bracelets during the layer V period and exported them to different areas. One is a finished product of shell bracelets using the back of Strombus. This was made from roughly processed products that arrived from Okinawa and was exported to northwestern Kyūshū. The other was a roughly processed product using the abdomen of Strombus, which was exported to northern Kyūshū. - During the period of layer IV, people began to produce roughly processed items from the back of shells for bracelets by themselves and exported these to northwestern Kyūshū. - During the period of layer I and II, roughly processed products from the abdomen of Strombus begin to decrease at the Takahashi shell mound site, on the other hand, an increase of the same style of roughly processed products in sites of the Okinawa Islands can be observed parallel in time. Both phenomena indicate that the production base had moved from the Takahashi shell mound to Okinawa. - Roughly processed products of the abdominal shell bracelets began to reach the consumption are in northern Kyūshū directly, without passing the Takahashi shell mound any more, such that the importance of the site as a relay point in shell trade decreased and the site itself declined soon. The characteristic of Takahashi shell mound as a relay point is that it played an economic role in the early stages of shell trade by processing and exporting shells and roughly processed products materials that arrived from Okinawa for two consumption areas.departmental bulletin pape

Application of CO-oximeter for Forensic Samples

CO-oximeter is routinely used in clinical practice, and it has been applied in the field of forensic medicine. It is a simultaneous and nondestructive technique for the analysis of total hemoglobin (Hb) and various Hb species, such as oxyhemoglobin, reduced hemoglobin, carboxyhemoglobin, and methemoglobin. It automatically measures the proportion of each species of Hb and oxygen contents. This is an easy, rapid, and convenient way as the laboratory test. Since there are many advantages such as no necessity of sample preparation, easy handling, and portability, it may provide valuable information for forensic diagnosis. In the present paper, we discuss about the diagnostic application of CO-oximeter in the field of forensic medicine

Simplified Analysis of Toxic Gaseous Substance in Forensic Practice: Experiences from Japan

Toxicological examination in forensic practice is important for the proper diagnosis of acute poisoning. We have discussed the properties and features of poisoning incidents due to gaseous substances and elaborated on the simplified analytical techniques and apparatus used for their identification and quantitation for forensic purposes. Briefly, we have explained the simplified analysis of toxic gaseous substances such as carbon monoxide, hydrogen cyanide, hydrogen sulfide, and helium in blood. The techniques used include color testing, gas chromatography, detector tube, oximeter, and spectrophotometric method. In doing so, we have shared our experiences and highlighted the fact that the analysis of gaseous substances can be performed using readily available laboratory tools and equipment. We have emphasized the need and usefulness of the reference data tables for guiding forensic diagnosis. We hope that the above overview will assist other colleagues to implement such simplified techniques for the advancement of forensic medicine practice

Fission yeast Srr1 and Skb1 promote isochromosome formation at the centromere

Rad51 maintains genome integrity, whereas Rad52 causes non-canonical homologous recombination leading to gross chromosomal rearrangements (GCRs). Here we find that fission yeast Srr1/Ber1 and Skb1/PRMT5 promote GCRs at centromeres. Genetic and physical analyses show that srr1 and skb1 mutations reduce isochromosome formation mediated by centromere inverted repeats. srr1 increases DNA damage sensitivity in rad51 cells but does not abolish checkpoint response, suggesting that Srr1 promotes Rad51-independent DNA repair. srr1 and rad52 additively, while skb1 and rad52 epistatically reduce GCRs. Unlike srr1 or rad52, skb1 does not increase damage sensitivity. Skb1 regulates cell morphology and cell cycle with Slf1 and Pom1, respectively, but neither Slf1 nor Pom1 causes GCRs. Mutating conserved residues in the arginine methyltransferase domain of Skb1 greatly reduces GCRs. These results suggest that, through arginine methylation, Skb1 forms aberrant DNA structures leading to Rad52-dependent GCRs. This study has uncovered roles for Srr1 and Skb1 in GCRs at centromeres.Mongia P., Toyofuku N., Pan Z., et al. Fission yeast Srr1 and Skb1 promote isochromosome formation at the centromere. Communications Biology 6, 551 (2023); https://doi.org/10.1038/s42003-023-04925-9

Effects of Somatotype of Younger Women on Postprandial Elevation of Blood Glucose Level

女子大学生25名(20.7土1.3歳）を体格別に3群（標準身長 一 標準骨格筋率群 ：S-S群，標準身長 一高骨格筋率群： S-H群，高身長 一 高骨格筋率群 ：H-H群）に分けた。S-S群は他の2群に比べて有意に全身骨格筋率が低かったが, Body Mass Indexには有意差は認められなかった。3群の食後血糖値変動を調べたところ，米飯摂取30分後の血糖値はS-S群が他の2群より有意に高値を示した。米飯摂取30分前に野菜ジュ ー スを摂取した場合，血糖値上昇は 3 群とも有意に抑制されたが，米飯のみ摂取の場合に食後血糖値が高かった群ほど抑制率が高く ． 群間の有意差は消失した。また被験者の全身骨格筋率に影響を及ぼす生活習慣を調べたところ，いずれも有意差は認められなかったもののS-S群は身体活動レベルが低く，朝食を抜くこと・食事をとる時刻が変動すること・満腹になるまで食べることが多い傾向にあった。さらに，朝食の摂取頻度と全身骨格筋率との間に有意な相関が認められた。Twenty-five female college students (average age, 20.7????1.3 years) were classified into the following three groups based on somatotype: the Standard height–Standard total body skeletal muscle percentage (S–S) group, the Standard height–High total body skeletal muscle percentage (S–H) group, and the High height–High total body skeletal muscle percentage (H–H) group. The total body skeletal muscle percentage of the S–S group was significantly lower than that of the other two groups. However, no significant difference was observed in the body mass index between the three groups. At 30 min after rice intake, a significantly higher postprandial elevation of blood glucose level was observed in the S–S group compared with that of the other two groups; this was significantly reduced by vegetable juice intake 30 min before rice intake in all the three groups, and no significant differences were observed in the postprandial elevation of blood glucose level between the three groups resulting from vegetable juice intake before rice intake. Regarding lifestyle, those in the S–S group tended to have low physical activity levels, skip breakfast, have fluctuating mealtimes, and overeat; however, no significant differences were observed between the three groups. On the contrary, significant positive correlations were observed between breakfast intake and total body skeletal muscle percentage

Insufficient Humidification of Respiratory Gases in Patients Who Are Undergoing Therapeutic Hypothermia at a Paediatric and Adult Intensive Care Unit

For cooled newborn infants, humidifier settings for normothermic condition provide excessive gas humidity because absolute humidity at saturation is temperature-dependent. To assess humidification of respiratory gases in patients who underwent moderate therapeutic hypothermia at a paediatric/adult intensive care unit, 6 patients were studied over 9 times. Three humidifier settings, 37-default (chamber-outlet, 37°C; Y-piece, 40°C), 33.5-theoretical (chamber-outlet, 33.5°C; Y-piece, 36.5°C), and 33.5-adjusted (optimised setting to achieve saturated vapour at 33.5°C using feedback from a thermohygrometer), were tested. Y-piece gas temperature/humidity and the incidence of high (>40.6 mg/L) and low (<32.9 mg/L) humidity relative to the target level (36.6 mg/L) were assessed. Y-piece gas humidity was 32.0 (26.8–37.3), 22.7 (16.9–28.6), and 36.9 (35.5–38.3) mg/L {mean (95% confidence interval)} for 37-default setting, 33.5-theoretical setting, and 33.5-adjusted setting, respectively. High humidity was observed in 1 patient with 37-default setting, whereas low humidity was seen in 5 patients with 37-default setting and 8 patients with 33.5-theoretical setting. With 33.5-adjusted setting, inadequate Y-piece humidity was not observed. Potential risks of the default humidifier setting for insufficient respiratory gas humidification were highlighted in patients cooled at a paediatric/adult intensive care unit. Y-piece gas conditions can be controlled to the theoretically optimal level by adjusting the setting guided by Y-piece gas temperature/humidity