Endocrine and metabolic changes in payload specialist (L-1)

The endocrine system plays an important role in the adaptation to unusual environments by secreting hormones to control metabolism. Since human beings have long evolved on the surface of the Earth under a gravity environment, the weightless environment must be quite unusual for them. The purpose of this experiment is to study the mechanisms of human adaptation to a weightless environment from endocrine and metabolic changes. Our study plan is focused on four major physiological changes which were reported during past space flights or which may be expected to occur under that condition: (1) hormone and metabolic changes associated with fluid shift; (2) bone demineralization and muscle atrophy; (3) altered circadian rhythm; and (4) stress reaction during space flight

THE COMPOUND EYE OF THE LONGICORN BEETLES (COLEOPTERA: CERAMBYCIDAE) WITH ESTIMATION OF THE ACTIVITIES BY ITS STRUCTURE

ArticleJournal of the Faculty of Textile Science and Technology, Shinshu University. Ser. A, Biology 18: 1-16(1975)departmental bulletin pape

運動時の換気調節に及ぼすカリウム濃度の影響について

NaHCO_3を経口投与し運動開始前の血漿カリウム濃度を低下させ, 漸増負荷運動中の換気量に及ぼす血漿カリウム濃度の影響について検討した。運動中の換気量は対照群とアルカローシス群の間に差異はみられず, Ventilation threhold も対照群1.72±0.06L/min, アルカローシス群1.75±0.19L/minと両群間に差異はみられなかった。運動開始前の血漿カリウム濃度はアルカローシス群 (3.42±0.33mM) のほうが対照群 (3.80±0.37mM) と比べて低下しており, 運動中もアルカローシス群のほうが常に1mM程度低値を示していた。以上より血漿カリウム濃度レベルは換気応答に影響しなかった。また血漿カリウム濃度の変化速度は両群間に違いがみられなかったことから血中カリウム濃度の変化速度が換気調節に関与している可能性は否定できなかった。The present study was designed to test the idea that differences in plasma potassium concentration may have an influence on changes in ventilation during incremental exercise in man. Four healthy males performed two exercise tests in which the power output was increased by 15W each min until exhaustion. Two hours prior to the tests, subjects ingested 0.3g/body weight NaHCO_3 (alkalosis) or CaCO_3 (control) over the two hours. Order of the two tests was randomized. Arterialized venous blood samples were drawn before and after drug ingestion to determine blood pH. In addition, samples for plasma potassium and lactate concentration were obtained before and after drug ingestion, and every min during exercise. As expected, NaHCO_3 ingestion induced an elevation of blood pH and a decrease in plasma potassium concentration. Lactate threshold in alkalosis was higher than that in control since lactate diffusion from muscle can be enhanced by alkalosis. During exercise plasma potassium concentration in alkalosis was slightly lower that in control by about～1mM. VE and ventilation threshold were not different between the two conditions. These results suggest that the differences in potassium concentration by about～1mM have no effect on ventilation during incremental exercise

The K computer Operations: Experiences and Statistics

AbstractThe K computer, released on September 29, 2012, is a large-scale parallel supercomputer system consisting of 82,944 compute nodes. We have been able to resolve a significant number of operation issues since its release. Some system software components have been fixed and improved to obtain higher stability and utilization. We achieved 94% service availability because of a low hardware failure rate and approximately 80% node utilization by careful adjustment of operation parameters. We found that the K computer is an extremely stable and high utilization system

Identifying the target genes of SUPPRESSOR OF GAMMA RESPONSE 1, a master transcription factor controlling DNA damage response in Arabidopsis

In mammalian cells, the transcription factor p53 plays a crucial role in transmitting DNA damage signals to maintain genome integrity. However, in plants, orthologous genes for p53 and checkpoint proteins are absent. Instead, the plant-specific transcription factor SUPPRESSOR OF GAMMA RADIATION 1 (SOG1) controls most of the genes induced by gamma irradiation and promotes DNA repair, cell cycle arrest, and stem cell death. Thus far, the genes directly controlled by SOG1 remain largely unknown, limiting the understanding of DNA damage signaling in plants. Here, we conducted a microarray analysis and chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP)-sequencing, and identified 146 Arabidopsis genes as direct targets of SOG1. By using the ChIP-sequencing data, we extracted the palindromic motif [CTT(N)7AAG] as a consensus SOG1-binding sequence, which mediates target gene induction in response to DNA damage. Furthermore, DNA damage-triggered phosphorylation of SOG1 is required for efficient binding to SOG1-binding sequence. Comparison between SOG1 and p53 target genes showed that both transcription factors control genes responsible for cell cycle regulation, such as CDK inhibitors, and DNA repair proteins, whereas SOG1 preferentially targets genes involved in homologous recombination. We also found that defense-related genes were enriched in the SOG1 target genes. Consistent with this, SOG1 is required for resistance against the hemi-biotrophic fungus Colletotrichum higginsianum, suggesting that SOG1 has a unique function in controlling immune response. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved

低酸素環境の運動時エネルギー代謝への影響 : 血中pHと血中乳酸濃度の変化

Since it was found that metabolic alkalosis induced by sodium bicarbonate ingestion enhances lactate diffusion from muscle, we attempted to examine the effect of an hypoxic environment which causes respiratory alkalosis on the changes in blood pH and lactate accumulation by high intensity exercise. Six young male adult were employed. Each subject performed 3 exercise tests (Max, Hypoxia and Submax) on a bicycle ergometer. In the Max test, subjects performed incremental exercise until exhaustion under air. In the Hypoxia test, a similar test was carried out under low oxygen gas. In the Submax test, the work load was the same as in the Hypoxia test but under air. Blood sample were obtained before, immediately after and at , 1, 3, 5, 7, 10, 15, 20 and 30 min. after exercise. In the Hypoxia test subjects breathed 12% oxygen gas from 60min. before exercise until 30min. after exercise and additional samples were obtained before exercise. Mean power output in the Hypoxia test and Submax test was about 67% of the Max test. In the Max test, blood pH rapidly fell after exercise and rose towards the initial level thereafter, but it did not reach the initial level 30 min. after exercise. In the Hypoxia test, blood pH elevated slightly by breathing low oxygen gas before exercise , but fell sharply by exercise and returned to the pre-exercise level 30min. after exercise. In the Submax test, the fall and its recovery were slower than in the other tests. Plasma lactate concentration rose after exercise and fell thereafter similarly in both Max and Hypoxia tests without significant differences at any point. Changes in the Submax test were far less than in the other 2. Blood bicarbonate ion concentration declined significantly by exercise and elevated thereafter in each test, though changes in the Submax test were much smaller than in the other 2. In the Hypoxia test, bicarbonate concentration elevated before exercise and pre-exercise value and the value immediately after exercise were significantly higher than those in Max test. Difference of bicarbonate ion before and after exercise, i.e., Δ bicarbonate, tended to be greater in Hypoxia test than in the Max test, indicating greater H^+ efflux in the Hypoxia test. From these results, it may be concluded that under 12% oxygen inhalation maximal power output decreased to 67% of that under air, yet almost a similar blood lactate concentration was reached by this lessened exercise ; moreover, recovery from exercise-induced metabolic acidosis is facilitated by respiratory alkalosis due to low oxygen inhalatoin

Epidemiology of potentially inappropriate medication use in elderly patients in Japanese acute care hospitals.

[Purpose]The elderly receive many medications which may have adverse effects. Little evidence is available about the epidemiology of potentially inappropriate medications being prescribed to the elderly in Japan as defined by the Beers criteria, or whether or not these medications result in harm when used in this population. [Methods]We conducted a prospective cohort study of patients aged ≥65 years who were admitted to three acute care hospitals in Japan. Trained research nurses followed up patients from randomly selected wards and collected data about their medications and all potential adverse drug events (ADEs). Two independent reviewers evaluated all the data. The use of potentially inappropriate medications and their effects on patients were identified using the updated Beers criteria. [Results]A total of 2155 elderly patients were eligible; 56.1% received at least one drug listed in the Beers criteria (BL drug). The rates of BL drug prescriptions were 103.8 per 100 admissions and 53.7 per 1000 patient-days, and the incidence rate of ADEs related to BL drugs was 1.7 per 100 BL drug prescriptions. Among patients aged ≥65 years, relatively younger patients (p = 0.0002) and those with less complications (p = 0.04) were likely to be prescribed BL drugs. [Conclusions]Although BL drugs were frequently prescribed to elderly Japanese inpatients, the incidence of related ADEs appeared infrequent. These data suggest that re-evaluation of the appropriateness of the Beers criteria is needed before they are used in Japan and other nations to assess quality or for decision support