Study of the Intracluster and Intergalactic Medium in the Sculptor Supercluster with Suzaku

We studied the high temperature plasma in the direction of the Sculptor supercluster at z=0.108 with Suzaku. Suzaku carried out four observations in the supercluster: namely, A2811, A2811 offset, A2804, A2801 regions in 2005 Nov.--Dec., including the regions beyond the virial radii of these clusters. The study needed precise background estimation because the measured intensity of the redshifted lines, especially those from oxygen, were strongly affected by the the Galactic emission. The spectra taken in the regions outside of the virial radii of the member clusters were used as the background which included both the Galactic and Cosmic X-ray Background (CXB) components. We also used the background data which were taken near the Sculptor supercluster. Temperature and metal abundance profiles were determined to the virial radii of the member clusters, and then we searched for the oxygen line emission in the region outside of the virial radii of the clusters. As a result, the temperature of the clusters decreased toward the virial radii, and the spectral fits for the filament region did not require extra component other than the Galactic and CXB components. We constrained the intensities of O VII and O VIII lines to be less than 8.1 and 5.1 photons cm^-2 s^-1 arcmin^-2, respectively, as 2-sigma upper limits. The intensity of O VII indicates n_H < 1.6e-5 cm^-3 (Z/0.1 Z_solar)^-1/2 (L/25 Mpc)^-1/2, which corresponds to an over density, delta < 60 (Z/0.1 Z_solar)^-1/2 (L/25 Mpc)^-1/2.Comment: 11 pages, 8 figures, accepted for publication in PAS

Distribution and management of non-native squirrels in Japan

Three species of alien squirrels have been confirmed to have been introduced in Japan: Tamias sibiricus, Callosciurus erythraeus (including the species complex C. finlaysonii), and Sciurus vulgaris. Japan is home to endemic squirrel species S. lis, Petaurista leucogenys, and Pteromys momonga, as well as endemic subspecies S. vulgaris orientis, T. sibiricus lineatus, and Pteromys volans orii. It is important to address the issue of damage to ecosystems caused by alien species, including the conservation of endemic species. Chipmunks (T. sibiricus) have become established in at least 11 of 47 prefectures, but no measures have been taken because the damage is not yet apparent. Pallas’s squirrels (C. erythraeus) that were reared in petting zoos for tourism purposes escaped and have become established in at least 17 localities in 13 prefectures. Because of the high population densities and significant damage caused by this species, removal measures have been implemented in at least 12 locations. The species is now eradicated or near eradication in four locations. Eurasian red squirrels (S. vulgaris) have become established at two sites in central Honshu and Kyushu. Due to possible hybridization with the Japanese squirrel (S. lis), trapping began in 2014 with the aim of eradication. This review summarizes the measures taken in Japan to conserve endemic species and emphasizes the importance of the involvement of researchers in early action

The effect of reduced glutathione on the toxicity of silver diamine fluoride in rat pulpal cells

Introduction: Due to its ability to arrest untreated dental caries, silver diamine fluoride (SDF) has been advocated for indirect pulp capping procedures. However, the high concentrations of silver and fluoride in SDF raise concerns about its biocompatibility to pulpal tissues.&nbsp;Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the effect of SDF on the viability, alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity, and morphology of pulpal-like cells (RPC-C2A) and to evaluate the influence of reduced glutathione (GSH) on SDF-induced cytotoxicity and deposit formation on dentin.&nbsp;Methodology: The cytotoxicity of diluted 38% SDF solutions (10-4 and 10-5), with or without the addition of 5 mM or 50 mM GSH, was evaluated at 6 and 24 hours. Cell viability was detected using WST-8 and the effect on ALP activity was performed using an ALP assay kit. Cell morphology was observed using a phase-contrast microscope. Scanning electron microscopy analysis was conducted to evaluate the effect of GSH incorporation or conditioning on SDF-induced deposit formation on dentin discs. Cytotoxicity data were analyzed by two-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Tukey post hoc tests (p&lt;0.05).&nbsp;Results: There were significant differences between the groups. The results demonstrated that all tested SDF dilutions caused a remarkable cytotoxic effect, while the addition of GSH prevented SDF-induced damage at 6-hour exposure time in the higher dilution of SDF. Dentin treated with plain SDF or GSH-incorporated SDF solution showed deposit formation with occluded dentinal tubules, unlike the other groups.&nbsp;Conclusion: SDF severely disturbed the viability, mineralization-ability, and morphology of pulpal-like cells, while controlled concentrations of GSH had a short-term protective effect against SDF-induced damage. GSH showed an inhibitory effect on SDF-induced dentinal deposit formation. Further research is warranted to evaluate the effect of GSH on caries-arresting, anti-hypersensitivity, and antibacterial functions of SDF

Changes in body composition parameters with age

Health risks are associated with changes in body composition parameters with age. In the present study, body composition parameters （appendicular skeletal muscle mass ［ASMM］, fat mass ［FM］, and water content ［water］） using bioelectrical impedance analysis （BIA） and total skeletal MM （TSMM） measured by 24-h creatinine excretion （Cr） were obtained in 30 male and 38 female healthy subjects. BIA-ASMM in both sexes and Cr-TSMM in females were negatively correlated with aging, and BIA-FM was negatively correlated with BIA-water in both sexes. Of note, Cr-TSMM was a more sensitive marker of MM than BIA-ASMM. Thus, decreases in BIA-ASMM and Cr- TSMM were the most consistent markers of aging and sarcopenia. This study may help promote nursing care for healthy aging

Suzaku Observation of HCG 62: Temperature, Abundance, and Extended Hard X-ray Emission Profiles

We present results of 120 ks observation of a compact group of galaxies HCG~62 ($z=0.0145$) with Suzaku XIS and HXD-PIN\@. The XIS spectra for four annular regions were fitted with two temperature {\it vapec} model with variable abundance, combined with the foreground Galactic component. The Galactic component was constrained to have a common surface brightness among the four annuli, and two temperature {\it apec} model was preferred to single temperature model. We confirmed the multi-temperature nature of the intra-group medium reported with Chandra and XMM-Newton, with a doughnut-like high temperature ring at radii 3.3--6.5$'$ in a hardness image. We found Mg, Si, S, and Fe abundances to be fairly robust. We examined the possible ``high-abundance arc'' at $\sim 2'$ southwest from the center, however Suzaku data did not confirm it. We suspect that it is a misidentification of an excess hot component in this region as the Fe line. Careful background study showed no positive detection of the extended hard X-rays previously reported with ASCA, in 5--12 keV with XIS and 12--40 keV with HXD-PIN, although our upper limit did not exclude the ASCA result. There is an indication that the X-ray intensity in $r<3.3'$ region is $70\pm 19$% higher than the nominal CXB level (5--12 keV), and Chandra and Suzaku data suggest that most of this excess could be due to concentration of hard X-ray sources with an average photon index of $\Gamma=1.38\pm 0.06$. Cumulative mass of O, Fe and Mg in the group gas and the metal mass-to-light ratio were derived and compared with those in other groups. Possible role of AGN or galaxy mergers in this group is also discussed.Comment: 29 pages with 9 figures, accepted for publication in PASJ Vol 60, second Suzaku special issu

A ケン ニ オケル ホウモン カンゴ ステーション ノ 24ジカン オンコール タイセイ ノ ジッタイ : カンリシャ ヘノ アンケート チョウサ カラ

背景 近年, 看護職において, 長く働き続けられる環境づくりを進めるために, ワーク・ライフ・バランスの実現に向けての取り組みが行なわれている. 目的 A県における訪問看護ステーションのオンコール体制の実態を明らかにし, ワーク・ライフ・バランスを検討するための基礎的資料とすることを目的とした. 方法 A県にある70か所の訪問看護ステーションの管理者宛てに, 無記名自記式質問紙調査を送付し, 39か所 (55.7%) から有効回答を得た. 結果 A県にある39か所のステーションにおける1事業所当たりの平均看護師数は6.0±5.6人であり, 全国平均の4.2人と比べると多く, 規模別においては, 中規模事業所が77%を占めていた. 24時間対応体制加算は, 34か所 (87%) が取られているが, オンコール体制に関する規約や手当がない事業所もあった. また, オンコール体制はほとんどが常勤職員で担っており, 管理者の待機日数は, 大規模事業所に比べて小規模および中規模事業所の方が多かった. 考察 オンコール体制が, 在宅看護の重要な機能として捉えている一方で, 訪問看護師の高い離職率や人材確保の難しさの一因となっていることが考えられた. 今後は, 法的根拠に基づいた規約の整備が望まれる. また, 管理者個人が意識化し, 個々のステーションでワーク・ライフ・バランスの取り組みが必要である. 結論 オンコール体制のあり方や職員への指導等を考える資料を得ることができたので, 待機手当のないステーションに手当を提案し, 継続した調査を行う.Background As for the nurse, an action for the realization of the work-life balance is carried out to push forward the making of environment where it is continued acting on for a long time.Purpose To study the actual conditions of home-visit nursing care stations that extend services on an on-call around-the-clock basis, and to make the investigation results available for study of the workers\u27 work-life balance.Methods nvestigations were made by means of sending questionnaires to managers of 70 nursing care stations located in Prefecture A, of which 39 managers, 55.7%, responded on an anonymous basis.Results The average number of nurses per station at 39 nursing care stations in Prefecture A was 6.2, more than the national average of 4.2.Middle-size nursing care stations occupied 77% of the total respondents. Thirty-four stations, or 87%, adopted an additional payment system for around-the-clock services, but there were some that had no internal regulations or additional service charge system for around-the-clock services. Most stations used full-time nurses for around-the-clock services. As for the number of days when managers were on duty for around-the-clock services, small-sized and middle-sized stations had more days than large-sized stations.Discussion The around-the-clock on-call service is an important factor for functioning home-visit nursing care. However, it is also a reason for which home-visit nurses tend to leave the job after a short period and it is getting more difficult to obtain capable nurses. Stipulating legally effective work regulations to improve the working conditions for home-visit nurses is desired in the near future. It is also necessary for each care manager to realize the importance of improving the work-life balance of nurses