Roles of Trans and ω Fatty Acids in Health; Special References to Their Differences between Japanese and American Old Men

Omega and trans-fatty acids play important roles in atherogenesis of vascular system. In this review, we discuss such roles in health; there are much differences in coronary heart disease (CHD) rates between the US and Japan. Fatty acids profiles in the plasma are related to risks of CHD. There have been few studies that compared plasma levels of fatty acids, including trans-fatty acids, in people in Japan and the US. Plasma levels of long-chain omega-3 fatty acids (docosahexaenoic acid [DHA] and eicosapentaenoic acid [EPA]) were higher in Japanese men, and omega-6 fatty acids (e.g., arachidonic acid [AA]) were lower compared with American men. American people had higher plasma levels of the major industrially produced trans-fatty acids (IP-TFAs; elaidic and inoelaidic acids), and levels of the potentially cardioprotective, primarily ruminant-derived trans-fatty acid, palmitoelaidic acid (POA) were higher in Japanese men. Plasma levels of saturated or monounsaturated fatty acids were also higher in American men. Only intakes of preference drinks have significant correlation with plasma levels of palmitoelaidic acid and linoelaidic acid. The higher levels of DHA and EPA, along with the lower levels of the IP-TFAs, are consistent with the markedly lower risk for coronary heart disease in Japan vs. the US

Consecutive ruptures on a complex conjugate fault system during the 2018 Gulf of Alaska earthquake

2018年アラスカ湾地震の複雑な破壊過程を解析 --間欠的に加速・減速する奇妙な巨大地震--. 京都大学プレスリリース. 2021-03-22.We developed a flexible finite-fault inversion method for teleseismic P waveforms to obtain a detailed rupture process of a complex multiple-fault earthquake. We estimate the distribution of potency-rate density tensors on an assumed model plane to clarify rupture evolution processes, including variations of fault geometry. We applied our method to the 23 January 2018 Gulf of Alaska earthquake by representing slip on a projected horizontal model plane at a depth of 33.6 km to fit the distribution of aftershocks occurring within one week of the mainshock. The obtained source model, which successfully explained the complex teleseismic P waveforms, shows that the 2018 earthquake ruptured a conjugate system of N-S and E-W faults. The spatiotemporal rupture evolution indicates irregular rupture behavior involving a multiple-shock sequence, which is likely associated with discontinuities in the fault geometry that originated from E-W sea-floor fracture zones and N-S plate-bending faults

The usefulness of quail as Laboratory animal

The Japanese quail has been familiar to our Japanese from ancient era (Heian, 1,000). In Edo era (1603-1868), male quails were housed in Samurai class as a pet of "Singing bird" to encourage his mind. After that, these birds were domesticated for poultry under the policy of Meiji government, JAPAN. However, the Japanese quail as an experimental animal was lately paid attention in the U.S.A after 1950. Since 1960 in Japan, the Japanese quail has been improved for an experimental animal by using the domesticated ones. The National Institute for Environmental Studies (NIES) has exploited the Japanese quail as a useful experimental animal for environmental science by cooperating with Tohoku University since 1980. By the way, the Japanese quail (Coturnix japonica) was selected for high (H) and low (L) antibody production to Newcastle disease virus (NDV) vaccine more than 50 generations. And H and L quails had been reached the plateau of NDV-HI (Haemo-agglutinin Inhibition) titer at 24(th) generation. The structure of major histocompatibility complex (MHC) genes of the H and L quails was examined and found that each line was independent MHC homozygous line. During the selection experiment, these H and L quails were examined in their utilization as an experimental animal for Environmental Science as follows: 1) The reproductive traits such as egg weight, egg production, hatchability declined in H and L line quails, and H line became extinct at 53 generation due to inbreeding depression. However, L line has been bred as inbred quail for avian experimental animal, because of hatchability recovery happened at 43 generation. 2) Among the 4 species (mice, rat, hamster, quail), the Japanese quail showed highest sensitivity to NO(2). On the contrary, the sensitivity to O(3) was lowest in quails. It has been suggested that toxic mechanisms of those gases are different from one another. 3) The environmental hormone (Endocrine disrupting chemicals, EDCs) was examined in the hybrid egg of quails in accordance with the OECD guideline. These results demonstrate that EDCs such as DDT, Dieldrin and TBTO will damage the reproductive organs and make the egg shells thin in adult female. In conclusion, these quails are useful not only as a pilot animal of poultry, but also as an experimental animal for environmental studies

Psycho-physiological Studies for Attendance of the Persons with Wheelchairs (Second Report)

本報では，介助の実際を市街地において行った時の介助者―障害者間の生理心理的負担に ついて検討し，前報に引き続き安全で心地よい車いす介助のあり方を検討することを目的と する。 協力者は，前報同様，障害者４名，健常者10名である。 前報で示した形状の異なる車いすＡ，Ｂを用いた健常者同士（介助者及び介助協力者）の 介助と実際の障害者における介助で，大阪府立大学キャンパスの外周およそ3.5 km を車い すで押してもらった。 介助者，介助協力者及び障害者には，携帯用心拍記録装置を装着させ，介助中の心拍数を 記録した。また，介助前後には，STAI テストを測定した。 介助者の平均心拍数は，いずれの介助協力者の場合でも，車椅子Ａに比べて車椅子Ｂの方 が，高い値を示した。また介助時の心拍数，及び介助時間は，車椅子の形状及び介助協力者 によって，異なる結果を示した。介助前後の状態不安は，介助前に比べて介助後の方が低か った。 介助協力者の心拍数は，車椅子Ａ，Ｂ共に，いずれの協力者においても，介助中の心拍の 変動幅は少なく示された。しかし，協力者によっては，心拍数平均値からみて車椅子Ａより Ｂの方が低値を示した者や，逆に高値を示す者がおり，車椅子の機能や形状によって，介助 協力者の生理反応も異なることが示された。各介助協力者の状態不安は，車椅子Ａ，Ｂ共に 介助協力者間で異なる傾向を示した。 障害者を対象とした車椅子介助時における平均心拍数は，介助経験者に比べ未経験者の方 が有意(p0.05) に高かった。また，障害者の平均心拍数についても，未経験者介助時の方 が有意(p0.05) に高かった。 障害者を介助した時の介助者の状態不安は，介助経験者および未経験者共にいずれも介助 前に比べ介助後に減少し，介助経験による差は認められなかった。障害者の状態不安は，介 助未経験者による介助では介助後に増加し，介助経験者では，減少した。 以上のことから，身体障害者に対する介助経験の差が，介助者と身体障害者のいずれにも 生理心理的影響を及ぼすことが明らかとなった。今後の課題として，車椅子を押す簡単と思 われる介助についても，介助を受ける身体障害者の立場に立った視点での介助経験者の育成 が急務と考えられる。departmental bulletin pape

A comparative study of wind power in the United States, Europe and Japan : strategies applicable to Japan

Thesis (M.B.A.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Sloan School of Management, 2006.Includes bibliographical references (leaves 78-82).This thesis explores measures in the Japanese energy industry in order to meet the Kyoto target and further abate carbon dioxide beyond this target. To meet the Kyoto target, the Japanese government wants to increase renewable energy such as wind power as one of the measures. Wind power may be one of the most cost-effective renewable energy sources to address global warming. The world market for wind power is growing rapidly and the markets are concentrated in a few primary countries, with Europe (especially Germany) and the United States leading expansion. However, Japan is now taking its first steps to develop a large-scale commercial market for wind power. It is now difficult for renewable energy, such as wind power, to become a major energy source due to its high cost and intermittent supply. However, it is the author's belief that Japan can increase wind power energy to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by applying appropriate policies and technical development in the power industry. This thesis examines policies designed to encourage the development of wind power in three countries-Germany, Denmark, and the United States-and compares the policies enacted in each of these countries to policies that are used in Japan.(cont.) Measures that are applicable to shaping the implementation of renewable energy, especially wind power energy are examined and future policy measures are proposed to increase the use and development of wind power in Japan, consequently reducing carbon dioxide emissions.by Shinji Shimizu.M.B.A

Studies on children’s lifestyle circumstances and health (First report)

In this first report we aimed to clarify the factors of life environments which affect children’s health. Our subjects were the guardians of 93 elder (6 years-old) male and female preschoolers of K nursery school in Tokyo met. (abbreviated as KNS) and Y nursery school in Yamaguchi pref. (abbreviated as YNS). Questionnaires regarding the life environments of the preschoolers covered 29 items concerning fundamental life habits including their wake-up time, bedtime, and sleeping period, dietary habits, activity habits, and circumstances of playing. In both preschools more than 80％ of preschoolers live with parents, and the number of preschoolers living with only their mothers was less than 15％, therefore no significant difference of family constitution was observed between YNS and KNS. The average wake-up time of preschoolers attending YNS was significantly earlier (p＜0.01) than that of KNS. The average bedtime of KNS was significantly later (p＜0.001) than that of YNS. The average sleeping period of YNS was significantly longer (p＜0.001) than that of KNS. The means of going to school showed much difference between the two schools. The percentage taken by car was greater in YNS than KNS, while the percentages of being taken by bicycle or walking were greater in KNS than YNS. All means of transportation to school had significant difference of rates (p＜0.05) between YNS and KNS. Results of this study clarified that the preschool located in the city area is characterized by life habits such as short sleeping period, late wake-up time and bedtime, and the preschool located in the mountain area is characterized by longer sleeping period, early wake-up time and bedtime. However, the location of playing spaces did not show significant difference, probably because of the social backgrounds including TV games rather than environmental factors. Considering the health of preschoolers, emphasis on physical activities by playing outside and ensuring sufficient sleep are important factorsdepartmental bulletin pape

Age determination by skeletochronology of the Japanese giant salamander Andrias japonicus (Amphibia, Urodela)

In the past several years, a number of studies have been carried out on the behavioral and reproductive ecology of the Japanese giant salamander Andrias japonicus, but the age and longevity of A. japonicus has not yet been studied. In this study, we attempted to establish an age determination method using specimens (age: 1 to 11 years old) from Hiroshima City Asa Zoological Park that lived and died in captivity. The cross sections of phalangeal bones were nearly circular in shape, and hematoxylinophilic lines that were interpreted as lines of arrested growth (LAGs) were observed in the periosteal tissue; this suggests that this technique can be used to estimate the age of A. japonicus. The number of LAGs was one less than the number of winters that each individual experienced. We could observe LAGs in both frozen and 10% formalin specimens. LAGs could be confirmed even for specimens that had been fixed in formalin for up to 30 years. By using this method, it was suggested that the lifespan of this species could be determined from specimens existing in museums, zoos, and aquariums worldwide. It also showed potential for providing important conservation information, such as generation time and age structure of populations in the field.This work supported by JSPS KAKENHI Grant Numbers JP 26870400, JP 17K 01209