Environmental change based on diatom assemblages from Lake Yamanaka at the northern foot of Mt, Fuji, Central Japan

Environmental history in Lake Yamanaka was investigated based on diatom assemblages obtained from the 17.5m length borehole core in the lake center. Lake Yamanaka (surface area 6.89km²; maximun depth 14.3m; mean depth 9.4m; altitude above sea level 978m) is one of the Fuji Five Lakes and located at the northern foot of Mt.Fuji. Although this lake had been considered formed by the lava flow from Mt.Fuji about 1850 years ago, results of this research suggested that the formation age more old stage on account of the presence of planktonic diatoms mentioned below. The borehole core sample has mainly consists of unconsolidated silts and scoria fall deposits associated with sandstone layers. According to the composition of diatoms contained in silts, the geohistory of this lake was divided into 4 periods;i.e., 1) The 1'st swamp or river period (11.4-9.2m borehole core in depth); Epiphytic or benthic diatomes such as Flagiralia spp. or Epithemia sp. were dominant in these samples. 2) The 1'st lake period(9.2-6.0m borehole core in depth): Planktonic diatoms such as Aulacoseira sp. or Cyclotella sp. were dominant in these samples. 3) The 2'nd swamp or very shallow lake period(6.0-2.5m borehole core in depth): Epiphytic or benthic diatoms became dominant again. 4) The 2'nd lake period (2.5m-surface borehole core): Planktonic diatoms were dominant again.Article信州大学山地水環境教育研究センター研究報告 2: 105-110(2004)departmental bulletin pape

Basal metabolic rate and body composition of elite Japanese male athletes

The estimated energy requirement is important for adequate nutritional management in athletes. The energy requirement can be estimated from the basal metabolic rate (BMR). However, there is little data regarding the BMR of Japanese athletes. This study measured the BMR and body composition of 81 elite Japanese male athletes in different sports categories : endurance (E), strength, power and sprint (S) and ball game (B). The factors influencing the BMR were also investigated. The BMR and body composition were measured by indirect calorimetry and an air-displacement plentysmograph device (the BOD POD), respectively. The BMR per lean body mass (LBM) differed significantly among the three groups. The BMR was significantly correlated with the body weight (BW) and LBM in all groups. A multiple-regression analysis showed that the LBM was the most powerful predictor in the E and S groups, whereas the BW was the most powerful predictor in the B group. The BW appears to become an important predictor as the BW of athletes increases. Additionally, height was the second explanatory variable in the S and B groups, thus suggesting that height needs to be considered for the BMR in these groups. Therefore, the BMR in elite athletes needs to be estimated according to their body composition

De Novo Mutations in GNAO1, Encoding a Gαo Subunit of Heterotrimeric G Proteins, Cause Epileptic Encephalopathy

Heterotrimeric G proteins, composed of α, β, and γ subunits, can transduce a variety of signals from seven-transmembrane-type receptors to intracellular effectors. By whole-exome sequencing and subsequent mutation screening, we identified de novo heterozygous mutations in GNAO1, which encodes a Gαo subunit of heterotrimeric G proteins, in four individuals with epileptic encephalopathy. Two of the affected individuals also showed involuntary movements. Somatic mosaicism (approximately 35% to 50% of cells, distributed across multiple cell types, harbored the mutation) was shown in one individual. By mapping the mutation onto three-dimensional models of the Gα subunit in three different complexed states, we found that the three mutants (c.521A>G [p.Asp174Gly], c.836T>A [p.Ile279Asn], and c.572_592del [p.Thr191_Phe197del]) are predicted to destabilize the Gα subunit fold. A fourth mutant (c.607G>A), in which the Gly203 residue located within the highly conserved switch II region is substituted to Arg, is predicted to impair GTP binding and/or activation of downstream effectors, although the p.Gly203Arg substitution might not interfere with Gα binding to G-protein-coupled receptors. Transient-expression experiments suggested that localization to the plasma membrane was variably impaired in the three putatively destabilized mutants. Electrophysiological analysis showed that Gαo-mediated inhibition of calcium currents by norepinephrine tended to be lower in three of the four Gαo mutants. These data suggest that aberrant Gαo signaling can cause multiple neurodevelopmental phenotypes, including epileptic encephalopathy and involuntary movements

機械学習を用いたセルラーシステムにおける車用通信に関する研究

早大学位記番号:新8718早稲田大

Protocol: an improved method for inducing sporophyte generation in the model moss Physcomitrium patens under nitrogen starvation

Abstract Background Land plants exhibit a haplodiplontic life cycle, whereby multicellular bodies develop in both the haploid and diploid generations. The early-diverging land plants, known as bryophytes, have a haploid-dominant life cycle, in which a short-lived multicellular body in the diploid generation, known as the sporophyte, develops on the maternal haploid gametophyte tissues. The moss Physcomitrium (Physcomitrella) patens has become one of the most powerful model systems in evolutionary plant developmental studies. To induce diploid sporophytes of P. patens, several protocols are implemented. One of the conventional approaches is to grow approximately one-month-old gametophores for another month on Jiffy-7 pellets made from the peat moss that is difficult to fully sterilize. A more efficient method to obtain all tissues throughout the life cycle should accelerate studies of P. patens. Results Here, we investigated the effect of nitrogen conditions on the growth and development of P. patens. We provide an improved protocol for the sporophyte induction of P. patens using a BCD-based solid culture medium without Jiffy-7 pellets, based on the finding that the formation of gametangia and subsequent sporophytes is promoted by nitrogen-free growth conditions. The protocol consists of two steps; first, culture the protonemata and gametophores on nitrogen-rich medium under continuous light at 25 °C, and then transfer the gametophores onto nitrogen-free medium under short-day and at 15 °C for sporophyte induction. The protocol enables to shorten the induction period and reduce the culture space. Conclusions Our more efficient and shortened protocol for inducing the formation of sporophytes will contribute to future studies into the fertilization or the diploid sporophyte generation of P. patens