Soil catena along a collapsed mountainous slope underlain by granitic rock in Hiroshima Prefecture

To clarify soil catena and its characteristics of mountainous slope in temperate region, physical and chemical analysis on soil were conducted for 6 soil profiles along granitic mountainous slope. The soil types were residual soil at upper slope and colluvial soil at lower slope. Soil contents of dissolved Na^+ and K^+ were high at upper slope and sischarge area, and exchangeable base cation contents

River Bed Form in a Granitic Mountainous Catchment : A Case of the Source Area in Kurose River, Hiroshima Prefecture

In order to clarify spatial variations in a river bed form in a granitic mountainous catchment, we surveyed topographically a steep river on a source area of Kurose River in which the debris flow occurred in 1999. Firstly, we found that the spatial variation in erosion-deposition process on the steep river. Both of the lower stream and upper one held much sediments with large gravels (φ>2m). On the other hand, the middle stream exposed mainly the bedrock. Secondary, we confirmed spatial distribution of river falls. The height of river fall on the upper stream rose with the increase of river gradient. On the contray, the frequency of falls was constant in spite of inclination

MOIRCS Deep Survey. X. Evolution of Quiescent Galaxies as a Function of Stellar Mass at 0.5<z<2.5

We study the evolution of quiescent galaxies at 0.5<z<2.5 as a function of stellar mass, using very deep NIR imaging data taken with the Multi-Object Infrared Camera and Spectrograph on the Subaru Telescope in the GOODS-North region. The deep NIR data allow us to construct a stellar mass-limited sample of quiescent galaxies down to ~10^{10} Msun even at z~2 for the first time. We selected quiescent galaxies with age/tau>6 by performing SED fitting of the multi broad-band photometry from the U to Spitzer 5.8um bands with the population synthesis model of Bruzual & Charlot (2003) where exponentially decaying star formation histories are assumed. The number density of quiescent galaxies increases by a factor of ~3 from 1.0<z<1.5 to 0.5<z<1.0, and by a factor of ~10 from 1.5<z<2.5 to 0.5<z<1.0, while that of star-forming galaxies with age/tau<4 increases only by factors of ~2 and ~3 in the same redshift ranges. At 0.5<z<2.5, the low-mass slope of the stellar mass function of quiescent galaxies is alpha ~ 0 -- 0.6, which is significantly flatter than those of star-forming galaxies (alpha ~ -1.3 -- -1.5). As a result, the fraction of quiescent galaxies in the overall galaxy population increases with stellar mass in the redshift range. The fraction of quiescent galaxies at 10^{11}-10^{11.5} Msun increases from ~20-30% at z~2 to ~40-60% at z~0.75, while that at 10^{10}-10^{10.5} Msun increases from <~ 5% to ~15% in the same redshift range. These results could suggest that the quenching of star formation had been more effective in more massive galaxies at 1<~z<~2. Such a mass-dependent quenching could explain the rapid increase of the number density of ~M* galaxies relative to lower-mass galaxies at z >~ 1-1.5.Comment: 12 pages, 7 figures, accepted for publication in PASJ (Subaru special issue). Updated to accepted versio

MOIRCS Deep Survey. VII: NIR Morphologies of Star-forming Galaxies at Redshift z~1

We investigate rest-frame near-infrared (NIR) morphologies of a sample of 139 galaxies with M_{s} >= 1 x 10^{10} M_{sun} at z=0.8-1.2 in the GOODS-North field using our deep NIR imaging data (MOIRCS Deep Survey, MODS). We focus on Luminous Infrared Galaxies (LIRGs), which dominate high star formation rate (SFR) density at z~1, in the sample identified by cross-correlating with the Spitzer/MIPS 24um source catalog. We perform two-dimensional light profile fitting of the z~1 galaxies in the Ks-band (rest-frame J-band) with a single component Sersic model. We find that at z~1, ~90% of LIRGs have low Sersic indices (n<2.5, similar to disk-like galaxies) in the Ks-band, and those disk-like LIRGs consist of ~60% of the whole disk-like sample above M_{s} >= 3 x 10^{10} M_{sun}. The z~1 disk-like LIRGs are comparable or ~20% small at a maximum in size compared to local disk-like galaxies in the same stellar mass range. If we examine rest-frame UV-optical morphologies using the HST/ACS images, the rest-frame B-band sizes of the z~1 disk-like galaxies are comparable to those of the local disk-like galaxies as reported by previous studies on size evolution of disk-like galaxies in the rest-frame optical band. Measuring color gradients (galaxy sizes as a function of wavelength) of the z~1 and local disk-like galaxies, we find that the z~1 disk-like galaxies have 3-5 times steeper color gradient than the local ones. Our results indicate that (i) more than a half of relatively massive disk-like galaxies at z~1 are in violent star formation epochs observed as LIRGs, and also (ii) most of those LIRGs are constructing their fundamental disk structure vigorously. The high SFR density in the universe at z~1 may be dominated by such star formation in disk region in massive galaxies.Comment: 16 pages, 15 figures, accepted for publication in PASJ. Catalog data will be available at http://astr.tohoku.ac.jp/MODS/wiki/index.php soo

Effect of forestation of hinoki and larch on soil chemistry in mountainous water source area for water supply to Tokyo

Effects of forestry on soil properties, stream water chemistry and mass balance in watersheds had been confieremed by many previous studies. However, they have not clarified in detail variation processes of soil chemistry and soil physics after the hinoki and larch forestation. To clarify the variation processes, it is important to confirm the difference of soil chemistry and soil physics on the artifitial and natural forest. In this research, we conducted the soil physical and chemical investigations on seven slopes covered by hinoki (chamecyparis obtusa) and larch (Larix leptolepis) artificial and beech (Fagus crenata) natural forest in a highland area, the western side of Tokyo. The water repellency of A_0 horizon was stronger on the artificial forest slope than on the natural forest. In addition, the permeability was low on the artificial forest due to the strong water repellency. On the artificial forest, both of the exchangeable base cation content and soil pH were low and Al concentration was high, as compared with those on the natural forest. These results suggest that the soil acidification is progressed on the artificial forest. The decline of soil pH by the forestation was controlled by the increase of H^+ supply at the A_0 horizon due to the property of litter decomposition and the decrease of base cation supply at the A-horizon. In general, the cation supply rate such as weathering rate is controlled by the infiltration rate and temperature. These soil physical and chemical properties suggest that infitration rate at the A-horizon. declines after the forestation, weathering rate declines and consequently soil is acidified

MOIRCS Deep Survey V: A Universal Relation for Stellar Mass and Surface Brightness of Galaxies

We present a universal linear correlation between the stellar mass and surface brightness (SB) of galaxies at 0.3<z<3, using a deep K-band selected catalog in the GOODS-North region. The correlation has a nearly constant slope, independent of redshift and color of galaxies in the rest-z frame. Considering unresolved compact galaxies, the tight correlation gives a lower boundary of SB for a given stellar mass; lower SB galaxies are prohibited over the boundary. The universal slope suggests that the stellar mass in galaxies was build up over their cosmic histories in a similar manner irrelevant to galaxy mass, as oppose to the scenario that massive galaxies mainly accumulated their stellar mass by major merging. In contrast, SB shows a strong dependence on redshift for a given stellar mass. It evolves as (1+z)^(-2.0~-0.8), in addition to dimming as (1+z)^4 by the cosmological expansion effect. The brightening depends on galaxy color and stellar mass. The blue population (rest-frame U-V<0), which is dominated by young and star-forming galaxies, evolves as ~(1+z)^(-0.8 +-0.3) in the rest-V band. On the other hand, the red population (U-V>0) and the massive galaxies (M_*>10^(10)M_sun) shows stronger brightening, (1+z)^(-1.5+-0.1). Based on the comparison with galaxy evolution models, we find that the phenomena are well explained by the pure luminosity evolution of galaxies out to z~3.Comment: 10 pages, 9 figures. Accepted for publication in Ap

Transventricular Preforniceal Approach Combined with Endoscopic Transnasal Surgery for a Giant Pituitary Adenoma: A Case Report and Literature Review

Giant pituitary adenomas carry significant surgical risks when treated with transsphenoidal approaches or the transcranial approach alone. Combined transsphenoidal and transcranial approaches have been reported; however, removing adenomas extending into the third ventricle may still be challenging. We report a case of giant pituitary adenoma expanding into the third ventricle, which was removed using a combined transventricular preforniceal approach and an endoscopic endonasal transsphenoidal surgery (ETSS). A 41-year-old man with headache, nausea, and a 1-week history of a visual field defect was transferred to our hospital. He had a disturbed left visual acuity, right homonymous hemianopia, and choked disc in both eyes. Preoperative magnetic resonance imaging revealed a giant pituitary adenoma with a maximum diameter of 55 mm extending from the intrasellar to the suprasellar region, thus occupying the entire third ventricle and causing hydrocephalus. The space between the anterior commissure and the fornix was expanded. The foramen of Monro was shifted backward due to compression by the tumor. He underwent maximum surgical resection using a combined transventricular preforniceal approach and ETSS. Considering technical demands and reliability, the intra- to suprasellar parts were removed by ETSS while the intraventricular part was removed through the preforniceal approach. The residual tumor in the right cavernous sinus and behind the anterior communicating artery was treated with stereotactic radiotherapy. One year after the operation, the patient leads an independent life. The combined technique of the preforniceal approach and ETSS provided a direct view of the entire third ventricle and hemostasis in the present case

Comparative Study of Chemical Oxygen Demand and Total Organic Carbon in Omura Bay

化学的酸素要求量(COD)と全有機炭素量(TOC)を測定することにより､大村湾における有機汚濁ﾚﾍﾞﾙを評価した｡本研究では､2008年5月から2010年5月にかけ､水深別(0､2､6､10m)に5地点(湾口部､湾央部､湾奥部3地点)より採水し､両者を測定した｡その結果､COD は 0.68～3.94mg/L(平均 1.95mg/L)､TOC は 0.811～2.170mg/L(平均 1.345mg/L)となり､COD では試料の約半数が環境基準の 2mg/L 以上を示したのに対し､TOC ではほぼ全試料で 2mg/L 以下となり､COD と比べて低値を示した｡両者とも表層で高く､深度とともに低い傾向を示した｡Pearson の積率相関分析を行った結果､両者の間には正の相関がみられた(相関係数:0.604)｡また､海水交換が十分でないと示唆される湾奥部ほど､両者の相関性が高くなる傾向がみられた｡以上の結果より､閉鎖性海域ほど両者の相関性が高く､TOC の測定は水質汚濁を把握するには有効であることが示唆された｡The organic pollutant levels in Omura Bay were evaluated by measuring chemical oxygen demand(COD)and total organic carbon(TOC). We investigated these factors in Omura Bay from May 2008 to May 2010, in order to clarify the relationship between them. Samples were collected from four depths(0, 2, 6, and 10 m)at five sites. The COD values ranged from 0.68 to 3.94 mg/L with a mean value of 1.95 mg/L, while the TOC values ranged from 0.811 to 2.170 mg/L with a mean value of 1.345 mg/L. Although half of the samples showed high COD values(>2.0 mg/L), most of the samples showed low TOC values(<2.0 mg/L). The samples from the upper layer showed higher COD and TOC values than the samples from the middle or bottom layers. A significant positive correlation between the COD and TOC values was obtained(0.604); furthermore, a strong correlation between these parameters was observed for the samples obtained from the inner bay. These results suggest that measuring TOC may be useful for estimating the degree of pollution in enclosed coastal sea areas

Physical inactivity is associated with decreased growth differentiation factor 11 in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Rie Tanaka,1 Hisatoshi Sugiura,1 Mitsuhiro Yamada,1 Tomohiro Ichikawa,1 Akira Koarai,1 Naoya Fujino,1 Satoru Yanagisawa,1 Katsuhiro Onodera,1 Tadahisa Numakura,1 Kei Sato,1 Yorihiko Kyogoku,1 Hirohito Sano,1 Shun Yamanaka,1 Tatsuma Okazaki,1 Tsutomu Tamada,1 Motohiko Miura,2 Tsuneyuki Takahashi,3 Masakazu Ichinose1 1Department of Respiratory Medicine, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Aoba-ku, Sendai, Japan; 2Department of Respiratory Medicine, Tohoku Rosai Hospital, Aoba-ku, Sendai, Japan; 3Department of Internal Medicine, Tohoku Medical and Pharmaceutical University Wakabayashi Hospital, Wakabayashi-ku, Sendai, Japan Background: Growth differentiation factor 11 (GDF11) is reported to possess anti-aging and rejuvenating effects, including muscle regeneration and to be highly expressed in skeletal muscle. Recently, we demonstrated that the levels of plasma GDF11 were decreased in COPD. However, the effect of decreased circulating GDF11 in the pathophysiology of COPD remains unknown. The aim of this study is to investigate the association between the plasma GDF11 levels and various clinical parameters in patients with COPD. Patients and methods: Eighteen ex-smokers as control subjects and 70 COPD patients participated in the current study. We measured the levels of plasma GDF11 using immunoblotting, lung function, physical activity using a triaxial accelerometer, quadriceps strength, exercise capacity, and systemic inflammatory markers. We investigated the association between the levels of plasma GDF11 and these clinical parameters. Results: The levels of plasma GDF11 in the COPD patients had significant positive correlations with the data of lung function. Furthermore, the levels of plasma GDF11 were significantly correlated with the physical activity, quadriceps strength, and exercise capacity. Moreover, the levels of plasma GDF11 were significantly correlated with the data of inflammatory markers. Although various factors were related to GDF11, the multiple regression analysis showed that physical activity was significantly associated with the levels of plasma GDF11. Conclusion: Physical inactivity was significantly related to the decreased GDF11 levels in COPD, which might be useful for understanding the pathogenesis of COPD. Clarifying the relationships between the physical inactivity and GDF11 may reveal a potentially attractive therapeutic approach in COPD via increasing the plasma levels of GDF11. Keywords: physical activity, muscle strength, rejuvenating factor, COP