Estimation of broad-leaved canopy growth in the urban forested area using multi-temporal airborne LiDAR datasets

Inter-annual canopy growth is one of the key indicators for assessing forest conditions, but the measurements require laborious field surveys. Up-to-date LiDAR remote sensing provides sufficient three-dimensional morphological information of the ground to monitor canopy heights on a broad scale. Thus, we attempted to use multi-temporal airborne LiDAR datasets in the estimation of vertical canopy growth, across various types of broad-leaved trees in a large urban park. The growth of broad-leaved canopies in the EXPO '70 urban forest in Osaka, Japan was assessed with 19 plots at the stand level and 39 selected trees at the individual-tree level. Airborne LiDAR campaigns repeatedly observed the park in the summers of 2004, 2008, and 2010. We acquired canopy height models (CHMs) for each year from the height values of the uppermost laser returns at every 0.5 m grid. The annual canopy growth was calculated by the differences in CHMs and validated with the annual changes in field-measured basal areas and tree heights. LiDAR estimations revealed that the average annual canopy growth from 2004 to 2010 was 0.26 ± 0.11 m m−2 yr−1 at the plot level and 0.26 ± 0.10 m m−2 yr−1 at the individual-tree level. This result showed that growing trends were consistent at different scales through 2004 to 2010 despite uncertainty in estimating short-term growth for small crown areas at the individual-tree level. This LiDAR-estimated canopy growth shows a moderate relation to field-measured increase of basal areas and average heights. The estimation uncertainties seem to result from the complex canopy structure and irregular crown shape of broad-leaved trees. Challenges still remain on how to incorporate the growth of understory trees, growth in the lateral direction, and gap dynamics inside the canopy, particularly in applying multi-temporal LiDAR datasets to the large-scale growth assessment

Interaction between anti-Alzheimer and antipsychotic drugs in modulating extrapyramidal motor disorders in mice

AbstractAntipsychotics are often used in conjunction with anti-Alzheimer drugs to treat the behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD). Here, we examined the effects of cholinesterase inhibitors (ChEIs), donepezil and galantamine, on antipsychotic-induced extrapyramidal side effects (EPS) in mice. The effects of serotonergic agents on the EPS drug interaction were also evaluated. Donepezil (0.3–3 mg/kg) did not induce EPS signs by itself; however, it significantly potentiated bradykinesia induction with a low dose of haloperidol (0.5 mg/kg) in dose-dependent and synergistic manners. Galantamine (0.3–3 mg/kg) elicited mild bradykinesia at a high dose and dose-dependently augmented haloperidol-induced bradykinesia. The EPS potentiation by galantamine was blocked by trihexyphenidyl (a muscarinic antagonist), but not by mecamylamine (a nicotinic antagonist). In addition, the bradykinesia potentiation by galantamine was significantly reduced by (±)-8-hydroxy-2-(di-n-propylamino)-tetralin (a 5-HT1A agonist), ritanserin (a 5-HT2 antagonist), and SB-258585 (a 5-HT6 antagonist). The present results give us a caution for the antipsychotics and ChEIs interaction in inducing EPS in the treatment of BPSD. In addition, second generation antipsychotics, which can stimulate 5-HT1A receptors or antagonize 5-HT2 and 5-HT6 receptors, seem to be favorable as an adjunctive therapy for BPSD

Temperature dependence of ferroelectric properties and the activation energy of polarization reversal in (Pr,Mn)-codoped BiFeO3 thin films

We applied Vopsaroiu\u27s model to (Bi,Pr)(Fe,Mn)O3 (BPFM) and Pb(Zr,Ti)O3 (PZT) ferroelectric thin films fabricated by chemical solution deposition. The temperature dependences of the saturation polarization and the coercive field were measured in a low-temperature region from 100 to 200K. The saturation polarizations of BPFM thin films decreased on decreasing the measurement temperature due to the polarization pinning effect, while that of PZT thin film was almost unchanged over the temperature region. The coercive fields of all the thin films were increased linearly on decreasing the measurement temperature. The activation energies for polarization reversal in as-grown BPFM, postannealed BPFM, and PZT thin films were 1.18, 1.25, and 0.95eV, respectively. These results indicate that BPFM thin films have large activation energies for polarization reversal compared with PZT thin films. In addition, the postannealed BPFM thin film has a larger activation energy than the as-grown BPFM thin film. © 2015 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim

Retention properties with high-temperature resistance in (Bi,Pr)(Fe,Mn)O3 thin film capacitor

(Bi0.9Pr0.1)(Fe0.97Mn0.03)O3 (BPFM) thin film was deposited on Pt-coated Si(100) substrate by chemical solution deposition. Remnant polarization and coercive field in the BPFM film capacitor were 113 °C/cm2 and 630 kV/cm at the maximum electric field of 1000 kV/cm, respectively. Switching charge measured by a rectangular pulse measurement was 118 °C/cm2. Almost no polarization losses of BPFM film capacitor were observed even after retention time of 104 s at room temperature. Furthermore, the polarization loss at 450 °C was only 3.7% even after 104 s. These results indicate that BPFM film capacitor is suitable for non-volatile memory applications at high temperature. © 2014 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim

Direct cell–cell contact between mature osteoblasts and osteoclasts dynamically controls their functions in vivo

Bone homeostasis is regulated by communication between bone-forming mature osteoblasts (mOBs) and bone-resorptive mature osteoclasts (mOCs). However, the spatial–temporal relationship and mode of interaction in vivo remain elusive. Here we show, by using an intravital imaging technique, that mOB and mOC functions are regulated via direct cell–cell contact between these cell types. The mOBs and mOCs mainly occupy discrete territories in the steady state, although direct cell–cell contact is detected in spatiotemporally limited areas. In addition, a pH-sensing fluorescence probe reveals that mOCs secrete protons for bone resorption when they are not in contact with mOBs, whereas mOCs contacting mOBs are non-resorptive, suggesting that mOBs can inhibit bone resorption by direct contact. Intermittent administration of parathyroid hormone causes bone anabolic effects, which lead to a mixed distribution of mOBs and mOCs, and increase cell–cell contact. This study reveals spatiotemporal intercellular interactions between mOBs and mOCs affecting bone homeostasis in vivo

天然添加物に関わる基礎的調査研究 -その1 天然香料-

2006年厚労省により513種の天然香料其原物質がﾘｽﾄｱｯﾌﾟされた｡当ﾘｽﾄには動物､複合体､生成物､化合物､ｷﾉｺ類､海藻類､樹脂類､規制に関わる物質等が含まれるのでこれらは除いた450種の其原植物について調査研究を遂行することとした｡本ﾌﾟﾛｼﾞｪｸﾄでは天然香料の安全性確認のため以下の調査研究を行った｡1)天然香料に用いられる全ての原料の本体が明確になっていないので､最初に其原植物の学名を決定する｡2)安全性確認のためには食経験の調査が重要なので､食経験に関する文献を広い分野に求めそれらを記述し安全性の評価資料に資する｡3)近年分析機器の急速な発展により多くの成分が単離構造決定されているので､それぞれの其原植物に含まれる成分のﾃﾞｰﾀﾍﾞｰｽを作成する｡4)本ﾃﾞｰﾀﾍﾞｰｽが RTECS ﾃﾞｰﾀﾍﾞｰｽから得られる科学的安全性を支持することを確認する｡The natural resource of flavoring additives 513 items were listed in 2006. Since there are various kinds of complicated materials like animals, complexes, products, components, mushrooms, seaweeds, resins and materials related to the regulations, we removed such items in this project and relisted up 450 items. To make sure the safety of flavoring additives, the following have been investigated. 1) Since the principles of all original plant species using for flavoring additives have not been evident, we confirmed and determined their scientific names individually. 2) The eating experiences as food is important for the confirmation of safety. Therefore, the accumulated scientific data regarding eating experiences published in various fields were incorporated in this project resulting in evaluation of safety. 3) Recently so many natural compounds have been isolated and structurally elucidated depending on the development of purification and structural elucidation technique. We therefore prepared data base of components contained in individual flavoring additive. 4) It becomes evident that the above data base supported the scientific safety data of flavoring additives obtained from RTECS data

Post-vasectomy semen analysis: Optimizing laboratory procedures and test interpretation through a clinical audit and global survey of practices

Purpose: The success of vasectomy is determined by the outcome of a post-vasectomy semen analysis (PVSA). This article describes a step-by-step procedure to perform PVSA accurately, report data from patients who underwent post vasectomy semen analysis between 2015 and 2021 experience, along with results from an international online survey on clinical practice. Materials and Methods: We present a detailed step-by-step protocol for performing and interpretating PVSA testing, along with recommendations for proficiency testing, competency assessment for performing PVSA, and clinical and laboratory scenarios. Moreover, we conducted an analysis of 1,114 PVSA performed at the Cleveland Clinic’s Andrology Laboratory and an online survey to understand clinician responses to the PVSA results in various countries. Results: Results from our clinical experience showed that 92.1% of patients passed PVSA, with 7.9% being further tested. A total of 78 experts from 19 countries participated in the survey, and the majority reported to use time from vasectomy rather than the number of ejaculations as criterion to request PVSA. A high percentage of responders reported permitting unprotected intercourse only if PVSA samples show azoospermia while, in the presence of few non-motile sperm, the majority of responders suggested using alternative contraception, followed by another PVSA. In the presence of motile sperm, the majority of participants asked for further PVSA testing. Repeat vasectomy was mainly recommended if motile sperm were observed after multiple PVSA’s. A large percentage reported to recommend a second PVSA due to the possibility of legal actions. Conclusions: Our results highlighted varying clinical practices around the globe, with controversy over the significance of non-motile sperm in the PVSA sample. Our data suggest that less stringent AUA guidelines would help improve test compliance. A large longitudinal multi-center study would clarify various doubts related to timing and interpretation of PVSA and would also help us to understand, and perhaps predict, recanalization and the potential for future failure of a vasectomy.American Center for Reproductive Medicin

Range Expansion of Two Tropical to Subtropical Ferns, Ladder Brake (Pteris vittata L.) and Lace Fern (Microlepia strigosa (Thunb. ex Murray) K. Presl.), in the Urban Osaka Bay Area, Western Japan

Volume: 98Start Page: 171End Page: 17