A novel laser melting sampler for discrete, sub-centimeter depth-resolved analyses of stable water isotopes in ice cores

We developed a novel laser melting sampler (LMS) for ice cores to measure the stable water isotope ratios (δ18O and δD) as temperature proxies at sub-centimeter depth resolutions. In this LMS system, a 2 mm diameter movable evacuation nozzle holds an optical fiber through which a laser beam irradiates the ice core. The movable nozzle intrudes into the ice core, the laser radiation meanwhile melts the ice cylindrically, and the meltwater is pumped away simultaneously through the same nozzle and transferred to a vial for analysis. To avoid isotopic fractionation of the ice through vaporization, the laser power is adjusted to ensure that the temperature of the meltwater is always kept well below its boiling point. A segment of a Dome Fuji shallow ice core (Antarctica), using the LMS, was then demonstrated to have been discretely sampled with a depth resolution as small as 3 mm: subsequent analysis of δ18O, δD, and deuterium excess (d) was consistent with results obtained by hand segmentation within measurement uncertainties. With system software to control sampling resolution, the LMS will enable us to identify temperature variations that may be detectable only at sub-centimeter resolutions in ice cores

三重県地域住民に対するみそ汁の減塩指導の実践についての検討

昭和55年において,三重県地域住民に対する各保健所の健康教室,集団検診などの参加者1,201世帯を対象とし,参加者に持参させたみそ汁の食塩濃度を測定した。その結果について検討をおこなった。(1)三重県下地域住民のみそ汁の食塩濃度の平均値は1.08%であったが,各保健所ともにその値に著しいバラツキがみられた。(2)上記みそ汁の適正濃度(0.8%)以上のからずき世帯率を保健所別にみた場合は,桑名では67.8%,四日市では62.5%,鈴鹿では79.5%,津では74.6%,松阪では72.8%,上野では81.2%であった。このからすぎ世帯率において,高血圧者在宅世帯と非高血圧者在宅世帯との間には相関関係はみられなかった。(3)ついで,保健所別脳血管疾患死亡率とからずき世帯率との間には相関関係は認められなかった。In 1980 having 1,201 families participated in the health school and mass examination was held by the Regional Health Centers in Mie Prefecture. And, salt concentrations of miso soup brought by those participants were measured. The results were analyzed as follows: (1) The mean concentration of salt in miso soup referring to the regional inhabitants in Mie Prefecture was 1.08%, however, the values were markedly fluctuated by Health Centers. (2) Those families in favor of the saltier taste than the adequate concentration (0.8%) of the miso soup were noted at 67.8% in Kuwana, 62.5% in Yokkaichi, 79.5% in Suzuka, 74.6% in Tsu, 72.8% in Matsuzaka and 81.2% in Ueno. Among those families of salty taste lovers, no correlation was observed between hypertension and nonhypertension. (3) When classified by Health Centers, no correlation was observed between the mortality from cerebrovascular diseases and the percentage of salty taste loving families

Relation between Rice Crop Quality (Protein Content) and Fertilizer Amount as Well as Rice Stump Density Derived from Helicopter Data

Abstract—Relation between protein content in rice crops and fertilizer amount as well as rice stump density is clarified with a multi-spectral camera data mounted on a radio-wave controlled helicopter. Estimation of protein content in rice crop and total nitrogen content in rice leaves through regression analysis with Normalized Difference Vegetation Index: NDVI derived from camera mounted radio-controlled helicopter is already proposed. Through experiments at rice paddy fields which is situated at Saga Prefectural Research Institute of Agriculture: SPRIA in Saga city, Japan, it is found that total nitrogen content in rice leaves is linearly proportional to fertilizer amount and NDVI. Also, it is found that protein content in rice crops is positively proportional to fertilizer amount for lower fertilizer amount while protein content in rice crop is negatively proportional to fertilizer amount for relatively high fertilizer amount

Sex Specification and Heterogeneity of Primordial Germ Cells in Mice.

In mice, primordial germ cells migrate into the genital ridges by embryonic day 13.5 (E13.5), where they are then subjected to a sex-specific fate with female and male primordial germ cells undergoing mitotic arrest and meiosis, respectively. However, the sex-specific basis of primordial germ cell differentiation is poorly understood. The aim of this study was to investigate the sex-specific features of mouse primordial germ cells. We performed RNA-sequencing (seq) of E13.5 female and male mouse primordial germ cells using next-generation sequencing. We identified 651 and 428 differentially expressed transcripts (>2-fold, P < 0.05) in female and male primordial germ cells, respectively. Of these, many transcription factors were identified. Gene ontology and network analysis revealed differing functions of the identified female- and male-specific genes that were associated with primordial germ cell acquisition of sex-specific properties required for differentiation into germ cells. Furthermore, DNA methylation and ChIP-seq analysis of histone modifications showed that hypomethylated gene promoter regions were bound with H3K4me3 and H3K27me3. Our global transcriptome data showed that in mice, primordial germ cells are decisively assigned to a sex-specific differentiation program by E13.5, which is necessary for the development of vital germ cells

Data analysis methods for assessing palliative care interventions in one-group pre–post studies

Objectives: Studies of palliative care are often performed using single-arm pre–post study designs that lack causal inference. Thus, in this study, we propose a novel data analysis approach that incorporates risk factors from single-arm studies instead of using paired t-tests to assess intervention effects. Methods: Physical, psychological and social evaluations of eligible cancer inpatients were conducted by a hospital-based palliative care team. Quality of life was assessed at baseline and after 7 days of symptomatic treatment using the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer QLQ-C15-PAL. Among 35 patients, 9 were discharged within 1 week and 26 were included in analyses. Structural equation models with observed measurements were applied to estimate direct and indirect intervention effects and simultaneously consider risk factors. Results: Parameters were estimated using full models that included associations among covariates and reduced models that excluded covariates with small effects. The total effect was calculated as the sum of intervention and covariate effects and was equal to the mean of the difference (0.513) between pre- and post-intervention quality of life (reduced model intervention effect, 14.749; 95% confidence intervals, −4.407 and 33.905; p = 0.131; covariate effect, −14.236; 95% confidence interval, −33.708 and 5.236; p = 0.152). Conclusion: Using the present analytical method for single-arm pre–post study designs, factors that modulate effects of interventions were modelled, and intervention and covariate effects were distinguished based on structural equation model

Biological significance of female and male-specific PGC-expressed genes.

<p><b>(A)</b> GO enrichment analysis of FSGs and MSGs. The most highly enriched biological processes based on their respective gene counts are shown (Fisher’s exact test: cut-off < 0.1). <b>(B)</b> Pathway analysis of all transcript lists in female and male PGCs. The lists indicate enriched pathways observed among female and male transcripts, as determined using DAVID (Fisher’s exact test: cut-off <0.1). Sex-specific pathways are highlighted in pink and blue, which denote female- and male-specific, respectively.</p

Identification of female and male PGC-specific-expressed genes.

<p><b>(A)</b> Top: scatter plot of female and male PGC samples. The green lines indicate a 2-FC in the average expression levels between the 2 samples. Bottom: volcano plot of differentially expressed genes in female and male PGC samples. Red spheres indicate statistically significant genes. FSGs (651) and MSGs (428). <b>(B)</b> Top 20 differentially expressed genes in female- and male-specific PGCs. Expression levels are shown in log2 values. The genes are ranked in the order of decreasing log FC values. <b>(C)</b> Pie chart showing the composition and quantity of each reference gene type in the UCSC Genome Browser and Ingenuity Pathway analysis tool for FSGs and MSGs.</p

Single-cell transcriptome analysis of E13.5 female and male PGCs.

<p><b>(A)</b> Bi-dimensional <b>PCA</b> of E13.5 female and male single-PGC gene expression patterns. The first principal component (PC1) captures 4.93% of the gene expression variability and the second principal component (PC2) captures 4.25%. The red and blue spheres represent single female (n = 67) and male (n = 77) PGCs, respectively. <b>(B)</b> Hierarchical clustering analysis of transcriptome data sets (FSG: 651, MSG: 428) of female and male single PGCs. <b>(C)</b> Heat map of the relative expression of apoptotic process-related genes (n = 15). <b>(D)</b> Heat map of the relative expression of meiotic and mitotic cell cycle-related genes (n = 26). <b>(E)</b> Relation between apoptosis and meiotic and mitotic cell cycle in female PGCs. The numbers indicate the number of PGCs.</p