Observation of Microtremors in the Tsukuba Area, Japan, using a Portable Broadband Seismometer

Studies of microtremors have been advanced by different approaches, that is, a variety of observational studies and analyses, for both the short-period and the long-period ranges since the microtremors for each range have their own source and site characteristics in time and space. We, therefore, conducted microtremor observation around Tsukuba City, Ibaraki, Japan, in July and August, 1991, in order to clarify site characteristics of six locations around the Tsukuba Mountain, deploying a portable broadband seismometer (Streckeisen STS-2) in the field of subsurface structure and studying ground motion in both frequency ranges, simultaneously. By a comparison with an STS-1 seismometer, the STS-2 gives reliable frequency ranges higher than 0.09 Hz and 0.05 Hz in horizontal and vertical components, respectively. The correlation of the reference site and the other sites implies that the source of microtremors shares common characteristics for the lower range ( 1 Hz), particularly 1.2 ～ 2.5 Hz, in this area. Three types of dominant peak frequencies for the range of 0.1 ～ 1 Hz are revealed: (1) the peak frequencies ranging from 0.2 to 0.3 Hz observed near Mt.Tsukuba can be explained by the topographic high model of Bard (1982). Two frequency peaks ranging (2) from 0.2 to 0.4 Hz and (3) from 0.5 to 0.8 Hz, observed at the stations on alluvials, are related to any vertical resonance in soft layers, consistent with other geological information. Amplitude ratios at sedimentary sites with respect to TSK (Mt.Tsukuba), a rock site, are greater than unity over 5 Hz where the ratios are reported to be smaller than unity in many areas, which implies relatively hard sedimentary layers in the Tsukuba area

1994 Multi-site Broadband Seismic Observation at Sakurajima Volcano, Japan

Broadband observation of volcanic earthquakes has been recently conducted at many volcanoes. At the Sakurajima Volcano in Japan, one of the most active volcanoes all over the world, we conducted two broadband seismic observations successfully in last three years. However, they left some problems in terms of the number of observation sites and recording systems. This paper reports the outline of our third observation using three broadband seismometers (Streckeisen STS-II) with continuous recording at the Sakurajima Volcano from February 18 to March 28, 1994. This observation is distinguished from the previous two by the three stations operating continuously over the entire period. Although the Sakurajima Volcano had very low seismic activities during this observation period, we observed some kinds of volcanic earthquake, A-type and B-type earthquakes and volcanic tremors, particularly one series of interesting clone events

A Case of Radiation Fibrosis Appearing as Mass-Like Consolidation after SBRT with Elevation of Serum CEA

We report a case of radiation fibrosis appearing as mass-like consolidation, which was difficult to distinguish from local recurrence. A 72-year-old woman was diagnosed as having primary lung cancer (cT1N0M0 stage IA) in the right upper lobe and was treated with SBRT of 48 Gy in 4 fractions. After 12 months, mass-like consolidation appeared around the irradiated area, and after 13 months, it had increased in size. FDG-PET revealed high uptake (SUV max = 5.61) for the consolidation. CT-guided biopsy was performed, but we could not confirm the diagnosis. Considering her poor respiratory function and her age, short-interval follow-up was performed. After 15 months, the consolidation enlarged at the dorsal side, and carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) became elevated (14.6 ng/mL). Serum KL-6 (436 U/mL) and SP-D (204 ng/mL) were also elevated. However, after 16 months, serum CEA slightly decreased. The consolidation gradually retracted on follow-up CT images. CEA, KL-6, and SP-D were also decreased by degrees. After 40 months, there is no evidence of local recurrence

Negative Correlation between Serum Cytokine Levels and Cognitive Abilities in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder

Evidence suggests that cytokines may be one of the major factors influencing cognitive development in those with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). To shed light on the neural and cognitive mechanisms of ASD, we investigated the association between peripheral cytokine levels and cognitive profiles in children with ASD. The serum levels of 10 cytokines (granulocyte macrophage colony-stimulating factor, interferon (IFN)-γ, interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-2, IL-4, IL-5, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, and tumor necrosis factor-α) were examined in 14 children with ASD using the Human Ultrasensitive Cytokine Magnetic 10-Plex Panel for the Luminex platform. The Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children (WISC) was administered to each subject, and the relationships between WISC scores and serum levels of the cytokines were examined. The full-scale intelligence quotient (IQ) was significantly negatively correlated with the levels of IL-6 (Spearman’s rank, p < 0.0001, false discovery rate q < 0.01). The levels of IL-6 and IFN-γ showed significant negative correlations with the verbal comprehension index (p < 0.001, q < 0.01) and working memory index (p < 0.01, q < 0.05), respectively. No other cytokines were significantly correlated with full-scale IQ or with any of the subscale scores of the WISC. The present results suggest negative correlations of IL-6 and IFN-γ levels with cognitive development of children with ASD. Our preliminary findings add to the evidence that cytokines may play a role in the neural development in ASD.ArticleJOURNAL OF INTELLIGENCE. 5(2):19 (2017)journal articl

Activity of Health Education at Primary School Attached to the School Education, Okayama University

　附属小学校において，日頃の保健室で児童との関わりから気づいた課題と体育科保健領域とのつながりを意識しながら，歯・口を題材に，からだの発育発達についての保健指導を行った。同時に，養護教諭養成をになう附属小学校として，保健指導に取り組む際のプロセスを明確にすることを目的に，実践の振り返りを行った。指導計画の作成から実践までの過程を，児童の学び，授業者の反省，学級担任の評価についてまとめ，保健指導の展開にいかす視点を検討したので報告する

Endobronchial Ultrasound-guided Transbronchial Needle Aspiration for the Diagnosis of Intrathoracic Lesions : Experience of a Single Academic Medical Center

Article信州医学雑誌 60(5): 249-255(2012)journal articl

Items of interest from the collection of Serizawa Keisuke： Ancient Andean textiles

染色家・芹沢銈介の集めた世界の民族工芸品の中から、東北福祉大学芹沢銈介美術工芸館で所蔵するアンデスの染織品93 点の目録を掲載し、その内の6 点について資料紹介を行う。2 世紀のナスカで作られた「シャチ魚文様飾り房 断片」は、水と豊穣と死を象徴するシャチの刺繍が施され、装飾として衣服の縁に用いられた。「幾何学文様貫頭衣 断片」は、小片布を組み替えて綴じ合わせることで配色と文様の妙を見せる。「神人文様貫頭衣」は、交易で入手したアマゾンの熱帯に住む鳥たちの鮮やかな羽毛を使っており、「ジャガー・鳥文様マント 断片」には、アンデスの人々が好んだ綴織の特性を示す斜めや階段状の線からなる文様を見ることができる。「海老・鳥文様衣服 断片」は獣毛を使った綴織と木綿による二重織という2 種類の織物が継ぎ合わされてできた衣服で、対照的な二つの布の対比が面白い。そして「鳥・波・獣面文髪覆い」は、チャンカイ文化特有の捩織で作られた、レースのように見える繊細な織物である。 アンデスにはほとんど全ての織物の種類が見られ、さらに独自に考案された技法もあるが、インカ帝国が滅びるまでの全時代を通じて、基本的構造の織機を使用していた。すなわち、これらの繊細な仕事は、複雑な織機の開発によるものではなく、指先の細やかな操作によって生み出されてきたのである。それは、芹沢を導いた柳宗悦の「心偈」の一首「糸の道　法の道」に通じる世界である。芹沢銈介の目と感覚によって選ばれ集まったこれらのコレクションには、作り手への共感のまなざしが感じられる。journal articl

Association of paraoxonase 1 gene polymorphism with Intima-Media Thickness (IMT) of the carotid arteries in japanese type 2 diabetic patients

Purpose: We investigated the association between paraoxonase 1 (PON1)-192 genotypes and intimamedia thickness (IMT) of carotid arteries in diabetic patients. Methods: One hundred and fifty-five Japanese type 2 diabetic patients aged from 40 to 79 years were enrolled in this study. Genotypes of the patients were determined using the PCR-RFLP method. The IMT of carotid arteries of the subjects was measured by ultrasound imaging. Results: The PON1 genotypes frequencies were as follows: 18QQ (0.116), 70QR (0.452) and 67RR (0.432). IMT values of the RR group were significantly greater (1.08±0.41 mm, n=67) than those of the Q group, which consisted of patients carrying one or two Q alleles (0.95±0.27 mm, n=88, P=0.023). There were no significant difference in the clinical characteristics between the two groups. Conclusion: The results indicate that the PON1-192RR genotype is associated with intima media thickening of the carotid arteries in diabetic patients