A Dark Target Algorithm for the GOSAT TANSO-CAI Sensor in Aerosol Optical Depth Retrieval over Land

Cloud and Aerosol Imager (CAI) onboard the Greenhouse Gases Observing Satellite (GOSAT) is a multi-band sensor designed to observe and acquire information on clouds and aerosols. In order to retrieve aerosol optical depth (AOD) over land from the CAI sensor, a Dark Target (DT) algorithm for GOSAT CAI was developed based on the strategy of the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) DT algorithm. When retrieving AOD from satellite platforms, determining surface contributions is a major challenge. In the MODIS DT algorithm, surface signals in the visible wavelengths are estimated based on the relationships between visible channels and shortwave infrared (SWIR) near the 2.1 µm channel. However, the CAI only has a 1.6 µm band to cover the SWIR wavelengths. To resolve the difficulties in determining surface reflectance caused by the lack of 2.1 μm band data, we attempted to analyze the relationship between reflectance at 1.6 µm and at 2.1 µm. We did this using the MODIS surface reflectance product and then connecting the reflectances at 1.6 µm and the visible bands based on the empirical relationship between reflectances at 2.1 µm and the visible bands. We found that the reflectance relationship between 1.6 µm and 2.1 µm is typically dependent on the vegetation conditions, and that reflectances at 2.1 µm can be parameterized as a function of 1.6 µm reflectance and the Vegetation Index (VI). Based on our experimental results, an Aerosol Free Vegetation Index (AFRI2.1)-based regression function connecting the 1.6 µm and 2.1 µm bands was summarized. Under light aerosol loading (AOD at 0.55 µm < 0.1), the 2.1 µm reflectance derived by our method has an extremely high correlation with the true 2.1 µm reflectance (r-value = 0.928). Similar to the MODIS DT algorithms (Collection 5 and Collection 6), a CAI-applicable approach that uses AFRI2.1 and the scattering angle to account for the visible surface signals was proposed. It was then applied to the CAI sensor for AOD retrieval; the retrievals were validated by comparisons with ground-level measurements from Aerosol Robotic Network (AERONET) sites. Validations show that retrievals from the CAI have high agreement with the AERONET measurements, with an r-value of 0.922, and 69.2% of the AOD retrieved data falling within the expected error envelope of ± (0.1 + 15% AODAERONET)

Chiral Soliton Lattice Formation in Monoaxial Helimagnet Yb(Ni1−x_{1-x}Cux_x)3_3Al9_9

Helical magnetic structures and its responses to external magnetic fields in Yb(Ni$_x$Cu$_{1-x}$)$_3$Al$_9$, with a chiral crystal structure of the space group $R32$, have been investigated by resonant X-ray diffraction. It is shown that the crystal chirality is reflected to the helicity of the magnetic structure by a one to one relationship, indicating that there exists an antisymmetric exchange interaction mediated via the conduction electrons. When a magnetic field is applied perpendicular to the helical axis ($c$ axis), the second harmonic peak of $(0, 0, 2q)$ develops with increasing the field. The third harmonic peak of $(0, 0, 3q)$ has also been observed for the $x$=0.06 sample. This result provides a strong evidence for the formation of a chiral magnetic soliton lattice state, a periodic array of the chiral twist of spins, which has been suggested by the characteristic magnetization curve. The helical ordering of magnetic octupole moments, accompanying with the magnetic dipole order, has also been detected.Comment: 13 pages, 18 figures, accepted for publication in J. Phys. Soc. Jp

Establishment of a novel collagenase perfusion method to isolate rat pancreatic stellate cells and investigation of their gene expression of TGF-beta1, type I collagen, and CTGF in primary culture or freshly isolated cells.

In studies of the pathogenesis of pancreatic fibrosis, pancreatic stellate cells (PSCs) have recently gained attention. In the present study, we established a new collagenase perfusion method through thoracic aorta cannulation to isolate PSCs, and we studied gene expression of TGF-beta1, type I collagen, and connective tissue growth factor using primary cultured PSCs. Our method facilitated PSC isolation, and by our new method, 4.3 +/- 1.2 x 10(6) PSCs were obtained from a rat. In comparing the expression of these genes with that of hepatic stellate cells (HSCs), we observed a similar pattern, although PSCs expressed type I collagen gene earlier than did HSCs. These results suggest that PSCs may play an important role in fibrosis of the pancreas, as HSCs do in liver fibrosis; in addition, PSCs may exist in a preactivated state or may be more easily activated than are HSCs. We also isolated the PSCs from a WBN/Kob rat, the spontaneous pancreatitis rat, and compared the gene expression with that from a normal rat

Discovery of the Pigtail Molecular Cloud in the Galactic Center

This paper reports the discovery of a helical molecular cloud in the central molecular zone (CMZ) of our Galaxy. This "pigtail" molecular cloud appears at (l, b, V_LSR) ~ (-0.7deg, +0.0deg, -70 to -30 km/s), with a spatial size of ~ (20 pc)^2 and a mass of (2-6) 10^5 solar masses. This is the third helical gaseous nebula found in the Galactic center region to date. Line intensity ratios indicate that the pigtail molecular cloud has slightly higher temperature and/or density than the other normal clouds in the CMZ. We also found a high-velocity wing emission near the footpoint of this cloud. We propose a formation model of the pigtail molecular cloud. It might be associated with a magnetic tube that is twisted and coiled because of the interaction between clouds in the innermost x_1 orbit and ones in the outermost x_2 orbit.Comment: 15 pages, 6 figures, accepted for publication in Astrophysical Journa

Hypertensive patients' perceptions of their physicians' knowledge about them: a cross-sectional study in Japan

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>In order to evaluate the difference in quality of primary care provided by physicians between the types of medical institutions in Japan, we examined whether the physicians' comprehensive knowledge of their patients is perceived differently by the patients seen at clinics and hospitals.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Patients with prescriptions for hypertensive drugs were approached sequentially at 13 pharmacies, and were administered a questionnaire on their perception of their physician's knowledge about them. Data were obtained for 687 patients (362 from clinics and 325 from hospitals). A physician's knowledge of his or her patients was assessed according to six aspects: their medical history, their current medications, history of allergy, what worries patients most about their health, patients' values and beliefs on their health, and patients' roles and responsibilities at work, home, or school. Responses were scored from 1 through 6 (1: knows very well; 6: doesn't know at all).</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Patients treated in clinics were seen more frequently, for a longer period, and had fewer complications than the patients who were treated in hospitals. Among the six aspects of physicians' knowledge assessed, 79.3% of the patients reported that their physicians knew their complete list of medications "very well or well," while 28.3% reported the same about their roles and responsibilities at work, home, or school. Physicians in clinics were considered to know their patients' worries about their health (p = 0.004) and the roles and responsibilities of the patients at work, home, or school (p = 0.028) well. Multiple regression analysis showed that the type of medical institutions remained as a significant variable only for the aspect of patients' worries about their health. The factor that consistently affected the patients' perception of physicians' knowledge about them was the patients' age.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Hypertensive patients' perceptions of their physicians' knowledge about them did not differ significantly between clinics and hospitals in Japan for most of the aspects. In order to differentiate the roles of physicians in hospitals and clinics better and ensure the quality of primary care, the establishment of a standardized educational system to train primary care physicians better is recommended.</p

Checklist of vascular plants of Kui Block Field, Mihara City, Hiroshima Prefecture, Japan

広島県三原市久井町に位置する久井岩海は国の天然記念物に指定されている。今回，久井岩海の天然記念物調査に際し，維管束植物（シダ植物，裸子植物，被子植物）のフロラの見直しを行う機会を得た。本稿では，標本および文献にもとづいて久井岩海および周辺地域の維管束植物フロラをまとめた。その結果，維管束植物合計415種（ヒカゲノカズラ植物1種と狭義シダ植物36種，裸子植物6種，被子植物372種。ただし，種以下の下位分類群や雑種は種として数えた）が生育していることが確認された。Kui Block Field, Mihara City, Hiroshima Prefecture, SW Japan is designated as a national natural monument. In this study, a checklist of the vascular plants recorded from Kui Block Field is provided, based on previous publications, herbarium specimens and our recent investigations. 415 species of vascular plants are recorded, consisting of 1 species of lycopods, 36 species of pteridophytes, 6 species of gymnosperms, and 372 species of angiosperms