Trajectory analysis of Polar Patrol Balloon (PPB) flights in the stratosphere over Antarctica in summer and spring: A preliminary result

Actual trajectories of two PPB's which flew in the Antarctic stratosphere in austral summer and spring are compared with those calculated based on objective analysis data of Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA). The differences between the actual and calculated trajectories are discussed to check reliability of the JMA objective analysis data for the stratosphere, and to detect subsynoptic scale variability due to gravity waves and others

Probabilistic tsunami hazard assessment based on the Gutenberg–Richter law in eastern Shikoku, Nankai subduction zone, Japan

Earthquake and tsunami predictions comprise huge uncertainties, thus necessitating probabilistic assessments for the design of defense facilities and urban planning. In recent years, computer development has advanced probabilistic tsunami hazard assessments (PTHAs), where hazard curves show the exceedance probability of the maximum tsunami height. However, owing to the lack of historical and geological tsunami records, this method is generally insufficient for validating the estimated hazard curves. The eastern coast of Shikoku in the Nankai subduction zone, Japan, is suitable for validation because tsunami records from historical Nankai Trough earthquakes are available. This study evaluated PTHAs by comparing the tsunami hazard curves and exceedance frequencies of historical Nankai Trough tsunamis. We considered 3480 earthquake scenarios representing the rupture patterns of past Nankai earthquakes and calculated all tsunamis. The probability of earthquake occurrence was based on the Gutenberg–Richter law. We considered uncertainty in tsunami calculations with astronomical tide variations. The estimated tsunami hazard curves are consistent with the exceedance frequencies obtained from historical tsunamis. In addition, sensitivity tests indicate the significance of the earthquake slip heterogeneity and tsunami defense facilities in PTHAs. We also extended the PTHAs to tsunami inundation maps in high resolution and proposed an effective new method for reducing the tsunami computation load

DISCUSSION ON DESIGNING AND ASSESSING DISASTER PREVENTION EDUCATION BASED ON ID FOCUSING ON THE LEADING EVACUEES DRILLS USING RED/BLUE PAPERPERBOARD

本研究では筆者らが行った「青赤紙を用いた率先避難訓練」の防災教育を事例に，よりよい防災教育へ改善していくための問題点と，その改善策を検討した．その結果，本事例の問題点として(1)率先避難者の役割をどのように教えるのかといった「教授方略」に注力し，「目標」や「評価」を決めるための学習者分析を十分に行わなかったこと，(2)「目標」や「評価」をあいまいなままに教育を行ったことで，学習者が理解したことと教育者が教えたいことにズレがあった可能性を見出すことができた．インストラクショナルデザイン（以下ID）を用いることでこの問題点の改善策を提示し，「目標」⇒「評価」⇒「教授方略」の順番で教育を設計することが，よりよい防災教育へ改善していくために重要であることを，防災教育の具体的事例に基づき示すことができた．Based on the example of a disaster preparedness education program implemented by the authors, leading evacuees drills using red/blue paperboard, this study examined the problems of the program and their remedial measures for improving disaster preparedness education. As a result, the following two problems were identified: 1) the focus was on the teaching strategies, such as methods for teaching the roles of leading evacuees, and learner analysis for setting the goals and the assessment criteria was not fully conducted, 2) there might have been a gap between what the instructors wanted to teach and what the learners understood due to the fact that the program was implemented without setting clear goals and assessment criteria. Based on a specific example of disaster preparedness education, it was demonstrated that in order to improve disaster preparedness education, it is important to present remedial measures for the problems of the program using instructional design (ID) and to design the education program in the order of goals, assessment criteria, and finally teaching strategies

Magnetic Field Effect on Electron Transfer Process in Electrochemical Reaction(Crystal Growth, Chemical Reaction and Biology)

A new method with MHD electrode (MHDE) to analyze the electrochemical reaction under the magnetic field is applied to the copper reduction. The Tafel plots obtained at the magnetic field up to 13T show that there is no change in the slopes but drastic decrease of the current density in comparison with the results in the no or low magnetic field

N-Glycosylation plays a role in protein folding of human UGT1A9

金沢大学医薬保健研究域薬学系UDP-glucuronosyltransferases (UGTs) catalyze the glucuronidation of a variety of xeno/endobiotics. UGTs are type I membrane proteins of the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) with a glycosylated luminal domain. In the present study, we investigated the role of N-glycosylation in the function of human UGT1A9. Mutation analysis at the potential N-glycosylation sites at residues 71, 292, and 344 (from asparagine to glutamine) revealed that all of them were glycosylated, but the extent of glycosylation and/or size of the glycan differed. In comparison with the wild-type, these mutants showed decreased enzyme activities in parallel with the extent of the band shift in Western blot analysis. To evaluate the role of glycosylation in the enzyme activity, we produced unglycosylated UGT1A9 by treating HEK293 cells transiently transfected with expression plasmid with tunicamycin. The unglycosylated UGT1A9 was almost inactive, which was not an indirect effect of ER stress. To the contrary, the deglycosylated UGT1A9, which was produced by the treatment with Endo H under the non-denaturing condition, showed the same enzyme kinetics as the control. These results suggest that the glycosylation that occurs during translation is important for the folding of UGT1A9. The thermal stability analysis of the mutated and deglycosylated UGT1A9 proteins supported the findings. In conclusion, we found that the N-glycosylation has an important role in the folding of UGT1A9. © 2009 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved

A comparative method for evaluating ecosystem services from the viewpoint of public works

Nature-based solutions (NbS), such as the implementation of environmental conservation and restoration as public works projects, require accurate and cost-effective assessments of the values related to the projects. The values should represent collective ecosystem services, individual services such as food provision and water purification, and other intangible services. To comprehensively assess such services, we proposed a novel method, which we call the comparative evaluation method. Our method is able to assess the value of each service category of an NbS project from a single questionnaire survey. Survey participants are asked to compare values of multiple services having anchoring prices. Our method determines the permissible economic value of environmental public works (PEP) in response to the quantity of service. The questionnaire results used for analysis are limited to those from respondents who made their PEP evaluation on the basis of their consideration of the appropriate expenditure of taxes. In addition, the method controls for the effect of the satisfaction that a person experiences from doing good deeds to reduce an overestimation of the values of services. Moreover, PEPs are not influenced by the respondent's annual income, age, sex, or educational background, and are based on personal values. Applying this new method, we surveyed residents of the watersheds of Tokyo Bay and Osaka Bay and evaluated nine ecosystem services. Overall, our new method is shown to be an effective method for evaluating the ecosystem services of NbS projects from the viewpoint of public works

Green port structures and their ecosystem services in highly urbanized Japanese bays

Green port structures (i.e. green infrastructure in ports and harbors) featuring habitats for marine organisms have been promoted in Japan as part of a comprehensive policy to reduce the environmental impact of ports and carry out habitat conservation, restoration, and creation. In this study, we evaluated the ecosystem services provided by green port structures in two highly urbanized bays (Tokyo Bay and Osaka Bay) in Japan. Our results show that the provision of some ecosystem services can be limited by circumstances particular to ports and other areas with restricted access. In the case of green port structures that have strong usage restrictions, for example, cultural services can only be provided if relevant authorities are prepared to conduct public events while ensuring participant safety. On the other hand, green port structures with weak usage restrictions are often equipped with incidental facilities such as parking lots and restrooms; these facilities can enhance the provision of cultural services (e.g. recreation and environmental education). Green port structures in highly urbanized bays often have usage restrictions, but their proximity to large populations means that they can potentially provide numerous ecosystem services. However, our study shows that appropriate management goals, such as protecting species and ensuring healthy habitats, are needed to maintain the value of these services in highly urbanized and eutrophic bays

A phase I/II clinical trial for the hybrid of intracavitary and interstitial brachytherapy for locally advanced cervical cancer

BackgroundThis paper describes about a study protocol of phase I/II multicenter prospective clinical trial evaluating the feasibility and efficacy of the hybrid of intracavitary and interstitial brachytherapy (HBT) for locally advanced uterine cervical cancer patients.Methods and designPatients with histologically confirmed FIGO stage IB2, IIA2, IIB, and IIIB uterine cervical carcinoma width of which is larger than 5 cm assessed by MRI will be entered to this clinical trial. Protocol therapy is 30-30.6 Gy in 15-17 fractions of whole pelvic radiotherapy concurrent with weekly CDDP (40 mg/m2), followed by 24 Gy in 4 fractions of HBT and central shield EBRT up to 50-50.4 Gy in 25-28 fractions. Tumor width is assessed again within one week before the first HBT and if the tumor width is larger than 4 cm, patients proceed to the secondary registration. In phase I section, feasibility of this will be investigated. If less than 10 % out of 20 patients experienced greater than grade 3 acute non-hematologic adverse effects, the study proceeds to phase II part. In phase II part a total of 55 patients will be accrued and the efficacy of the HBT will be investigated comparing with historical control data. If the lower margin of 90 % confidence interval of the 2-year pelvic progression-free survival of the HBT trial is higher than 64 %, the HBT is considered to be more effective than conventional ICBT.DiscussionThe aim of this study is to demonstrate the feasibility and efficacy of the HBT for locally advanced cervical cancer. This trial will clarify the indication, feasibility, and efficacy of this new technique