Study objectives: To study the association between greenery filled public areas that are nearby a residence and easy to walk in and the longevity of senior citizens in a densely populated, developed ...megacity. Design: Cohort study. Methods: The authors analysed the five year survival of 3144 people born in 1903, 1908, 1913, or 1918 who consented to a follow up survey from the records of registered Tokyo citizens in relation to baseline residential environment characteristics in 1992. Main results: The survival of 2211 and the death of 897 (98.9% follow up) were confirmed. The probability of five year survival of the senior citizens studied increased in accordance with the space for taking a stroll near the residence (p<0.01), parks and tree lined streets near the residence (p<0.05), and their preference to continue to live in their current community (p<0.01). The principal component analysis from the baseline residential environment characteristics identified two environment related factors: the factor of walkable green streets and spaces near the residence and the factor of a positive attitude to a person’s own community. After controlling the effects of the residents’ age, sex, marital status, and socioeconomic status, the factor of walkable green streets and spaces near the residence showed significant predictive value for the survival of the urban senior citizens over the following five years (p<0.01). Conclusions: Living in areas with walkable green spaces positively influenced the longevity of urban senior citizens independent of their age, sex, marital status, baseline functional status, and socioeconomic status. Greenery filled public areas that are nearby and easy to walk in should be further emphasised in urban planning for the development and re-development of densely populated areas in a megacity. Close collaboration should be undertaken among the health, construction, civil engineering, planning, and other concerned sectors in the context of the healthy urban policy, so as to promote the health of senior citizens.
Miscanthus sinensis Anderss. is a good candidate for C
bioenergy crop development for marginal lands. As one of the characteristics of marginal lands, salinization is a major limitation to ...agricultural production. The present work aimed to investigate the possible factors involved in the tolerance of M. sinensis C
photosynthesis to salinity stress. Seedlings of two accessions (salt-tolerant 'JM0119' and salt-sensitive 'JM0099') were subjected to 0 mm NaCl (control) or 250 mm NaCl (salt stress treatment) for 2 weeks. The chlorophyll content, parameters of photosynthesis and chlorophyll a fluorescence, activity of C
enzymes and expression of C
genes were measured. The results showed that photosynthesis rate, transpiration rate, chlorophyll content, PSII operating efficiency, coefficient of photochemical quenching, activity of phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase (PEPC) and pyruvate, orthophosphate dikinase (PPDK) and gene expression of PEPC and PPDK under salinity were higher after long-term salinity exposure in 'JM0119' than in 'JM0099', while activity of NADP-malate dehydrogenase (NADP-MDH) and NADP-malic enzyme (NADP-ME), together with expression of NADP-MDH and NADP-ME, were much higher in 'JM0099' than in 'JM0119'. In conclusion, the increased photosynthetic capacity under long-term salt stress in the salt-tolerant relative to the salt-sensitive M. sinensis accession was mainly associated with non-stomatal factors, such as reduced chlorophyll loss, higher PSII operating efficiency, enhanced activity of PEPC and PPDK and relatively lower activity of NADP-ME.
The vertical propagation of coseismic ionospheric disturbances (CIDs) associated with the foreshock of the Tohoku earthquake was examined using an HF Doppler sounding system. The sounding system used ...in this study received radio waves at four different frequencies (5.006, 6.055, 8.006, and 9.595 MHz), indicating that ionospheric disturbances can be observed at up to four altitudes. CIDs were observed at these four frequencies in association with the foreshock of the Tohoku earthquake. From the propagation speed of the coseismic disturbances, it is assumed that the ground motion caused by the Rayleigh wave propagating from the epicenter generates the acoustic mode wave propagating upward, causing the neutral atmospheric particles to move vertically. To examine the characteristics of the acoustic wave, we determined the ratio of the vertical speed of the neutral particles to that of the ground motion observed by a seismometer. The vertical profiles of the ratio are roughly explained in terms of the characteristics of the acoustic mode wave resulting from the ground motion. However, the absolute values of the ratio are smaller than the theoretical ratio estimated by the atmospheric mass density and the attenuation model considering the viscosity, thermal conductivity, and relaxation losses. This result implies that the CIDs in this event may be affected by the nonlinear behavior of the acoustic mode wave.
Plain Language Summary
In association with an earthquake, the ground oscillates, and atmospheric waves are generated by the motion of the ground. The law of conservation of energy states that the amplitudes of these waves increases with altitude owing to the decrease in density of air, indicating that waves with small amplitudes just above the ground can be detected in the ionosphere. Ionospheric observations using radio waves can capture the motion of plasma in the ionosphere. The behavior of the atmospheric waves can therefore be captured by ionospheric sounding systems because neutral atmospheric particles drag the particles of plasma along when they move. To capture the vertical motions of the plasma, in this study, we utilized the HF Doppler sounding system which enables to receive radio waves at four frequencies. Thus, we were able to distinguish ionospheric disturbances at four altitudes. In the event of the foreshock of the Tohoku earthquake, it was confirmed that the vertical profile of the disturbance roughly coincides with that of the acoustic mode wave. However, the nonlinear effect on the vertical propagation of the acoustic mode wave was also suggested. This study is the first report of coseismic ionospheric disturbances observed at four different altitudes.
Key Points
The vertical propagation of coseismic ionospheric disturbances due to the foreshock of the Tohoku Earthquake was examined
HF Doppler sounding was used to observe coseismic vertical motions of the ionospheric plasma at four different altitudes
The vertical profiles of the disturbances agreed roughly with the modeled values, but the nonlinear effect on its propagation was suggested
Miscanthus sinensis Anderss. is a good candidate for C4 bioenergy crop development for marginal lands. As one of the characteristics of marginal lands, salinization is a major limitation to ...agricultural production. The present work aimed to investigate the possible factors involved in the tolerance of M. sinensis C4 photosynthesis to salinity stress.
Seedlings of two accessions (salt‐tolerant ‘JM0119’ and salt‐sensitive ‘JM0099’) were subjected to 0 mm NaCl (control) or 250 mm NaCl (salt stress treatment) for 2 weeks. The chlorophyll content, parameters of photosynthesis and chlorophyll a fluorescence, activity of C4 enzymes and expression of C4 genes were measured.
The results showed that photosynthesis rate, transpiration rate, chlorophyll content, PSII operating efficiency, coefficient of photochemical quenching, activity of phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase (PEPC) and pyruvate, orthophosphate dikinase (PPDK) and gene expression of PEPC and PPDK under salinity were higher after long‐term salinity exposure in ‘JM0119’ than in ‘JM0099’, while activity of NADP‐malate dehydrogenase (NADP‐MDH) and NADP‐malic enzyme (NADP‐ME), together with expression of NADP‐MDH and NADP‐ME, were much higher in ‘JM0099’ than in ‘JM0119’.
In conclusion, the increased photosynthetic capacity under long‐term salt stress in the salt‐tolerant relative to the salt‐sensitive M. sinensis accession was mainly associated with non‐stomatal factors, such as reduced chlorophyll loss, higher PSII operating efficiency, enhanced activity of PEPC and PPDK and relatively lower activity of NADP‐ME.
The greater photosynthetic capacity under long‐term salt regime in salt‐tolerantMiscanthus sinensis accession relative to the salt‐sensitive accession was mainly associated with non‐stomatal factors including less chlorophyll loss, higher PSII operating efficiency, more enhanced activities of PEPC and PPDK, and relative lower activity of NADP‐ME.
In order to establish an applicable system for advanced quantum information processing based on the interaction between light and atoms, we have demonstrated a quantum nondemolition measurement with ...a collective spin of cold ytterbium atoms (171Yb), and have observed 1.8(-1.5)+2.4 dB spin squeezing. Since 171Yb atoms have only a nuclear spin of one-half in the ground state, the system constitutes the simplest spin ensemble and is thus robust against decoherence. We used very short pulses with a width of 100 ns, and as a result the interaction time became much shorter than the decoherence time, which is important for multistep quantum information processing.
Abstract A novel hypothesis of thyroid carcinogenesis, the “fetal cell carcinogenesis” hypothesis, in which cancer cells are derived from the remnants of three types of fetal thyroid cells, instead ...of normal thyroid follicular cells, is proposed. In this hypothesis, thyroid cancer cells are generated from fetal cells by proliferation without differentiation and oncogenes play an oncogenic role by preventing fetal cells from differentiating. This hypothesis explains well the clinical and biological features and recent molecular evidence of thyroid carcinoma. It underscores the importance of clarifying the molecular mechanism of thyroid development and the identification of fetal thyroid cells, especially thyroid stem cells (TSCs), since such data will lead to better understanding of thyroid carcinoma and other thyroid diseases.
In Japan, 9 ITER TF coils for Japan and 10 TF coil cases (CCs) for EU are procured from two suppliers. In the second manufacturing line (ML), some of manufacturing procedures were optimized and/or ...rationalized from lessons learned from the experiences in the first ML. These efforts contributed to simplification and acceleration of the fabrication of the ITER TF coil in the second ML and then, the first ITER TF coil has been completed in May 2021 in the second ML. In addition, the most challenging processes in TF coil fabrication such as very accurate current center line positioning and proper gap between a winding pack (WP) and CC, more than 4 mm were achieved in assembly of WP and CC, as well as the first ML. These results justified the validity of the optimized and rationalized manufacturing procedure in the second ML. Therefore, we can say that manufacturing in both first and second MLs in Japan has become stable. Actually, four and two TF coils have been completed in the first and second MLs in Japan, respectively.
Nephrin is a slit diaphragm protein critical for structural and functional integrity of visceral glomerular epithelial cells (podocytes) and is known to be tyrosine phosphorylated by Src family ...kinases. We studied the role of phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K), activated via the phosphorylation of nephrin, in actin cytoskeletal reorganization of cultured rat podocytes. Phosphorylation of rat nephrin by the Fyn kinase markedly increased its interaction with a regulatory subunit of PI3K. Stable transfection of rat nephrin in the podocytes with podocin led to nephrin tyrosine phosphorylation, PI3K-dependent phosphorylation of Akt, increased Rac1 activity, and an altered actin cytoskeleton with decreased stress fibers and increased lamellipodia. These changes were reversed with an inhibitor of PI3K and not seen when the nephrin-mutant Y1152F replaced wild-type nephrin. Rac1 and Akt1 contributed to lamellipodia formation and decreased stress fibers, respectively. Finally, in the rat model of puromycin aminonucleoside nephrosis, nephrin tyrosine phosphorylation, nephrin-PI3K association, and glomerular Akt phosphorylation were all decreased. Our results suggest that PI3K is involved in nephrin-mediated actin reorganization in podocytes. Disturbed nephrin–PI3K interactions may contribute to abnormal podocyte morphology and proteinuria.
Astrocytes are known to facilitate repair following brain injury; however, little is known about how injured astrocytes repair themselves. Repair of cell membrane injury requires Ca(2+)-triggered ...vesicle exocytosis. In astrocytes, lysosomes are the main Ca(2+)-regulated exocytic vesicles. Here we show that astrocyte cell membrane injury results in a large and rapid calcium increase. This triggers robust lysosome exocytosis where the fusing lysosomes release all luminal contents and merge fully with the plasma membrane. In contrast to this, receptor stimulation produces a small sustained calcium increase, which is associated with partial release of the lysosomal luminal content, and the lysosome membrane does not merge into the plasma membrane. In most cells, lysosomes express the synaptotagmin (Syt) isoform Syt VII; however, this isoform is not present on astrocyte lysosomes and exogenous expression of Syt VII on lysosome inhibits their exocytosis. Deletion of one of the most abundant Syt isoform in astrocyte--Syt XI--suppresses astrocyte lysosome exocytosis. This identifies lysosome as Syt XI-regulated exocytic vesicle in astrocytes. Further, inhibition of lysosome exocytosis (by Syt XI depletion or Syt VII expression) prevents repair of injured astrocytes. These results identify the lysosomes and Syt XI as the sub-cellular and molecular regulators, respectively of astrocyte cell membrane repair.
SUMMARY
Unveiling the mechanisms of earthquake and volcanic eruption preparation requires improving our ability to monitor the rock mass response to transient stress perturbations at depth. The ...standard passive monitoring seismic interferometry technique based on coda waves is robust but recovering accurate and properly localized P- and S-wave velocity temporal anomalies at depth is intrinsically limited by the complexity of scattered, diffracted waves. In order to mitigate this limitation, we propose a complementary, novel, passive seismic monitoring approach based on detecting weak temporal changes of velocities of ballistic waves recovered from seismic noise correlations. This new technique requires dense arrays of seismic sensors in order to circumvent the bias linked to the intrinsic high sensitivity of ballistic waves recovered from noise correlations to changes in the noise source properties. In this work we use a dense network of 417 seismometers in the Groningen area of the Netherlands, one of Europe's largest gas fields. Over the course of 1 month our results show a 1.5 per cent apparent velocity increase of the P wave refracted at the basement of the 700-m-thick sedimentary cover. We interpret this unexpected high value of velocity increase for the refracted wave as being induced by a loading effect associated with rainfall activity and possibly canal drainage at surface. We also observe a 0.25 per cent velocity decrease for the direct P-wave travelling in the near-surface sediments and conclude that it might be partially biased by changes in time in the noise source properties even though it appears to be consistent with complementary results based on ballistic surface waves presented in a companion paper and interpreted as a pore pressure diffusion effect following a strong rainfall episode. The perspective of applying this new technique to detect continuous localized variations of seismic velocity perturbations at a few kilometres depth paves the way for improved in situ earthquake, volcano and producing reservoir monitoring.
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