The sequestrate fungi of Japan, including truffle and truffle-like fungi, have not been well characterized but are potentially diverse. We investigated the diversity and phylogeny of Japanese ...Octaviania specimens using a multifaceted approach including scanning and transmission
electron microscopy as well as analysis of nuclear ribosomal DNA (ITS and LSU) and EF-1α (tef1) sequences. Phylogenetic analyses indicate that the genus Octaviania is divided into three major clades, and that there are at least 12 species-level lineages in Japan. Accordingly,
we describe two new subgenera, Parcaea and Fulvoglobus, and eleven new species. Subgenus Parcaea accommodates four highly divergent, but macromorphologically almost indiscernible cryptic species. We discuss not only the diversity and species delimitation within the genus
Octaviania but also the phylogeography of the Japanese taxa and their relatives.
It is now widely recognized that climate change affects multiple sectors in virtually every part of the world. Impacts on one sector may influence other sectors, including seemingly remote ones, ...which we call “interconnections of climate risks.” While a substantial number of climate risks are identified in the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change Fifth Assessment Report, there have been few attempts to explore the interconnections between them in a comprehensive way. To fill this gap, we developed a methodology for visualizing climate risks and their interconnections based on a literature survey. Our visualizations highlight the need to address climate risk interconnections in impact and vulnerability studies. Our risk maps and flowcharts show how changes in climate impact natural and socioeconomic systems, ultimately affecting human security, health, and well‐being. We tested our visualization approach with potential users and identified likely benefits and issues. Our methodology can be used as a communication tool to inform decision makers, stakeholders, and the general public of the cascading risks that can be triggered by climate change.
Plain Language Summary
The paper demonstrates in a most holistic manner how climate change can generate various risks and how they are actually interconnected. Based on a literature survey using the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change Fifth Assessment Report, we identified 91 climate risks and 253 causal relationships among them and graphically drew such interconnected risks. We found that changes in the climate system impact the natural and socioeconomic system, influencing ultimately human security, health, and well‐being. This indicates that climate change can trigger a cascade of impacts across sectors. Our findings point to the need to address the climate risk interconnections in impact and vulnerability studies. We tested our visualization approach with potential users and identified likely benefits and issues. The implications of our study go beyond science. Our study is useful to inform stakeholders of a broad yet fresh perspective of climate risks that have not been presented before.
Key Points
The paper developed a methodology for visualizing how climate change can generate various risks and how they can be interconnected
We identified 91 climate risks and 253 causal relationships among them based on a literature survey and graphically presented the interconnected risks
We found that changes in the climate system impact natural and socioeconomic systems, ultimately influencing human security, health, and well‐being
A pulsed neutron transmission coupled with a two-dimensional position sensitive neutron detector gives a time-of-flight spectrum at each pixel of the detector, which depends on the total ...cross-sections of materials. In order to extract quantitative information of the preferred orientation included in the Bragg scattering total cross-section data, a spectral analysis software for the 2D imaging has been developed, and the transmission data of an unbent iron plate were analyzed. The 2D images with respect to the preferred orientation were successfully obtained, and the effectiveness of spectroscopic neutron transmission imaging was indicated.
The residual strain and the total cross-section in Fe plate was investigated by a Bragg-edge transmission method. The experiments were performed at the position of the time-of-flight diffractometer ...at KENS, Sirius. The (Δ
d/
d) reached about 0.1%. The high counting rate and high efficiency pixel type 2d-detector with 8×8 pixels was used. The spatial resolution is about 2.1
mm. We clearly observed the image of the change on Bragg-edge shapes and the strain distribution. The total cross-section around the bending points was larger than other areas but there was no change in the Bragg-edge positions, which would correspond to the change of the microstructure. We obtained the image of residual strain at several points. The values of the residual strain at several lattice planes,
ε
110,
ε
200 and
ε
211, are −263 to 1707
με, −612 to 1665
με and −1205 to 327
με, respectively. It is indicated that the residual strain measurement by the Bragg-edge transmission is not inferior to the high-resolution Bragg diffraction.
Introduction
High DNA polymerase β activity has been observed in the thyroid tissue of patients with Graves’ disease (Nagasaka et al. in Metabolism 37:1051–1054,
1988
). This fact aroused our ...interest in whether the alteration of DNA polymerase β activity depends on DNA polymerase β (DNA poly β) mRNA levels, which may be modulated by thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) or thyroid-stimulating substances, i.e. TSH receptor antibody (TRAb).
Result
Addition of TSH or TRAb to primary cultures of Graves’ disease thyroid cells for 4 h led to no increase in DNA poly β mRNA levels. In contrast, thyroid hormone synthesizing enzyme, peroxidase, mRNA levels increased fivefold after coculture with TSH and TRAb, even though DNA poly β activity and mRNA levels are already significantly higher in Graves’ disease thyroid tissues, compared with normal thyroid tissue.
Discussion
These results indicate that DNA poly β expression in Graves’ disease thyroid cells may be maximally activated or plateau in response to thyroid-stimulating immunoglobulins, or that the activation of to poly β expression may occur via pathways other than the G protein and cyclic AMP system.
Diabet. Med. 29, e138–e141 (2012)
Background Insulinoma is a tumour of insulin‐producing cells of the pancreas and is known to be one of the causes of hypoglycaemia. Usually, appropriate removal of ...the insulinoma results in normalization of blood glucose levels. However, we found novel cases of insulinoma, in which hyperglycaemia developed soon after resection of the insulinoma.
Case report We encountered two patients with repeated hypoglycaemia caused by insulinoma. Following removal of the insulinoma, unanticipated hyperglycaemia was observed in both patients. Thereafter, their blood tests revealed low levels of serum C‐peptide and high titres of anti‐glutamic acid decarboxylase antibody, indicating concomitant Type 1 diabetes. Indeed, histological examination of the resected specimen revealed that one patient showed insulitis in non‐tumorous pancreatic tissue in which β‐cells had already disappeared. Moreover, inflammatory cells infiltrated the insulinoma, as if it were insulitis of Type 1 diabetes, suggesting the existence of anti‐islet autoimmunity.
Conclusion These are first cases of insulinoma associated with underlying Type 1 diabetes. Physicians should be aware of the possibility that insulinoma may mask Type 1 diabetes, and measurement of anti‐islet autoantibodies may be helpful to find underlying Type 1 diabetes, such as in these cases. It is pathologically interesting that the immune cell infiltration into insulinoma may be suggestive of anti‐islet autoimmunity.
The crystal structure and magnetic properties of metaphenylenebisverdazyl biradical (m-Ph-V2) are presented. The temperature dependence of the product of the magnetic susceptibility and temperature, ...which is proportional to the square of the effective magnetic moment, shows a round maximum at about 40 K and a stationary behaviour at half the value of the room temperature in the temperature range of 4–7 K In the crystal structure, the dimeric structure of molecules is noticeable and the susceptibility data were analysed by the four-spin cluster model with an S = 1/2. The intrarmolecular ferromagnetic interaction was estimated to J1/kB = −40 K.
Astraeus odoratus is an edible ectomycorrhizal (ECM) fungus found in natural dipterocarp forests. The efficacy of two different inoculum types of this fungus, namely, spore suspension and cultured ...mycelium in inducing ECM formation on pot-cultured seedlings of Dipterocarpus alatus was studied. Both types of inocula increased ECM formation. A positive correlation was found between the ECM rate and seedling growth. Both inoculation methods could be used to produce ECM seedlings of D. alatus. Astraeus odoratus merupakan kulat ektomikoriza (ECM) yang boleh dimakan dan dijumpai di hutan dipterokarpa asli. Dua jenis inokulum daripada kulat ini iaitu ampaian spora dan miselium yang dikultur dikaji keberkesanannya mengaruh pembentukan ECM dalam anak benih Dipterocarpus alatus yang ditanam di dalam pasu. Kedua-dua jenis inokulum menggalakkan pembentukan ECM. Korelasi positif dicerap antara kadar pembentukan ECM dengan pertumbuhan anak benih. Kedua-dua kaedah penginokulatan boleh digunakan untuk menghasilkan anak benih D. alatus yang mengandungi ECM.
Summary This study investigated associations between temporomandibular joint (TMJ) sounds and occlusal force or masticatory performance stratified by posterior occlusal supports in older Japanese ...adults. The subjects consisted of 1646 independently living people over 60 years. Masticatory performance, occlusal force, TMJ sounds and maximal mouth opening were examined. Posterior occlusal supports were classified by the Eichner Index. The prevalence of TMJ sounds was 27·7%, limitation of mouth opening (<40 mm) was 7·9% and TMJ pain was only 1·5%. In the Eichner C group, TMJ sounds were significantly associated with lower occlusal force (OR = 3·20, P = 0·046) and lower masticatory performance (OR = 3·18, P = 0·041) after controlling for gender and age. These associations were not found in the Eichner A and B groups. Within the limitations of this study, the presence of TMJ sounds, even if they were symptomless, was associated with impairment of masticatory function in older adults with reduced occlusal support.
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