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The study aimed to evaluate the association between green tea and coffee consumption and the risk of kidney cancer using data from a large prospective cohort study in Japan (the Japan Public Health Center-based Prospective Study: JPHC Study). A total of 102,463 participants aged 40-69 were followed during 1,916,421 person-years (mean follow-up period, 19 years). A total of 286 cases of kidney cancer (199 in men, 87 in women) were identified. Cox proportional hazards regression models were used to estimate hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs) while adjusting for potential confounders. No statistically significant association between green tea intake and kidney cancer risk was found in the total population. Among women who consumed more than five cups of green tea per day, a statistically significant decreased risk was shown with a HR of 0.45 (95% CI: 0.23-0.89), compared to women who rarely consumed green tea. For coffee consumption, the association of kidney cancer risk was not statistically significant. This large prospective cohort study indicated green tea intake may be inversely associated with kidney cancer risk in Japanese adults, particularly in Japanese women.

Sugi (Japanese cedar

With the spread of pollinosis caused by sugi (Japanese cedar, Cryptomeria japonica) pollen, the use of pollen-free somatic seedlings of sugi is expected in Japan. However, there is a lack of knowledge on the relationship between the abilities during somatic embryogenesis, initial in vitro growth traits, and subsequent growth of somatic seedlings. In the present study, we provide the first basic information on somatic embryo maturation efficiency, somatic embryo germination, and plantlet conversion frequencies, as well as on in vitro growth performance of pollen-free somatic plantlets derived from different embryogenic cell lines (ECLs). Somatic embryo maturation efficiency varied from 34 to 514 cotyledonary embryos per plate and the average for the 19 ECLs tested was 244 embryos per plate. Subsequently, the overall average rates of somatic embryo germination and conversion among ECLs were 87.8% and 85.3%, respectively. The results of in vitro growth performance of pollen-free somatic plantlets showed significant differences in growth rate among ECLs.

Pollen allergy caused by sugi (Japanese cedar, Cryptomeria japonica) is a serious problem in Japan. One of the measures against pollinosis is the use of male-sterile plants (MSPs; pollen-free plants). In this context, the development of a novel technique for the efficient production of sugi MSPs, which combines marker-assisted selection (MAS) with somatic embryogenesis (SE), was recently reported by our research group. To improve the efficiency of MSP production, in this paper we report improved MAS for male-sterile individuals from embryogenic cells, cotyledonary embryos, and somatic plants of sugi using a newly developed marker in the form of the causative mutation of MS1 itself, selecting individuals with ms1-1 and ms1-2 male-sterile mutations. We also describe simplified methods for extracting DNA from different plant materials and for MAS using LAMP diagnostics. Finally, we show that MAS can be efficiently performed using the one-step indel genotyping (ING) marker developed in this study and using InstaGene for DNA extraction. The combination of SE and 100% accurate marker selection during the embryogenic cell stage enables the mass production of MS1 male-sterile sugi seedlings.

This study aimed to obtain information from several embryogenic cell (EC) genotypes analyzing the factors that affect somatic embryogenesis (SE) initiation in sugi (Cryptomeria japonica, Cupressaceae) to apply them in the improvement of protocols for efficient induction of embryogenic cell lines (ECLs). The results of several years of experiments including studies on the influence of initial explant, seed collection time, and explant genotype as the main factors affecting SE initiation from male-fertile, male-sterile, and polycross-pollinated-derived seeds are described. Initiation frequencies depending on the plant genotype varied from 1.35 to 57.06%. The best induction efficiency was achieved when seeds were collected on mid-July using the entire megagametophyte as initial explants. The extrusion of ECs started approximately after 2 weeks of culture, and the establishment of ECLs was observed mostly 4 weeks after extrusion on media with or without plant growth regulators (PGRs). Subsequently, induced ECLs were maintained and proliferated on media with PGRs by 2–3-week-interval subculture routines. Although, the initial explant, collection time, and culture condition played important roles in ECL induction, the genotype of the plant material of sugi was the most influential factor in SE initiation.

Summary Background & aims The associations between dietary magnesium intake and stroke and coronary heart disease (CHD) incidences are inconsistent and not established in Asian. We aimed to determine the association between dietary magnesium intake and the risk of stroke and CHD in a Japanese population. Subjects/Methods We studied 85,293 Japanese subjects by questionnaire at baseline (age 45–74 years, without cardiovascular disease or cancer in 1995 and 1998 for Cohorts I and II, respectively). The participants were followed until the end of 2009 and 2010 in Cohorts I and II, respectively. Dietary magnesium intake was estimated from a self-administered 138-item food-frequency questionnaire. Results After 1,305,738 person-years of follow-up, 4110 strokes and 1283 cases of CHD were documented. The multivariable-adjusted hazard ratios (HRs, 95% confidence intervals, 95%CIs) of CHD for the fourth and fifth quintiles of dietary magnesium intake were 0.70 (0.50–0.99) and 0.66 (0.44–0.97) in men (P for trend = 0.036), respectively, and third quintile of dietary magnesium intake was 0.61 (0.39–0.96) in women (P for trend = 0.241), compared with the lowest quintile in men and women. We observed no decreased risks of incident stroke in men or women with higher dietary magnesium intakes. Conclusions Higher dietary magnesium intake was associated with a reduced risk of CHD in Japanese men.

A finding between dietary pattern and cancer may provide visions beyond the assessment of individual foods or nutrients. We examined the influence of dietary pattern with colorectal cancer (CRC) among a Japanese population.A total of 93,062 subjects (43,591 men, 49,471 women) who participated in the Japan Public Health Center-based Prospective Study were followed from 1995-1998 to the end of 2012, during which 2482 cases of CRC (1514 men, 968 women) were newly identified. Dietary data was obtained from a validated food-frequency questionnaire between 1995 and 1998.Three dietary pattern was derived from principal components factor: prudent, westernized, and traditional pattern. After controlled for potential confounders, the prudent pattern showed a decreased association of CRC risk in men (HR for highest quintile vs lowest: 0.85; 95% CI: 0.72-1.00; P trend0.05), slightly more strongly with distal colon cancer (P trend0.05); but an increased risk of rectal cancer in women (P trend0.05). The westernized pattern showed a significant positive linear trend for colon (P trend0.05) and distal cancer (P trend0.05) in women. There was no apparent association of traditional Japanese dietary pattern on the overall or any specific sites risk of CRC.A prudent dietary pattern showed an inverse association with CRC risk in men, and a westernized pattern was related with a higher risk of colon and distal cancer in women.

Aims Coping strategies may be significantly associated with health outcomes. This is the first study to investigate the association between baseline coping strategies and cardiovascular disease (CVD) incidence and mortality in a general population cohort. Methods and results The Japan Public Health Center-based prospective Study asked questions on coping in its third follow-up survey (2000–04). Analyses on CVD incidence and mortality included 57 017 subjects aged 50–79 without a history of CVD and who provided complete answers on approach- and avoidance-oriented coping behaviours and strategies. Cox regression models, adjusted for confounders, were used to determine hazard ratios (HRs) according to coping style. Mean follow-up time was 7.9 years for incidence and 8.0 years for mortality. The premorbid use of an approach-oriented coping strategy was inversely associated with incidence of stroke (HR = 0.85; 95% CI, 0.73–1.00) and CVD mortality (HR = 0.74; 95% CI, 0.55–0.99). Stroke subtype analyses revealed an inverse association between the approach-oriented coping strategy and incidence of ischaemic stroke (HR = 0.79; 95% CI, 0.64–0.98) and a positive association between the combined coping strategy and incidence of intra-parenchymal haemorrhage (HR = 2.03; 95% CI, 1.01–4.10). Utilizing an avoidance coping strategy was associated with increased mortality from ischaemic heart disease (IHD) only in hypertensive individuals (HR = 3.46; 95% CI, 1.07–11.18). The coping behaviours fantasizing and positive reappraisal were associated with increased risk of CVD incidence (HR = 1.24; 95% CI, 1.03–1.50) and reduced risk of IHD mortality (HR = 0.63; 95% CI, 0.40–0.99), respectively. Conclusion An approach-oriented coping strategy, i.e. proactively dealing with sources of stress, may be associated with significantly reduced stroke incidence and CVD mortality in a Japanese population-based cohort.

Suillus luteus (Boletales, Agaricomycetes) associates solely with Pinaceae species as an ectomycorrhizal symbiont in the Northern Hemisphere. Prunus speciosa (Rosaceae) and Cedrela odorata (Meliaceae) naturally harbor arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi. The present study documents that S. luteus establishes root endophyte symbioses in vitro with somatic Prunus speciosa; however, it does not penetrate root tissues of somatic Cedrela odorata. With P. speciosa, the hyphae of S. luteus were heavily entangled in the intercellular space, unlike the rather straight hyphae of Tricholoma matsutake (Agaricales, Agaricomycetes). With C. odorata, S. luteus colonized only the surface of the exodermis and exhibited dark-brown mycorrhiza-like morphology. Prunus speciosa associated with S. luteus grew significantly better than that without the fungus, but C. odorata did not show significant beneficial effects when growing with the fungus. The data indicate that apparent Pinaceae-specific ectomycorrhizal fungi associate with arbuscular mycorrhizal broad-leaved plants in vitro, although the physical characteristics of the interactions vary depending upon the plant and fungal species.

Background and aims Higher intake of fish or n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) has been associated with reduced risk of coronary heart disease (CHD). However, it is unclear whether increased blood levels of n-3 PUFAs are associated with reduced risk of CHD in the Japanese population. Methods The relationship between circulating levels of n-3 PUFAs (eicosapentaenoic acid + docosapentaenoic acid + docosahexaenoic acid) and risk of CHD was examined in a nested case-control study among participants in the Japan Public Health Center (JPHC)-based Study Cohort. Plasma n-3 PUFA phospholipid levels were measured at baseline by gas chromatography in 209 cases with CHD and 418 controls matched for sex, age, date of blood draw, time elapsed since last meal before blood collection, and study location. The CHD cases (n = 209) comprised 168 cases of myocardial infarction and 41 of sudden cardiac death, otherwise classified as 157 non-fatal and 52 fatal coronary events, respectively. Mean duration of follow-up was 13.5 years. Results Multivariate conditional logistic analysis showed no significant association between n-3 PUFAs and risk of total CHD. The odds ratio (OR) for the highest versus lowest quartiles of plasma n-3 PUFAs was 0.79 (95% confidence interval [95% CI]: 0.41–1.51, p for trend = 0.51). Subtype analysis of CHD revealed that the multivariate ORs for the highest versus lowest quartiles for n-3 PUFAs were 0.91 (95% CI: 0.43–1.89, p for trend = 0.90) for myocardial infarction, 0.08 (95% CI: 0.01–0.88, p for trend = 0.04) for sudden cardiac death, 0.89 (95% CI: 0.42–1.89, p for trend = 0.97) for nonfatal coronary events, and 0.12 (95% CI: 0.02–0.75, p for trend = 0.03) for fatal coronary events. Conclusions Plasma n-3 PUFA levels were not associated with risk of total CHD but were inversely associated with risks of sudden cardiac death and fatal coronary events among middle-aged Japanese individuals.

Tricholoma matsutake is an ectomycorrhizal basidiomycete that associates with Pinaceae plants, forming a rhizospheric mycelial aggregate called “shiro” from which the prized “matsutake” mushrooms form. Here we document that T. matsutake associates in vitro with Andean Cedrela herrerae (Meliaceae) via root endophyte interactions and efficiently forms shiro. C. herrerae produces many branches, leaves, and lateral roots in association with T. matsutake , unlike C. odorata , which grows in the tropics and produces few leaves and branches in association with the symbiont. This symbiosis may be a unique approach to culturing matsutake as well as to cultivating endangered plant species in vitro.

Seafood/fish intake has been regarded as a protective factor for coronary heart disease (CHD), while smoking is a strong risk factor. To examine whether associations between smoking and risk of CHD are modified by seafood/fish intake, we studied 72,012 Japanese men and women aged 45-74 years who completed 2 food frequency questionnaires, 5 years apart, during the period 1995-2009. After 878,163 person-years of follow-up, 584 incident cases of CHD (101 fatal and 483 nonfatal), including 516 myocardial infarctions, were documented. There was a clear dose-response association between smoking and CHD risk among subjects with a low seafood/fish intake (

We previously reported that Tricholoma matsutake and Tricholoma fulvocastaneum, ectomycorrhizal basidiomycetes that associate with Pinaceae and Fagaceae, respectively, in the Northern Hemisphere, could interact in vitro as a root endophyte of somatic plants of Cedrela odorata (Meliaceae), which naturally harbors arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi in South America, to form a characteristic rhizospheric colony or "shiro". We questioned whether this phenomenon could have occurred because of plant-microbe interactions between geographically separated species that never encounter one another in nature. In the present study, we document that these fungi formed root endophyte interactions and shiro within 140 days of inoculation with somatic plants of Prunus speciosa (=Cerasus speciosa, Rosaceae), a wild cherry tree that naturally harbors arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi in Japan. Compared with C. odorata, infected P. speciosa plants had less mycelial sheath surrounding the exodermis, and the older the roots, especially main roots, the more hyphae penetrated. In addition, a large number of juvenile roots were not associated with hyphae. We concluded that such root endophyte interactions were not events isolated to the interactions between exotic plants and microbes but could occur generally in vitro. Our pure culture system with a somatic plant allowed these fungi to express symbiosis-related phenotypes that varied with the plant host; these traits are innately programmed but suppressed in nature and could be useful in genetic analyses of plant-fungal symbiosis.

Somatic embryos of three Japanese pines, Pinus thunberghii, P. densiflora, and P. armandii var. amamiana, were subjected to different post-maturation treatments to improve both germination and plant conversion frequencies. Slow desiccation of somatic embryos at high relative humidity resulted not only in a marked increment in germination frequencies but also subsequently improved plant conversion rates in all genotypes of the three species tested. Overall three species, germination and plant conversion frequency of somatic embryos was improved by more than fourfold (19–81%) and more than fivefold (15–77%), respectively, compared to those of untreated control. In addition, this treatment resulted in a considerable improvement of synchronization of the germination period. The time required for root emergence was synchronized over a half period (28–14 days) compared with the control. Somatic plants were acclimatized and their growth was monitored in the field.

Somatic embryogenesis in Ryukyumatsu (Pinus luchuensis Mayr.), an endemic species in Ryukyu Island, Japan, was initiated from megagametophytes containing zygotic embryos on a medium supplemented with 10 μM 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid and 5 μM 6-benzylaminopurine. Embryogenic cultures were maintained and proliferated by subcultures at 2to 3-week-intervals on the same fresh medium. e maturation of somatic embryos occurred on media containing maltose, activated charcoal, abscisic acid and polyethylene glycol. High frequencies of germination were obtained a er the post-maturation treatment of somatic embryos under conditions of high relative humidity, and around 90% of them were converted into plants. Growth of the somatic embryo-derived regenerated plants has been monitored in the eld.

Background and Purpose— Although it has been hypothesized that a high intake of dietary calcium may reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD), no prospective studies have been conducted to examine the specific association between calcium intake and incidence of stroke or coronary heart disease among Japanese with a low average calcium intake. Methods— To investigate the association between calcium intake and risk of CVD, a total of 41 526 Japanese men and women age 40 to 59 years without a history of CVD or cancer and who had completed a food consumption frequency questionnaire were enrolled in this study. The subjects were followed up from 1990 to 1992 to 2003, and after 533 692 person-years of follow-up, 1321 incident cases of stroke (664 ischemic, 425 intraparenchymal hemorrhage, and 217 subarachnoid hemorrhage) and 322 of coronary heart disease were documented. Results— Total calcium intake showed an inverse association with the risk of total stroke; the multivariable hazard ratio and 95% CIs for the highest versus the lowest quintile were 0.70 (95% CI, 0.56 to 0.88; P for trend=0.02). Dairy calcium intake was inversely associated with risks of total and ischemic stroke with respective multivariable hazard ratios (95% CIs) of 0.69 (0.56 to 0.85; P for trend=0.007) and 0.69 (0.52 to 0.93; P for trend=0.05). Dietary calcium intake was not significantly associated with risk of coronary heart disease. Conclusions— Dietary calcium intake, especially calcium from dairy products, was found to be associated with a reduced incidence of stroke among middle-aged Japanese.

Primary mammalian cells reach replicative exhaustion after several passages in vitro, a process called replica- tive senescence. During such a state of permanent growth arrest, senescent cells are refractory to physiological prolifera- tion stimuli with altered cell morphology and gene expression patterns, although they remain viable with preserved meta- bolic activity. Interestingly, senescent cells have also been detected in vivo in human tumors, particularly in benign le- sions. Tumor suppressor genes are closely involved in senescence, as their knockdown and ectopic expression confer im- mortality and senescence induction, respectively. By using high throughput genetic screenings to search for genes in- volved in senescence, several candidate oncogenes and putative tumour suppressor genes have been isolated recently, in- cluding subtypes of miRNAs. Senescence is thus an anti-tumorigenic mechanism for avoidance of indefinite cell prolif- eration when an oncogenic alteration has occurred. In this review, we remark how these findings offer new perspectives in the modulation of senescence and open new approaches for cancer therapy.

Seeds containing immature zygotic embryos were used as explants for embryogenic culture initiation. Embryogenic culture was maintained and proliferated by 2–3-week-interval subcultures. Embryogenic tissue suspended in 2–3 ml of medium was plated on 90-mm-diameter plates containing maturation medium. Mature cotyledonary somatic embryos were collected from the maturation medium and transferred to the germination medium. After 2–4 weeks of culture, most of the somatic embryos germinated and were converted into plantlets. Protoplasts were isolated from embryogenic tissue maintained for about 1 year. Proliferated embryogenic cells from cultured protoplasts were transferred to maturation medium, and after about 6 weeks of culturing, the cotyledonary somatic embryos were produced. Matured somatic embryos germinated and then converted into plantlets.

Somatic embryogenesis in Japanese black pine (Pinus thunbergii Parl.) was initiated from megagametophytes containing immature zygotic embryos. Embryogenic cultures were maintained and proliferated in a medium supplemented with 3 μM 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid, 1 μM 6-benzylaminopurine, 30 g l−1 sucrose, and 1.5 g l−1 l-glutamine. The somatic embryo maturation experiments were performed in darkness at 25 °C. Embryogenic tissues were cultured on maturation media containing 50 g l−1 maltose, 2 g l−1 activated charcoal, 100 μM abscisic acid, and 100 g l−1 polyethylene glycol. Desiccation of somatic embryos at high relative humidity resulted not only in a marked increment in germination frequency but also subsequently improved plant conversion rate. In addition, this treatment resulted in a considerable improvement of synchronization of the germination period, compared to those of untreated control. Somatic plants were acclimatized and their growth has been monitored in the field.

We examined the association between green tea consumption and mortality due to all causes, cancer, heart disease, cerebrovascular disease, respiratory disease, injuries, and other causes of death in a large-scale population-based cohort study in Japan.We studied 90,914 Japanese (aged between 40 and 69 years) recruited between 1990 and 1994. After 18.7 years of follow-up, 12,874 deaths were reported. The association between green tea consumption and risk of all causes and major causes of mortality was assessed using the Cox proportional hazards regression model with adjustment for potential confounders.Hazard ratios for all-cause mortality among men who consumed green tea compared with those who drank less than 1 cup/day were 0.96 (0.89-1.03) for 1-2 cups/day, 0.88 (0.82-0.95) for 3-4 cups/day, and 0.87 (0.81-0.94) for more than 5 cups/day (P for trend.001). Corresponding hazard ratios for women were 0.90 (0.81-1.00), 0.87 (0.79-0.96), and 0.83 (0.75-0.91; P for trend.001). Green tea was inversely associated with mortality from heart disease in both men and women and mortality from cerebrovascular disease and respiratory disease in men. No association was found between green tea and total cancer mortality.This prospective study suggests that the consumption of green tea may reduce the risk of all-cause mortality and the three leading causes of death in Japan.

Tricholoma matsutake is an ectomycorrhizal basidiomycete that associates with Pinaceae in the Northern Hemisphere and produces prized “matsutake” mushrooms. We questioned whether the symbiont could associate with a birch that is an early-successional species in boreal, cool-temperate, or subalpine forests. In the present study, we demonstrated that T. matsutake can form typical ectomycorrhizas with Betula platyphylla var. japonica; the associations included a Hartig net and a thin but distinct fungal sheath, as well as the rhizospheric mycelial aggregate “shiro” that is required for fruiting in nature. The in vitro shiro also emitted a characteristic aroma. This is the first report of an ectomycorrhizal formation between T. matsutake and a deciduous broad-leaved tree in the boreal or cool-temperate zones that T. matsutake naturally inhabits.

Because of high permittivity of SrTiO/sub 3/ (STO) substrate, YBCO high-Tc SQUIDs have distributed impedance. Based on the simulation by the analytical method to calculate the I-V characteristic, we have designed and fabricated YBCO dc SQUIDs that have a transmission-line-like geometry of thin parallel strips with a wide slit between them. The geometrical parameters were determined to give high modulation voltage. The fabricated SQUIDs had a white noise of (0.5-1.0)/spl times/10 /spl Phi//sub 0//Hz/sup 1/2/. We also designed a direct coupling magnetometer, in which the transmission line SQUID was located within the hole of the pickup coil. On a small substrate area of 5 mm/spl times/10 mm, the fabricated magnetometer had an effective area of 0.22 mm/sup 2/. The field noise of about 100 fT/Hz/sup 1/2/ was obtained in the white noise region.

The ectomycorrhizal basidiomycete Tricholoma matsutake associates with members of the Pinaceae such as Pinus densiflora (red pine), forming a rhizospheric colony or “shiro,” which produces the prized “matsutake” mushroom. We investigated whether the host specificity of T. matsutake to conifers is innately determined using somatic plants of Cedrela odorata, a tropical broad-leaved tree (Meliaceae) that naturally harbors arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi. We found that T. matsutake could form in vitro shiro with C. odorata 140 days after inoculation, as with P. densiflora. The shiro was typically aromatic like that of P. densiflora. However, this was a root endophytic interaction unlike the mycorrhizal association with P. densiflora. Infected plants had epidermal tissues and thick exodermal tissues outside the inner cortex. The mycelial sheath surrounded the outside of the epidermis, and the hyphae penetrated into intra- and intercellular spaces, often forming hyphal bundles or a pseudoparenchymatous organization. However, the hyphae grew only in the direction of vascular bundles and did not form Hartig nets. Tricholoma fulvocastaneum or “false matsutake” naturally associates with Fagaceae and was also able to associate with C. odorata as a root endophyte. With T. matsutake, C. odorata generated a number of roots and showed greatly enhanced vigor, while with T. fulvocastaneum, it generated a smaller number of roots and showed somewhat lesser vigor. We argue that the host–plant specificity of ectomycorrhizal matsutake is not innately determined, and that somatic arbuscular mycorrhizal plants have a great potential to form mutualistic relationships with ectomycorrhizal fungi.

There are six species in the genus Chamaecyparis worldwide, of which two, namely the Hinoki cypress (Chamaecyparis obtusa Sieb. et Zucc.) and Sawara cypress (Chamaecyparis pisifera Sieb. et Zucc.) are distributed in Japan (Maruyama et al., 2002). The Hinoki cypress is one of the most important commercial timber trees in Japan, representing about 25% of the plantation area in the country. However, the plantation areas are subject to various pests and diseases. In addition, Hinoki cypress pollinosis is reportedly one of the most serious allergic diseases in Japan (Maruyama et al., 2005). The wood quality of Sawara cypress is considered inferior to Hinoki cypress, but grows faster (Fukuhara, 1978), is highly adaptable to humid and poor soils, and is considered more resistant to termite injury (Maeta, 1982) and far more tolerant to cold than the Hinoki cypress (Fukuhara, 1978). Fukuhara (1989) and Yamamoto and Fukuhara (1980) reported the possibility of obtaining natural hybrids between C. obtusa and C. pisifera.

The effects of 9-amino-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroacridine (tacrine), an active acetylcholinesterase inhibitor, on cycloheximide- and basal forebrain (BF) lesion-induced memory deficit in the water maze and passive avoidance task were investigated. While cycloheximide (1.5 mg/kg, s.c.) produced amnesia in the passive avoidance task, chronic administration of tacrine (1, 3 and 10 mg/kg, once a day for 1 week) improved the amnesia. BF lesion produced amnesia in both the water maze and passive avoidance tasks. Chronic tacrine (0.1-3 mg/kg, passive avoidance task, or 0.3 mg/kg, water maze task, once a day for 1 week) improved BF lesion-induced amnesia in the passive avoidance and water maze tasks. These results suggest that tacrine may be useful for senile dementia.

The role of the stage-gate II, interface between mission-oriented basic research and applied research, has been investigated by means of the case studies on typical JST ( Japan Science and Technology Agent) projects. The disincentive factors of the breakthrough at the stage-gate II, the patterns of the mission-oriented basic research processes based on this case study, and the success factors of the breakthrough at the stage-gate II are found. Moreover, the stage-gate II is found to be the important indicator of mission-oriented basic research for the innovation process.

The nanotechnology research promotion at RIKEN is introduced. RIKEN has started its nanotechnology-related projects in 1980's. From 2002, nanotechnology-related laboratories and projects in RIKEN are unified in the RIKEN Nanoscience Program, in order to promote the activities in this field as a total program.

The invention of the scanning tunneling microscope (STM) has enabled us to observe, pick up and transfer individual atoms constituting solid matters. This new frontier of science and technology to control matter on an atomic scale is collectively called "Atom Technology". Atom Technology is expected to exert broad impacts not only on physics, chemistry and biology, but also on engineering because STM and its related technologies such as atomic force microscope (AFM) or scanning near-field optical microscope (SNOM) enabled the in-situ observation of atomic arrangements on solid surfaces and stochastic systems in real space. These possibilities will bring us some insights into aspects closely related to engineering applications, such as catalytic reactions and other surface phenomena, defects and impurities in semiconductors, electrode/solid interfaces, etc. This paper introduces the organization, the scope and the activities of the Atom Technology Project. The Atom Technology Project is one of MITI's 10-year projects, which is carried out under the equal partnership of national institutes, universities and private sectors. The Joint Research Center for Atom Technology is a concentrated research laboratory where about 100 scientists are working together.

This report describes the successful plant regeneration via somatic embryogenesis from immature zygotic embryos of Cryptomeria japonica D. Don. For the induction of embryogenic tissue, we determined that the optimal medium contained N6-benzyladenine and 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid. Immature zygotic embryos that were collected at the end of June yielded embryogenic tissue at the highest frequency. Embryogenic tissues that had proliferated in liquid medium included small and loosely packed cells and elongating or elongated cells. We used ten cell lines to determine the optimal medium for the development of somatic embryos. Induced somatic embryos germinated with synchronous sprouting of cotyledons, hypocotyls and roots. Gibberellin A3 in the germination medium had a positive effect on both the elongation of hypocotyls and the survival of seedlings. The frequencies of induction and germination of somatic embryos differed among the cell lines examined. Most of the seedlings grew normally. This system of somatic embryogenesis required 4–5 months for the regeneration of C. japonica plantlets from immature zygotic embryos.

Guazuma crinita Mart., which belongs to the Sterculiaceae family (chocolate tree family), is a medium-sized tree native to South America in the Amazon forest region of Peru, Brazil and Ecuador (Freytag 1951; Encarnacion 1983). This species has a soft-light wood with good working properties that has been used for light construction, panelling, interior joinery, mouldings, cases, matches and packing.

A 76-year-old woman presented with dull pain in left flank. Excretory urogram showed no function of left kidney. Retrograde pyelography, ultrasonography, computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging demonstrated hydronephrosis of the left kidney and a mass lesion surrounding the ureter. The tumor was removed together with the upper region of the left ureter and kidney. The tumor was 5 x 3 x 2.5 cm in diameter and the pathological diagnosis was a leiomyosarcoma. Although recurrent tumor arose in the pelvis at 14 months after the operation, the patient has been in good general condition without showing any other evidence of recurrent lesion. This case may indicate the importance of early resection of retroperitoneal leiomyosarcoma.

Publisher Summary This chapter describes a new method for measuring the frequency dependence of G' and G" with the help of a Fourier transform multi-frequency wave, applied to the disperse systems of starch with and without salts during heating. The frequency dependencies of dynamic parameters for disperse systems are required to explain fusion behavior and gelation. The rheological behavior of chemical and physical gels at near the sol-gel transition has been extensively measured. These reports reveal that the frequency dependencies of both moduli, G' (ω) and G" (ω) follow the power law and G' and G" are given by a (coincident) straight line in the log–log plot for stoichiometrically balanced gels, but parallel lines for imbalanced stoichiometry. However, it takes a long time to detect G' and G" against some decades of frequency, ω and the gelling reaction needs to be stopped by some techniques before measurements.

Publisher Summary This chapter studies the rheological property of foams and describes the effects of saccharides on the stability of foam systems. The linear viscoelastic region for foam systems under uniaxial compression is very narrow. The creep behavior for foam systems can be divided into three parts: elastic, viscoelastic, and steady flow part. The creep compliance and steady flow part of the foam systems decreases with increases in sugar concentration. The amounts of draining from the foam systems increase and the protein contents in drainage liquid decrease with standing time. The rate of draining is impeded when sucrose is added to albumen. Furthermore, the density of the foam systems becomes larger on addition of saccharides because the particle size of the gas cells becomes smaller and more homogeneous in the presence of sugar. The spin-spin relaxation times of foam systems, obtained by the Carr-Purcell-Meiboom-Gill (CPMG) method, becomes shorter on addition of sugar. It might be considered that saccharides prevent the mobility of water between the films of foam, therefore foam systems might be stabilized.

The genus Swietenia consists of three deciduous tropical American tree species. This is the source of the renowned mahogany timber, which is highly valued for its excellent properties and qualities, and regarded as one of the most beautiful woods in the world.