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The 2011 off the Pacific coast of Tohoku Earthquake (M w 9.0) that occurred on March 11, 2011, caused strong ground motion around northeastern Japan. Before the strong ground motion hit cities, the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) issued Earthquake Early Warning (EEW) announcements to the general public of the Tohoku district and then the warning was automatically broadcast through TV, radios and cellular phone mails. The EEW was earlier than the S wave arrival and more than 15 s earlier than the strong ground motion (intensity 5-lower or greater on the JMA scale) everywhere in the district. Seismic intensity 7 was observed for only the second time since JMA introduced instrument-based observation for intensity measurements in 1996. Intensities of 6-upper and 6-lower were widely observed at many stations in the Tohoku and Kanto districts, over an area of approximately 400 km × 100 km. The duration of strong ground motions was quite long. For the Tokyo region, JMA EEW expected intensities of 4, which was an underestimation of the observed intensity (5-upper). This underestimation can probably be attributed to the large extent of the fault rupture.

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A 41-kD DNA binding protein with a basic pl was purified from chloroplast nucleoids in photomixotrophically cultured tobacco cells, and its amino acid sequence was determined. Using this sequence information, its cDNA (CND41) was isolated, and its nucleotide sequence was determined. The predicted amino acid sequence of CND41 has a transit peptide of 120 amino acids and a mature protein of 382 amino acids. A distinctive helix-turn-helix motif in the lysine-rich N-terminal region of the mature protein and an aspartyl protease active site motif were predicted. Expression of a series of truncated CND41 proteins in Escherichia coli indicated that the lysine-rich region is essential for DNA binding and that CND41 nonspecifically binds chloroplast DNA. Protein gel blot analyses showed CND41 mainly in cells and/or tissues containing nonphotosynthesizing, actively growing plastids. In addition, the accumulation of chloroplast transcripts in these cells and/or tissues (e.g., transcripts for QB binding protein of photosystem II [psbA] and large subunit of ribulose bisphosphate carboxylase [rbcL]) was negatively correlated with the accumulation of CND41. Analyses of cultured cells of transgenic tobacco with reduced CND41 levels showed a higher level of expression of chloroplast genes compared with that of the wild type. We discuss the possible function of CND41 as a negative regulator of chloroplast gene expression.

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This paper describes a new mechanism, communication system, and vision system of an internal pipe inspection robot. To date, inspection robots have had such limitations as their mobility to turn in a T-shaped pipe or move in a plug valve. The new mechanism based on our dual magnetic wheels, resembling a crawler, not only overcomes the limitation but enables the robot to climb over sharp obstacles like sleeve and dresser joints. Another drawback of earlier robots is that the friction between the pipe and the cables for communication and power supply makes it dificult to move a long distance. A fiberoptic communication system can reduce the friction. The new vision system has been significantly miniaturized, enabling it to clearly view and inspect the welded section underneath the robot while gazing ahead for navigation.An experimental inspection robot has been successfully made to confirm the efficiency of the new mechanism, communication system, and the vision system.

Women electing NIPT tend to have higher scores of depression/anxiety, and those with higher depression scores tended to defer the decision to their husbands.