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Automated rRNA intergenic spacer analysis ARISA , a method of microbiome analysis, was evaluated for species identification of mushrooms based on the specific fragment sizes. We used 51 wild mushroom-fruiting bodies collected in the centre of Hokkaido and two cultivated mushrooms. Samples were hot-air-dried and DNA were extracted by a beads beating procedure. Sequencing analysis of portions of the rRNA gene rDNA provided 33 identifications of mushrooms by genus or species. The results of ARISA identification based on the combination of the fragment sizes corresponding to two inter spacer regions ITS2 and ITS1 of rDNA within±0.1 accuracy showed that 27 out of the 33 species had specific fragment sizes differentiated from other species. The remaining 6 species formed 3 pairs that showed overlapping fragment sizes. In addition, within-species polymorphisms were observed as 1 bp differences among 32 samples of 13 species. ARISA was applied to investigate a case of suspected food poisoning in which the mushroom was thought to be a toxic Kakishimeji. The morphological identification of the mushroom was ambiguous since the remaining sample lacked a part of the fruiting body. Further, yeast colonies had grown on the surface of the fruiting body during storage. The ARISA fragment size of the mushroom showed 7 bp difference from that of the candidate toxic mushroom. Although ARISA could be a useful tools for estimation of mushroom species, especially in case where the fruiting bodies have deteriorated or been processed, further studies are necessary for reliable identification. For example, it may be necessary to adopt more informative genes which could provide clearer species-specific polymorphisms than the ITS regions.

The analysis of the flow behavior of the Antarctic ice sheet provides information on past climate changes of Earth. To understand the ice sheet flow behavior, the ice creep strain rate measurements with various stresses are important. In this study, an ice creep strain rate measurement system with an uncertainty of order less than 10−10 s−1 and a minimum measurement time of 10 min is developed. The ice specimen of interest is set in a low-constant-temperature room and cell, with a set-point temperature and maximum stability of −30 to −10 °C and ±20 mK or less, respectively. A modified phase modulation homodyne interferometer, the supporting material of which is ultralow-thermal-expansion glass, is combined with the system to measure the ice deformation with the resolution of nanometer scale or less. In this paper, the operational principle, instrumentation and experimental results are discussed.

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A 56 -yearsold male presented at our hospital due to the symptoms of anemia, liver disfunction and colon polyps. He had resected rectal cancer at the ages of 41 and has no family history of colorectal cancer. A thorough examination for anemia resulted in detection of multiple colon cancer and cancer on ampulla of Vater. We performed total colectomy with dissection of regional lymph nodes and pancreaticoduodenectomy with dissection of regional lymph nodes. Immunohistochemical analysis showed a lack of MSH2 and MSH6 protein in the colon cancer and cancer on ampulla of Vater, and germline mutation of hMSH2 gene was recognized. Therefore, we diagnosed the case as Lynch syndrome.