Ehime Prefecture Research Articles

Comparison of DNA metabarcoding and morphological identification for stream macroinvertebrate biodiversity assessment and monitoring

Conventional morphology-based identification is commonly used for routine assessment of freshwater ecosystems. However, cost and time efficient techniques such as high-throughput sequencing (HTS) based approaches may resolve the constraints encountered in conducting morphology-based surveys. Here, we characterized stream macroinvertebrate species diversity and community composition via metabarcoding and morphological analysis from environmental samples collected from the Shigenobu River Basin in Ehime Prefecture, Japan. We compared diversity metrics and assessed both approaches’ ability to evaluate the relationship between macroinvertebrate community and environmental variables. In total, we morphologically identified 45 taxa (3 families, six subfamilies, 31 genera, and five species) from 8,276 collected individuals from ten study sites. We detected 44 species by metabarcoding, with 35 species collapsed into 11 groups matching the morphologically identified taxa. A significant positive correlation between logged depth (number of HTS reads) and abundance of morphological taxa was observed, which implied that quantitative data could be used for subsequent analyses. We recovered a considerably high rate of relative abundance detection of the morphologically identified samples. Recovery of samples by incidence or presence/absence count were considerably low, with a high rate of false-negative detection specifically for species with scarce representation in the community sample. Given the low taxonomic resolution of the morphological assignment in this study, we report that metabarcoding does not reflect the majority of the species naturally occurring in our site, which could further be proven by performing refined morphological assessment of the samples. However, abundance-based detection proved to be efficient with 92% of the individuals correctly demonstrated. We conclude that DNA metabarcoding provides a practical and cost-effective approach especially for rapid biological monitoring of freshwater macroinvertebrate communities, but further improvements in the detection of scarce samples should be considered to increase the sensitivity of detecting most, if not all, of the species present in the environment.

현지아이돌(ご当地アイドル)이 창출하는 새로운 지역문화 ― 에히메현(愛媛県)의 히메큔후르츠칸(ひめキュンフルーツ缶)을 중심으로 ―

현지아이돌(ご当地アイドル)이 창출하는 새로운 지역문화 ― 에히메현(愛媛県)의 히메큔후르츠칸(ひめキュンフルーツ缶)을 중심으로 ―

Prevalence of Viral Liver Disease and Oral Lichen Planus in Patients Who Visited Dental Clinics: A Study by the Ehime Dental Association

Background: The association between hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection and oral lichen planus (OLP), an extrahepatic manifestation, is well known. There are still patients with viral liver disease in this country who are not receiving appropriate treatment. This prospective study aimed to evaluate the prevalence of OLP and untreated hepatitis virus infection in patients who visited dental clinics in Ehime prefecture, in western Japan. Methods: Patients who visited 35 dental clinics in Japan from March 2018 to June 2018 were analyzed. The items examined are as follows: (1) the number who visited the dental clinics, (2) the numbers of OLP patients, HCV-infected patients, and hepatitis B virus (HBV)-infected patients, (3) the numbers of OLP patients, HCV-infected patients and HBV-infected patients encouraged to be examined for liver diseases. Results: There were 19,077 patients in total and the numbers of OLP, HCV-infected and HBV-infected patients were 42, 69 and 76, respectively. Of the OLP patients, 66.7% (28/42) were encouraged to be examined for liver disease and 47.6% (20/42) had complications of liver disease. The most common complication was HCV-related liver disease (70%, 14/20) and 78.6% had not eliminated HCV (p=0.0287). The dentists encouraged 33.3% of the HCV-infected patients and 36.8% of the HBV-infected patients to be investigated by physicians for liver disease. Of the 69 patients with hepatitis C, the rate of persistent infection was significantly higher than that with viral clearance (72.5%, p=0.0001). Conclusions: Among the various dental clinics in Ehime prefecture, half of OLP patients had complication of liver disease, many of them with persistent HCV infection. Dentists need to have knowledge of liver disease and infection control measures and provide information through medical cooperation.

Essays on Ehime Prefecture: Love, War, and Education

Essays on Ehime Prefecture: Love, War, and Education

Identification and quantification of farmed red sea bream escapees from a large aquaculture area in Japan using microsatellite DNA markers

A large number of farmed red sea bream (Pagrus major) and their gametes have escaped and dispersed into the wild from net-cage aquaculture since the advent of the technology in the mid-20th century. These escapees have likely been recruited into wild populations, affecting their genetic diversity. In this study, we used assignment methods with microsatellite markers to assess the frequency of escapee farmed red sea bream within the wild populations in a major aquaculture production region (UWJ) and in two regions with relatively lower production (IWG and SIJ) in Ehime Prefecture, Japan. The frequency of escapees in UWJ ranged from 14.1% to 30.2%, as shown by three methods of assignment. Escapees were frequently identified among specimens caught by angling (ranging from 26.7% to 46.7%), suggesting that they stay in the same area even after escape or are less cautious than wild individuals. No escapee was found in IWG and SIJ, areas with less extensive aquaculture. Some wild-caught fish appeared to have hybridized with farmed fish, as indicated by the threshold of membership coefficients obtained by simulation. These results clearly indicate that large numbers of farmed individuals have escaped from UWJ, a major aquaculture area, since the inception of red sea bream farming in Japan. Genetic reshuffle has possibly occurred following hybridization of wild and farmed individuals.

Distribution of shallow landslides and related mass movement processes induced by the heavy rain in July 2018 on Gogoshima Island, Ehime Prefecture, Japan

Distribution of shallow landslides and related mass movement processes induced by the heavy rain in July 2018 on Gogoshima Island, Ehime Prefecture, Japan

Examination of the Glycemic Index for the High-Amylose Rice Variety “Hoshinishiki” Grown in Ehime Prefecture

Examination of the Glycemic Index for the High-Amylose Rice Variety “Hoshinishiki” Grown in Ehime Prefecture

Fieldwork in the Important Preservation Districts for Groups of Historic Buildings in Unomachi and Uchiko, Ehime Prefecture

Fieldwork in the Important Preservation Districts for Groups of Historic Buildings in Unomachi and Uchiko, Ehime Prefecture

Reference values of hematological and blood biochemical parameters for the Noma horse.

ABSTRACTThe Noma horse is a Japanese breed from the Noma region of Imabari City, Ehime Prefecture. To obtain reference hematological and biochemical values, we performed examinations in 39 clinically healthy, mature Noma horses managed at the Imabari public ranch. Hematological and biochemical results of Noma horses were close to the normal ranges of horses in the U.S.A. The erythrocyte parameters and hepatobiliary enzyme levels in Noma and Kiso horses were lower than those in Japanese racehorses. Noma horses showed higher erythrocyte parameters and triglyceride concentrations and a lower creatinine concentration compared with those in Kiso horses. These data represent the first report of reference values for Noma horses and may be useful to improve their management.

‘근대화산업유산’을 활용한 산업관광과 장소기억의 형해화 : 일본 에히메현(愛媛県) 니하마 시(新居浜市)의 벳시동산(別子銅山)을 사례로

‘근대화산업유산’을 활용한 산업관광과 장소기억의 형해화 : 일본 에히메현(愛媛県) 니하마 시(新居浜市)의 벳시동산(別子銅山)을 사례로

Aurihydrargyrumite, a Natural Au6Hg5 Phase from Japan

Aurihydrargyrumite, a natural Au6Hg5 phase, was found in Iyoki, Uchiko, Ehime Prefecture, Shikoku Island, Japan. Aurihydrargyrumite with a metallic silver luster occurs as a submicron- to 2 μm-thick layer on the outermost surface of the placer gold. A prismatic face may be formed by {001} and {100} or {110}. The streak is also silver white and its Mohs hardness value is ca. 2.5. Its tenacity is ductile and malleable, and its density, as calculated based on the empirical formula and powder unit-cell data, is 16.86 g·cm−3. The empirical formula of aurihydrargyrumite, on the basis of 11 Au + Hg, is Au5.95Hg5.05. Aurihydrargyrumite is hexagonal, P63/mcm, with the lattice parameters a = 6.9960(10) Å, c = 10.154(2) Å and V = 430.40(15) Å3, which is identical with the synthetic Au6Hg5 phase. The seven strongest lines in the powder X-ray diffraction (XRD) pattern [d in Å(I/I0)(hkl)] were 2.877(29)(112), 2.434(42)(113), 2.337(100)(104), 2.234(87)(211), 1.401(39)(314), 1.301(41)(404), and 1.225(65)(217). Aurihydrargyrumite forms through the weathering of mercury-bearing placer gold by involvement of self-electrorefining. This new mineral has been approved by the IMA-CNMNC (2017-003) and it is named for its composition, being a natural amalgam of gold (Latin: aurum) and mercury (Latin: hydrargyrum).

Assessing the Sustainability of Ski Fields in Southern Japan under Global Warming

This is the first study in assessing the impact of climate change on Japanese ski fields with ensemble dynamical downscaling simulations. We target three ski fields in Ehime Prefecture, a southern border area for skiing in Japan. Our field survey revealed that a field located above 1200 m altitudes currently operates on natural snow supply, but those located at lower altitudes depend solely or partially on artificial snow supply. Fields are currently open for 82∼105 days. We analyzed ensemble high-resolution (5 km) dynamical downscaling simulations for future ski season durations with natural and artificial snow supplies. The future projection results for the end of the twenty-first century suggested that there would be virtually no natural snow accumulation in the study area for skiing. With artificial snow supply, a field located above 1200 m would be able to retain more than two months of ski season duration. Fields located at lower altitudes would only be able to open for 37∼43 days even with artificial snow supply. While the above projections suggest a severe outlook for the targeted ski fields, it is important to note that there is a strong demand from local skiers at beginner/intermediate levels for these ski fields. Thus, as long as these demands remain in the future, and if a business model to maximize profit during short opening periods is established, it may be possible to offset profit loss due to climate change.

Incidence of infantile spinal muscular atrophy on Shikoku Island of Japan

BackgroundSpinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is an autosomal recessive disorder caused by homozygous mutations in the SMN1 gene. SMA has long been known to be the most common genetic cause of infant mortality. However, there have been no reports on the epidemiology of infantile SMA (types 1 and 2) based on genetic testing in Japan. In this study, we estimated the incidence of infantile SMA on Shikoku Island, which is a main island of Japan and consists of four prefectures: Ehime, Kagawa, Tokushima and Kochi. MethodsA questionnaire was sent to 91 hospitals on Shikoku Island to investigate the number of SMA infants born from 2011 to 2015. A second questionnaire was then sent to confirm the diagnoses of SMA based on clinical and genetic features. ResultsResponses were received from all of the hospitals, and four patients were diagnosed with infantile SMA among 147,950 live births. We estimated the incidence of infantile SMA patients as 2.7 per 100,000 live births (95% confidence interval, 0.1–5.4). A comparison of the four prefectures indicated that the incidence of infantile SMA was significantly higher in Ehime Prefecture than in the other three prefectures; 5.6 per 100,000 live births (95% confidence interval, −0.7 to 11.9) in Ehime Prefecture and 1.1 per 100,000 live births (95% confidence interval, −1.0 to 3.1) in the other prefectures. ConclusionWe estimated the incidence of infantile SMA in an isolated area of Japan. For more precise determination of the incidence of infantile SMA, further studies that include neonatal screening will be needed.

Early Triassic Conodonts from the Tahogawa Member of the Taho Formation, Ehime Prefecture, Southwest Japan

The Triassic Taho Formation crops out in Taho, Shirokawa Town, Seiyo City, Ehime Prefecture, Southwest Japan. The formation is newly divided into the Tahogawa and Sakuragatouge members. The Tahogawa Member consists mainly of partly dolomitized light-, dark-, brownish-gray and black bedded limestones, and yields abundant Early to Middle Triassic conodonts, ammonoids, gastropods, bivalves, brachiopods and fish remains. The Sakuragatouge Member is dominated by brownish gray lenticular conglomeratic limestone and massive gray and white limestones that contain Middle to Late Triassic conodonts, gastropods, bivalves, echinoids and fish remains. In the Tahogawa Member, conodont assemblages are composed of 13 genera and 45 species, including three new species: Neospathodus arcus Maekawa sp. nov., Novispathodus shirokawai Maekawa sp. nov., and Nv. tahoensis Maekawa sp. nov. The member is divided into five conodont zones in ascending order: the Ns. dieneri Zone, the Ns. cristagalli Zone, the Nv. ex gr. waageni Zone, the Nv. pingdingshanensis Zone and the Nv. brevissimus Zone. The Nv. ex gr. waageni Zone contains three conodont subzones (the Eurygnathodus costatus Subzone, the Guangxidella bransoni Subzone and the Scythogondolella milleri Subzone), and the Nv. brevissimus Zone includes the Icriospathodus collinsoni Subzone. The conodont biostratigraphy of the member indicates a late Dienerian to early Spathian age, and correlates with that of Tethyan and Panthalassean sections. The Induan-Olenekian boundary is indicated by the first occurrence of Nv. ex gr. waageni. The Smithian-Spathian boundary is immediately below or intercalated within the Nv. pingdingshanensis Zone.

Seroprevalence of severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome (SFTS) virus antibodies in humans and animals in Ehime prefecture, Japan, an endemic region of SFTS.

Severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome (SFTS) was first identified as an emerging tick-borne infectious disease caused by the SFTS virus (SFTSV) in China and has also been found to be endemic to Japan and South Korea, indicating that SFTS is of great concern in East Asia. The aim of the present study was to determine the seroprevalence of SFTSV antibodies in humans and animals in SFTS-endemic regions of Japan. One of 694 (0.14%) healthy persons over 50 years of age and 20 of 107 (18.7%) wild and domestic animals in Ehime prefecture of western Japan were determined to be seropositive for SFTSV antibodies by virus neutralization test and ELISA, respectively. The seropositive person, a healthy 74-year-old woman, was a resident of the southwest part of Ehime prefecture engaged in citriculture and field work. This woman's sample exhibited neutralizing activity against SFTSV although she had neither a clear experience with tick bites nor SFTS-like clinical illness. These findings indicate that most people living in the endemic regions are not infected with SFTSV and suggest that most of the SFTS patients reported so far do not reflect the tip of an iceberg of people infected with SFTSV, but at the same time, that SFTSV infection does not always induce severe SFTS-associated symptoms. These findings also suggested that SFTSV has been maintained in nature within animal species and ticks.

1916年8月6日の中央構造線断層帯の地震について

1916年8月6日の中央構造線断層帯の地震について

The Destructive Earthquake on 1916 Aug. 6<sup>th</sup> near Ishizuchi Fault of Median Tectonic Line Active Fault Zone in Ehime Prefecture

The Destructive Earthquake on 1916 Aug. 6<sup>th</sup> near Ishizuchi Fault of Median Tectonic Line Active Fault Zone in Ehime Prefecture

愛媛県今治保健所管内の「協会けんぽ」生活習慣病予防健康診査受診者における降圧薬服薬状況とメタボリック症候群との関連について

愛媛県今治保健所管内の「協会けんぽ」生活習慣病予防健康診査受診者における降圧薬服薬状況とメタボリック症候群との関連について

Validation of Modified ALBI Grade for More Detailed Assessment of Hepatic Function in Hepatocellular Carcinoma Patients: A Multicenter Analysis

Background/Aim: The frequency of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in patients with good hepatic reserve function has been increasing in Japan along with the progression of antiviral therapies and aging of the society. We evaluated the usefulness of modified albumin-bilirubin (ALBI) grade as a tool for assessment of hepatic reserve function. Materials/Methods: We enrolled 6,649 naïve HCC patients treated from 2000 to 2017 and divided them into training (Ehime Prefecture group: E group, n = 2,357) and validation (validation group: V group, n = 4,292) cohorts. Child-Pugh classification and ALBI and modified ALBI (mALBI) grading were compared using with Japan Integrated Staging (JIS), ALBI-TNM (ALBI-T), and mALBI-T scores, which were calculated based on TNM stage and each assessment tool, retrospectively. Results: In the E group, Akaike’s Information Criterion (AIC) and c-index values for mALBI-T (13,725.2/0.744) were better as compared to those of ALBI-T (13,772.6/0.733) and JIS score (13,874.7/0.720), with similar results observed in the V group (mALBI-T: 27,727.4/0.760; ALBI-T: 27,817.8/0.750; JIS: 27,807.5/0.748). Although there were some significant differences between the groups with regard to clinical background factors (age, etiology, tumor size, tumor number, treatment modalities), for all patients the AIC and c-index values of mALBI-T (45,327.1/0.755) were also better than those of ALBI-T (45,467.7/0.744) and JIS scores (45,555.8/0.739), indicating its superior stratification ability and prognostic predictive value in patients with HCC. Conclusion: The detailed stratification ability of mALBI grade for hepatic reserve function is suitable for the recent trend of HCC patients, while mALBI-T may provide a more accurate predictive value than existing total staging scoring systems.

DNA Techniques Applied to the Identification of Pinctada Fucata Pearls from Uwajima, Ehime Prefecture, Japan

DNA Techniques Applied to the Identification of Pinctada Fucata Pearls from Uwajima, Ehime Prefecture, Japan