Ryukoku University

About: Ryukoku University is a education organization based out in Kyoto, Japan. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Thin film. The organization has 1926 authors who have published 3780 publications receiving 54130 citations.

FGM activities in Japan

Abstract: The concept of functionally graded materials (FGMs) was proposed in 1984 by materials scientists in the Sendai area as a means of preparing thermal barrier materials. Continuous changes in the composition, microstructure, porosity, etc. of these materials results in gradients in such properties as mechanical strength and thermal conductivity. In 1987, a national project was initiated entitled ‘Research on the Basic Technology for the Development of Functionally Gradient Materials for Relaxation of Thermal Stress’. In 1992 when the project was finished, samples of 300 mm square shell and 50 mm diameter hemispherical bowls for SiC-C FGM nose cones were prepared. The concept of FGMs is of interest not only in the practical design of super refractory materials, but also in the development of various functional materials. In 1993, the second national project was initiated for the research and development of FGMs as functional materials; ‘Research on Energy Conversion Materials with Functionally Gradient Structure’. This program aims to apply functionally graded structure technology to the improvement of energy conversion efficiency. The project will continue until the fiscal year 1997.

MiFish, a set of universal PCR primers for metabarcoding environmental DNA from fishes: detection of more than 230 subtropical marine species.

Abstract: We developed a set of universal PCR primers (MiFish-U/E) for metabarcoding environmental DNA (eDNA) from fishes. Primers were designed using aligned whole mitochondrial genome (mitogenome) sequence...

Estimation of fish biomass using environmental DNA.

Abstract: Environmental DNA (eDNA) from aquatic vertebrates has recently been used to estimate the presence of a species. We hypothesized that fish release DNA into the water at a rate commensurate with their biomass. Thus, the concentration of eDNA of a target species may be used to estimate the species biomass. We developed an eDNA method to estimate the biomass of common carp (Cyprinus carpio L.) using laboratory and field experiments. In the aquarium, the concentration of eDNA changed initially, but reached an equilibrium after 6 days. Temperature had no effect on eDNA concentrations in aquaria. The concentration of eDNA was positively correlated with carp biomass in both aquaria and experimental ponds. We used this method to estimate the biomass and distribution of carp in a natural freshwater lagoon. We demonstrated that the distribution of carp eDNA concentration was explained by water temperature. Our results suggest that biomass data estimated from eDNA concentration reflects the potential distribution of common carp in the natural environment. Measuring eDNA concentration offers a non-invasive, simple, and rapid method for estimating biomass. This method could inform management plans for the conservation of ecosystems.