Hill (Twin Research and Human Genetics, Vol. 21, 2018, 84–88) presented a critique of our recently published paper in Cell Reports entitled ‘Large-Scale Cognitive GWAS Meta-Analysis Reveals Tissue-Specific Neural Expression and Potential Nootropic Drug Targets’ (Lam et al., Cell Reports, Vol. 21, 2017, 2597–2613). Specifically, Hill offered several interrelated comments suggesting potential problems with our use of a new analytic method called Multi-Trait Analysis of GWAS (MTAG) (Turley et al., Nature Genetics, Vol. 50, 2018, 229–237). In this brief article, we respond to each of these concerns. Using empirical data, we conclude that our MTAG results do not suffer from ‘inflation in the FDR [false discovery rate]’, as suggested by Hill (Twin Research and Human Genetics, Vol. 21, 2018, 84–88), and are not ‘more relevant to the genetic contributions to education than they are to the genetic contributions to intelligence’.

Theories of coalition politics in parliamentary democracies have suggested that government formation and survival are jointly determined outcomes. An important empirical implication of these theories is that the sample of observed governments analyzed in studies of government survival may be nonrandomly selected from the population of potential governments. This can lead to serious inferential problems. Unfortunately, current empirical models of government survival are unable to account for the possible biases arising from nonrandom selection. In this study, we use a copula-based framework to assess, and correct for, the dependence between the processes of government formation and survival. Our results suggest that existing studies of government survival, by ignoring the selection problem, overstate the substantive importance of several covariates commonly included in empirical models.

Streptococcal toxic shock syndrome (STSS) is a severe invasive infection characterized by the sudden onset of shock, multi-organ failure, and high mortality. In Japan, appropriate notification measures based on the Infectious Disease Control law are mandatory for cases of STSS caused by β-haemolytic streptococcus. STSS is mainly caused by group A streptococcus (GAS). Although an average of 60–70 cases of GAS-induced STSS are reported annually, 143 cases were recorded in 2011. To determine the reason behind this marked increase, we characterized the emm genotype of 249 GAS isolates from STSS patients in Japan from 2010 to 2012 and performed antimicrobial susceptibility testing. The predominant genotype was found to be emm1, followed by emm89, emm12, emm28, emm3, and emm90. These six genotypes constituted more than 90% of the STSS isolates. The number of emm1, emm89, emm12, and emm28 isolates increased concomitantly with the increase in the total number of STSS cases. In particular, the number of mefA-positive emm1 isolates has escalated since 2011. Thus, the increase in the incidence of STSS can be attributed to an increase in the number of cases associated with specific genotypes.

Streptococcus agalactiae (group B streptococcus; GBS) isolates (n = 150) from infants with invasive infections between 2006 and 2011 were analysed for capsular serotype, multilocus sequence type, and antibiotic susceptibility. In cases with late-onset disease (n = 115), primary meningitis was predominant (62·6%), but represented only 39·1% in cases with early-onset disease (n = 23). The most common serotype was III (58·7%), followed by Ia (21·3%) and Ib (12·7%). Sequence types (STs) of serotype III strains included ST17 (50·0%), ST19 (26·1%), ST335 (18·2%), ST27 (4·5%), and ST1 (1·1%). Predominant STs of serotypes Ia and Ib were ST23 (81·3%) and ST10 (84·2%), respectively. No penicillin-resistant strains were detected, but 22·0% of strains had mef(A/E), erm(A), or erm(B) genes, which mediate macrolide resistance. A new ST335, possessing an mef(A/E) gene belonging to clonal complex 19 gradually increased in frequency. Improved prevention of invasive GBS infections in infants requires timely identification, and ultimately vaccine development.

To perform a safety assessment for the geological disposal of radioactive waste, it is important to understand the response characteristics of the disposal system. In this study, approximate analytical solutions for steady-state nuclide releases from the engineered barrier system (EBS) of a repository were derived for an orthogonal one-dimensional diffusion model. In these approximate analytical solutions, inventory depletion, decay during migration and the influence of groundwater flow in the excavation damaged zone (EDZ) were considered. These solutions were simplified by the Taylor theorem in order to clearly represent the response characteristics of the EBS. The validity of these solutions was shown by comparison with numerical solutions. The response characteristics of the EBS are useful for identifying target values for important parameters that would have the effect of improving the robustness of system safety. The robustness of the geological disposal system and the reliability of the safety assessment can thus potentially be improved using the approximate analytical solutions.

In order to enhance the safety of geological disposal and the reliability of the safety assessment carried out for each stage of the geological disposal project, an assessment methodology focused on a sensitivity analysis and an evaluation of importance, which incorporates “system understanding” and “information feedback” into the existing assessment approach, has been developed in this study. In this paper, the assessment methodology and the assessment results as applied for the transuranic (TRU) waste disposal system in Japan will be described. In the sensitivity analysis, an approximate analytical solution was used in order to understand the response characteristics of the engineered barrier system (EBS). In the importance evaluation, important factors relating to the robustness of system safety were identified based on the response characteristics. Furthermore, important features, events, and processes (FEPs) related to such factors and high-impact scenarios were identified based on the information accumulated through “system understanding” and “information feedback”. Based on this approach, the robustness of the TRU waste disposal system was assessed and measures for improving the robustness were identified.

The structure and kinematics of the recognized stellar components of the Milky Way are explored, based on well-determined atmospheric parameters and kinematic quantities for 32360 “calibration stars” from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS) and its first extension, (SDSS-II), which included the sub-survey SEGUE: Sloan Extension for Galactic Understanding and Exploration. Full space motions for a sub-sample of 16920 stars, exploring a local volume within 4 kpc of the Sun, are used to derive velocity ellipsoids for the inner- and outer-halo components of the Galaxy, as well as for the canonical thick-disk and proposed metal-weak thick-disk populations. This new sample of calibration stars represents an increase of 60% relative to the numbers used in a previous analysis. A Maximum Likelihood analysis of a local sub-sample of 16920 calibration stars has been developed in order to extract kinematic information for the major Galactic components (thick disk, inner halo, and outer halo), as well as for the elusive metal-weak thick disk (MWTD). We measure velocity ellipsoids for the thick disk, the MWTD, the inner halo, and the outer halo, demonstrate that the MWTD may be a component that is kinematically and chemically independent of the canonical thick disk (and put limits on the metallicity range of the MWTD), and derive the inferred spatial density profiles of the inner/outer halo components. We also present evidence for tilts in the velocity ellipsoids for stars in our sample as a function of height above the plane, for several ranges in metallicity, and confirm the shift of the observed metallicity distribution function (MDF) from the inner-halo to the outer-halo dominated sample.

Invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD) is of concern in Japan, where the heptavalent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV7) is unavailable. We determined serotypes, genotypes indicating β-lactam resistance, and antibiotic susceptibilities of 496 isolates from normally sterile sites in patients (193 children, 303 adults) from 186 institutions between August 2006 and July 2007. Disease presentations included sepsis (46·2%), pneumonia (31·5%), and meningitis (17·5%). Mortality was 1·4% in children and 22·1% in adults, many of whom had underlying diseases. In children, serotype 6B (22·5%) was followed by 19F (14·1%), and 14 (13·1%); potential coverages of PCV7 and PCV13 were 75·4% and 93·7%, respectively. In adults, serotype 12F (14·3%) was followed by 3 (11·3%), and 6B (10·3%); 23-valent polysaccharide vaccine (PPV23) coverage was 85·4%. Most serotype 12F strains were gPISP, with pbp2b gene alteration; carbapenem had an excellent MIC90. PCV7 is recommended for children and PPV23 for adults to increase prevention against IPD.

The use of the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for identifying serotypes of human and bovine rotaviruses was examined. In the identification of 115 human rotavirus samples in stools, results with PCR showed excellent agreement with results of serotyping by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) using serotype-specific monoclonal antibodies. Furthermore, the PCR showed a much higher sensitivity (93%) than the ELISA test (82·6%). The PCR method could also be applied for identifying the serotype of bovine rotaviruses.

In this study, the pn hetero-interface between Zn(O,S,OH)x buffer and Cu(InGa)(SSe)2 (CIGSS) surface layers is discussed in order to achieve the fill factor (FF) over 0.73 and the circuit efficiency of 16 % on aperture area of over 800 cm2. Two resistances, i.e. shunt resistance (Rsh) and series resistance (Rs), in the circuits are employed as a yardstick to evaluate the interface quality. Since there are no realistic yardsticks on the Rs, the difference between Voc and optimum-power voltage (Vop) (i.e. Voc-Vop [V/cell]) is applied as a simple tool to evaluate the Rs. It is emphasized that it is important to reduce the Rs mainly correlated to the buffer deposition process and, as a result, the interface quality. We consider the Rs is dependent on the remaining Zn(OH)2 concentration in the Zn(O,S,OH)x buffer deposited by a chemical-bath deposition (CBD) technique. As an approach to make the Rs minimize and the Rsh maximize simultaneously, adjusting the thickness of a CBD-Zn(O,S,OH)x buffer layer and a non-doped ZnO layer deposited by a metal-organic chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD) technique has been effective to reduce the remaining Zn(OH)2 concentration. Determining the optimized deposition procedure to achieve the FF over 0.700 consistently, the circuit efficiency of 15.3 % with aperture area of 856 cm2 and the FF of 0.717 has been achieved.

For realizing the proof of mass production capablity or a move toward a GW/a production, 16%-efficiency project has been started setting the target of each parameter as V∝: 0.685 V/cell, FF: 0.735 and Jsc: 31.8mA/cm2. Up to FY2008, the target of each parameter independently has been achieved expect the efficiency. All of our research by adjusting the two resistance (Rsh and Rs) in the monolithically integrated 30cm×30cm-sized circuits. To improve the FF, double buffer structure with CBD-Zn(O,S,OH)x and MOCVD-ZnO is proposed and the thickness is adjusted by optimizing the Rs and the Rsh. As the result, FF of over 0.7 has been achieved for the first time in our CIS R&D since FY 1993.

An elongated ERO with R - K′ = 7.5 behind the cluster A851 at z=0.4 was found to lie at z = 1.5 both by the photometric redshift and by a cross correlation method of its H-band SED with local E/SO spectra. the luminosity profile is well represented by a seeing convolved exponential disk, and the lack of redshifted H-alpha emission indicates that it has a dynamically relaxed disk with an old stellar population. Gravitational lensing of the cluster is not strong enough to stretch the image and cannot convert the de Vaucouleurs law into an exponential law.

The role of 02 gas addition on the deposition of Diamond-like Carbon (DLC) film was studied for hard disk drive (HDD) media application. The influence of 02 gas mixing ratio on DLC film quality was investigated using the dc magnetron sputtering method with a solid graphite target and Ar, CH4 and 02 mixing gases. The 02 mixing ratio was varied between 0% and 50%. Film quality was evaluated using Raman spectroscopy and XPS. When 02 gas mixing ratio increased the peak in Raman spectra shifted gradually to higher wavenumbers and its bandwidth became narrower. This indicates graphite component increased in the DLC film. In addition, the lubricant coverage on oxygen-containing DLC was improved. Because adding oxygen increases the terminations of carbonyl group on DLC surface, this result suggests that the polar surface causes higher affinity for the lubricant

Constant-velocity and constant-load compression tests have been conducted to examine the mechanical behavior of polycrystalline IrAl and Ir1-xNixAl at ambient and elevated temperatures. Although IrAl exhibits brittle fracture before or immediately after yielding below 1073K, steady-state deformation takes place at temperatures higher than 1273K. Ductility of Ir1-xNixAl is improved with increasing x. On the contrary, strength decreases with increasing x. IrAl exhibits the 0.2% flow stress of 1200MPa at 1073K and 350MPa at 1473K, about an order of magnitude higher than NiAl. Secondary creep of IrAl and Ir0.2Ni0.8Al(i.e., modified NiAl) exhibits class II and class I behavior respectively. Creep strength of binary IrAl and modified NiAl with Ir is about a magnitude of 4 higher than that of single-phase and multi-phase NiAl at a given applied stress.

Initial microstructure dependence of compactibility at elevated temperature in rapidly solidified Ti-rich TiAl alloy powders produced by plasma rotating electrode process (PREP) has been investigated. There were two kinds of powders with respect to the microstructure. The first one had a surface relief of a martensitic phase, which was referred as M powder. The second one had a dendritic structure, which was referred as D powder. α2+γ microduplex and α2/γ lamellar structures were formed in Mand D powders of the Ti-40 at%Al alloy by heat treatment at 1273 K, respectively. The microduplex structure consisted of γ precipitate in the twin related α2 matrix with the usual orientation relationship. It was difficult to compact the D powder by hot pressing at 1273 K under 50 MPa for 14.4 ks. On the other hand, the M powder was compacted easily by hot pressing with the same condition. The twin related α2 and α2 boundary changed to random ones and the α2 and γ phases were lost the usual orientation relationship in the duplex structure during the hot pressing. In other words, the low energy boundaries were changed to the high energy ones suitable for grain boundary sliding. Dislocations were scarcely observed inside of both the α2 and γ crystal grains. It was concluded that the grain boundary sliding was a predominant deformation mode in the M powder during the hot pressing. D and M powders in Ti-45 and 47 at%Al alloys showed the same tendency as those in Ti-40 at%Al alloy during hot pressing.

TEM specimens of PREPed Ti -48 at.% Al powders can be prepared reproducibly in a straight-forward manner. There are two kinds of powders with respect to surface and crosssectional morphologies. One is with an Widmanstitten-like structure and or a surface relief of martensitic phase and the other is with a dendritic structure. The primary phase during solidification and relative cooling rate in both the powders are discussed by comparing the macroscopic and microscopic features.

Monolithic gels of V2O5, Ta2O5 , and Nb2O5 have been prepared from VO(C2H5O)3 , Ta(C2H5O)5 , and Nb(C2H5 O)5 througg hydrolysis in ethanol Solutions. The conditions for gel formation have been determined. Thin coatings of these gels, less than 100 nm in thickness, have been prepared by dip coating. Changes in the thickness, d, and refractive indices, n, have been measured by ellipsometry during drying. In the first stage of drying, d decreases and n increases rapidly. Densification of the coatings takes place due to evaporation of solvent. In the following stage, increase in d and decrease in n have been observed for thin V2O5 gel coatings, about 30 nm or less in thickness. These results suggest that coarsening of pores and/or increase in surface roughness take place due to release of the capillary pressure during drying. Both d and n have increased with increasing number of dipping. After heat treating, decrease in d and increase in n have been observed.