Functional, constructional, and preservational criteria led to a reinterpretation of seemingly complex trace fossils and the majority of assumed metazoan body fossils from Vendian lagerstatten. In the new scenario, Ediacaran biota were dominated by procaryote biomats and giant protozoa (Xenophyophoria and Vendobionta), which developed a great variety of shapes and lifestyles in the climatically controlled “golden age” that followed the Marinoan snowball earth. Contemporary metazoans (sponges; polyps; soft-bodied mollusks; possible echinoderms; worm-like burrowers) were adapted to this non-uniformitarian environment, but they remained scarce and relatively small. Some phyla (arthropods, brachiopods) appear to have still been absent. Our study also accentuates the Cambrian Explosion, which put an end to the peaceful “Garden of Ediacara”. Not only did the former rulers become extinct or restricted to less favorable environments, but the radiation of metazoan phyla was also accompanied by an ecological revolution that established a new and more dangerous world, which persists to the present day.

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During the Meiji Era, endemic birds and animals decreased also on the Bonin Islands. Bonin Flying Fox Pteropus pselaphon Lay decreased extremely, and as to the birds, Bonin Islands Grosbeak Chaunoproctus ferreorostris (Vigors), Kittlitz's Ground-thrush Aegithocichla terrestris (Kittlitz), Bonin Night-heron Nycticorax caledonicus crassirostris Vigors, Bonin Wood Pigeon Janthoenas versicolor (Kittlitz), etc. died out. The increase of inhabitants and the deforestation of virgin forests seems to have put pressure upon the permanent residents. however, it is noteworthy that so many birds have been the victims. Those of Megapode Megapodius also seemed to have been in existence before the Meiji Era.
In the 25th year of Meiji (in 1892) the Game Law was issued for the first time and the birds not to be hunted, that is, the protected birds were legislated. Later, instead of legislating the protected birds, those to be hunted were limited so that the birds and mammals to be protected became much increased in kinds. While planning to breed the birds to be hunted artificially, we ordered those of foreign breed from other countries when necessary, and tried to breed them. Korean Ring-necked Pheasant Phasianus colchicus karpowi Buturlin were let off in Hokkaido in the end of 1930 and have spread out all over favourably since then. Chinese Bamboo Pheasant Bambusicola thoracica thoracica (Temminck) which had been originally produced in China and let off in Tokyo in 1919 became a typical naturalized family in Japan and is being named as a bird to be hunted. The Game Law was revised after the War, and they came to lay stress upon the protection of birds and animals. The bird week was established and the protective movement of the wild life is very active, as far as the movement is concerned.
With the view of utilizing them it became active year by year after the Meiji Era to remove an animal family from one place to another and naturalize them. Oncorhynchus nerka (Walbaum), Plecoglossus altivelis Temminck et Schlegel, Hypomesus olidus (Pallas), etc. are all of removed instances. Bull Frog Rana catesbeiana Shaw and Toad Bufo marinus Linné were removed from foreign countries to Japan. Although the former was introduced from the States, its frozen meat is exported to the States vise versa. The latter was introduced into Formosa from Hawaii in 1935, and did much in controlling the scarabaeid beetles harmful to sugar cane.
To import the natural enemy for exterminating injurious animals has been practised since the Meiji Era. Common Indian Mungoose Mungos mungo (Gmelin) which had been brought from India in 1910 were let off in the Okinawa Mainland of Ryukyu and Tonaki Island, and did no small service in exterminating Trimeresurus flavoviridis (Hallowell). More than 40 years have passed since then, and yet there are still a small number of their posterity there.
Many instances that unexpected transference and importation of birds and animals threw Japanese Fauna into disorder have been found, and quite many of such invaders have appeared since the Meiji Era. Into Bonin Islands, Japanese Pit Viper Ancistrodon halys blomhoffi (Boie), Spotted Scorpion Isometrus europaeus (Linné) came after the year of Shôwa began. The disagreeable Tick, Bdellonyssus bacoti (Hirst) was introduced to Japan after the great earthquake in 1923. Slug Limax flavus Linné had already come to Japan in the middle of the Meiji Era. Swamp Crayfish Cambarus clarkii Girard came into Japan in 1930 for the first time, and now they are in existence almost all over the country except Aomori pref., Iwate pref., Oita pref., Nagasaki pref., Miyazaki pref. and Kagoshima pref. not invaded. However, they are considered to spread out all over the Kyushu area some day.

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This is to explain the change of of our country which has taken place since old times up to the present.
Before the Meiji era our country was small, and there were only a few savage beasts and venomous snakes. We may give as savage beasts, the Japanese Black Bear, the Japanese Wolf (died out at the end of the Meiji era), and as for the large-sized mammal, though they can not be called savage beasts, the Whit-moustached Boar, the Japanese Serow, the Japanese Deer may be mentioned. As to the venomous snakes, there was only the Japanese Pit-viper. Therefore, if the birds and beasts of large size and of splendid colour came over from foreign countries, they were enough to give a surprise to the Japanese; and animals and birds of that kind had been coming actually since very old times. But the coming of those animals and birds never threw the Japanese fauna into confusion.
As one of the remarkable instances that men gave to the fauna a change artificially, there was in the Edo period the slaying of the Wild Boar of Tsushima. During the eras of Genroku and Hoei, the Wild Boar did men so much harm in Tsushima that Mr. Suyama, magistrate of Tsushima feudatory made a great resolution to slay them out, and succeeded after ten years' hard effort-from the 13th year of Genroku down to the 6th year of Hoei (1700-1709).
During the Edo period, some birds and animals came over from foreign contreies or were brought into Japan from Korea, and they have been settled in our country. For example, the Korean Ringnecked Pheasant, the Korean Magpie, the Rik Kiu Grey Musk Shrew and the Bed-bug are remarkable among them.
As stated above, the curious birds and beasts which had not been found in Japan came over frequently from abroad since old times. Especially, since the intercourse between Japan and Holland, and other countries was commenced during the Edo period, curious animals began to come over in succession from India and Malay. The Asiatic Elephant which came over in the 13th year of Kyoho (in 1728) and the One Humped Camel in the 4th year of Bunsei (in 1821) were most famous and had a great influence on Japanese culture.
The great change Restoration, however, caused the Japanese fauna a remarkable change for forty or fifty years thereafter. In extreme cases, the tribes which spread to a great extent, such as the Yezo Wolf Canis lupus hattai in Hokkaido and the Japanese Wolf Canis lupus hodopylax in Honshu, Shikoku and Kyushu, met with the misfortune of being slayed out completely.
Among the birds which suddenly disappeared from Japan proper after the Meiji period were large-sized ones. There are only two places now in Japan where Cranes always come over in winter. Their kinds, too, are only the Hooded Crane and the White-naped Crane. Siberian White Crane Grus leucogeranus which once came over to Japan together with those two and was not rare in Kyushu has somehow never been seen since the Meiji period. There is only one mounted specimen in Japan, but the very one does not seem to be Japanese-bred. Japanese Stork Ciconia ciconia boyciana and Japanese Crested Ibis Nipponia nippon are all but being extinct in Japan.

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僕たち飼育展示係の仕事・目標は、動物たちのすごさやかけがえのなさを感じてもらうこと、たくさんの命に囲まれている居心地の良さを感じてもらうこと、だと考えています。動物を観てもらうのは「生活の営み」つまり生きている命を観てもらいたいし、命をとおして伝えることが大切なのだと考えています。動物は、自分がすごい能力を持っていると思っているわけではありませんから、私たちがその「すごい」を見つけて、そのすごい能力を発揮できるように工夫をし、飼育下だから初めて可能なアングルや距離で観てもらえるようにと頑張っています。

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When experimental data from animal experiments are being evaluated, the background diseases occurring in the experimental animal species used should be considered. Nonhuman primates include some species that are important in the field of biomedical science. However, spontaneous diseases are often found during experiments because complete microbiological and genetic controls have not been performed in nonhuman primates, unlike in rodents. On the other hand, number of nonhuman primates used in medical science is lesser than that of rodents. Therefore the incidence and tendency of diseases are not well understood in the different primate species, and this must be a cause of concern with respect to the understanding of experimental data. In this article, we describe some well-defined spontaneous diseases that occur in a nonhuman primate facility, based on our experiences. This information will contribute to better understanding of biomedical data obtained in studies, using nonhuman primates and their veterinary care.

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Yersiniosis, which is caused by pathogenic Yersinia enterocolitica or Yersinia pseudotuberculosis, poses a serious problem for zoological gardens engaged in breeding nonhuman primates. In Japan, Y. pseudotuberculosis in particular frequently causes fatal infection, and affected nonhuman primates may die unexpectedly or after a very short illness. Our epidemiological study in 17 zoological gardens in Japan suggested that Yersinia pseudotuberculosis-derived mitogen (YPM), which is a kind of super-antigenic toxin, might be the cause of, or at least the most important factor in, the high mortality of breeding nonhuman primates infected by Y. pseudotuberculosis in Japan. Furthermore, seroepidemiological study proved that pathogenic Yersinia is highly prevalent among breeding squirrel monkeys in Japan. It is likely that the monkeys that are pathogenic Yersinia positive have been inapparently or mildly infected by low pathogenic strains of Yersinia, not highly pathogenic strains of Yersinia, such as YPM-producing Y. pseudotuberculosis. In this review, we will describe the epidemiology of yersiniosis in breeding nonhuman primates in Japan.

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 The aim of this study is to clarify the design method of “Biodiversity-Friendly Architecture” all over the world. Biodiversity-Friendly Architecture is defined as the architecture and the construction that cares for both animals and people. 99 samples of Biodiversity-Friendly Architecture were collected and this BFA includes such as, mammals, birds, insects, and so on (Table 1).
 First, the background viewed from habits of the animals, the composition of the animal space, the corresponding to habits of the animal, the adjustment to the relation between people and animal, the purpose of BFA construction, the surroundings, and construction material are extracted from the articles and drawings. The habits of animals can be classified <fragmentation of habitat>, <deficiency of nesting place: top, chink, narrow space, cave, on cliff, below cliff, precipice, combination> (Fig 2). The composition of BFA is defined by the features of space and life. The features of space can be classified <rope>, <vertical>, <horizontal>, <U-shaped>, and <enclosure> (Table 2). The features of can be defined by space usage and layout. The space usage can be classified <individual> and <common>, and the layout can be classified <single>, <aggregation>, and <dispersion> (Table 3). The corresponding habits of the animals can be classified as <surroundings>, <internal environment>, <shelter from rain and wind>, <height>, <posture>, <territory>, <entrance>, and <shelter from natural enemy> (Table 4). The adjustment to the relation with people which are reflected in the BFA can be classified as <townscape/landscape>, <adding human use>, <recycle material>, <management>, <mass production> and <visual attraction> (Table 5). The purpose of BFA construction can be classified as <work>, <product>, <observation> and <collision avoidance> (Table 6). The surroundings around BFA can be classified as <buildings>, <buildings and nature>, <farm> and <nature> (Table 7). The main material can be arranged as <stone>, <brick>, <wood>, <metal>, <concrete>, and <excetera> (Table 8).
 Second, all samples are investigated with integrating the corresponding to habit of animal with the composition, based on the background viewed from habits of and the types of animals (Table 9).
 Finally, the design method for “Biodiversity-Friendly Architecture” were clarified as the unification of considerations for and people; I Controling the distance between animal and people, II Linking the networks of things around people and animal by material, III Making sustained mutual benefit for people and animal, IV Maintaining without people, V Making animals obvious, VI Adapting animals to people's living environment.

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Brief exponential shocks were delivered upon the fresh neurula developing from the ovum of a white leghorn incubated under optimum temperature of 38°C, and the responses were led off on the oscilloscope connecting with a RC coupled amplifier and a direct one, and the following results were obtained:
1. An unfertil vitelline membrane was used as a contrast. The local responses of maximum height of 500μV with 200-250msec. of duration were generally observed, and occasionally after-potentials followed them. Plotting the maximum sizes of responses and the intensities of stimuli, the elevations increased exponentially in accordance with the growing stimuli. As for the polarities, the positive and the negative slow local responses were observed, when the polarities of shocks were reversed.
2. Well developed primitive central nervous and circulatory systems were detected on the chick's neurula which was incubated under the suitable temperature for 40 hour, and with the changes in form of , electric patterns of response were also transformed into very complicated shapes and many irregular impulses overlapped upon the after-potential.
3. The primitive type of electrocardiogram was recorded from the preparations of 50 hour incubation, and it was nearly approximated to the typical pattern as labeled P-QRS-T, but QRS showed a dome in place of a spike.
4. The response keeping all-or-none law was disclosed from the sample of 70 hour incubation, and the correlation between the latency and the stimulus draws hyperbola known as Weiss' formula, and the locus of this special pattern is deduced from the primitive cardiac muscle judging from the position of electrode.
5. Briefly, the new born tissues like the primitive nervous and circulatory systems appear one after another upon a chick's neurula in the progress of development, and the varieties of oscillograms accompanied with the transformation of were all clearly observed at the end of the local elevation.

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The purpose of the present study is to make clear (1) how much children understand the diversity of animals, (2) how much children recognize the dignity of human and animal lives, and (3) how children perceive the prevention of cruelty to animals. The examination tool was a questionnaire which gathered data on the children’s attitudes toward animals. The total number of respondents was 2056, most of which were elementary and high school students with ages ranging from 8 to 18 years old.

Based on age and sex, children’s perceptions of animal lives were compared. In general, male students could tolerate the existence of various species of animals in contrast to females who tended to dislike certain unpopular animals, mostly because of subjective reasons such as “they are dirty”, “they stinking” or “they look unpleasant”. The negative attitudes of female students toward the existence of some kinds of animals extended until junior high school age. Children’s ecological appreciation of animals was much influenced by sight and smell. However, the development of a biological viewpoint and scientific perception of living organisms was thought to change their thinking concerning the ecological significance of unpopular animals. The results indicated that cultivation of normal consciousness of the existence of all kinds of living organisms, as well as of

, is accomplished by rational and global interpretation in biology education.

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The possibility of producing HanWoo (Bos taurus coreanae) calves from transferable bovine embryos, obtained by interbreed nuclear transfer using Holstein cytoplasts and surrogates, was investigated. As donor nuclei, HanWoo fetal fibroblasts were used. Cells were induced into quiescence by serum deprivation for 4-7 days before nuclear transfer. In vitro matured Holstein oocytes were enucleated, and single donor cell was placed into the perivitelline space of enucleated oocyte. After reconstruction, the embryos were fused, activated and cultured. On day 7, the embryos that developed to the blastocyst stages were transferred into Holstein recipient cows on day 6 to 7 of estrous cycle (estrus=0). The reconstructed embryos were successfully fused (58.8%; 47/80), cleaved (91.5%; 43/47), and developed to blastocysts (29.8%; 14/47). Eleven blastocysts were transferred into 5 Holstein recipient cows. Two recipients were pregnant, confirmed by ultrasonography at day 60 of gestation. But, one of them was opened between on day 80 to 100 of pregnancy, and the other had a stillbirth on day 255. The stillborn calf was physically normal, and we couldn't find any evidence of anomaly. These results show that cells derived from HanWoo somatic cell lines can be reprogrammed by interbreed nuclear transfer and develop subsequently in vivo as well as in vitro.

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Origin of the eukaryotic organisms (including the multicellular animals or Metazoa) is commonly considered to be related to growing oxygen content in the atmosphere up to a level that allows aerobic metabolism. Here it is suggested that oxygenation of the biosphere was not a permissive condition but rather a forcing factor that drove evolution towards the formation of complex biological systems. Growing concentration of free oxygen in conjunction with other geohistorical trends acted to chemically impoverish the ocean and atmosphere and made many of the chemical elements immobile or unavailable for metabolic processes. Of particular importance in this connection was the decreasing concentration in sea water of the heavy metals that demonstrate high catalytic ability and make an active center in many enzymes. Increasing biological complexity and the eukaryotization of the biosphere (origin of the eukaryotic cell, growing role of heterotrophy, increasing biodiversity, rise of multicellular organisms, lengthening of trophic chains, acceleration of biological recycling of the chemical elements, etc.) can be considered as an evolutionary response to the geochemical deterioration of the environment.
Recent discoveries of the oldest megascopic eukaryotes, such as spiral Grypania (1.9 Ga), the necklace-like colonial organism of tissue-grade organization Horodyskia (1.5 Ga), vermiform Parmia (about 1.0 Ga) and Sinosabellidites (800 Ma ago) are consisitent with the “molecular clock” models on an early origin of animals; metazoans were, however, confined to relatively cold and well oxygenated basins beyond the carbonate belt of the ocean until the end of the Proterozoic. Large and diverse invertebrates of the Vendian Period are known mostly from siliciclastic marine basins. This fauna is characterized by high density of the benthic populations and well established clades both at the diploblastic (e.g., Phylum Trilobozoa) and triploblastic (e.g., Phylum Proarticulata) grades of organization as well as some taxa related to the Paleozoic phyla. An organic skeleton preceded the rise of the mineralized skeleton in some metazoan phyla. Low temperature of the habitats inhibited biomineralization. Almost simultaneous development of the phosphatic, carbonate and siliceous skeletons in different metazoan groups at the beginning of the Cambrian Period some 545 Ma ago could be related to the colonization of the warm carbonate basins by the metazoans. An additional factor for the rapid diversification of the biomineralized phyla could be the growing length of the trophic chains brought about by the rapidly increasing biodiversity and the need for detoxification at the top of the trophic pyramid. Being the byproduct of detoxification, sclerites and spicules, hard mineralized shells and carapaces immediately became an important factor of morphological evolution and growing biodiversity, as well as the object of intensive selection under the growing pressure of predators. Explosive growth of morphophysiological diversity in metazoans during the Vendian and Cambrian had an enormous impact on evolution of other groups of organisms and on the environment.

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Sodium ions are the most popular ions in body fluids, and the sodium and water homeostasis is essential for . Although the presence of sensing system for the Na⁺ level in body fluids was postulated, its detail has long been an enigma. Recently we revealed that Na_x, a family member of voltage-gated sodium channels, is involved in the monitoring of the level of sodium ions in body fluids and sodium/water intake behavior. Here we introduce our studies about the sodium sensor in the brain.

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