Search

Long‐term carbon dioxide (CO2) flux measurements between the atmosphere and the ecosystem have been made since 1993 at a cool‐temperate deciduous forest site (Takayama) in Japan influenced by the Asian Monsoon, constituting the longest data set among all the AsiaFlux sites. Interannual variations (IAVs) and trends in the annual carbon budget components and related environmental factors were examined. Annual net ecosystem production (NEP) (mean ± 1σ) during the period of eddy covariance measurements in 1999–2021 was 265 ± 86 gC m−2yr−1, and its IAV was dependent more on gross primary production (GPP) than on ecosystem respiration. The annual NEP and GPP were correlated with the monthly mean NEP, GPP and leaf area index from June to September, as well as with the length of the net carbon uptake period. Significantly increasing and decreasing trends in the annual NEP and GPP were detected during 2004–2013 and 2013–2021, respectively. The increasing trends were mainly caused by the vegetation recovery from typhoon disturbances. On the other hand, although the cause of the decreasing trends was not clearly identified, recent extreme weather events and/or forest succession might be related to the trends. Significant positive correlations between the start and the end of the net carbon uptake period, and between the leaf expansion and leaf fall were found. These may be attributed to phenological characteristics and negative correlation between air temperature in spring and solar radiation in early fall associated with ENSO events that can also influence IAVs in annual NEP and GPP. Forest ecosystems play an important role in the global carbon cycle. However, time variations in the ecosystem carbon budget and responses of the ecosystems to climate change are not well understood. Although long‐term observational data are useful for a better understanding, >20‐year observations are limited, especially in the Asian monsoon region. In this study, long‐term measurements of carbon budget made at a cool‐temperate deciduous forest in Japan were analyzed for interannual variation (IAV), long‐term trends, and offered plausible causes for these changes. The IAV in annual net carbon uptake (NEP) was associated with the variation in summertime NEP, as well as with the variation in the length of the net carbon uptake period (NGP). The IAV in summertime NEP was associated with the variations in solar radiation (SR) and leaf density during the season, while the IAV in NGP depended on the variations in spring temperature and early‐fall SR. A decadal increasing trend in the annual NEP (2004–2013) was caused mainly by the recovery from typhoons, while a decreasing trend (2013–2021) may be related to recent extreme weather events and/or forest succession. Longer‐term ecosystem observations are certainly needed for more accurate predictions of forest ecosystems response to climate change. Interannual variations and significant trends of carbon budget components at a forest site were detected from a long‐term observationThe annual carbon budget was governed by the summertime carbon uptake and the length of the growing seasonThe decadal‐scale trends of the carbon budget components obtained in this study could not have been found without the long‐term observation Interannual variations and significant trends of carbon budget components at a forest site were detected from a long‐term observation The annual carbon budget was governed by the summertime carbon uptake and the length of the growing season The decadal‐scale trends of the carbon budget components obtained in this study could not have been found without the long‐term observation

Polyps found during CT colonography can be removed by colonoscopic polypectomy. A colonoscope navigation system that navigates a physician to polyp positions while performing the colonoscopic polypectomy is required. Colonoscope tracking methods are essential for implementing colonoscope navigation systems. Previous colonoscope tracking methods have failed when the colon deforms during colonoscope insertions. This paper proposes a colonoscope tracking method that is robust against colon deformations. The proposed method generates a colon centerline from a CT volume and a curved line representing the colonoscope shape (colonoscope line) by using electromagnetic sensors. We find correspondences between points on a deformed colon centerline and colonoscope line by a landmark-based coarse correspondence finding and a length-based fine correspondence finding processes. Even if the coarse correspondence finding process fails to find some correspondences, which occurs with colon deformations, the fine correspondence finding process is able to find correct correspondences by using previously recorded line lengths. Experimental results using a colon phantom showed that the proposed method finds the colonoscope tip position with tracking errors smaller than 50 mm in most trials. A physician who specializes in gastroenterology commented that tracking errors smaller than 50 mm are acceptable. This is because polyps are observable from the colonoscope camera when positions of the colonoscope tip and polyps are closer than 50 mm. We developed a colonoscope tracking method that is robust against deformations of the colon. Because the process was designed to consider colon deformations, the proposed method can track the colonoscope tip position even if the colon deforms.

Urinary exosomes are small vesicles secreted into urine from all renal epithelial cell types and known to contain proteins that are involved in renal secretion and reabsorption. Among these proteins, urinary exosomal aquaporin-2 (AQP2) has been suggested to be useful for diagnosis of renal disease. However, the mechanisms underlying the excretion of urinary exosomal AQP2 are largely unknown. In this study, we examined the mechanisms of urinary exosomal AQP2 excretion in vivo, using diuretics including furosemide (FS), an inhibitor of the sodium-potassium-chloride symporter; acetazolamide (ACTZ), an inhibitor of carbonic anhydrase; OPC-31260 (OPC), a vasopressin type 2 receptor antagonist; and NaHCO3, a urinary alkalizing agent. Samples of urine from rats were collected for 2 h just after treatment with each diuretic, and urinary exosomes were isolated by ultracentrifugation. Urinary exosomal AQP2 excretion was dramatically increased by treatment with FS accompanied by urine acidification or with ACTZ accompanied by urine alkalization. Immunohistochemistry showed that apical localization of AQP2 was clearly evident and the plasma vasopressin level was increased after each treatment. Although treatment with OPC alone had no significant effect, coadministration of OPC completely inhibited the FS-induced and partially reduced the ACTZ-induced responses, respectively. Treatment with NaHCO3increased the excretion of urinary exosomal AQP2 accompanied by urine alkalization. This increased response was partially inhibited by coadministration of OPC. These data suggest that an increased plasma level of vasopressin promoted the excretion of urinary exosomal AQP2 and that urine alkalinization also increased it independently of vasopressin.

Overexpression of heat shock protein 70 kDa (HSP70) is known to confer cellular protection against ischemia–reperfusion (I/R) injury. Radicicol, a HSP90 inhibitor, has been reported to induce the expression of HSP70 protein. Here we studied whether radicicol attenuated renal I/R injury in vivo. Treatment of mice with radicicol ameliorated renal I/R injury and increased renal HSP70 mRNA and protein. Administration of radicicol with quercetin, an inhibitor of HSP70 induction, eliminated the renoprotective effect of radicicol. Our results suggest that the up-regulation of renal HSP70 protein by radicicol leads to a novel drug therapy against renal I/R injury.

The northern part of Okinawa Island suffers from red soil pollution—runoff of red soil into coastal seawater—which damages coastal ecosystems and scenery. To elucidate the impacts of red soil pollution on the oxidizing power of seawater, hydrogen peroxide (HOOH) and iron species including Fe(II) and total iron (Fe(tot), defined as the sum of Fe(II) and Fe(III)) were measured simultaneously in seawater from Taira Bay (red-soil-polluted sea) and Sesoko Island (unpolluted sea), off the northern part of Okinawa Island, Japan. We performed simultaneous measurements of HOOH and Fe(II) because the reaction between HOOH and Fe(II) forms hydroxyl radical (•OH), the most potent environmental oxidant. Gas-phase HOOH concentrations were also measured to better understand the sources of HOOH in seawater. Both HOOH and Fe(II) in seawater showed a clear diurnal variation, i.e. higher in the daytime and lower at night, while Fe(tot)concentrations were relatively constant throughout the sampling period. Fe(II) and Fe(tot)concentrations were approximately 58% and 19% higher in red-soil-polluted seawater than in unpolluted seawater. Gas-phase HOOH and seawater HOOH concentrations were comparable at both sampling sites, ranging from 1.4 to 5.4 ppbv in air and 30 to 160 nM in seawater. Since Fe(II) concentrations were higher in red-soil-polluted seawater while concentrations of HOOH were similar, •OH would form faster in red-soil-polluted seawater than in unpolluted seawater. Since the major scavenger of •OH, Br−, is expected to have similar concentrations at both sites, red-soil-polluted seawater is expected to have higher steady-state •OH concentrations.

A large number of human tumor antigens recognized by CD8+cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) have been identified. Some of them have been employed in clinical trials and have achieved some objective responses. However, little is known about those that are recognized by CD4+T cells, except for a very few that were identified from melanomas. Previously, we reported that an oral squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) cell line, OSC–20, was effectively lysed by HLA‐DRB1·08032 (HLA‐DRS)‐restricted autologous CD4+T cell line, TcOSC–20. In this study, we performed two steps of chromatographic purification of the tumor cell lysate in combination with mass spectrometry. We found one reverse‐phase high‐performance liquid chromatography (RP‐HPLC) fraction that was effectively recognized by the T cells. We analyzed the fraction by nano‐liquid chromatography/electrospray ionization ion trap mass spectrometry (LC/MS/MS) and found six representative ions. We could determine the primary amino acid sequence of each of the six ions. Three of them contained a potential HLA‐DR8 binding motif, and TcOSC–20 showed a rather strong cytotoxic response to one of the synthetic pep tides, namely, amino acid residues 321–336 of human a‐enolase. Thus, several gene products of squamous cancer cells are endogenously processed and may be presented on HLA class II molecules, so that they could constitute target molecules for autologous CD4+T cells.

Hydrogenated microcrystalline silicon (μc-Si:H) was prepared by hot-wire chemical vapor deposition (HWCVD) combined with a r.f.-plasma at various r.f.-powers. A dramatic change in the crystallinity and the electron spin density was not observed by introducing the r.f.-plasma. The deposition rate decreased with the distance from the filament in HWCVD. The deposition rate of the sample prepared near the filament decreased with increasing r.f.-power. However, the deposition rate of the sample prepared far from the filament was almost independent of r.f.-power. The effect of the r.f.-plasma in HWCVD on the properties of μc-Si:H was discussed.

Abstract: Objects: We wished to find what pressure changes were caused in Codman-Medos programmable valve by magnetic exposure and filliping. This pressure-adjustable valve system was used in an experimental investigation of the changes measured in the pressure setting following MR exposure and other impulses. Methods: In one experiment, two valves were affixed to a human model: one was installed in the right retroauricular region and the other at the anterior chest wall. The pressure was changed in 58 (80.6%) of 72 tests in the valve in the right retroauricular region and in 46 (63.9%) of 72 tests in the valve at the anterior chest wall. In some tests with the valve pressure originally set at 200 mmH2O striking changes to lower pressures were observed. In the other experiment, the changes of pressure settings in seven patients with a shunt system installed were checked before and after random filliping with the tip of an index finger 50 times. In all 7 patients, the pressures initially set were greatly changed, by up to 120 mmH2O of the maximum range. Conclusions: These results demonstrate that the pressure setting of the shunt system can be changed by various shocks, including magnetic impulses, and that the pressure level of the shunt system must be constantly monitored.

The physiological and morphological properties of color-opponent bipolar cells in the carp retina were studied. Fifty nine OFF-center bipolar cells and 63 ON-center bipolar cells out of about 500 total bipolar cells recorded showed color-opponent responses. The OFF-center color-opponent bipolar cells were classified into three subgroups according to their spectral and spatial responses. Fifty OFF-center color-opponent cells responded with depolarization to a blue light spot and with hyperpolarization to a red spot in the receptive-field center. The polarity of the surround response was opposite to that of center response at each wavelength. Therefore these cells were classified as OFF double-opponent cells (OFF-DO). Eight cells responded with hyperpolarization to a blue and green spot and with depolarization to a red spot. The surround responses of those cells were depolarizing at any wavelength (R+G− cell). One responded with hyperpolarization to a blue and red spot and with depolarization to a green spot. The surround response showed a different spectral characteristic from that of the center response. It responded with depolarization to a blue and green annulus and with hyperpolarization to a red annulus (R−G+B− cell). The ON-center color-opponent bipolar cells were similarly classified into three subgroups. Sixty of ON-center color-opponent cells were the double color-opponent type (ON-DO cell), showing the responses of opposite polarity to the OFF-DO cells. Two cells were classified as R−G+ cell, and one cell as R+G−B+ cell. Both OFF- and ON-DO cells were identified by their morphology as Cajal's giant bipolar cells, and R+G−, R−G+, R−G+B−, and R+G−B+ cells as Cajal's small bipolar cells. The analysis of the latency and the ionic mechanisms of their responses suggest that DO cells under light-adapted conditions receive direct inputs from long-wavelength (red) cones, RG cells from middle-wavelength (green) cones, and RGB cells from short-wavelength (blue) cones. Possible mechanisms of the opponent inputs to these bipolar cells are discussed.

Antigenic peptides have been used as a cancer vaccine in melanoma patients and have led to a drastic regression of metastatic tumors. However, few antigens have been identified in non‐melanoma tumors. We recently purified a new natural antigenic peptide, designated F4.2, by biochemical elution from a human gastric signet cell carcinoma cell line and showed that it is recognized by an autologous human histocompatibility antigen (HLA)‐A31‐restricted cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) clone. Here we describe in vitroinduction of F4.2‐specific CTLs from peripheral blood T lymphocytes of HLA‐A31+gastric cancer patients. The T cells of seven HLA‐A31+patients with gastric cancers were stimulated in vitroby F4.2‐pulsed autologous dendritic cells which had been induced from peripheral blood of each patient by incubation in the presence of granulocyte macrophage colony‐stimulating factor (GM‐CSF) and IL‐4. We tested the cytotoxicity of the T cells against F4.2‐loaded C1R‐A *31012 by a 6‐h 51Cr release assay after 3 stimulations with F4.2‐pulsed dendritic cells. F4.2‐specific cytotoxicity was detectable in the stimulated T cells from two of the seven HLA‐A31+patients. Further, both F4.2‐specific CTLs also lysed the gastric cancer cell line, HST‐2, from which F4.2 was derived. These results suggest that F4.2 peptide may be useful as an HLA‐A31‐restricted peptide vaccine in certain patients with gastric cancer.

The objective of this research is to elucidate the seasonal and inter-annual variations of CO2exchanges between the atmosphere and a temperate deciduous forest in Japan and to elucidate their relation to meteorological conditions. The uptake rates of CO2from October 1993 to December 1996 were estimated from field measurements of CO2concentrations and meteorological conditions using a tower. Net of uptake rate of CO2was positive (uptake by forest ecosystems) from June to September and negative (release to the air) from October to April. Averages of integrated uptake rates of CO2were 840, - 450 and 390 gCO2/m2/year (2.3, - 1.2 and 1.1 tC/ha/year) for daytime, night and whole day (net), but they had notable inter-annual variation due to the differences of averaged insolation and temperature each summer of 1994 to 1996. The errors of CO2flux due to topographical conditions were investigated through comparison with heat budgets. CO2uptake rate estimated by tower measurement might be underestimation of 40%, therefore, above net-uptake value, 1.1 tC/ha/year became 1.8. This value of uptake rate was smaller than the results obtained in other temperate deciduous forests. The causes of this are partially in the difference of the height of the site and the short active period of the present forest. According to the CO2flux measurements in several forests including the present one, the forest ecosystems could be a large sink of CO2, however, more data of the CO2flux is needed at the various forests and latitudes to reduce the uncertainty of estimation of CO2uptake on a global scale.

The objective of this research is to elucidate the seasonal and inter‐annual variations of CO2exchanges between the atmosphere and a temperate deciduous forest in Japan and to elucidate their relation to meteorological conditions. The uptake rates of CO2from October 1993 to December 1996 were estimated from field measurements of CO2concentrations and meteorological conditions using a tower. Net of uptake rate of CO2was positive (uptake by forest ecosystems) from June to September and negative (release to the air) from October to April. Averages of integrated uptake rates of CO2were 840, − 450 and 390 gCO2/m2/year (2.3, − 1.2 and 1.1 tC/ha/year) for daytime, night and whole day (net), but they had notable inter‐annual variation due to the differences of averaged insolation and temperature each summer of 1994 to 1996. The errors of CO2flux due to topographical conditions were investigated through comparison with heat budgets. CO2uptake rate estimated by tower measurement might be underestimation of 40%, therefore, above net‐uptake value, 1.1 tC/ha/year became 1.8. This value of uptake rate was smaller than the results obtained in other temperate deciduous forests. The causes of this are partially in the difference of the height of the site and the short active period of the present forest. According to the CO2flux measurements in several forests including the present one, the forest ecosystems could be a large sink of CO2, however, more data of the CO2flux is needed at the various forests and latitudes to reduce the uncertainty of estimation of CO2uptake on a global scale.

1.The activity of lateral ocellar nerve fibres of the dragonfly was studied with special reference to the activity of efferent fibres.2.Afferent and efferent impulses were recorded from the distal and proximal cut-ends of the ocellar nerve using suction electrodes. The lateral ocellar nerve was found to contain, at least, two kinds of afferent (one large and the other small) and three kinds of efferent (one large and the others small) fibres (Fig. 7).3.The large efferent fibre was activated by illumination of the compound eyes, and also during wingbeat (Figs. 4, 5, and 6).4.In the intact ocellar nerve, the large afferent fibre was also activated during wing-beat, but the evoked discharge was inhibited by illumination (Fig. 2). The result suggests an excitatory pathway from the efferent fibre to the large afferent within the distal synaptic region of the ocellar nerve.5.The impulse activities of wing sensory nerves were recorded relative to the position and movement of the wings (Fig. 10).6.Electric stimulation of a wing sensory nerve produced bursting discharges in efferent fibres in both ipsi- and contra-lateral ocellar nerves (Fig. 11). It is probable that the efferent fibres are excited by input from sense organs in the wing's hinges.

Although cesium adsorbs onto the interlayer of clay minerals, coexisting natural organic matter (NOM) can inhibit this adsorption because of their blocking effect. A large amount of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) in the Pripyat River (= 18 mg L−1) is responsible for the large dissolved fraction of cesium in the river as suggested by cesium LIII-edge EXAFS. In addition, the carbon K-edge NEXAFS by STXM showed that humic acid coats clay minerals in the Pripyat River, which is responsible for the blocking effect.

A model intercomparison of the atmospheric dispersion of cesium‐137 (137Cs) emitted after the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant accident in Japan was conducted to understand the behavior of atmospheric 137Cs in greater detail. The same meteorological data with a fine spatiotemporal resolution and an emission inventory were applied to all models to exclude the differences among the models originating from differences in meteorological and emission data. The meteorological data were used for initial, boundary, and nudging data or offline meteorological field. Furthermore, a horizontal grid with the same resolution as that of the meteorological data was adopted for all models. This setup enabled us to focus on model variability originating from the processes included in each model, for example, physical processes. The multimodel ensemble captured 40% of the atmospheric 137Cs events observed by measurements, and the figure of merit in space for the total deposition of 137Cs exceeded 80. The lower score of the atmospheric 137Cs than that of the deposition originated from the difference in timing between observed and simulated atmospheric 137Cs. Our analyses indicated that meteorological data were most critical for reproducing the atmospheric 137Cs events. The results further revealed that differences in 137Cs concentrations among the models originated from deposition and diffusion processes when the meteorological field was simulated reasonably well. The models with small deposition fluxes produced higher scores for atmospheric 137Cs, and those with strong diffusion succeeded in capturing the high 137Cs concentrations observed; however, they also tended to overestimate the concentrations. A model intercomparison of the atmospheric dispersion of 137Cs using identical input data was conductedDeposition and diffusion were key processes responsible for the differences among the models when the meteorological field was reproducedA score‐weighted ensemble‐mean distribution of the atmospheric 137Cs concentration was created