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Abstract The radioisotope thorium-229 (229Th) is renowned for its extraordinarily low-energy, long-lived nuclear first-excited state. This isomeric state can be excited by vacuum ultraviolet (VUV) lasers and 229Th has been proposed as a reference transition for ultra-precise nuclear clocks. To assess the feasibility and performance of the nuclear clock concept, time-controlled excitation and depopulation of the 229Th isomer are imperative. Here we report the population of the 229Th isomeric state through resonant X-ray pumping and detection of the radiative decay in a VUV transparent 229Th-doped CaF2 crystal. The decay half-life is measured to 447(25) s, with a transition wavelength of 148.18(42) nm and a radiative decay fraction consistent with unity. Furthermore, we report a new “X-ray quenching” effect which allows to de-populate the isomer on demand and effectively reduce the half-life. Such controlled quenching can be used to significantly speed up the interrogation cycle in future nuclear clock schemes.

The most concerning recent ocean changes in temperature issues are known as marine heat waves. Under these conditions, it is important to evaluate the effects of temperature on zooplankton. In this study, we investigated the growth rates of three dominant copepod species (Eucalanus bungii, Metridia pacifica, and Neocalanus plumchrus) in the northern North Pacific under three different temperature conditions (3, 7, and 11°C) using an artificial cohort method. Experimental conditions for 42 hour incubations were set to light intensity and photoperiod corresponding to 50 m depth. The dissolved oxygen solubility after rearing ranged from 69.2% to 102.1%, suggesting sufficient conditions for copepod growth. Chlorophyll a increased in 83% of the experiments, indicating that the food conditions were sufficient for the copepods. The mean proportion of dead specimens evaluated using neutral red was 10.2%, corresponding with the reported values in the field. Thus, it can be concluded that the laboratory-rearing conditions used in this study provided sufficient food, and the only effect evaluated would be that of the three different temperatures. Since the developmental time for each stage is longer than the rearing period, it is important to conduct experiments with a large number of individuals to obtain accurate growth rate results. The specific growth rates of E. bungii and M. pacifica increased with increasing temperature. In contrast, N. plumchrus showed the highest growth rate under moderate water temperature conditions. In terms of weight units (dry, carbon, and nitrogen), the carbon weight-specific growth rates were higher than those of the other two units, a common characteristic of the three species. This reflected lipid accumulation during the late copepodite stages. The interspecies differences in growth rate responses to water temperature reflect species-specific differences in temperature tolerance or the optimum temperature for each species. As E. bungii and M. pacifica reproduce near the surface layer through income breeding, their temperature tolerance or optimum temperature is expected to be high. However, because the reproduction of N. plumchrus occurs in the cold deep layer by using capital breeding, its temperature tolerance and optimum temperature would be lower than those of the former two species.

Abstract Background Few reports have performed a prognostic analysis based on bioelectrical impedance analysis in patients with radical resection of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC), and its usefulness in prognostic analysis remains unclear. This study aimed to evaluate body composition changes in patients undergoing radical resection for PDAC and analyze its impact on prognosis. Methods The medical records of radical resection for patients with PDAC were retrospectively reviewed, and the parameters of body composition, including body weight, skeletal muscle mass, body fat mass (BFM), and extracellular water-total body water ratio, from preoperatively to 12 months postoperatively, for each surgical procedure were measured based on direct segmental multifrequency bioelectrical impedance analysis with an InBody 770 (InBody Inc., Tokyo, Japan) device. The clinicopathological and prognostic factors were analyzed. Results Among 79 patients who underwent radical resection for PDAC, 36 (46%), 7 (8%), and 36 (46%) underwent pancreatoduodenectomy, total pancreatectomy, and distal pancreatectomy, respectively. The multivariate overall survival analysis demonstrated that BFM loss percentage at 1 month postoperatively ≧14% (p = 0.021), lymph node metastasis (p = 0.014), and non-adjuvant chemotherapy (p

Abstract A 62‐year‐old man presented with a 7‐cm cystic lesion with irregularly thickened cyst wall in contact with the pancreatic tail. The pancreatic tail was described as hypoechoic on endoscopic ultrasonography. The cyst subsequently increased rapidly to 13 cm, and surgery was performed. This revealed adenosquamous carcinoma in the pancreatic tail to have invaded the stomach and transverse colon along the cyst wall. The cyst was diagnosed as a retention cyst due to pancreatic tail tumor. Invasion of nearby organs by a pancreatic cancer via the retention cyst wall is very rare, but it is necessary to keep the potential for such progress in mind.

Abstract Background Type 1 autoimmune pancreatitis responds well to glucocorticoid therapy with a high remission rate. Moreover, glucocorticoid maintenance therapy can help prevent relapse. However, the relapse rate following cessation of long-term glucocorticoid therapy is unknown. The aim of this study was to clarify the relapse rate and predictors of relapse following long-term glucocorticoid therapy cessation. Methods We analyzed 94 patients who achieved remission after undergoing glucocorticoid therapy, discontinued treatment after at least 6 months of maintenance therapy, and were subsequently followed up for at least 6 months. The patients were divided into three groups based on treatment duration (

We performed a machine learning-aided analysis of the rolling and recrystallization textures in pure iron with different cold reduction ratios and cold-rolling directions. Five types of specimens with different cold reduction ratios and cold-rolling directions were prepared. The effect of two-way cold-rolling on the rolling texture was small at cold reduction ratios different from 60%. The cold reduction ratio in each stage hardly affected the texture evolution during cold-rolling and subsequent short-term annealing. In the case of long-term annealing, although abnormal grain growth occurred, the crystal orientation of the grains varied. Moreover, the direction of cold-rolling in each stage also hardly affected the texture evolution during cold-rolling and subsequent short-term annealing. During long-term annealing, sheets with the same cold-rolling direction in the as-received state and in the first stage showed the texture evolution of conventional one-way cold-rolled pure iron. Additionally, we conducted a machine learning-aided analysis of rolling and recrystallization textures. Using cold-rolling and annealing conditions as the input data and the degree of Goss orientation development as the output data, we constructed high-accuracy regression models using artificial neural networks and XGBoost. We also revealed that the annealing temperature is the dominant factor in the nucleation of Goss grains.

This study proposes a microscale flow model to estimate mean wind speed, fluctuating wind speed and wind direction over complex terrain considering the effects of topography, atmospheric stability, and turbine wakes. Firstly, the effect of topography is considered using Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD). Next, a mesoscale model is presented to account for the effect of atmospheric stability. The effect of turbine wakes on the mean and fluctuating wind speeds are then represented by an advanced wake model. The model is validated using the measurement data of a wind farm located in the North of Japan. The measured wind data by Lidar at a reference height are horizontally extrapolated to a nearby met mast hub height and validated by a cup anemometer. Moreover, a novel averaging method is proposed to calculate a directional equivalent Monin–Obukhov length scale to account for the effect of atmospheric stability. Finally, the measured wind data at the reference height are vertically extrapolated and validated at the lidar location. The predicted mean and fluctuating wind speeds show good agreement with the measurements.

Hydrozoans are numerically dominant taxa in gelatinous zooplankton communities of the worldwide oceans and play an energy transfer role connecting primary producers and higher trophic level organisms. In the western subarctic Pacific, St. K2 has been established as a long-term time-series monitoring station. Various studies on zooplankton have been conducted, while hydrozoans have not been treated. This study presents the abundance, vertical distribution, and population structure of the dominant hydrozoan species (Aglantha digitale) at St. K2. Samples collected by vertical stratification samplings from eight layers of 0–1000 m both day and night during four seasons in one year. Hydrozoans occur throughout the year. The annual mean abundance of A. digitale was 198.4 ind. m−2 and composed of 91.9% of hydrozoans. The vertical distribution of A. digitale was concentrated for the epipelagic layer (0–200 m), both day and night of the most season. The bell height (BH) of A. digitale ranged between 2.4–18.9 mm. Most of the mature individuals, with gonad length larger than 10% of BH, occurred only in July. The BH of mature individuals ranged from 4.7 to 17.6 mm, with the BH of most mature individuals were larger than >10 mm. Through observation on BH at each sampling layer, small individuals with BH < 6 mm were distributed below 300 m depths throughout the seasons, expanding their vertical distribution to the deeper layers. Inter-region comparison of abundance, maturation body size, and generation length of A. digitale revealed that these parameters are varied with the region and depend on the marine ecosystem structures.

In the oceans, Chaetognatha can contribute significantly to the total zooplankton biomass (up to 10–30%). The genus Eukrohnia, the dominant Chaetognath genus in the western subarctic Pacific, includes E. hamata and E. bathypelagica. Although it has been pointed out that there is no genetic difference between the two species, no study has been made that treats them as the same species group. In this study, we investigated vertical distribution based on the eight vertical stratification samplings down to 1000 m depths conducted day/night at four seasons covering one year, community structure, and population structure of the three dominant Chaetognath species: Parasagitta elegans, E. hamata, and E. bathypelagica in the western subarctic Pacific. The population densities of each species at 0–1000 m water column were 0.04–0.36 ind. m−3 for P. elegans, 0.14–1.60 ind. m−3 for E. hamata, 0.24–1.54 ind. m−3 for E. bathypelagica, and 1.37–2.62 ind. m−3 for Eukrohnia juveniles. The vertical distributions were consistent both day and night, and no diel changes were observed for all species throughout the seasons. The vertical distribution of Chaetognaths evaluated by the distribution center was 61–169 m for P. elegans, 143–206 m for Eukrohnia juveniles, 134–279 m for E. hamata, and 253–612 m for E. bathypelagica. The body length of P. elegans ranged from 4 to 34 mm, and one to three cohorts were identified at each sampling occasion. While the presence of the eight stages has been reported for Eukrohnia, only one to five stages occurred, and specimens belonging to six to eight stages were not observed in the samples throughout the year. The body length of the whole Eukrohnia species ranged from 2 to 14 mm. The body length histograms of the Eukrohnia species group, including E. hamata and E. bathypelagica, and their juveniles showed the presence of two to four cohorts at each sampling date. Within the Eukrohnia species group, vertical changes in body length were present, which were characterized by the smaller specimens occurring at shallower depths, followed by an increase in body length with increasing depths. From the vertical distribution and population structure of the Eukrohnia species group (Eukrohnia juvenile + E. hamata + E. bathypelagica) in this study, there was no difficulty in treating them as one species. It may suggest that E. hamata and E. bathypelagica in the western subarctic Pacific could be treated as one species group. To clarify this point, a detailed genetic analysis of the Eukrohnia species group will be needed for future studies.

Abstract Background Pathological examination by endoscopic ultrasonography–guided fine-needle aspiration (EUS-FNA) has been reported to be useful in diagnosing pancreatic malignant lymphoma (ML), but some ML cases are difficult to be differentiated from pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). Methods This retrospective study included 8 patients diagnosed with ML that had a pancreatic-head lesion at initial diagnosis and 46 patients with resected PDAC in the pancreatic head between April 2006 and October 2021 at our institute. ML and PDAC were compared in terms of patients’ clinical features and imaging examinations. Results The median tumor size was larger in ML than in PDAC (45.8 [24–64] vs. 23.9 [8–44] mm), but the median diameter of the caudal main pancreatic duct (MPD) was larger in PDAC (2.5 [1.0–3.5] vs. 7.1 [2.5–11.8] mm), both showing significant differences between these malignancies (both, P

Drastic environmental changes were noted in the northern Bering Sea in 2018. A reduction in sea ice affected several trophic levels within the ecosystem; this resulted in delayed phytoplankton blooms, the northward shifting of fish stocks, and a decrease in the number of seabirds. Changes in the community composition of zooplankton were reported in 2022, but changes in zooplankton interactions and production have not been reported to date. Therefore, this study examined predator-prey interaction, secondary production, and prey availability for fish to understand the effect of early sea ice melt. Zooplankton size data were estimated from the size spectra obtained using ZooScan based on samples collected in 2017 and 2018. A cluster analysis based on biovolume showed that the zooplankton community could be divided into three groups (Y2017N, Y2017S, Y2018). Y2017N, characterized by low abundance, biomass, and production, Y2017S, characterized by high biovolume and production, which contributed with Calanus spp., and Y2018, characterized by low biovolume but high production, contributed with small copepods, and Bivalvia. In 2017, the highest biovolume group was observed south of St. Lawrence Island, and it was dominated by Calanus spp. and Chaetognatha. Normalized size spectra of this group showed the highest secondary production with present predator-prey interactions, suggesting that the area provides high prey availability for fish larvae and juveniles. In contrast, small copepods and bivalve larvae were dominant in this area in 2018, which contain less carbons and energy, suggesting the prevalence of low-nutrient foods in this year in relation to early sea ice melt.

Calanus glacialis/marshallae is a dominant zooplankton species in the Pacific Arctic Ocean that is widely distributed in shelf areas, and it plays a vital role in connecting primary production to higher trophic levels. Its phenology is well adapted to hydrography, but there is little available information about regional and diel changes in population structure and grazing features. In this study, we investigated C. glacialis/marshallae during autumn 2019 in the Eastern and Northeastern Chukchi and Canadian basins to reveal geographic and diel variations in population structure, body size, grazing activity, and fatty acid composition. The abundance of C. glacialis/marshallae was found to be high on the slopes and low on the shelves. Body size (prosome length) was well described by the Bělehrádek equation combined with in-situ temperature throughout the sampling region. Cluster analyses based on hydrographic parameters were divided into four regions: southern shelf, northern shelf, slope, and basin. The southern shelf was dominated by copepodite stage five (C5) transported from the Bering Sea by Pacific waters. C4 and C5 were dominant on the northern shelf, suggesting that they grew slower than those on the southern shelf, and the populations also exhibited higher concentrations of fatty acids originating from dinoflagellates than those originating from the pan-Arctic Ocean, indicating low productivity in the region. The population on the slope had the highest abundance, C4 was dominant, and large amounts of diatom-derived eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA). These features are attributed to the upwelling of populations and nutrients that support diatom growth. In the basin, the early copepodite stages of composition were distinctly higher than those recorded in previous studies, because larger amounts of organisms flow into the region, resulting in more extended reproduction periods. In the basin, small and large forms of C5 were simultaneously found, and the small form exhibited a diel grazing activity pattern, but the large forms did not. These findings suggest their well adaptation in changing of the Pacific Arctic Ocean.

Abstract It is generally hypothesized that functional connectivity (FC) reflects the underlying structural connectivity (SC). The precuneus is associated with highly integrated cognitive functions. However, our understanding of the structural connections that could underlie them is limited. This study aimed to characterize the cortico-cortical connections by probabilistic tractography. The precuneus corresponds to the five cortical areas (7Am, PCV, 7Pm, 7m, POS2) on the HCP MMP atlas. We first conducted the atlas-based probabilistic tractography. The anterior part (7Am) was strongly connected to the sensorimotor region. The dorsal part (7Am, 7Pm) was highly connected with the adjacent parietal and temporal cortex, while the ventral part (PCV, 7m) showed strong connections with the adjacent posterior cingulate and medial prefrontal cortex. The most posterior part (POS2) was explicitly connected to the visual cortex. In addition, there was a correlation between SC and resting-state fMRI connectivity (Spearman’s rank correlation coefficient = 0.322 ± 0.019, p

Abstract Metabolic reprogramming of cancer cells is a potential target for cancer therapy. It is also known that a hypoxic environment, one of the tumor microenvironments, can alter the energy metabolism from oxidative phosphorylation to glycolysis. However, the relationship between hypoxia and drug sensitivity, which targets energy metabolism, is not well known. In this study, A549 cells, a cell line derived from lung adenocarcinoma, were evaluated under normoxia and hypoxia for the sensitivity of reagents targeting oxidative phosphorylation (metformin) and glycolysis (α-cyano-4-hydroxycinnamic acid [CHC]). The results showed that a hypoxic environment increased the expression levels of monocarboxylate transporter (MCT) 4 and hypoxia-induced factor-1α (HIF-1α), whereas MCT1 and MCT2 expression did not vary between normoxia and hypoxia. Furthermore, the evaluation of the ATP production ratio indicated that glycolysis was enhanced under hypoxic conditions. It was then found that the sensitivity to metformin decreased while that to CHC increased under hypoxia. To elucidate this mechanism, MCT4 and HIF-1α were knocked down and the expression level of MCT4 was significantly decreased under both conditions. In contrast, the expression of HIF-1α was decreased by HIF-1α knockdown and increased by MCT4 knockdown. In addition, changes in metformin and CHC sensitivity under hypoxia were eliminated by the knockdown of MCT4 and HIF-1α, suggesting that MCT4 is involved in the phenomenon described above. In conclusion, it was shown that the sensitivity of reagents targeting energy metabolism is dependent on their microenvironment. As MCT4 is involved in some of these mechanisms, we hypothesized that MCT4 could be an important target molecule for cancer therapy.

Abstract Background When monitoring patients with an intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm (IPMN), it is important to consider both IPMN-derived carcinoma and concomitant ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). The latter is thought to have a poorer prognosis. We retrospectively analyzed the risk factors for concomitant PDAC in IPMN. Methods In total, 547 patients with pancreatic cysts, including IPMNs inappropriate for surgery on initial diagnosis, encountered from April 2005 to June 2019, were reviewed. We performed surveillance by imaging examination once or twice a year. Results Five IPMNs with high-grade dysplasia and one IPMN associated with invasive carcinoma were encountered. In comparison, 14 concomitant PDACs were encountered. The prognosis was very poor for concomitant PDACs. All 14 PDAC patients had IPMNs. In patients with IPMNs, long-standing diabetes mellitus was the only significant risk factor for concomitant PDAC in both univariate and multivariate analyses (P < 0.001 and P < 0.01, respectively). Furthermore, patients with IPMNs and diabetes mellitus had a high frequency of concomitant PDACs (9.5%, 9/95) in a median 48-month surveillance period. Conclusions When monitoring IPMNs, the development of not only IPMN-derived carcinomas but also concomitant PDACs should be considered. During this period, it may be prudent to concentrate on patients with other risk factors for PDAC, such as long-standing diabetes mellitus.

Background The identification of large‐artery stiffness as a major, independent risk factor for cardiovascular disease–associated morbidity and death has focused attention on identifying therapeutic strategies to combat this disorder. Genetic manipulations that delete or inactivate the translin/trax microRNA‐degrading enzyme confer protection against aortic stiffness induced by chronic ingestion of high‐salt water (4%NaCl in drinking water for 3 weeks) or associated with aging. Therefore, there is heightened interest in identifying interventions capable of inhibiting translin/trax RNase activity, as these may have therapeutic efficacy in large‐artery stiffness. Methods and Results Activation of neuronal adenosine A2A receptors (A2ARs) triggers dissociation of trax from its C‐terminus. As A2ARs are expressed by vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs), we investigated whether stimulation of A2AR on vascular smooth muscle cells promotes the association of translin with trax and, thereby increases translin/trax complex activity. We found that treatment of A7r5 cells with the A2AR agonist CGS21680 leads to increased association of trax with translin. Furthermore, this treatment decreases levels of pre‐microRNA‐181b, a target of translin/trax, and those of its downstream product, mature microRNA‐181b. To check whether A2AR activation might contribute to high‐salt water–induced aortic stiffening, we assessed the impact of daily treatment with the selective A2AR antagonist SCH58261 in this paradigm. We found that this treatment blocked aortic stiffening induced by high‐salt water. Further, we confirmed that the age‐associated decline in aortic pre‐microRNA‐181b/microRNA‐181b levels observed in mice also occurs in humans. Conclusions These findings suggest that further studies are warranted to evaluate whether blockade of A2ARs may have therapeutic potential in treating large‐artery stiffness.

Abstrac: Introduction: High-field Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) installations are increasing, and there will be more opportunities to come into contact with higher-resolution images in the future. It is essential to understand how the whole normal brain is depicted in two or three dimensions, as high-resolution images may look different from conventional images. As there are currently limited examples of whole brain labeling on high-field, high-resolution MRI images, we have attempted to do so in this study. Materials and methods; We perform a detailed look at a whole brain 7 T MRI 100-µm slice published by Edlow et al. in 2019. We manually labeled the data in 2D and reconstructed each brain region in 3D. Result; We acquired 92 locations, including brain white matter and neuronal nuclei. Small areas, such as cranial nerves, could be identified in 2D slices, but detailed 3D structures could not be acquired. Discussion; This study is helpful because the very high-resolution 7 T MRI 100-µm imaging allows us to know which areas were identified and which were not and to compare the position and morphology of different brain regions simultaneously. Conclusion; It will be useful to understand high-resolution imaging in view of the findings of this study, which can be revealed from 7 T MRI 100-µm slice whole-brain images.

Abstract The intervention at the stage of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is promising for preventing Alzheimer’s disease (AD). This study aims to search for the optimal machine learning (ML) model to classify early and late MCI (EMCI and LMCI) subtypes using multimodal MRI data. First, the tract-based spatial statistics (TBSS) analyses showed LMCI-related white matter changes in the Corpus Callosum. The ROI-based tractography addressed the connected cortical areas by affected callosal fibers. We then prepared two feature subsets for ML by measuring resting-state functional connectivity (TBSS-RSFC method) and graph theory metrics (TBSS-Graph method) in these cortical areas, respectively. We also prepared feature subsets of diffusion parameters in the regions of LMCI-related white matter alterations detected by TBSS analyses. Using these feature subsets, we trained and tested multiple ML models for EMCI/LMCI classification with cross-validation. Our results showed the ensemble ML model (AdaBoost) with feature subset of diffusion parameters achieved better performance of mean accuracy 70%. The useful brain regions for classification were those, including frontal, parietal lobe, Corpus Callosum, cingulate regions, insula, and thalamus regions. Our findings indicated the optimal ML model using diffusion parameters might be effective to distinguish LMCI from EMCI subjects at the prodromal stage of AD.

Pathological examination is essential for the diagnosis and treatment of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). Moreover, a reliable pathological diagnosis is extremely important for improving prognosis, especially in early-stage PDAC. This study prospectively evaluated the usefulness of repeated pancreatic juice cytology (PJC) using an endoscopic nasopancreatic drainage (ENPD) catheter for the diagnosis of PDAC. We enrolled 82 patients suspected of having resectable PDAC, based on imaging studies, and judged the necessity for cytology. The diagnostic yield of up to six repeated PJCs and the incidence of complications, such as pancreatitis, was evaluated. A total of 60 patients were diagnosed with PDAC. The overall sensitivity and specificity were 46.7% and 95.5%, respectively. The cumulative positivity rate increased with the number of sampling sessions, reaching 58.3% in the sixth session. The sensitivity was significantly higher in the pancreatic head than in the pancreatic tail (p = 0.043). Additionally, it was 100% in four patients with a tumor size ≤10 mm. Pancreatitis occurred in six patients (7.3%), all of whom were treated conservatively. In the diagnosis of PDAC, repeated PJC using an ENPD catheter revealed a cumulative effect of sensitivity up to six times and an excellent diagnostic yield for small PDAC.

Background: The incidence of delirium is high in older patients undergoing cardiovascular surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB). Intraoperative tissue hypoperfusion and re-reperfusion injury, which generate reactive oxygen species (ROS), are suggested to induce delirium. Ascorbic acid is an excellent antioxidant and may reduce organ damage by inhibiting the production of ROS. This prospective observational study aimed to measure pre- and postoperative plasma ascorbic acid levels and examine their association with delirium. Methods: Patients older than 70 years of age scheduled for elective cardiovascular surgery using CPB were enrolled. From September 2020 to December 2021, we enrolled 100 patients, and the data of 98 patients were analyzed. Results: In total, 31 patients developed delirium, while 67 did not. Preoperative plasma ascorbic acid levels did not differ between the non-delirium and delirium groups (6.0 ± 2.2 vs. 5.5 ± 2.4 µg/mL, p = 0.3). Postoperative plasma ascorbic acid levels were significantly different between the groups (2.8 [2.3–3.5] vs. 2.3 [1.6–3.3] µg/mL, p = 0.037). Conclusions: In patients who undergo cardiovascular surgery with CPB, lower postoperative plasma ascorbic acid levels may be associated with the development of delirium.

Aetideidae is a calanoid copepod family dominant in the mesopelagic layer of the Arctic Ocean for which little ecological information is available because species identification, especially of early copepodite stages, is difficult. In this study, we developed a species identification flow for the whole copepodite stages of five sympatric aetideid copepods (Chiridius obtusifrons, Gaetanus tenuispinus, G. brevispinus, Aetideopsis minor, and A. rostrata). Vertical distributions and seasonal population structures of these species were evaluated using a year-round sample time-series collected at the drifting ice station (SHEBA) in the western Arctic Ocean. Combinations of morphological characteristics (prosome length, cephalosome, and prosome widths) were used to identify the early copepodite stages to species. Aetideopsis rostrata was distributed in deep waters (1,032–1,065 m) throughout the year. The other species all were found at 600–700 m during the midnight sun. However, during the polar night, the vertical distributions of each species were distinct, resulting from ascent, descent, or depth maintenance, indicating seasonal vertical migration which may function to reduce inter-specific competition during the polar night when food resources are scarce. Reproduction timing varied among four aetideid copepods: C.obtusifrons and G. tenuispinus showed polar night ascent and reproduction at the end of the polar night, whereas G. brevispinus and A. minor showed descent or depth maintenance during the polar night and reproduction at the beginning of the polar night. There was not sufficient data to examine reproduction timing of A. rostrata. Common for all aetideid species, δ15N values of the adult females indicate more carnivorous feeding modes during the polar night than those in the midnight sun. Such vertical distribution and timing of reproduction variation among these five aetideid copepods may function to reduce species competition in the mesopelagic layer of the Arctic Ocean.

Abstract Background Intraductal tubulopapillary neoplasm (ITPN) of the pancreas is a new disease concept defined by the World Health Organization in 2010. ITPN progresses with tubulopapillary growth in the pancreatic duct and is known to have a fair prognosis. Localization in the main pancreatic duct (MPD) is one characteristic. There are few case reports of ITPN in a branch of the pancreatic duct (BD). Case presentation We encountered a case of ITPN localized in BD. An 85-year-old man was followed after colonic surgery for rectal carcinoma. An abdominal computed tomography scan revealed a cystic mass in the pancreatic head and further examination was done. A T2 weighted intension picture in magnetic resonance imaging showed a 20 mm cystic lesion with an internal mass of 15 mm. Duodenal papilla were slightly open and endoscopic retrograde pancreatography revealed mild and diffuse dilatation of the main pancreatic duct and mucin in the MPD. In consideration with the image examinations, we diagnosed the tumor as an intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm with carcinoma because of its large mural nodule (> 10 mm in size) in a cyst. Consequently, a pancreaticoduodenectomy was performed. Macroscopically, a white solid tumor sized 2.5 × 1.8 × 1.0 was identified in the head of the pancreas. The cut surface of the resected pancreas showed a side-branch type intraductal tumor with tubulopapillary architecture without mucin secretion. Immunohistochemical staining was positive for MUC1, and negative for MUC2 and MUC5AC. The final diagnosis was determined to be pancreatic ITPN from BD. At the time of this report (48 months post-surgery), the patient remains disease-free without evidence of recurrence. Conclusion ITPNs localized in BD are rare and diagnosis prior to surgery is difficult. In our case, the shape was round, not papillary, and with little fluid. These characteristics are different from a branch duct type IPMN and can be a clue to suspect ITPN in BD.

A wire rope is one of the main components of cranes and elevators. The wires of the rope gradually break with long-term use, and the rope eventually leads to fracture. Rope fracture might cause a serious accident, so it is important to clarify the mechanism of rope damage in order to prevent such accidents. In recent years, IWRC ropes, which have become a mainstream crane rope, are found to have wire breakage inside the rope. Therefore, it is difficult to properly identify the damage of a rope by visual observation, and a method to obtain the wire breakage state in the rope cross section including the inner wires is required. This study proposes a method for estimating the position of wires in the rope cross-section based on geometrical formulation. A damaged rope including wire breakage was produced by S-bending fatigue test, and the locations of wire breakages were estimated by this method. As a result of evaluating the positional relationship between the wire breakage position and the S-bending fatigue test sheave, it was clarified that the relationship between the area prone to wire breakage and the wire position relative to the rope or the test sheave was different for each type of wire. Furthermore, by comparing the wire breakage positions obtained from the cross-sectional images taken by X-ray CT, it was confirmed that the developed method can predict the wire breakage positions with sufficient accuracy to evaluate the damage status of ropes. This study makes it possible to evaluate the relationship between the fatigue test conditions and each wire in the rope cross-section, which is expected to further analyze the damage mechanism of wire ropes.

Abstract The neuroinflammation in the ischemic brain could occur as sterile inflammation in response to damage-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs). However, its long-term dynamic transcriptional changes remain poorly understood. It is also unknown whether this neuroinflammation contributes to the recovery or just deteriorates the outcome. The purpose of this study is to characterize the temporal transcriptional changes in the post-stroke brain focusing on DAMPs-related genes by RNA-sequencing during the period of 28 days. We conducted the RNA-sequencing on day 1, 3, 7, 14, 28 post-stroke in the mouse photothrombosis model. The gross morphological observation showed the ischemic lesion on the ipsilateral cortex turned into a scar with the clearance of cellular debris by day 28. The transcriptome analyses indicated that post-stroke period of 28 days was classified into four categories (I Baseline, II Acute, III Sub-acute-#1, IV Sub-acute-#2 phase). During this period, the well-known genes for DAMPs, receptors, downstream cascades, pro-inflammatory cytokines, and phagocytosis were transcriptionally increased. The gene ontology (GO) analysis of biological process indicated that differentially expressed genes (DEGs) are genetically programmed to achieve immune and inflammatory pathways. Interestingly, we found the biphasic induction of various genes, including DAMPs and pro-inflammatory factors, peaking at acute and sub-acute phases. At the sub-acute phase, we also observed the induction of genes for phagocytosis as well as regulatory and growth factors. Further, we found the activation of CREB (cAMP-response element binding protein), one of the key players for neuronal plasticity, in peri-ischemic neurons by immunohistochemistry at this phase. Taken together, these findings raise the possibility the recurrent inflammation occurs at the sub-acute phase in the post-stroke brain, which could be involved in the debris clearance as well as neural reorganization.

A remarkable early sea-ice reduction event was observed in the northern Bering Sea during 2018. In turn, this unusual hydrographic phenomenon affected several marine trophic levels, resulting in delayed phytoplankton blooms, phytoplankton community changes, and a northward shift of fish stocks. However, the response of the zooplankton community remains uncharacterized. Therefore, our study sought to investigate the zooplankton community shifts in the northern Bering Sea during the summers of 2017 and 2018 and evaluate the effects of early sea-ice melt events on the zooplankton community, population structure of large copepods, and copepod production. Five zooplankton communities were identified based on cluster analysis. Further, annual changes in the zooplankton community were identified in the Chirikov Basin. In 2017, the zooplankton community included abundant Pacific copepods transported by the Anadyr water. In 2018, however, the zooplankton community was dominated by small copepods and younger stages of large copepods (Calanus glacialis/marshallae and Metridia pacifica), which was likely caused by reproduction delays resulting from the early sea-ice reduction event. These environmental abnormalities increased copepod production; however, this higher zooplankton productivity did not efficiently reach the higher trophic levels. Taken together, our findings demonstrated that zooplankton community structure and production are highly sensitive to the environmental changes associated with early sea-ice reduction (e.g., warm temperatures and food availability).

Aortic calcification in the tunica media is correlated with aortic stiffness, elastin degradation, and wall shear stress. The study aim was to determine if aortic calcifications influence disease progression in patients with acute type A aortic dissection (ATAAD). We retrospectively reviewed a total of 103 consecutive patients who had undergone surgery for ATAAD at our institution between January 2009 and December 2019. Of these, 85 patients who had preoperatively undergone plain computed tomography angiography (CTA) for evaluation of their aortic calcification were included. Moreover, we assessed the progression of aortic dissection after surgery via postoperative CTA. Using a classification and regression tree to identify aortic Agatston score thresholds predictive of disease progression, the patients were classified into high-score (Agatston score ≥ 3344; n = 36) and low-score (

A 61-year-old woman was admitted to our hospital with productive cough and fever. Computed tomography images revealed ground glass opacities in both lung fields, and a space-occupying lesion in the gallbladder. Transbronchial lung biopsy revealed a poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma with invasion of the lymph ducts; accordingly, a diagnosis of lymphangitis carcinomatosa was made. We could not administer chemotherapy due to poor performance status, and the patient died of respiratory failure 30 days after admission. Owing to pathological autopsy findings of poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma in the gallbladder, we diagnosed this as a rare case of gallbladder cancer presenting with lymphangitis carcinomatosa.

Background: Endovascular treatment of aortic aneurysm is associated with an increase in pulse wave velocity (PWV) after surgery. However, the effect of different types of endovascular devices on PWV at different sites of the thoracic aorta remains unclear.Objectives: The purposes of this study were (1) to investigate the changes in PWV after endovascular treatment of thoracic aortic aneurysm; (2) to evaluate whether there is a difference in the changes in PWV at different treatment sites; and (3) to evaluate the effect of treatment length on changes in PWV.Methods: From July 2008 to July 2021, 276 patients underwent endovascular treatment of the true thoracic aortic aneurysm. Of these patients, 183 patients who underwent preoperative and postoperative PWV measurement within 1 year of surgery were included in the study. The treatment length index was calculated by treatment length divided by the height of the patients.Results: Five different types of endovascular devices were used (Najuta, Kawasumi Laboratories, Inc., Tokyo, Japan; TAG, W.L. Gore & Associates, Inc., AZ, USA; Relay, Bolton Medical, Inc., FL, USA; Talent/Valiant, Medtronic, MN, USA; and Zenith, Cook Medical, IN, USA). There was no significant change in PWV in patients receiving Najuta (Before: 2,040 ± 346.8 cm/s vs. After: 2,084 ± 390.5 cm/s, p = 0.14). However, a significant increase was observed in other devices: TAG (Before: 2,090 ± 485.9 cm/s vs. After: 2,300 ± 512.1 cm/s, p = 0.025), Relay (Before: 2,102 ± 465.3 cm/s vs. After: 2,206 ± 444.4 cm/s, p = 0.004), Valiant (Before: 1,696 ± 330.2 cm/s vs. After: 2,186 ± 378.7 cm/s, p < 0.001), and Zenith (Before: 2,084 ± 431.7 cm/s vs. After: 2,321 ± 500.6 cm/s, p < 0.001). There was a significant increase in PWV in patients treated from aortic arch (Before: 2,006 ± 333.7 cm/s vs. After: 2,132 ± 423.7 cm/s, p < 0.001) and patients treated from descending thoracic aorta (Before: 2,116 ± 460.9 cm/s vs. After: 2,292 ± 460.9 cm/s, p < 0.001). Multivariate analysis showed that treatment site was not an independent factor associated with changes in PWV. However, Najuta (Coef −219.43, 95% CI −322.684 to −116.176, p < 0.001) and treatment index (Coef 147.57, 95% CI 24.826 to 270.312, p = 0.019) were independent factors associated with changes in PWV.Conclusion: Najuta did not show a significant increase in PWV, while other commercially available devices showed a significant increase. The treatment site did not have a different effect on PWV. However, the treatment length was an independent factor associated with an increase in PWV.

Recent advancements in surgical and anti-cancer therapies have provided significant hope of long survival in patients with pancreatic cancer (PC). To realize this hope, routine medical checkups of asymptomatic people should be performed to identify operable PCs. In this study, we evaluated the efficacy of medical checkups using abdominal ultrasonography (US). We retrospectively analyzed 374 patients with PC at our institute between 2010 and 2021. We divided these patients into several groups according to the diagnostic approach and compared their background and prognosis. These groups comprised PCs diagnosed through (a) symptoms, 242 cases; (b) US during medical checkup for asymptomatic individuals, 17; and other means. Of the 374 patients, 192 were men (51.3%), and the median age was 74 years (34–105). Tumors were located in the pancreatic tail in 67 patients (17.9%). Excision ratio and 5-year survival rate were significantly better in group (b) than in (a) (58.8% vs. 23.1%, p < 0.01 and 42.2% vs. 9.4%, p < 0.001, respectively). The prognosis of patients diagnosed using US during medical checkup was better than that of patients identified through symptomatic presentation of PC. US for asymptomatic individuals with PC might be one of the useful modalities for promoting better prognosis of PCs.

In the present study, we attempted to control the pH profile of the catalytic activity of the industrially relevant alkaline protease KP-43, by incorporating 3-nitro-l-tyrosine and 3-chloro-l-tyrosine at and near the catalytic site. Thirty KP-43 variants containing these non-natural amino acids at the specific positions were synthesized in Escherichia coli host cells with expanded genetic codes. The variant with 3-nitrotyrosine at position 205, near the substrate binding site, retained its catalytic activity at the neutral pH and showed a 60% activity reduction at pH 10.5. This reduction in the alkaline domain is desirable for enhancing the stability of the enzyme in the liquid laundary detergent, whereas the wild-type molecule showed a 20% increase in response to the same pH shift. The engineered pH dependency of the activity of the variant was ascribed partly to a lowered substrate affinity under the alkaline conditions, in which the incorporated 3-nitrotyrosine was probably charged negatively due to the phenolic pKa lower than that of tyrosine. Keywords: Detergent enzyme, Alkaline protease, Nitrotyrosine, Chlorotyrosine, Protein engneerings

Careful auscultation is the first step to diagnose aortic stenosis (AS). The aim of this study was to compare clinical outcomes following transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) between the patients primarily diagnosed by heart murmur and those diagnosed by other reasons. We retrospectively included 258 patients who underwent TAVI in our medical center, and divided those into the murmur group (n = 81) and the other-reason group (n = 177) according to the primary reason for AS diagnosis. The primary endpoint was the major adverse cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events (MACCE), which was defined as the composite of cardiovascular death, hospitalization due to acute decompensated heart failure, and disabling stroke. The murmur group included younger patients than the other-reason group (82.8 year-old vs. 84.0 year-old, P = 0.02). History of AF was more frequently observed in the other-reason group than in the murmur group (21.5% vs. 7.4%, P

We recently identified a nuclear-encoded miRNA (miR-181c) in cardiomyocytes that can translocate into mitochondria to regulate mitochondrial gene mt-COX1 and influence obesity-induced cardiac dysfunction through the mitochondrial pathway. Because liver plays a pivotal role during obesity, we hypothesized that miR-181c might contribute to the pathophysiological complications associated with obesity. Therefore, we used miR-181c/d-/- mice to study the role of miR-181c in hepatocyte lipogenesis during diet-induced obesity. The mice were fed a high-fat (HF) diet for 26 weeks, during which indirect calorimetric measurements were made. Quantitative PCR (qPCR) was used to examine the expression of genes involved in lipid synthesis. We found that miR-181c/d-/- mice were not protected against all metabolic consequences of HF exposure. After 26 weeks, the miR-181c/d-/- mice had a significantly higher body fat percentage than did wild-type (WT) mice. Glucose tolerance tests showed hyperinsulinemia and hyperglycemia, indicative of insulin insensitivity in the miR-181c/d-/- mice. miR-181c/d-/- mice fed the HF diet had higher serum and liver triglyceride levels than did WT mice fed the same diet. qPCR data showed that several genes regulated by isocitrate dehydrogenase 1 (IDH1) were more upregulated in miR-181c/d-/- liver than in WT liver. Furthermore, miR-181c delivered in vivo via adeno-associated virus attenuated the lipogenesis by downregulating these same lipid synthesis genes in the liver. In hepatocytes, miR-181c regulates lipid biosynthesis by targeting IDH1. Taken together, the data indicate that overexpression of miR-181c can be beneficial for various lipid metabolism disorders.

The influence of cold-rolling directions on the recrystallization texture evolution of pure iron was examined. As-received pure iron sheets were cold-rolled under two different conditions (specimens A and B). Specimen A was cold-rolled in the vertical direction against the cold-rolling direction of the as-received sheet. Specimen B was cold-rolled in the vertical direction against the cold-rolling direction of the as-received sheet, and then in the cold-rolling direction of the as-received sheet. Cold-rolled specimens were heated to each desired temperature before being quenched in water to room temperature (298 ± 2 K). Both cold-rolled specimens showed the development of γ-fiber and {100} orientation. Additionally, γ-fiber formed comparatively more in cold-rolled specimen A, while α-fiber developed comparatively more in cold-rolled specimen B. Strain distribution in cold-rolled specimen A was presumably inhomogeneous, whereas that in cold-rolled specimen B was rather uniform at the macro-scale. The formation of γ-fiber was confirmed in annealed specimen A. In annealed specimen B, however, the recrystallization texture tended to be random, and the formation of α-fiber was observed. Furthermore, the formation of Goss orientation in both annealed specimens was established. Recrystallized ferrite grains with Goss orientation nucleated in high strain regions of cold-rolled specimen. These findings show that by devising the cold-rolling direction, it is possible to discover new types of recrystallization textures.

For the design of floating offshore wind turbines (FOWT), all the load cases need to be calculated by using a coupled model of wind turbine and platform, while the uncoupled approach will help to reduce the number of simulations for the design and optimization of floating offshore wind turbines. In this study, the effects of the wind and wave actions on the tower loading of a FOWT were investigated and an uncoupled approach for the load calculation was proposed and verified by comparing with the result of coupled simulation. First, the effect of elastic platform was considered by tuning the Young’s modulus of the tower material when rigid platform model was used in the analysis. The effect of wind and wave actions on the loading of the tower was then investigated. It was found that the difference of the wind load between fixed and floating wind turbines is observed only in the mean component and can be predicted by considering the hydrostatic stiffness of the platform and mooring stiffness. The standard deviation of the fore-aft tower moment increased as the significant wave heights increased when the mean wind speeds and peak wave periods were fixed. This is caused by the increase of the inertia force induced by the pitch and surge motions of the platform and the increase of the fluctuating pitch angle. On the other hand, the standard deviation of the fore-aft tower moment decreased as the peak periods increased when the mean wind speeds and significant wave heights were fixed. The increase of the peak period caused the decrease of the pitch and surge accelerations of the platform and results in the decrease of the inertia force. Finally, the tower loading in extreme sea states during power production was carried out by using the proposed uncoupled approach and the results showed good agreement with those by the coupled approach, and the simulation time was reduced to 1/40.

Background Male patients with Marfan syndrome have a higher risk of aortic events and root dilatation compared with females. The role androgens play during Marfan syndrome aneurysm development in males remains unknown. We hypothesized that androgens potentiate transforming growth factor beta induced Erk (extracellular‐signal‐regulated kinase)/Smad activation, contributing to aneurysm progression in males. Methods and Results Aortic diameters in Fbn1C1039G/+ and littermate wild‐type controls were measured at ages 6, 8, 12, and 16 weeks. Fbn1C1039G/+ males were treated with (1) flutamide (androgen receptor blocker) or (2) vehicle control from age 6 to 16 weeks and then euthanized. p‐Erk1/2, p‐Smad2, and matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) activity were measured in ascending/aortic root and descending aorta specimens. Fbn1C1039G/+ male and female ascending/aortic root‐derived smooth muscle cells were utilized in vitro to measure Erk/Smad activation and MMP‐2 activity following dihydrotestosterone, flutamide or transforming growth factor beta 1 treatment. Fbn1C1039G/+ males have increased aneurysm growth. p‐Erk1/2 and p‐Smad2 were elevated in ascending/aortic root specimens at age 16 weeks. Corresponding with enhanced Erk/Smad signaling, MMP‐2 activity was higher in Fbn1C1039G/+ males. In vitro smooth muscle cell studies revealed that dihydrotestosterone potentiates transforming growth factor beta‐induced Erk/Smad activation and MMP‐2 activity, which is reversed by flutamide treatment. Finally, in vivo flutamide treatment reduced aneurysm growth via p‐Erk1/2 and p‐Smad2 reduction in Fbn1C1039G/+ males. Conclusions Fbn1C1039G/+ males have enhanced aneurysm growth compared with females associated with enhanced p‐Erk1/2 and p‐Smad2 activation. Mechanistically, in vitro smooth muscle cell studies suggested that dihydrotestosterone potentiates transforming growth factor beta induced Erk/Smad activation. As biological proof of concept, flutamide treatment attenuated aneurysm growth and p‐Erk1/2 and p‐Smad2 signaling in Fbn1C1039G/+ males.

In current mechanical machining technology, it is not easy to form an internal space shape inside a metal workpiece through a small-diameter entrance hole only by removal process. On the other hand, EDM is one of thermal machining methods that removes the material by the high temperature of discharges, and the tool electrode does not contact to the workpiece. The machining force acting on the electrode is very small. Therefore, it is highly expected that internal space shape may be machined if an optimum electrode structure can be designed. This study proposes a new internal space machining method by EDM using a revolution ball electrode consisting of a vertical rotation rod, a tilting rod, and an electrode ball. Experimental results show that the tilting angle between the vertical rotation rod and the tilting one can be changed by the rotation speed, and the electrode ball position can be controlled. Then, machining of some axially-symmetric spacial shapes, such as cylindrical shape and spherical one into a zinc alloy workpiece was succeeded. In addition, machining of internal space shapes by simultaneous two-axis control of the tilting angle and Z coordinate of electrode was possible. Therefore, this method has high possibility to create axially symmetric spatial shapes inside the metal.

Aortic dissection may induce a systemic inflammatory reaction. The etiological backgrounds for elevation of the white blood cell count remain to be clarified. In 466 patients with acute type A aortic dissection treated surgically within 48 hours of symptom onset, the etiologic background of an elevated admission white blood cell count and the effect of such elevation on outcomes were assessed retrospectively. Patients' white blood cell count differed significantly in relation to the extent of dissection, with a median (25th, 75th percentile) white blood cell count of 10.4 (8.1, 13.9) x 103/μL for dissection confined to the ascending aorta, 10.5 (8.2,13.) 103/μL for dissection extending to the aortic arch/descending aorta, 11.1 (8.2, 13.7) x 103/μL for extension to the abdominal aorta, and 13.3 (9.8, 15.9) x 103/μL for extension to the iliac artery (p

This work aimed to design a facile preparation of sandwich-liked Ge nanoparticles/nitrogen-doped reduced graphene oxide (Ge/NrGO) nanocomposites used as anode in lithium-ion batteries through the chemical solution route. The advanced electron microscopy, STEM-HAADF and STEM-EDS mapping, evidenced that the individual Ge particles with sizes ranging from 5 to 20 nm were distributed and wrapped as sandwiches within the multi-layered NrGO sheets, which were mainly composed of the pyridinic-N form (4.8%wt.). The battery performances of the 20Ge/NrGO nanocomposite anode exhibit a high reversible capacity (700 mAh g−1) and retained its outstanding stability during long-term cycling. The internal resistance (28.0 Ω) was also decreased after cycling, according to EIS measurement. The sandwiched structure of Ge-based nanocomposite with the interconnected NrGO layers discussed in this article possessed the high-performance LIBs with great potential application in energy storage technologies.

A maximum instantaneous wind speed forecast methodology based on the autoregressive with exogenous inputs (ARX) model is proposed, in which numerical weather prediction and on-site measurement are used as inputs and the model parameters are estimated using non-parametric regression with forgetting factors. The accuracy of prediction using a proposed dynamic model is then evaluated and compared to the conventional static model output statistics (MOS) model. It is found that the prediction accuracy is improved by utilizing numerical weather prediction with a higher horizontal resolution. Finally, the predictability of the maximum instantaneous wind speed higher than 15m/s is evaluated using the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve and the area under the curve (AUC). The optimal quantile level of the maximum instantaneous wind speed is derived using a cost function.

Early diagnosis of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is challenging but essential for improving its poor prognosis. We established a multicenter study to clarify the clinicopathological features, and to propose new algorithm for early diagnosis of PDAC. Ninety-six patients with stage 0 and IA PDAC were enrolled from 13 high-volume centers. Overall, 70% of the patients were asymptomatic. The serum pancreatic enzyme levels were abnormal in half of the patients. The sensitivity of endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS) for detecting small PDAC was superior to computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) (82%, 58%, and 38%, respectively). Indirect imaging findings were useful to detect early-stage PDAC; especially, main pancreatic duct stenosis on MRI had the highest positive rate of 86% in stage 0 patients. For preoperative pathological diagnosis, the sensitivity of endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP)-associated pancreatic juice cytology was 84%. Among the stage IA patients, EUS-guided fine-needle aspiration revealed adenocarcinoma in 93% patients. For early diagnosis of PDAC, it is essential to identify asymptomatic patients and ensure close examinations of indirect imaging findings and standardization of preoperative pathological diagnosis. Therefore, a new diagnostic algorithm based on tumor size and imaging findings should be developed.

The distribution of growth-inhibiting bacteria (GIB) against the toxic dinoflagellate Alexandrium catenella (Group I) was investigated targeting seagrass leaves and surface waters at the seagrass bed of Akkeshi-ko Estuary and surface waters of nearshore and offshore points of Akkeshi Bay, Japan. Weekly samplings were conducted from April to June in 2011. GIBs were detected from surface of leaves of the seagrass Zostera marina in Akkeshi-ko Estuary (7.5 × 105–4.7 × 106 colony-forming units: CFU g−1 wet leaf) and seawater at the stations in Akkeshi Bay (6.7 × 100–1.1 × 103 CFU mL−1). Sequence analyses revealed that the same bacterial strains with the same 16S rRNA sequences were isolated from the surface biofilm of Z. marina and the seawater in the Akkeshi Bay. We therefore strongly suggested that seagrass beds are the source of algicidal and growth-inhibiting bacteria in coastal ecosystems. Cells of A.catenella were not detected from seawaters in Akkeshi-ko Estuary and the coastal point of Akkeshi Bay, but frequently detected at the offshore point of Akkeshi Bay. It is suggested that A.catenella populations were suppressed by abundant GIBs derived from the seagrass bed, leading to the less toxin contamination of bivalves in Akkeshi-ko Estuary.

An advanced pitch controller is proposed for the load mitigation of wind turbines. This study focuses on the nacelle acceleration feedback control and lidar-based feedforward control, and discusses how these controllers contribute to reduce the load on wind turbines. The nacelle acceleration feedback control increases the damping ratio of the first mode of wind turbines, but it also increases the fluctuation in the rotor speed and thrust force, which results in the optimum gain value. The lidar-based feedforward control reduces the fluctuation in the rotor speed and the thrust force by decreasing the fluctuating wind load on the rotor, which reduces the fluctuating load on the tower. The combination of the nacelle acceleration feedback control and the lidar-based feedforward control successfully reduces both the response of the tower first mode and the fluctuation in the rotor speed at the same time.