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One of the difficulties in the treatment of esophageal cancer surgery is the high rate of postoperative recurrence. After esophagectomy, distant metastatic recurrence frequently occurs in the lung. This study aimed to determine the clinical features of a recurrence pattern with lung metastasis.The current study analyzed data from 138 patients who had postoperative recurrence of esophageal cancer after a radical esophagectomy. According to the recurrence pattern at the time of initial diagnosis, the patients were classified into two groups as follows: those with lung metastasis and those without.Twenty-three of the 138 investigated patients had a recurrence pattern with lung metastasis. Salvage surgery and postoperative pneumonia (p = 0.041 and 0.030, respectively) were identified as risk factors for recurrence pattern with lung metastasis in multivariate analysis. When we compared the sites of primary esophageal tumors, we found that the frequencies of distant metastases, such as lung and liver metastases, as well as pleural/peritoneal dissemination, were higher in the mid and distal esophageal tumors. Patients with a recurrence pattern showing lung metastasis alone had a better overall and post-recurrence survival than those with other recurrence patterns (p 0.001 and p 0.001).In patients who had postoperative recurrence after esophagectomy for thoracic esophageal cancer, salvage surgery, and postoperative pneumonia were significantly related to recurrence pattern with lung metastasis. Postoperative recurrence with lung metastasis alone had a better prognosis than other recurrence patterns; therefore, when pulmonary recurrence is suspected, performing intensive examinations for early diagnosis is critical.

Systematic inflammation has been reported to contribute to cancer progression through various mechanisms; however, the exact mechanism is still the subject of research. In this study, we evaluated the influence of systematic inflammation on lung metastasis, using a murine abdominal sepsis model, and assessed its relationship with pneumonia after curative esophagectomy in patients with esophageal cancer.We used a murine abdominal sepsis model given highly metastatic osteosarcoma, to reveal the mechanism of systematic inflammation and its potential for lung metastasis. The therapeutic effect of aspirin (ASA) in preventing distant metastasis was also investigated. Subsequently, we analyzed, retrospectively, the relationship between pneumonia and lung metastasis after esophagectomy in patients who underwent esophagectomy at Keio University between January, 2007 and October, 2020.Abdominal sepsis provoked lung injury in the acute phase. ASA inhibited the recruitment of neutrophils triggered by the lung injury, and it also suppressed lung metastasis. Our retrospective study revealed that lung metastasis was more frequent in patients with postoperative pneumonia.Postoperative acute lung injury is associated with a higher risk of lung metastasis. ASA may be a potential preoperative treatment for inhibiting lung metastasis by preventing the recruitment of neutrophils.

Dynamic changes in the abundance, composition, and size spectra of dissolved organic matter (DOM) in different size-fractions between influent and effluent from Milwaukee metropolitan wastewater tr...

Higher relative dose intensity (RDI) of chemotherapy improves the clinical outcomes of various cancers. The psoas muscle index (PMI) is related to sarcopenia, and patients with low PMI have worse prognoses. However, few studies have demonstrated its clinical relevance in gastric cancer.This retrospective study included 188 stage II/III gastric cancer patients who had undergone curative gastrectomy between January 2013 and March 2017, 124 of whom had received postoperative S-1 adjuvant chemotherapy.Per receiver operating characteristic analysis, patients were divided into high and low RDI groups, between which relapse-free survival differed marginally significantly and disease-specific survival differed significantly. In patients who received adjuvant chemotherapy, multivariate analysis found that high RDI and low PMI reduction rate 1 year after surgery were significantly associated with better relapse-free survival. Low RDI can be predicted by a combination of low preoperative PMI and non-distal gastrectomy, whereas high PMI reduction rate at 1 year can be affected by non-distal gastrectomy.High RDI with preserved psoas muscle up to 1 year after gastrectomy may be associated with prognoses in gastric cancer requiring postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy. Since RDI and PMI reduction rate can be predicted preoperatively, respectively, interventional consideration is possible for optimal adjuvant therapy in gastric cancer.

This study aimed to clarify the relationship between obesity and postoperative C-reactive protein (CRP) and assess the usefulness of obesity status-adjusted CRP levels for predicting early complications following laparoscopic gastrectomy for gastric cancer. This study retrospectively analyzed 527 patients who underwent laparoscopic gastrectomy for gastric cancer between January 2013 and March 2019. Patients were classified into three groups according to body mass index (BMI): BMI < 20; BMI ≥ 20 to < 25; and BMI ≥ 25. The correlation between BMI and perioperative CRP was investigated in 447 patients, excluding 80 with postoperative complications. The optimal CRP cutoff value of Clavien–Dindo (CD) grade ≥ 3 for predicting severe complications for each group was determined. BMI was significantly correlated with CRP on postoperative day (POD) 3 (p < 0.001) in 447 patients without complications. According to the receiver operating characteristic curve analysis, CRP cutoff values on POD 3 for predicting severe complications were 92.4, 111.1, and 171.9 in the BMI < 20, BMI ≥ 20 to < 25, and BMI ≥ 25 groups, respectively. In multivariate analysis for CD grade ≥ 3 complications, cardiac history and POD 3 CRP levels higher than the adjusted cutoff were identified as independent factors significantly associated with severe complications (p = 0.021 and 0.015, respectively). CRP cutoff values on POD 3 adjusted for BMI were useful for predicting severe complications in gastrectomy for gastric cancer.

Bleeding from unresectable gastric cancer is a localized condition that adversely affects quality of life. Radiotherapy can be used to treat gastric cancer bleeding when surgery, endoscopic treatment, and intravascular embolization are ineffective. This study evaluated the utility of radiotherapy for unresectable hemorrhagic gastric cancer. We retrospectively analyzed data from 33 patients with gastric cancer bleeding who underwent palliative radiotherapy in our hospital between April 2013 and May 2020. In this study, successful hemostasis was defined as > 1 month after starting radiotherapy with the patient alive and showing no need for blood transfusion, no drop in hemoglobin, and no evidence of melena or hematemesis. Patients comprised 26 men (79%) and 7 women (21%), with a median age of 71 years (range, 41–78 years). Hemostasis was achieved in 24 patients (73%). Thirty-two patients (94%) have been discharged home or transferred to the hospice. Patients with successful hemostasis from radiotherapy showed significantly longer overall survival than patients with unsuccessful hemostasis (p = 0.0026). No toxicities of grade 2 or more were encountered. This retrospective study found that palliative radiotherapy for gastric cancer bleeding was useful and safe and can improve remaining quality of life in patients with poor prognosis.

Despite previous reports on the clinical significance of plasma fibrinogen (FNG) levels as a prognostic indicator of ESCC, its underlying mechanism remains unclear. This study aimed to validate the prognostic impact of plasma FNG levels and clarify its relationship with primary tumors in patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC).The prognostic impact of FNG was evaluated in patients with ESCC who underwent esophagectomy between 2000 and 2019. The RNA sequencing of the primary ESCC site, which was from pre-operative biopsy, was performed, followed by immune profile characterization using an immunogram. Those profiles were assessed via the immunohistochemical staining of tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) and clinical response to nivolumab.Multivariate analysis identified FNG as a significant prognostic factor in ESCC. The immunogram suggested an immunosuppressive tumor environment in the high-FNG group. Immunostaining with the TAM markers CD163 and CD204, revealed that the high-FNG group had significantly higher number of TAMs compared with the low-FNG group. The immunosuppressive characteristics were clinically validated in patients with metastatic ESCC; those who had elevated FNG levels showed poor response to nivolumab.This study successfully validated the prognostic impact of plasma FNG levels in an expanded cohort with ESCC. Accordingly, our findings showed that increased plasma FNG reflects an immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment that facilitates tumor progression and poor responses to nivolumab.

When the wastewater volume exceeds the sewer pipe capacity during extreme rainfall events, untreated sewage discharges directly into rivers as combined sewer overflow (CSO). To compare the impacts of CSOs and stormwater on urban waterways, we assessed physicochemical water quality, the 16S rRNA gene-based bacterial community structure, and EcoPlate-based microbial functions during rainfall periods in an urban waterway before and after a stormwater storage pipe was commissioned. A temporal variation analysis showed that CSOs have significant impacts on microbial function and bacterial community structure, while their contributions to physicochemical parameters, bacterial abundance, and chlorophyll a were not confirmed. Heat map analysis showed that the impact of CSO on the waterway bacterial community structure was temporal and the bacterial community composition in CSO is distinct from that in sewers. Hierarchical clustering analysis revealed that the waterway physicochemical water qualities, bacterial community composition, and microbial community function were distinguishable from the upper reach of the river, rather than between CSO and stormwater. Changes in the relative abundance of tetracycline resistance (tet) genes—especially tet(M)—were observed after CSOs but did not coincide with changes in the microbial community composition, suggesting that the parameters affecting the microbial community composition and relative abundance of tet genes differ. After pipe implementation, however, stormwater did not contribute to the abundance of tet genes in the waterway. These results indicate that CSO-induced acute microbial disturbances in the urban waterway were alleviated by the implementation of a stormwater storage pipe and will support the efficiency of storage pipe operation for waterway management in urban areas.

Although the American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) score of 3 is relatively common in elderly patients, there have been few debates on the indications for gastrectomy in elderly gastric cancer (GC) patients with ASA3. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate gastrectomy's clinical relevance in elderly patients with GC and ASA3.We retrospectively analyzed 228 consecutive elderly GC patients (aged ≥ 75 years) without prior treatments who underwent curative gastrectomy between 2013 and 2017.Thirty-three patients with ASA3 showed significantly poorer prognosis than those with ASA1 and 2 (p = 0.004). The multivariate Cox proportional hazards model showed that ASA3 (p = 0.021) and pStage (p = 0.007) were independent prognostic factors, respectively. Elderly GC patients with pStage III and ASA3 exhibited uniquely dismal prognosis (p 0.001); however, several survivors were still confirmed. Postoperative complications (PCs) were only the final remnant independent prognostic factor (p = 0.020) among the 33 elderly GC patients with ASA3, where dead patients included cancer-specific and other deaths, especially pneumonia. PCs were independently associated with prognostic nutritional index (PNI) ( 42.7) in elderly GC patients, and the most frequent complication was pneumonia, which was significantly associated with ASA3 and marginally associated with PNI in a multivariate analysis.ASA3 has a dismal prognosis after curative gastrectomy in the elderly GC patients, but the number of survivors was confirmed. Curative gastrectomy is not considered contraindicated even in elderly GC with ASA3. Preoperative malnutrition is associated with PCs, which proposing preoperative nutritional intervention in the context of treatment strategy for the elderly GC patients with ASA3.

Gastrectomy for gastric cancer in overweight patients is associated with a high incidence of postoperative complications and difficulties in achieving adequate lymph node dissection. We conducted this study to compare the outcomes of laparoscopic and open distal gastrectomy (ODG) for gastric cancer in overweight Japanese patients.This retrospective study analyzed data from 180 patients with a body mass index ≥ 25 who underwent distal gastrectomy for pStage I-III gastric cancer. Postoperative complications, the number of harvested lymph nodes, and long-term survival were compared between ODG and laparoscopic distal gastrectomy (LDG).Postoperative complications of Clavien-Dindo (CD) grade ≥ 2 and ≥ 3 were significantly higher after ODG than after LDG (p 0.001 and p = 0.004). Multivariate analysis identified age and ODG as factors related to complications of CD ≥ 2 (p = 0.014 and 0.002). The number of harvested lymph nodes at region 4sb was significantly higher in LDG for patients with pStage III disease. The 5-year lymph node recurrence-free survival tended to be better in LDG; however, no difference was found between ODG and LDG at any pathological stage. There were no significant differences in the 5-year overall and recurrence-free survival rates after ODG vs. LDG.LDG for gastric cancer appears to be associated with a lower incidence of postoperative complications than ODG, without compromising long-term survival, even for overweight patients.

ArF lithography is still applied to the majority of critical layers, even with increasing of extreme ultraviolet lithography in leading-edge production. As wafer design shrinks, conventional 6% phase shift mask (PSM) becomes hard to meet the ArF lithography requirements especially for array dot on mask (hole on wafer). Therefore, transmission dependency was evaluated by mask 3D simulation, and it was found that 30% transmission has the best lithographic performances for array dot. Based on these results, mask blank and mask making process for new 30% PSM were developed. Wafer printability test using negative tone development demonstrated that new 30% PSM has better process window and mask error enhancement factor (MEEF) than conventional 6% PSM for array dot (hole on wafer). To investigate further application of new 30% PSM, lithography performances of various patterns were evaluated by mask 3D simulation and aerial image measurement system (AIMSTM). The results indicated that new 30% PSM has larger lithography margin than 6% PSM for iso dot, iso line and logic pattern. Additionally, wafer printability test demonstrated that new 30% PSM has better process window than 6% PSM for iso dot. Defect control is also an important factor in high volume manufacturing. Therefore, it is necessary to evaluate the repairability and printability of the defects on new 30% PSM. We repaired various types of defects by electron-beam repair tool and confirmed the repairability by AIMS. And the defect printability of new 30% PSM and 6% PSM to critical dimension (CD) on wafer was evaluated by program defect mask that has pin dot, extrusion and intrusion defects.

Summary Sarcopenia, which involves two important aspects, namely skeletal muscle loss and decreased physical function, was suggested as a poor prognostic factor in esophageal cancer surgery. The purpose of this study was to clarify the perioperative change in daily physical activity and propose effective preventive strategies. We prospectively enrolled patients with esophageal cancer who were scheduled to undergo radical esophagectomy. Their daily physical activities were recorded using an accelerometer before surgery, immediately after discharge, and 6 months after surgery. The relationships of physical activity level and the perioperative factors, especially skeletal muscle change, with the risk factors of low daily activity level were investigated. The data of 20/28 enrolled patients were analyzed. The mean activity level of the 20 patients decreased after discharge and subsequently recovered on postoperative month 6. The percentage of activity levels >1.5 metabolic equivalents/day after discharge significantly correlated to the change rate in total muscle cross-sectional area from baseline to POM 6 (r = 0.452, P = 0.045). In a stepwise multiple regression analysis, age, neoadjuvant chemotherapy, and anastomotic leakage were identified as negative associated factors of activity time at >1.5 metabolic equivalents at postoperative month 6. Activity level immediately after discharge was significantly associated with skeletal muscle loss at postoperative month 6 in patients with esophageal cancer who underwent esophagectomy. Elderly patients and patients who received neoadjuvant chemotherapy and had an anastomotic leakage might require intensive prevention. Prospective interventions aimed at increasing daily activity can prevent sarcopenia.

Even with the increase in need for next-generation lithography, immersion ArF lithography is still applied to the majority of critical layers. However, as circuit designs shrink, conventional 6% phase-shift mask (PSM) will become difficult to meet the lithography requirements for dense dot pattern compared to dense line pattern. To enhance immersion ArF lithographic performances for dot pattern, high-transmission PSM (High-T PSM) is attracting attention because the transmission of PSM has a significant impact on lithographic performances. From results of transmission dependency evaluated by mask three-dimensional (3D) simulation, it was found that 30% transmission has the best lithographic performances for dense dot. Based on these results, mask blank and mask making process for the new 30% PSM were developed. The results showed good cross-section profile, mask pattern resolution, and defect repairability. In addition, the durability against chemical cleaning and ArF irradiation were also improved. Wafer printability test using negative tone development demonstrated that new PSM has advantages in process window and mask error enhancement factor for dense dots (holes on wafer). Finally, the potential for further application of new PSM was investigated by mask 3D simulation. The results showed that new PSM has lithographic benefits not only for dense dots but also other patterns.

Summary Background The purpose of the current study was to clarify the relationship between clinical features of dysphagia after esophagectomy and preoperative sarcopenia. Methods A total of 187 cases were included in the current study. The psoas cross-sectional area on pre-treatment computed tomography was measured in thoracic esophageal cancer patients who underwent curative resection. The psoas muscle index (PMI) cut-off levels for sarcopenia were 6.36 cm2/m2 for men and 3.92 cm2/m2 for women. Swallowing function was evaluated using videofluoroscopic swallowing study (VFSS) and fiberoptic endoscopic evaluation of swallowing (FEES) at postoperative days 7–15, and classified according to the food intake level scale (FILS). Perioperative swallowing rehabilitation was performed in all cases. Results In the 187 included patients, the median PMI was 5.42 cm2/m2 for men and 3.43 cm2/m2 for women, and 133 cases (71%) met the sarcopenia criteria. The FILS Conclusions Sarcopenic patients with esophageal cancer develop postoperative dysphagia more often than non-sarcopenic patients. Prehabilitation and nutritional support for patients with preoperative sarcopenia could play an important role to mitigate postoperative dysphagia.

Postoperative pneumonia is a serious prognostic problem that can appear after esophagectomy in patients with esophageal cancer. The past reports have considered the usefulness of perioperative culture examinations for predicting postoperative pneumonia; however, the direct relationship between these examinations and postoperative complications remains unclear. This study retrospectively analyzed esophageal cancer patients who underwent esophagectomy followed by sputum culture on the first postoperative day. The bacterial species that frequently cause hospital-acquired pneumonia were chosen as the target species in this study. The relationship between culture examination and postoperative pneumonia within one week (7 days) after esophagectomy was investigated. Sputum cultures on the first postoperative day were investigated in 238 patients who underwent esophagectomy for esophageal cancer. Forty-one patients developed pneumonia within one week after surgery. The target bacterial species were detected in 26 of 238 sputum cultures (10.9%). In the univariate analysis, a Brinkman index, detection of target bacterial species, detection of Gram-positive cocci, and Gram-negative rods were significantly associated with postoperative pneumonia. In the three independent multivariate analyses, the target bacterial species, Gram-positive cocci, and Gram-negative rods (p = 0.001, 0.042, and

Even with the increasing need for next-generation lithography, ArF lithography is still applied to the majority of critical layers. However, as wafer design shrinks, conventional 6% phase shift mask (PSM) becomes unable to sufficiently meet the lithography requirements for dense dot pattern compared to dense line pattern. To enhance ArF lithographic performances for dot pattern, high-transmission phase shift mask (High-T PSM) is attracting attention because the transmission of PSM has a significant impact on lithographic performances[1-4]. From the evaluation results of transmission dependency by mask 3D simulation, it was found that 30% transmission has the best lithographic performances for dot pattern. Based on these results, mask blank and mask making process for the new 30% PSM were developed. The result showed good cross-section profile, mask pattern resolution and defect repairability. In addition, the durability against chemical cleaning and ArF irradiation were also improved. Wafer printability test using negative tone development demonstrated that new PSM has advantages in process window and MEEF for dense dots (holes on wafer). Finally, the potential for further application of new 30% PSM was investigated by mask 3D simulation. The results showed that new 30% PSM has lithographic benefits not only for dense dots but also for other patterns. The new 30% PSM is a strong candidate capable of enhancing ArF lithographic performances for 5nm node or hp 1Xnm and beyond.

Postoperative sarcopenia following esophagectomy for esophageal cancer has become a severe problem due to the increasing number of elderly patients undergoing surgery. This study aimed to clarify the relationship between early postoperative skeletal muscle change and cancer prognosis, and propose effective interventions to prevent sarcopenia. This study retrospectively analyzed 152 patients who underwent esophagectomy for esophageal cancer. Total psoas muscle area (TPA) was measured before surgery as baseline and on postoperative day 7 (± 2). The effect of early postoperative skeletal muscle loss on 5-year survival was investigated. Moreover, 5-year survival in patients with postoperative complications and a high inflammatory status, which were previously reported as poor prognostic factors of esophageal cancer, was also investigated. Among the 152 patients, 52 (34.2%) showed a decrease in TPA, while 100 (65.8%) maintained their TPA. The TPA decreasing group exhibited poor 5-year overall survival (OS) (p = 0.003) and 5-year recurrence-free survival (RFS) (p

The golden mussel, Limnoperna fortunei, is native to South China but has spread to Japanese freshwater environments as a nuisance invasive species. The golden mussel colonizes hard manmade substrates and its attachment can cause economic losses at water intake facilities. To evaluate the repellent effects of the high alkalinity (pH 12–13) of freshly prepared cement mortar on golden mussels, test pieces made of cement were immersed in a Japanese urban tidal river. Compared with coated mortar, and wood and limestone test pieces, the cement mortar did not show significant repellent effects on golden mussel attachment. Therefore, concrete constructions on riverbanks may be a preferred substrate for golden mussel colonization. A 4-year immersion experiment showed that copper substrate had a strong repellent effect on biofouling, while cement mortar, aluminum, and stainless steel did not have any adverse effects on golden mussel attachment. This experiment also revealed the settlement of invasive golden mussel in an urban tidal area where the salinity fluctuated up to 20.0‰.

EcoPlate quantifies the ability of a microbial community to utilize 31 distinct carbon substrates, by monitoring color development of microplate wells during incubation. Well color patterns represent metabolic profiles. Previous studies typically used color patterns representing average values of three technical replicates on the final day of the incubation and did not consider substrate chemical diversity. However, color fluctuates during incubation and color varies between replicates, undermining statistical power to distinguish differences among samples in microbial functional composition and diversity. Therefore, we developed a protocol to improve statistical power with two approaches. First, we optimized data treatment for color development during incubation and technical replicates. Second, we incorporated chemical structural information for the 31 carbon substrates into the computation. Our framework implemented as the protocol in the R environment is able to compare the statistical power among different calculation methods. When we applied it to data from aquatic microcosm and forest soil systems, we observed substantial improvement in statistical power when we incorporated temporal patterns during incubation instead of using only endpoint data. Using maximum or minimum values of technical replicates also sometimes gave better results than averages. Incorporating chemical structural information based on fuzzy set theory could improve statistical power but only when relative color density information was considered; it was not seen when the pattern was first binarized into the presence or absence of metabolic activity. Finally, we discuss research directions to improve these approaches and offer some practical considerations for applying our methods to other datasets.

314 Background: As surgery for esophageal carcinoma in the elderly people has been increasing, sarcopenia is a severe problem not only in complications, but also in long-term prognosis. However, the relationship between perioperative skeletal muscle loss especially in the early postoperative period and long-term prognosis has not been clarified. Methods: This study retrospectively analyzed 152 patients with thoracic esophageal carcinoma who had underwent radical esophagectomy in our institution from April 2008 to March 2015 (Patients with postoperative hospital stay longer than 6 weeks were excluded). As an index of perioperative sarcopenia, total psoas muscle area (TPA) was measured before surgery (as baseline), at postoperative day (POD) 7 and postoperative month (POM) 6 from CT images. We investigated the correlation between the change of TPA and the postoperative survival. Results: Of 152 patients, 52 (34.2%) showed a TPA decrease from baseline to POD 7, and 98 (64.5%) showed a TPA decrease from baseline to POM 6. At the time of POD 7, overall survival (OS) decreased significantly in a TPA decrease group (P = 0.008, 5-year survival rate: non-decrease group 82.3% / decrease group 56.8%). Recurrence free survival (RFS) was also significantly decreased in a TPA decrease group (P < 0.001, 5-year recurrence free survival rate: non-decrease group 73.7% / decrease group 44.9%). On the other hand, at the time of POM 6, OS and also RFS had no significant difference between decrease and non-decrease groups. In univariate analysis for OS, pStage ≥3 and TPA decrease at POD 7 had poor prognosis. In multivariate analysis for OS, pStage ≥3 (HR:5.516, P < 0.001, 95%CI:2.634-11.551) and TPA decrease at POD 7 (HR:2.036, P = 0.047, 95%CI:1.010-4.103) were also independent poor prognostic factors. In the univariate analysis for RFS, pStage ≥3, TPA decrease at POD 7 and age ≥60 years had poor prognosis. In multivariate analysis, pStaeg ≥3 (HR:3.831, P < 0.001, 95%CI:2.182-6.728) and TPA decrease at POD 7 (HR:1.942, P = 0.021, 95%CI:1.104-3.416) were independent poor prognostic factors. Conclusions: Our findings suggest that the TPA decrease early in a postoperative period has poor prognosis on OS and also RFS.

Mercury-resistant (HgR) bacteria occur in various bacterial species from a wide variety of environmental sources. Resistance is conferred by a set of operon genes termed the mer operon. Many HgR bacteria have been isolated from diverse environments and clinical samples, and it is recognized that mer operons are often localized on transposons. Previous research reports have suggested that HgR transposons participate in the horizontal gene transfer of mer operons among bacteria. This was confirmed by a study that found that mer operons were distributed worldwide in Bacilli with dissemination of TnMERI1-like transposons. In this mini review, possible strategies for transposon-mediated in situ molecular breeding (ISMoB) of HgR bacteria in their natural habitat are discussed. In ISMoB, the target microorganisms for breeding are indigenous bacteria that are not HgR but that are dominant and robust in their respective environments. Additionally, we propose a new concept of bioremediation technology for environmental mercury pollution by applying transposon-mediated ISMoB for environmental mercury pollution control.

To predict outbreaks of infectious disease and to prevent epidemics, it is essential not only to conduct pathological studies but also to understand the interactions between the environment, pathogen, host and humans that cause and spread infectious diseases. Outbreaks of mass mortality in carp caused by Cyprinid herpesvirus 3 (CyHV-3), formerly known as koi herpesvirus (KHV), disease have occurred worldwide since the late 1990s. We proposed an environment–KHV–carp–human linkage as a conceptual model for “environmental diseases” and specify research subjects that might be necessary to construct and shape this linkage.

Emerging infectious diseases are major threats to wildlife populations. To enhance our understanding of the dynamics of these diseases, we investigated how host reproductive behavior and seasonal temperature variation drive transmission of infections among wild hosts, using the model system of cyprinid herpesvirus 3 (CyHV-3) disease in common carp. Our main findings were as follows: (1) a seroprevalence survey showed that CyHV-3 infection occurred mostly in adult hosts, (2) a quantitative assay for CyHV-3 in a host population demonstrated that CyHV-3 was most abundant in the spring when host reproduction occurred and water temperature increased simultaneously and (3) an analysis of the dynamics of CyHV-3 in water revealed that CyHV-3 concentration increased markedly in breeding habitats during host group mating. These results indicate that breeding habitats can become hot spots for transmission of infectious diseases if hosts aggregate for mating and the activation of pathogens occurs during the host breeding season.

Organomercury lyase (MerB) is a key enzyme in bacterial detoxification and bioremediation of organomercurials. However, the merB gene is often considered as an ancillary component of the mer operon because there is zero to three merB genes in different mer operons identified so far. In this study, organomercurials' removal abilities of native mercury-resistant bacteria that have one or multiple merB genes were examined. Each heterogeneous merB genes from these bacteria was further cloned into Escherichia coli to investigate the substrate specificity of each MerB enzyme. The merB1 gene from Bacillus megaterium MB1 conferred the highest volatilization ability to methylmercury chloride, ethylmercury chloride, thimerosal and p-chloromercuribenzoate, while the merB3 from B. megaterium MB1 conferred the fastest mercury volatilization activity to p-chloromercuribenzoate. The substrate specificities among these MerB enzymes show the necessity for selecting the appropriate bacteria strains or MerB enzymes to apply them in bioremediation engineering for cleaning up specific organomercurial contaminations.

The grpE gene in Acetobacter pasteurianus NBRC 3283 was cloned and characterized, to elucidate the mechanism underlying the resistance of acetic acid bacteria to the stressors existing during acetic acid fermentation. This gene was found to be located in tandem with two related genes, appearing on the genome in the order grpE–dnaK–dnaJ. A σ32-type promoter sequence was found in the upstream region of grpE. The relative transcription levels of grpE, dnaK, and dnaJ mRNA were in the ratio of approximately 1:2:0.1, and the genes were transcribed as grpE–dnaK, dnaK, and dnaJ. The transcription level of grpE was elevated by heat shock and treatment with ethanol. Co-overexpression of GrpE with DnaK/J in cells resulted in improved growth compared to the single overexpression of DnaK/J in high temperature or ethanol-containing conditions, suggesting that GrpE acts cooperatively with DnaK/J for expressing resistance to those stressors considered to exist during acetic acid fermentation. Our findings indicate that GrpE is closely associated with adaptation to stressors in A. pasteurianus and may play an important role in acetic acid fermentation.

Asymmetry in the competition abilities between invasive and native consumers can potentially influence the colonization success by invasive species. We tested whether a subsidy of allochthonous prey enhanced an asymmetric competition between invasive bluegill (Lepomis macrochirus) and two native cyprinid fish, that is, stone moroko (Pseudorasbora parva) and tamoroko (Gnathopogon elongatus elongatus). A field experiment was conducted using enclosures wherein the strength of interspecific competition and the presence/absence of allochthonous prey were manipulated. The experiment revealed that allochthonous prey alleviated the limitation of fish growths caused by a severe competition for aquatic prey resources. However, the importance of allochthonous prey differed considerably between invasive bluegill and the two native cyprinids. Individual bluegills grew faster when the allochthonous prey was supplied, whereas no difference in growth was observed in the two cyprinids whether or not allochthonous prey was supplied. Interestingly, the importance of allochthonous prey on the total amount of bluegill growth varied depending on the numerical abundance of native cyprinid competitors, and this importance increased when the native cyprinids were abundant. These findings indicated that allochthonous prey provides an asymmetric growth benefit to invasive bluegills over the two native cyprinids by alleviating asymmetrically the competition strength in a Japanese pond, especially under the conditions of severe interspecific resource competition and a limitation in the utilization of in situ prey resources.

Summary 1. Koi herpesvirus (KHV) disease, a lethal disease in carp and koi, has spread rapidly since the late 1990s. Only a few studies have focused on the ecology of KHV in natural freshwater environments, although characterization and the diagnosis of KHV disease have been intensively studied. This is mainly due to the lack of reliable detection methods for KHV in natural environments. 2. Three different approaches have been used to detect KHV in fish samples: (i) isolation and identification of the virus using cultured cell lines; (ii) detection of viral DNA with target DNA amplification techniques; and (iii) detection of anti-KHV antibodies using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Among these methods, DNA amplification techniques have become most popular because of their sensitivity and simplicity. 3. In contrast to KHV detection in fish samples, detection of KHV from water and sediment samples has not been reported. This is the result of a lack of reliable KHV concentration methods for water and sediment samples, although methodology from public health and marine microbiology may be applicable to determine KHV concentration in such samples. 4. Few reports have evaluated the environmental factors (e.g. temperature, UV irradiation) that affect the fate of KHV in water bodies. Mass mortality of wild carp caused by KHV infection would result in the removal of a large omnivorous fish from freshwater ecosystems and may thus alter community structure and ecosystem functioning.

Role and potentials of nuclear energy system in the energy options are discussed from the viewpoint of sustainable development with protecting from global warming by using the energy module structure of GRAPE model. The analysis with respect to carbon emission control and nuclear fissile transaction among regions indicates the need of coordinated further developments of energy conservation, renewable and nuclear energies, and rather drastic nuclear introduction in the presently developing world. The analysis also suggests the need of long-term planning and R&D efforts under the wisdom.

The economic growth of recent Asia is rapid, and the GDP and the energy consumption growth rate are about 8–10% in China and India. The energy consumption forecast of Asia in this century was estimated based on the GDP growth rate by Goldman Sachs. As a result, about twice in India and Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) and about 1.5 times in China of SRES B (Special Report on Emission Scenarios) are forecasted. The simulation was done by Grape Code to analyze the impact of energy increase in Asia. As for the nuclear plant in Asia, it is expected 1500 GWe in 2050 and 2000 GWe in 2100, in the case of the environmental constrain. To achieve this nuclear utilization, there are two important aspects, technically and institutionally. A. Development of the CANDLE core and/or the Breed and Burn core. B. The establishment of the stable nuclear fuel supply system like “Asian nuclear fuel supply organization”.

Trophic polymorphism was recently reported in introduced bluegill (Lepomis macrochirus) in Lake Biwa, Japan, where three morphs are specialized in benthic invertebrates (benthivorous type), submerged aquatic plants (herbivorous type), and zooplankton (planktivorous type). We evaluated the long-term effects of food resource utilization by these trophic morphs using stable isotope ratios, δ15N and δ13C. A significant difference in δ15N was found between the benthivorous and planktivorous types. The planktivorous type had the higher δ15N value, which corresponded with the value expected from its prey, zooplankton. The lower δ15N value of the benthivorous type would be derived from the lower δ15N values of benthic prey organisms compared to zooplankton. These results support previous findings that the benthivorous and planktivorous types have different food resource utilization. In contrast, the δ15N and δ13C values of the herbivorous type were distinctly different from the expected values, indicating that this type was unlikely to utilize aquatic plants substantially, contradicting the results of the dietary analysis.

We investigated the vertical distribution and dynamics of viral abundance in the euphotic epilimnion and aphotic hypolimnion during periods of stratification in Lake Biwa, Japan. The abundance of virus-like particles (VLPs) was lower and more constant in the hypolimnion than in the epilimnion. Simple correlation analysis demonstrated that during periods of stratification, VLP abundance in the hypolimnion was positively correlated with chlorophyll-a concentration, the bacterial abundance of the >0.8-mu m fraction, and water temperature. On the other hand, VLP abundance in the epilimnion was also positively correlated with chlorophyll-a concentration and the bacterial abundance of the >0.8-mu m fraction, but was negatively correlated with the bacterial abundance of the 0.2-0.8-mu m fraction and was not correlated with water temperature. We observed no correlation between VLP abundance and total bacterial abundance in either the epilimnion or the hypolimnion. Multiple regression analysis indicated that VLP abundance was explained by chlorophyll-a concentration in both the epilimnion and the hypolimnion. Aphotic environment and abundance of phytoplankton and bacteria in the hypolimnion, suggesting that main host of viruses is bacteria rather than phytoplankton. However our results suggest that VLP abundance in the hypolimnion related to the other factors as well as bacterial abundance.