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Collection and cooking of wild vegetables have provided seasonal enjoyments for Japanese local people as provisioning and cultural ecosystem services. However, the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant accident in March 2011 caused extensive radiocesium contamination of wild vegetables. Restrictions on commercial shipments of wild vegetables have been in place for the last 10 years. Some species, including buds of Aralia elata, are currently showing radiocesium concentrations both above and below the Japanese reference level for food (100 Bq/kg), implying that there are factors decreasing and increasing the 137Cs concentration. Here, we evaluated easy-to-measure environmental variables (dose rate at the soil surface, organic soil layer thickness, slope steepness, and presence/absence of decontamination practices) and the 137Cs concentrations of 40 A. elata buds at 38 locations in Fukushima Prefecture to provide helpful information on avoiding collecting highly contaminated buds. The 137Cs concentrations in A. elata buds ranged from 1 to 6,280 Bq/kg fresh weight and increased significantly with increases in the dose rate at the soil surface (0.10–6.50 μSv/h). Meanwhile, the 137Cs concentration in A. elata buds were not reduced by decontamination practices. These findings suggest that measuring the latest dose rate at the soil surface at the base of A. elata plants is a helpful way to avoid collecting buds with higher 137Cs concentrations and aid in the management of species in polluted regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Eu-doped GaN (GaN:Eu) is a promising solid-state material for quantum information devices owing to its ideal quantum levels. However, a decrease of Eu concentration and the unification of optical sites are required for these devices to access an Eu ion. In this article, the effect of Eu concentration on the optical properties of Mg-codoped GaN:Eu was evaluated. The photoluminescence intensity from Eu ions increased linearly with increasing Eu concentration up to 1 × 1019 cm−3, beyond which the intensity saturated. This resulted from the increase of the sharp luminescence line at 620.5 nm (site A), which has a large excitation cross section, with increasing Eu concentration in the range of low Eu concentrations; an excess Eu concentration leads to the formation of other types of optical sites with a low transfer efficiency or inactive sites. For a low Eu concentration of 3 × 1018 cm−3, all optical sites except a specific optical site corresponding to site A disappeared, and the unification of optical sites was suggested. This result is expected to be valuable to realize quantum information devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding the factors influencing 137Cs concentrations in freshwater salmonids is crucial for reviving inland fisheries in polluted regions. We studied seasonal variations of 137Cs concentration in charr (Salvelinus leucomaenis) through uptake and metabolism in forested headwaters at Fukushima and Gunma sites. Charr consumed both terrestrial and aquatic animals, and terrestrial prey was predated more in summer at both sites. The 137Cs concentrations in litter, which is a dominant basal food resource of both forest and stream ecosystems, differed between forest and stream due to 137Cs leaching effect on litter submerged in streams. The concentration difference in both litter and prey was greater at Fukushima site than at Gunma site. The estimated prey 137Cs concentration at Fukushima site peaked in summer when terrestrial preys are most available, whereas it remained relatively constant at Gunma site because of the small difference of 137Cs concentrations in between terrestrial and aquatic preys. The specific metabolic rate of charr was commonly changed with stream water temperature, greatest in summer, and lowest in winter at both sites. Because both prey 137Cs concentrations and specific metabolic rates peaked in summer, the combination of uptake and metabolism at Fukushima site largely negated seasonal 137Cs fluctuations in charr, whereas specific metabolic rate fluctuations could be the major determinant of charr 137Cs concentrations at Gunma site. Our results suggested that 137Cs concentrations in prey items, whose seasonality are varied due to initial 137Cs fallout volume, were expected to be an important determinant for 137Cs concentrations in charr. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ZnO nanowires, nanowalls, and thin‐film‐like crystals are grown simultaneously on a c‐plane sapphire substrate by mist chemical vapor deposition (mist‐CVD) at a high growth temperature. Mist‐CVD is expected to be a potentially low‐environment‐impact and low‐cost crystal growth technique. Using mist‐CVD techniques, a spatial distribution of crystal growth is obtained owing to equipment configurations that enable the simultaneous fabrication of ZnO crystals of various geometries. Their crystallinity and photoluminescence properties are examined to clarify their potential applications and to investigate low‐cost photonic applications based on these properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Deer overpopulation is occurring worldwide, and deer-induced soil runoff into streams increases levels of suspended sediment and fine sedimentation. While deer-induced fine sedimentation in depositional habitats including first- and fourth-order streams is known to alter macroinvertebrate communities, effects of drifting suspended sediment in erosional habitats between the stream orders are poorly understood. Here, habitat and macroinvertebrate community structures in first- to third-order streams were compared between deer-excluded and grazed catchments of a Japanese headwater system. Fine sediment cover on the streambed was significantly greater in the grazed catchments than the deer-excluded catchment only for first-order streams, while macroinvertebrate community structure differed distinctly between the deer-excluded and grazed catchments at all stream orders. Burrowing collector-gatherers, which inhabit fine streambed sediments, were less abundant in first-order streams in the deer-excluded catchment than the grazed catchments, while clinging collector-filterers, which are vulnerable to suspended sediment inputs, were more abundant in second- and third-order streams of the deer-excluded catchment than the grazed catchments. These results suggest that the effect of deer exclusion on stream ecosystems varies with longitudinal changes in sediment deposition and transport capacity. Hydro-geomorphological processes are thus fundamental to assessing the restoration of forest-stream ecosystems, particularly in spatiotemporally dynamic headwater systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We investigated Odonata faunal and habitat characteristics (forest cover, emergent, submerged, floating-leaved and floating plant covers, pond area, NO , chemical oxygen demand, and presence/absence of a nonnative fish) in 10 ponds on Amami-Oshima Island. In total, 26 species of six odonate families were found, and we detected significant nestedness of species composition among the ponds (22 species in the most species-rich pond, and 8 species in the most species-poor pond). Species found only in the most species-rich ponds were: Anax nigrofasciatus nigrofasciatus, Acisoma panorpoides panorpoides, Agriocnemis famina oryzae, Rhyothemis severini, Anasiaeschna martini, Hemicordulia okinawaensis, Lyriothemis elegantissima, and Hydrobasileus croceus (hereafter referred to as the rare species). These rare species are generally known to preferentially inhabit ponds with lush emergent plants and/or to prefer cooler habitats shaded by forest cover, such as Anax nigrofasciatus nigrofasciatus, Anac. martini, He. okinawaensis, and L. elegantissima. In contrast, the common species also found in species-poor ponds were: Ischnura senegalensis, Pantala flavescens, Anax parthenope julis, Ictinogomphus pertinax, and Tramea verginia, which are known to prefer an open water surface as spawning habitat. These differences in habitat preference between the rare and common species may be among the major reasons for the significant positive effects of percent forest cover and emergent plants on Odonata species richness. These results suggest that nestedness helped identify precise habitat characteristics and rare species that should be considered for conservation and restoration of lentic habitats on Amami-Oshima Island. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is important to understand the changes in the 137 Cs concentration in litter through leaching when considering that 137 Cs is transferred from basal food resources to animals in forested streams. We found that the difference of 137 Cs activity concentration in litter between forest and stream was associated with both litter type and 137 Cs fallout volume around Fukushima, Japan. The 137 Cs activity concentrations in the litter of evergreen conifers tended to be greater than those in the litter of broad-leaved deciduous trees because of the absence of deciduous leaves during the fallout period in March 2011. Moreover, 137 Cs activity concentrations in forest litter were greater with respect to the 137 Cs fallout volume. The 137 Cs activity concentrations in stream litter were much lower than those in forest litter when those in forest litter were higher. The 137 Cs leaching patterns indicated that the differences in 137 Cs activity concentration between forest and stream litter could change with changes in both fallout volume and litter type. Because litter is an important basal food resource in the food webs of both forests and streams, the 137 Cs concentration gradient reflects to possible 137 Cs transfer from lower to higher trophic animals. Our findings will improve our understanding of the spatial heterogeneity and variability of 137 Cs concentrations in animals resident to the contaminated landscape. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We investigated the diets of stream detritivores in a coniferous plantation and a deciduous-coniferous mixed forest using stable isotope (δC and δN) mixing models. In summer, collector-gatherers ( Ephemera japonica, McLachlan, and Paralichas sp.) and a shredder ( Lepidostoma crassicorne, Ulmer) utilized coniferous needle litter but not broad-leaved deciduous litter as their food resource because coniferous litter was persistent and remained on the streambed in both the forests even in summer. In early spring, L. crassicorne in the mixed forest utilized both coniferous needle litter and broad-leaved deciduous litter because both were abundant and available. However, coniferous needle litter was the only dominant food source available for the shredder species in the plantation where deciduous trees were less abundant. E. japonica and a collector-filterer ( Hydropsyche sp.) in the forest possibly utilized fine materials derived from coniferous needle litter but not those derived from broad-leaved deciduous litter as their food resource. Although previous studies have indicated that coniferous needle litter is less nutritious than broad-leaved deciduous litter, persistence of the coniferous needle litter provides a stable basal food resource for shredders, collector-gatherers, and collector-filterers in forested streams that receive litter inputs from neighboring conifers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Exposure to toxins can cause deleterious effects even at very low concentrations. We have developed an optical sensor, filter, and extractor (i.e., containerlike) in a nanoscale membrane (NSM) for the ultratrace sensing, separation, and recovery of Co2+ ions from water. The design of the NSM is successfully controlled by dense decoration of a hydrophobic oil-hydrophilic receptor onto mesoscale tubular-structured silica nanochannels made of a hybrid anodic alumina membrane. The particular structure of the nanocontainer is ideal to control the multiple functions of the membrane, such as the optical detection/recognition, rejection/permeation, and recovery of Co2+ species in a single step. A typical sensor, filter, and extractor assessment experiment was performed by using a benchtop contact time technique and a flow-through cell detector to allow for precise control of the optical detection and exclusive rejection of target ions and the permeation of nontarget metal ions in water. This nanocontainer membrane has great potential to meet the increasing needs of purification and separation of Co2+ ions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In Japanese forests suffering from the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant accident, litter fall provides a large amount of radiocesium from forests to streams. Submerged litter is processed to become a vital food resource for various stream organisms through initial leaching and subsequent decomposition. Although leaching from litter can detach radiocesium similarly to potassium, radiocesium leaching and its migration are poorly understood. We examined both radiocesium and potassium leaching to the water column and radiocesium allocation to minerals (glass beads, silica sand, and vermiculite) in the laboratory using soaked litter with and without minerals on a water column. The mineral types did not affect radiocesium leaching from litter, but soaking in water for 1, 7, and 30 days decreased the radiocesium concentration in litter by ×0.71, ×0.66, and ×0.56, respectively. Meanwhile, the 1-, 7-, and 30-day experiments decreased potassium concentration in litter by ×0.17, ×0.11, and ×0.09, respectively. Leached radiocesium remained in a dissolved form when there was no mineral phases present in the water, whereas there was sorption onto the minerals when they were present. In particular, vermiculite adsorbed radiocesium by two to three orders of magnitude more effectively than the other minerals. Because radiocesium forms (such as that dissolved or adsorbed to organic matter or minerals) can further mobilize to ecosystems, our findings will increase our understanding regarding the dynamics of radiocesium in stream ecosystems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We compared hydrological environments and macroinvertebrate communities in 1st- and 2nd- order streams between a deer-excluded catchment (EC) and a control catchment (CC) to test effects of deerinduced hillslope soil erosion and sedimentation on macroinvertebrates. Overland flow contribution to the streams was greater in CC than in EC, and substrate in 1st-order streams contained more fine sediment in CC than in EC, whereas fine sediment in substrate in 2nd-order streams was similar between catchments. Macroinvertebrate community structure in 2nd-order streams was similar between catchments, but community structure in 1st-order streams differed between catchments. In 2nd-order streams, grazer and predator taxa predominated in both catchments, whereas in 1st-order streams, a clinger taxon predominated in EC and a burrower taxon predominated in CC. Diversity of macroinvertebrates in 1st- order streams was 1.14× higher in EC than in CC. We suggest that effects of deer on macroinvertebrates were less apparent in 2nd- than in 1st-order streams because fine sediments did not accumulate in 2nd-order streams exposed to deer browsing. Our results suggest that effects of sediment addition caused by deer browsing depends on the hydrogeomorphic properties of headwater streams. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The diffusion of warm, humid air into an initially cold, dry, sandy column was analyzed to study the movement of water vapor and liquid water under nonisothermal and low water content conditions. The analysis was performed using the HYDRUS-1D code. While the water retention curve of sand was measured experimentally, the unsaturated hydraulic conductivity function was inversely estimated from the observed water content profiles in the column. The estimated unsaturated hydraulic conductivity function displayed a shape that reflected distinct processes of capillary pore water flow and film flow at high and low water contents, respectively. Four components of the total water flux, including thermal and isothermal liquid water and water vapor fluxes, were evaluated using the calibrated soil hydraulic properties. Evaporation and condensation rates were calculated based on water mass balance. Water vapor entered the soil column at the hot surface and condensed at the cold bottom. Subsequently, liquid water moved upward and evaporated at the moisture front in the middle of the column where the relative humidity decreased below unity. Liquid water and water vapor then circulated between the bottom and the moisture front, accompanied by condensation and evaporation processes. The impact of the enhancement factor in the thermal vapor diffusion term could not be clearly identified from available experimental water content profiles. Increases in liquid water flow and the evaporation rate could be compensated for by increases in vapor flow and the condensation rate. Additional data would be needed to fully evaluate the effect of the enhancement factor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We performed sub-ps pulse-propagation experiments around the biexciton two-photon resonance in CuCl, and confirmed the soliton-like propagation of exciton–polariton pulses proposed by one of us [Phys. Rev. Lett.75, 224 (1995)]. In our scheme two-photon nonlinearity compensates exciton–polariton dispersion, and pulse propagate without distortion. We compared our results with the calculated ones and obtained a good agreement between them. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since the nuclear disaster in Fukushima, Japanese soil scientists have tackled soil contamination problems due to radioactive cesium. For the radiation education based on the research results and outreach activities, we published a comic book and developed a digital application using iOS Xcode for Apple iPhone and tablet devices. This allows students to quickly understand why clay soil absorbed cesium and how to remove contaminated soil using educational mini‐games. Through radiation education seminars and a conference, our application was evaluated and revised by school teachers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report observations of random laser action in self-organized GaN nanocolumns. We have measured three samples with different filling fractions and investigated the dependence of the lasing property on the random configuration of nanocolumns. Numerical calculations based on a finite-difference time-domain method have also been performed and the comparison with the experimental results shows a clear relationship between the strength of light localization and the occurrence of random laser action. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the high-contrast imaging of nano-channels using reflection near-field scanning optical microscope (NSOM) enhanced by optical interference. The researchers of the study have demonstrated a contrast enhancement in a near-field scanning optical microscope by optical interference with an aperture probe in reflection mode operation. The reflection NSOM was a promising instrument for high-resolution optical detection and estimation of low-contrast nanostructures.

[Display omitted] • Coherent anti-Stokes Raman scattering spectroscopy for anion exchange membranes. • Vibration spectroscopy with high time (0.2 s) and spatial (0.9 µm) resolution. • The number of OH species in an anion exchange membrane is a minimum of 7. • H-bonded OH species change with hydration, non-H-bonded species do not. • 785 nm CARS is suitable for both anion and proton exchange membranes. Anion exchange membrane fuel cells (AEMFCs) provide one of the most feasible remedies to fuel cells' dependency on the dwindling Pt group catalysts. Nevertheless, AEMFCs still suffer reduced durability, which requires an in-depth understanding of their membranes. The low thermal endurance of the anion exchange membranes (AEMs) usually limits the direct application of powerful techniques, such as Raman spectroscopy. We sought to establish a system for coherent anti-Stokes Raman scattering (CARS) spectroscopy capable of taking measurements inside an AEM rapidly and accurately without photodamage. A 785 nm CARS system was newly developed to study the water species in an AEM (QPAF-4) located vertically in a fuel cell. From the results of water measurement in a QPAF-4 membrane, the OH-related region was deconvoluted into nine Gaussian peaks: Five H-bonded OH peaks, non-H-bonded OH, OH–, and two CH peaks. The H-bonded species increased with increasing relative humidity, but the other species remained constant. These results open unlimited possibilities for studying and comparing different AEMFCs, enabling more rapid technology optimization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aggregated transfer factor (Tag) is commonly used to represent the actual transfer of radiocesium from soil to wild edible plants, but the values have shown substantial variation since the Fukushima nuclear accident. To elucidate the factors causing this variation, we investigated the effects of spatial scale and vertical 137Cs distribution in the soil on the variation of Tag-137Cs values for one of the most severely contaminated wild edible plants, Eleutherococcus sciadophylloides Franch. et Sav. (Koshiabura). The variation in Tag-137Cs values was not reduced by direct measurement of 137Cs deposition in soil samples from the Koshiabura habitat, as a substitute for using spatially averaged airborne survey data at the administrative district scale. The 137Cs activity concentration in Koshiabura buds showed a significant positive correlation with the 137Cs inventories only in the organic horizon of soil from the Koshiabura habitat. The ratio of 137Cs inventories in the organic horizon to the total 137Cs deposition in soil exhibited substantial variation, especially in broad-leaved deciduous forests that Koshiabura primarily inhabits. This variation may be the cause of the wide range of Tag-137Cs values observed in Koshiabura buds when calculated from the total 137Cs deposition in soil. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Scheduling of multicluster tools has received much attention due to its complexity of interaction among cluster tools. A cluster tool comprises several modules such as processing modules, a transfer module with a single or dual-armed handling robot, and loadlock modules. A multicluster tool comprises two, three, or more cluster tools that are interconnected with each other. In this paper, we propose a deadlock prevention policy for noncyclic scheduling of dual-armed multicluster tools. The proposed deadlock prevention policy is effective for generating an efficient schedule for two or three-connected multicluster tools with a single or a dual-path flow. This is proven by analyzing the strict minimal siphon of the Petri net model. The performance of the proposed method is compared with that of a maximal permissible deadlock prevention policy. The results demonstrate that the proposed method is computationally efficient for larger state spaces and more suitable than conventional deadlock prevention policies for generating effective schedules for noncyclic scheduling of multicluster tools. Note to Practitioners—Scheduling of multicluster tools has recently attracted attention in the growing semiconductor manufacturing industry. Most conventional studies on multicluster tools focus on cyclic scheduling to minimize cycle time with swap strategy. The challenge addressed by this paper is to derive a deadlock-free schedule for multicluster tools with noncyclic operations. We propose a simple deadlock prevention policy that can be applied to large-scale timed Petri net (PN) model of general multicluster tools without enumeration of siphon computations or solution of mixed integer programming. A timed PN model is developed for noncyclic operations of dual-armed multicluster tools with a dual ath. The computational results show that the approximately 10% of the total throughput of the proposed method is better than those of the conventional methods. It enables more efficient operations for noncyclic scheduling under transient periods including cleaning operations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new catalytic system for the asymmetric Michael addition of thiols to enones and enantioselective protonation in water is developed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We developed a food web-based transfer factor ( TF web ) to study contaminant movements from multiple prey items to a predator based on the dietary contributions of prey items with their respective contamination levels. TF web was used to evaluate the transfer of 137 Cs into whitespotted char ( Salvelinus leucomaenis ) from the trophic structure of a stream–riparian ecosystem in headwater streams draining a Japanese cedar forest. We also examined the applicability of this method by comparing sites with different contamination levels but similar surrounding environments in Fukushima and Gunma. All samples were collected from August 2012 to May 2013. The dietary contributions from both aquatic and terrestrial prey items to whitespotted char were analyzed using stable carbon and nitrogen isotope ratios. 137 Cs activity concentrations in char ranged from 704 to 6082 Bq kg −1 -dry in Fukushima and from 193 to 618 Bq kg −1 -dry in Gunma. Dominant prey taxa such as mayflies ( Ephemera japonica ), spider crickets (Rhaphidosphoridae gen. spp.), and freshwater crabs ( Geothelphusa dehaani ), each of them accounted for 3–12% of the fish diet, based on lower and upper estimates, respectively. TF web ranged from 1.12 to 3.79 in Fukushima and from 1.30 to 4.30 in Gunma, which suggested bioaccumulation from prey items to predator. Widely used ecological parameters TF s by media–char and TTF by single prey–char showed high variability with both dilution and accumulation. TF web is applicable for 137 Cs transfer in predator-prey systems with complex food web structures of stream-riparian ecosystems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The measurements of photoexcited transport in mesoscopic regimes reveal the states and properties of mesoscopic systems. In this study, we focused on direct measurements of electromagnetic energy transports in the mesoscopic regions and constructed a scanning tunnelling microscope-assisted multi-probe scanning near-field optical microscope spectroscopy system. After producing an emission energy map through a single-probe measurement, two-probe measurement enables us to observe and analyse carrier transport characteristics. It suggests that exciton generation and transport in the mesoscopic region of semiconductors with quantum structure changes, such as the bias of dopant, affect the excited carrier emission recombination process. The measured probability density of the carrier transported with quantum effects can be used for applications in natural intelligence research by combining it with the analysis using tournament structures. Our developed measurement and analysis methods are expected to clarify the details of carrier's behaviour in the mesoscopic region in various materials and lead to applications for novel optoelectronic devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: We incorporated an anticancer agent, camptothecin (CPT), into polymeric micelle carriers by using two different solvents (TFE and chloroform) in the solvent-evaporation drug incorporation process. We observed significant differences in the drug-incorporation behaviors, in the morphologies of the incorporated drug and the polymeric micelles, and in the pharmacokinetic behaviors between the two solvents’ cases. In particular, the CPT-incorporated polymeric micelles prepared with TFE as the incorporation solvent exhibited more stable circulation in blood than those prepared with chloroform. This contrast indicates a novel technological perspective regarding the drug incorporation into polymeric micelle carriers. Morphological analyses of the inner core have revealed the presence of the directed alignment of the CPT molecules and CPT crystals in the micelle inner core. This is the first report of the morphologies of the drug incorporated into the polymeric micelle inner cores. We believe these analyses are very important for further pharmaceutical developments of polymeric micelle drug-carrier systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this contribution, high photocatalytic activity under visible-light irradiation realized by means of the fine control of the nitrogen content in doped titania photocatalysts is reported. The photocatalyst samples were prepared from a layered titania/isostearate nanocomposite as precursor, and the fine control of nitrogen content was achieved by the adjustment of the amount of hybridized isostearate in the nanocomposite, preserving the crystallinity and specific surface area of the final samples. Photocatalytic activity under the UV-light irradiation (290 and 350 nm) decreases with nitrogen content. Under visible-light irradiation (470 nm), a maximum value of photocatalytic activity was observed at [N]/[Ti] = 0.0145, whereas the absorbance in the visible-light region increases with nitrogen content. Fine control of the doped-nitrogen content provides a possible route to achieving high visible-light photocatalytic activity where the maximum value of the apparent quantum yield under 470 nm light irradiation exceeds 2%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

When forest disturbance impacts adjacent headwater streams, the recovery of habitat conditions and populations can take over several decades. Thus, considering long‐term, historical legacies of forest disturbances is key for understanding and managing forest–stream linkages. We focused on small‐scale forest disturbances such as small‐block harvesting and landslides. We compared the long‐term (past 100 years) cumulative effects between the anthropogenic and natural forest disturbances on stream conditions and the abundance of a headwater specialist, Scopura montana (Plecoptera: Scopuridae).Sampling was conducted in 10 m reaches of 39 first‐order streams with a catchment area up to 5.9 ha during late summer in central Japan. We quantified past clearcut logging areas using plantation records of each harvest block and past landslide areas from contour maps within each catchment.Piecewise structural equation models using the cumulative area of each forest disturbance as an independent variable, revealed different indirect effects of clearcut logging (average area: 1.74 ha) and landslides (0.21 ha) on S. montana abundance through modified stream conditions. Canopy openness and wetted channel width were higher with a larger logged area, and S. montana abundance was lower with higher water temperature (daily maximum). When the magnitude of clearcut logging was similar to the landslide area (<0.77 ha), the negative relationship between water temperature and S. montana abundance was also significant in the model. Streambed roughness and wetted channel width were greater with larger landslide area but there were no significant links between stream conditions and S. montana abundance.Our results suggest that clearcut logging can cause long‐term impacts by exposing the stream surface to solar radiation owing to delayed canopy closure. The preference of S. montana is for cold water conditions in summer. Controlling forest harvesting along streams could benefit forest–stream management, as could including consideration of disturbance‐driven cycles for sustaining headwater populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Deer overabundance is a contributing factor in the degradation of plant communities and ecosystems worldwide. The management and conservation of the deer-affected ecosystems requires us to urgently grasp deer population trends and to identify the factors that affect them. In this study, we developed a Bayesian state–space model to estimate the population dynamics of sika deer (Cervus nippon) in a cool-temperate forest in Japan, where wolves (Canis lupus hodophilax) are extinct. The model was based on field data collected from block count surveys, road count surveys by vehicles, mortality surveys during the winter, and nuisance control for 12 years (2007–2018). We clarified the seasonal and annual fluctuation of the deer population. We found a peak of deer abundance (2010) over 12 years. In 2011 the estimated deer abundance decreased drastically and has remained at a low level then. The deer abundance gradually increased from April to December during 2013–2018. The seasonal fluctuation we detected could reflect the seasonal migration pattern of deer and the population recruitment through fawn births in early summer. In our model, snowfall accumulation, which can be a lethal factor for deer, may have slightly affected their mortality during the winter. Although we could not detect a direct effect of snow on population dynamics, snowfall decrease due to global warming may decelerate the winter migration of deer; subsequently, deer staying on-site may intensively forage evergreen perennial plants during the winter season. The nuisance control affected population dynamics. Even in wildlife protection areas and national parks where hunting is regulated, nuisance control could be effective in buffering the effect of deer browsing on forest ecosystems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The optical properties of arrays of hexagonal GaN microdisks, which potentially act as whispering-gallery-mode-type optical microcavities, were investigated. The arrays were fabricated from a GaN film using a top-down process, and the side lengths and height of the hexagonal GaN microdisks were approximately 1.5 and 500 nm, respectively. The microdisk arrays exhibited optically pumped lasing actions. The estimated lasing intensities which were obtained from one microdisk in the arrays were related to the period of the arrays. We discuss the optical properties of the microdisk arrays in view of experimental results and numerical analyses obtained using a two-dimensional finite-difference time-domain method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: It has been reported that chymase activity was increased in allergic conjunctivitis patients and this activity was correlated with the severity of the disease. However, the precise roles of chymase in allergic conjunctivitis are unclear, and whether chymase inhibitors are effective for allergic conjunctivitis has not been reported even in experimental animal models. In this study, the roles of chymase in the pathogenesis were evaluated using a selective chymase inhibitor, ONO-WH-236, in a guinea pig model of allergic conjunctivitis induced by cedar pollen. Sensitized guinea pigs were challenged by the pollen, followed by assessing redness and edema in the conjuntiva, and counting the frequency of eye scratching as an itch-associated response. Treatment with the ONO-WH-236 (40 and 80 mg/kg, p.o.) dose-dependently inhibited the induction of redness, edema and scratching behavior. An anti-histaminic drug, ketotifen (3 mg/kg, p.o.), also significantly inhibited conjunctivitis symptoms. Chymase activity was increased in ophthalmic lavage fluid immediately after the pollen challenge. The increase in chymase activity was inhibited by in vivo treatment with ONO-WH-236. Interestingly, increased histamine in the ophthalmic lavage fluid immediately after the challenge was also inhibited by the chymase inhibitor. Administration of human recombinant chymase by eye dropping (0.09 and 0.9 μg/eye) dose-dependently induced scratching behavior, which was inhibited by not only ONO-WH-236 but also ketotifen; however, chymase administration induced only weak redness in the conjunctiva, which was resistant to treatment with anti-histaminic drugs. In conclusion, it was suggested that chymase was released from mast cells after antigen challenge, followed by the induction of conjunctivitis symptoms through histamine release from mast cells. Thus, chymase could be a potential target for pharmacotherapy for allergic conjunctivitis. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

(1S,2R)-2-Acylamino-1-methyl-2-phenylethyl phosphate derivatives 2a, 2b, 3a, and 5a, which are conformationally restricted and metabolically stable analogues of (2R)-2-acylamino-2-phenylethyl phosphate derivatives 1a and 1b, are a new class of inhibitors of TNF-α production. More efficient alternative synthesis of a key intermediate, (1R,2S)-1-amino-1-(3-methoxyphenyl)propan-2-ol hydrochloride (9), was achieved using one-step, three-component coupling of 3-methoxyphenyl boronic acid (13), (5S)-2,2,5-trimethyl-1,3-dioxolan-4-ol (14), and amino diphenyl methane (15), [as reported in J. Am. Chem. Soc. 1998, 120, 11798]. Evaluation of the hypotensive activity of these compounds was done to assess one of their side effects. Among the compounds tested, the above-mentioned four compounds (2a, 2b, 3a, and 5a) were identified as inhibitors with both sufficient potency and an acceptable safety margin regarding their hypotensive activity. The pharmacodynamics of these compounds were also investigated. Single-dose pharmacokinetic data for compounds 2a, 2b, 3a, and 5a are displayed. These compounds were estimated to be mainly metabolized by the liver in the species tested based on their in vitro stability in tissue homogenates and plasma. A representative compound, 2a, showed good linearity of its plasma concentration after intravenous injection. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

2-(Acylamino)benzylphosphonic acid 6 derived from an artificial substrate of sphingomyelinase was found to show inhibitory activity of TNF-α production. Structural optimization was started with the chemical modification of 6. The discovery of another chemical leads 7, 8, 10 and 16 for the development of structurally new inhibitors of TNF-α production is reported. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Discovery of new chemical leads of inhibitors for TNF-α production starting from the chemical modification of 1 is reported. Further biological studies of 1 to disclose the site of its action strongly suggested that 1 inhibits LPS-induced TNF-α expression in the liver and spleen of mice. Structure–activity relationships (SARs) are also discussed and full details including the chemistry are reported. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Design and synthesis of metabolically stabilized inhibitors of TNF-α production, which could be new drug candidates, are reported. Conformational analysis of an active diastereoisomer was performed based on biological evaluations of the conformationally fixed indane derivatives 17 and 18. Structure–activity relationships (SARs) based on biological evaluations of the optically active derivatives are also discussed. Full details including chemistry are reported. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Metabolic stabilization of the chemical lead 1, which is a structurally novel inhibitor of TNF-α production, was accomplished by introducing a (1S)-methyl group into the optically active backbone. As a result, 2, 3 and 4 were identified as drug candidates and evaluated pharmacologically. The analysis of an active conformer was also carried out. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The discovery of 2-acylamino-2-phenylethyl disodium phosphates and as structurally novel inhibitors of TNF-α production is reported. Structure–activity relationships (SARs) are also discussed. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]