Changes in growth of marbled sole Pseudopleuronectes yokohamae between high and low stock-size periods in Tokyo Bay, Japan

We examined the age and growth of the marbled sole Pseudopleuronectes yokohamae collected from Tokyo Bay, Japan, during two study periods between 2002 and 2008, when the stock size was consistently low. The von Bertalanffy growth equations were found to differ significantly between sexes, and females attained a larger standard length than males of the same age. These results were then compared with those reported for 1974?1983 and 1986?1988, two study periods when the stock size was high. The growth of both sexes of marbled sole in Tokyo Bay during the 2000s was found to be significantly higher than that in the 1970s and 1980s. To explore possible factors causing these changes in the growth, we examined bottom water temperature and population density. We found that the population density decreased and the bottom water temperature increased between the late 1970s and the late 2000s. However, despite evidence of changes in population densities and water temperatures, further study is needed to determine the main factors causing the observed changes in growth

Observation of the Pharynx to the Cervical Esophagus Using Transnasal Endoscopy with Blue Laser Imaging

Background In 2014, the new transnasal endoscopy with Blue laser Imaging (BLI) has been developed. Aim We present the usefulness of the observation of from the pharynx to the cervical esophagus using transnasal endoscopy with BLI. Patients and Methods This study was conducted between June 2014 and October 2014. During this period, 70 consecutive patients (60 men, 10 women; mean age 67.9 years old) with esophageal or head and neck cancer underwent endoscopic screening at the oropharynx and hypopharynx by transnasal endoscopy with BLI system We performed this endoscopic observation from oral cavity to pharynx before inserting into the cervical esophagus.The visibility of subsites of the hypopharynx and the orifice of the esophagus was evaluated. The extent of the view of hypopharyngeal opening was classified into 3 categories (excellent, good, poor). Then, the diagnostic accuracy of transnasal endoscopy with BLI system was estimated. Our screening is as follows. First, the patient is asked to bow their head deeply in the left lateral position. We put a hand on the back of the patient’s head and push it forward. The patient is then asked to lift the chin as far as possible. In order to inspect the oral cavity, we insert an endoscope without a mouthpiece. After observation of the oral cavity, the endoscope was inserted through the nose. When the tip of the endoscope reached caudal to the uvula, the patient opened his mouth wide, stuck his tongue forward as much as possible and made a vocal sound like “ayyy”. The endoscopist caused the endoscope to U-turn and observed the oropharynx, in particular the radix linguae (Intra-oropharyngeal U-turn method). For examination of the hypopharynx and the orifice of the esophagus, the patient is asked to blow hard and puff their cheeks while the mouth remains closed (Trumpet maneuver). Results 8 elderly cases were excluded because they could not perform the adequate ballooning. Finally, 62 cases were investigated. The ballooning the pyriform sinus and posterior wall not only allows accurate assessment of the stretched pharyngeal mucosa but also gives a view of postcricoid subsite and the orifice of the esophagus. The wide endoscopic view of the pharynx was obtained in a series of the procedures (excellent=53/62, 85.4%; good=7/52, 4.5%; and poor=2/62, 7.6%). Among 70 patients, 6 superficial lesions (8.6%) at the oropharynx(n=1) and hypopharynx (n=5) were discovered with BLI system. Mucosal redness, a pale thickened mucosa, white deposits or loss of a normal vascular pattern, well demarcated areas covered with scattered dots are important characteristics to diagnose superficial carcinoma. Conclusion The more progress achieved in transnasal endoscopy rapidly in the last few years, it can improve for observing the blind area using trans-oral endoscopy, therefore the trans-nasal endoscope will be a standard tool for the screening of the upper gastrointestinal tract in the near future

Apicoplast phylogeny reveals the position of Plasmodium vivax basal to the Asian primate malaria parasite clade

The malaria parasite species, Plasmodium vivax infects not only humans, but also African apes. Human specific P. vivax has evolved from a single ancestor that originated from a parasite of African apes. Although previous studies have proposed phylogenetic trees positioning P. vivax (the common ancestor of human and African ape P. vivax) within the assemblages of Asian primate parasites, its position has not yet been robustly confirmed. We determined nearly complete apicoplast genome sequences from seven Asian primate parasites, Plasmodium cynomolgi (strains Ceylonensis and Berok), P. knowlesi P. fragile, P. fieldi, P. simiovale, P. hylobati, P. inui, and an African primate parasite, P. gonderi, that infects African guenon. Phylogenetic relationships of the Plasmodium species were analyzed using newly and previously determined apicoplast genome sequences. Multigene maximum likelihood analysis of 30 protein coding genes did not position P. vivax within the Asian primate parasite clade but positioned it basal to the clade, after the branching of an African guenon parasite, P. gonderi. The result does not contradict with the emerging notion that P. vivax phylogenetically originated from Africa. The result is also supported by phylogenetic analyses performed using massive nuclear genome data of seven primate Plasmodium species

Comparison between surface-reading and cross-section methods using sagittal otolith for age determination of the marbled sole Pseudopleuronectes yokohamae

To find an appropriate method for age determination in the marbled sole Pseudopleuronectes yokohamae in Tokyo Bay, Japan, sagittal otoliths of 1,343 individuals were observed by surface-reading and cross-section methods and the results were compared. Opaque zones occurred once a year and were regarded as annuli in both methods. The surface-reading method sometimes provided a lower count of the number of annuli than the cross-section method, and the frequency of this discrepancy was highest in older fish (males above 5 years, females above 4 years). The oldest female fish was estimated to be age 10 years by the cross-section method but 8 years by the surface-reading method. The cross-section method could provide a more accurate estimate of age and is therefore likely to be indispensable to estimations of longevity. In contrast, the surface-reading method is superior in terms of cost and time efficiency but is likely to underestimate the ages of older fish. However, growth equations based on age estimated by the surface-reading method were sufficiently accurate if males ?5 years and females ?4 years were combined as specific, single age groups of 5+ and 4+, respectively

High-pressure Raman study of the potassium-doped silicon clathrate K8 Si46

Pressure-induced phase transition and vibrational properties of K doped type I Si clathrate are investigated at high pressures up to 23 GPa by Raman spectroscopy. Vibrations related to K in the Si cages are observed by low-frequency Raman measurements. The high-pressure Raman measurements reveal the spectral changes associated with phase transitions around 5\ufffd8 GPa and at 20 GPa . We investigate the mechanisms of these phase transitions and the volume dependence of the vibrational modes.NRC publication: Ye

Vulnerable carotid arterial plaque causing repeated ischemic stroke can be detected with B-mode ultrasonography as a mobile component: Jellyfish sign

Mobile plaque is associated with increased risk of ischemic stroke, but definitions have remained unclear. We have previously reported that carotid ultrasonography can detect the mobile component of the carotid plaque surface, which rises and falls in a manner inconsistent with arterial pulsatile wall motion (Jellyfish sign). However, clinical and pathological features of Jellyfish sign remain unclear. The subjects comprised of 165 patients with carotid plaque and degree of area stenosis >= 50% on ultrasonography. Using magnetic resonance imaging, we quantified intraplaque hemorrhage (IPH) and defined ischemic stroke in each patient. Fifteen surgical specimens were obtained by carotid endarterectomy, and pathological features (area of fibrous cap and intraplaque atheromatous lesion) were compared with ultrasonographic plaque surface movement rate. Carotid plaques with IPH were seen in 78 cases, with Jellyfish sign in 31 cases. Jellyfish sign was not detected in patients without IPH. In these 15 patients, the fibrous cap covered the atheromatous lesion, and cap thickness correlated negatively with Jellyfish-positive plaque surface movement rate. Kaplan-Meier and Cox multiple regression analysis demonstrated that the most important predictor of ischemic stroke during follow-up is Jellyfish sign, not IPH. Stroke events in patients with Jellyfish sign repeated within a short interval after diagnosis. Jellyfish sign on ultrasonography is a sign of high-risk plaque vulnerability, suggesting rupture of the fibrous cap associated with the release of thrombogenic factors into the arterial lumen, and resulting in repeated ischemic stroke during a short interval after diagnosis