Geographic variation in the damselfish-red alga cultivation mutualism in the Indo-West Pacific

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>On coral reefs, damselfish defend their territories from invading herbivores and maintain algal turfs, from which they harvest filamentous algae. In southern Japan, intensive weeding of indigestible algae by <it>Stegastes nigricans </it>results in overgrowth by one filamentous alga, <it>Polysiphonia </it>sp. 1. Because this alga is highly susceptible to grazing and is competitively inferior to other algae, it survives only within the protective territories of this fish species, suggesting an obligate mutualism between damselfish and their cultivated alga. The wide distribution of damselfish species through the Indo-Central Pacific raises the question of whether this species-specific mutualism is maintained throughout the geographic range of the fish. To address this question, from all 18 damselfish species we conducted comprehensive surveys of algal flora within their territories throughout the Indo-West Pacific, and identified species of <it>Polysiphonia </it>using morphological examination and gene sequencing data.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Several species of the genus <it>Polysiphonia </it>were observed as a major crop in territories throughout the geographic range of <it>S. nigricans</it>. <it>Polysiphonia </it>sp. 1 occurred only in territories of <it>S. nigricans </it>in central areas of the Indo-Pacific. However, its occurrence was low from the Great Barrier Reef and Mauritius. In contrast, other indigenous <it>Polysiphonia </it>species, which formed a clade with <it>Polysiphonia </it>sp. 1, occurred in the territories of fishes from Egypt, Kenya, and the Maldives. The other <it>Polysiphonia </it>species in the clade only inhabited damselfish territories and were never found elsewhere.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Cultivation mutualism between the damselfish <it>S. nigricans </it>and algae of <it>Polysiphonia </it>was maintained throughout the Indo-West Pacific, although algal crop species and the mode of cultivation (<it>e.g.</it>, presence/absence of selective weeding, the species composition of algal turfs) varied among localities. This finding implies that damselfish utilize indigenous <it>Polysiphonia </it>species in newly colonized habitats in different ways, and therefore the algal composition and means of cultivation have diverged.</p

Steam Turbine Vibration Resonance of Pedestal, Vibration Investigation with Countermeasures in Singapore

Case StudyCase Study

CGC Large Steam Turbine Vibration Resonance of Pedestal and Linkage System RCA, Detail Vibration Investigation/Measurement at Site and Countermeasures

Case Stud

Decreased sensory nerve excitation and bone pain associated with mouse Lewis lung cancer in TRPV1-deficient mice

Bone pain is one of the most common and life-limiting complications of cancer metastasis to bone. Although the mechanism of bone pain still remains poorly understood, bone pain is evoked as a consequence of sensitization and excitation of sensory nerves (SNs) innervating bone by noxious stimuli produced in the microenvironment of bone metastases. We showed that bone is innervated by calcitonin gene-related protein (CGRP)+ SNs extending from dorsal root ganglia (DRG), the cell body of SNs, in mice. Mice intratibially injected with Lewis lung cancer (LLC) cells showed progressive bone pain evaluated by mechanical allodynia and flinching with increased CGRP+ SNs in bone and augmented SN excitation in DRG as indicated by elevated numbers of pERK- and pCREB-immunoreactive neurons. Immunohistochemical examination of LLC-injected bone revealed that the tumor microenvironment is acidic. Bafilomycin A1, a selective inhibitor of H+ secretion from vacuolar proton pump, significantly alleviated bone pain, indicating that the acidic microenvironment contributes to bone pain. We then determined whether the transient receptor potential vanilloid 1 (TRPV1), a major acid-sensing nociceptor predominantly expressed on SNs, plays a role in bone pain by intratibially injecting LLC cells in TRPV1-deficient mice. Bone pain and SN excitation in the DRG and spinal dorsal horn were significantly decreased in TRPV1 −/− mice compared with wild-type mice. Our results suggest that TRPV1 activation on SNs innervating bone by the acidic cancer microenvironment in bone contributes to SN activation and bone pain. Targeting acid-activated TRPV1 is a potential therapeutic approach to cancer-induced bone pain

New method to create a vascular arteriovenous fistula in the arm with an endoscopic technique

AbstractWe describe a new technique in which the basilic vein is transposed subcutaneously with endoscopic surgery to create a vascular access in the arm. The vein was harvested with the Endoscopic Vascular Surgery System (Olympus Co, Tokyo, Japan). We could harvest a vessel about 25 cm long with endoscopy. After vessel transposition, an arteriovenous fistula was created in the usual manner. In all 10 patients, we created an effective blood access as scheduled before surgery. We could use the arteriovenous fistula 6 days after surgery and get blood flow in all cases. (J Vasc Surg 2002;36:635-8.

Feasibility of Ultra-Thin Films for Gate Insulator by Limited Reaction Sputtering Process

A new sputtering technique named "limited reaction sputtering" is proposed and the feasibility toward an ultra-thin gate insulator is investigated. 5-10 nm thick ZrO 2 films were prepared on Si(100) substrates and analyzed by XPS, HR-RBS and RHEED. Significant Zr diffusion into the Si substrate and interface oxidation were not observed. An optimum film was obtained at growth temperature of 300°C, oxygen flow rate of 4.2% and 500°C-10 sec RTA. The equivalent oxide thickness of 2 nm was realized with leakage current of 10 -7 A/cm 2 at 1.5 MV/cm

Factors Associated with Inadequate Tissue Yield in EUS-FNA for Gastric SMT

Aims. Our aim was to identify the factors that made the specimens inadequate and nondiagnostic in endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration (EUS-FNA) biopsy of suspected submucosal tumors (SMTs). Methods. From August 2001 to October 2009, 47 consecutive patients with subepithelial hypoechoic tumors originating in the fourth sonographic layer of the gastric wall suspected as GIST by standard EUS in Chiba University hospital underwent EUS-FNA for histologic diagnosis. We evaluated patient age, sex, location of lesion, size, pattern of growth in a stomach, and pattern of echography retrospectively. We defined a case of gaining no material or an insufficient material for immunohistological diagnosis as nondiagnostic. Results. The diagnostic yield of EUS-FNA for the diagnosis of gastric SMTs was 74.5%. Multivariate logistic regression analysis identified that age of under 60 years (compared with patients older than 60 years: odds ratio [OR] = 11.91, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.761–80.48) and location of SMT at lower third area (compared with upper or middle third area: OR = 10.62, 95% CI = 1.290–87.42) were the predictive factors for inadequate tissue yield in EUS-FNA. Conclusions. The factors associated with inadequate tissue yield in EUS-FNA were younger age and the location of lesion at lower third area in stomach

Experimental IgA Nephropathy Induced by Oral Administration of Dextran

Attempts were made to produce experimental IgA nephropathy by oral administration for 18 weeks of dextran having a molecular weight of 10,000, 70,000, and 500,000 to 6-week old female BALB/c mice. It was observed that in three out of eight cases belonging to the group given dextran having a molecular weight of 70,000 and in three out of seven cases belonging to the group given dextran having a molecular weight of 500,000, deposition of IgA on the mesangium was demonstrated by immunofluorescence direct method. Furthermore, deposition of IgG and IgM was observed in not only the groups given dextran but also in the control group, but no significant difference in deposition pattern could be demonstrated between the groups. C3 was observed only in one case belonging to the group given dextran having a molecular weight of 10,000. The serum IgA value showed a higher value in the cases with IgA deposition than in the control group. Serum C3 value was higher in the IgA deposition cases in the group given dextran having a molecular weight of 500,000 than in the control group. These results suggest that it is possible to produce experimental IgA nephropathy by continual oral administration of carbohydrate antigen of bacterial origin and that bacterial infection is involved in the development of IgA nephropathy

Efficacy of human resource development program for young industry personnel who will be involved in future medical device development

Background: Training next-generation personnel from small/medium enterprises (SMEs) is an urgent issue in promoting medical device research and development (R&D). Since 2014 we have engaged in governmentally funded human resource development program for medical/non-medical SMEs, and have assessed its effectiveness by analyzing self-evaluation of achievement level (SEAL) data obtained before and after the training course. Methods: Human resource development experts interviewed 34 key opinion leaders with deep knowledge of medical device R&D from industry, government, and academia. The skills required for R&D personnel were written down, and a set of skills was created by making a greatest common measure in the list of common elements among them. Using that skill sets, skill evaluations were conducted on trainees at “Osaka University Training Course,” twice before participation and after completion of the entire program using SEAL assessment. Results: There were 97 men and 25 women, with one-third in the’30 s. Among them, 61 participants (50%) were from R&D divisions, and 32 (26%) were from business/sales divisions. 94 (77%) were from medical SMEs, and 28 (23%) were from non-medical SMEs (new entry). After completing the training course, significant growth was observed in every item of both Soft and Hard skill sets. Especially in new entry SME members, a striking improvement was observed in practical medical knowledge to enhance communication with medical doctors (p < 0.0001). Conclusion: Our training course, though 7-day-short in total, showed that both Soft and Hard skills could be improved in young medical/non-medical SME members. Further assessment is needed to establish the necessary skill sets for our future partners from industries, to foster the creation of innovative medical devices through med-tech collaboration.The version of record of this article, first published in Surgical Endoscopy, is available online at Publisher’s website: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00464-023-10474-

Cut-Off Value of Total Adiponectin

Aim To determine the optimal cut-off value of serum total adiponectin for managing the risk of developing metabolic syndrome (MetS) in male Japanese workers. Methods A total of 365 subjects without MetS aged 20–60 years were followed up prospectively for a mean of 3.1 years. The accelerated failure-time model was used to estimate time ratio (TR) and cut-off value for developing MetS. Results During follow-up, 45 subjects developed MetS. Age-adjusted TR significantly declined with decreasing total adiponectin level (≤ 4.9, 5.0–6.6, 6.7–8.8 and ≥ 8.9 μg/ml, P for trend = 0.003). In multivariate analyses, TR of MetS was 0.12 (95% CI 0.02–0.78; P = 0.03) in subjects with total adiponectin level of 5.0–6.6 μg/ml, and 0.15 (95% CI 0.02–0.97; P = 0.047) in subjects with total adiponectin level ≤ 4.9 μg/ml compared with those with total adiponectin level ≥ 8.9 μg/ml. The accelerated failure-time model showed that the optimal cut-off value of total adiponectin for managing the risk of developing MetS was 6.2 μg/ml. In the multivariate-adjusted model, the mean time to the development of MetS was 78% shorter for total adiponectin level ≤ 6.2 μg/ml compared with > 6.2 μg/ml (TR 0.22, 95% CI: 0.08–0.64, P = 0.005). Conclusion Our findings suggest that the cut-off value for managing the risk of developing MetS is 6.2 μg/ml in male Japanese workers. Subjects with total adiponectin level ≤ 6.2 μg/ml developed MetS more rapidly than did those with total adiponectin level > 6.2 μg/ml